You remember that guy in your social circle who’s just... normal? Not "I have a secret dark past" normal, but genuinely, "I like my sofa, my biscuits, and my predictable job" normal. That is Craig Owens.
Most companions in Doctor Who are chosen because they’re extraordinary or because they have a "run fast" energy that matches a Time Lord’s frantic pace. But Craig? Craig was the guy who just wanted to pay his rent in Colchester and finally ask out his best friend, Sophie.
Then the Doctor moved in.
The Accidental Roommate
When Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor first knocked on Craig's door in "The Lodger" (2010), he wasn't looking for a hero. He was looking for a place to hide because the TARDIS was stuck in a time loop. What followed was basically a sci-fi sitcom.
James Corden played Craig with this brilliant, frantic insecurity. He’s a guy who is perpetually overwhelmed by life even before an alien starts using his electric toothbrush on a sonic screwdriver.
The beauty of Craig is that he doesn't want to leave. He doesn't want to see the stars. He wants to stay in his flat, watch the telly, and not have his roommate headbutt him to transfer 900 years of Time Lord history.
Honestly, the "headbutt" scene is one of the most underrated moments in the show’s history. In about five seconds, Craig goes from thinking his roommate is a bit "eccentric" to realizing he’s living with a god-like entity who has saved the universe more times than Craig has changed his socks.
Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All
If "The Lodger" was about Craig finding his courage, "Closing Time" (2011) was about Craig finding his footing as a dad.
By the time the Doctor comes back for his "farewell tour," Craig has a son named Alfie. Or, if you speak baby—which the Doctor apparently does—he prefers to be called Stormageddon, Dark Lord of All.
It’s hilarious. It’s also kinda heartbreaking. The Doctor is basically on his way to his own "death" at Lake Silencio, and he chooses to spend one of his final nights helping Craig investigate a Cyberman invasion at a local department store.
Most people focus on the comedy, but look at the stakes. Craig gets captured. He’s strapped into a conversion chair. The Cybermen are literally trying to strip away his humanity, and how does he win?
He doesn't win with a laser or a clever paradox. He wins because he hears Alfie crying. He "blows up" the Cybermen with pure, unadulterated fatherly love. It sounds cheesy when you write it down, but on screen, it’s one of the few times Doctor Who feels genuinely grounded in human emotion rather than technobabble.
What Most People Get Wrong About Craig
There's a common criticism that Craig is just a "celebrity guest" role because James Corden was already a massive star in the UK. People think he was just there for a laugh.
That misses the point.
Craig represents something the Doctor rarely gets to see: the success of the ordinary. Most companions have their lives ruined, at least a little bit, by the Doctor. Donna loses her memory. Amy and Rory get stuck in the past. Rose gets trapped in a parallel universe.
But Craig? Craig’s life gets better because of the Doctor. He gets the girl. He gets the confidence to be a dad. He even gets a cool Stetson at the end.
The Legacy of the "Mate"
Craig isn't a "companion" in the traditional sense. He’s a mate. He’s the person the Doctor goes to when he needs to remember what it’s like to just be.
He’s also one of the few characters who actually tells the Doctor off. When the Doctor takes over Craig’s job and wins his football match and basically charms everyone in his life, Craig gets angry. He doesn't worship the Doctor; he finds him annoying.
That dynamic—the Straight Man vs. The Wacky Alien—is why those two episodes feel so different from the rest of Series 5 and 6.
Why We Won't See Him Again (Probably)
Given James Corden’s massive career in the US and the way the show has shifted under different showrunners, it’s unlikely we’ll see an older Alfie/Stormageddon or a return to Colchester anytime soon.
But that’s okay. Craig’s story is complete. He proved that you don't need a TARDIS to be brave. You just need a reason to come home.
Next Steps for the Doctor Who Fan
If you want to revisit the Craig Owens era or dive deeper into the lore of the Eleventh Doctor, here is exactly what you should do:
- Rewatch "The Lodger" and "Closing Time" back-to-back. Pay attention to how Matt Smith's Doctor changes between them. In the first, he's curious and goofy; in the second, he's world-weary and saying goodbye.
- Check out the comic "The Lodger" by Gareth Roberts. This was the original inspiration for the episode, though it featured the Tenth Doctor staying with Mickey Smith instead. It's a fascinating look at how a story evolves from page to screen.
- Look for the "Stormageddon" merchandise. Believe it or not, the "Dark Lord of All" quote became such a cult hit that there are officially licensed baby onesies. It's the perfect gift for the Whovian parent in your life.
- Explore the Colchester filming locations. If you’re ever in the UK, much of "The Lodger" was actually filmed in Cardiff (like most of the show), but the "Colchester" vibe is perfectly captured in the quiet residential streets of Victoria Park.