Helen Sinclair

Helen Sinclair was a companion of the Eighth Doctor.

Biography
Helen was a language scholar for the British Museum during the 1960s. Her career was stymied by the misogynistic attitudes of the time, and the "old boys" network working against her. Despite being more then qualified for a promotion, she was denied the position by her superior who felt she wouldn't be able to commit fully due to the "fact" that women were "too emotional." (AUDIO: The Red Lady)

Helen had never been abroad until she travelled with the Doctor, and carried a box brownie camera with her. (AUDIO: The Galileo Trap)

In 1963, while working as an assistant to Professor Walter Pritchard, she met the Eighth Doctor and Liv Chenka who were in search of a temporal anomaly related to the Eleven. Joining them whilst they investigated a collection of artefacts featuring the Red Lady, she became involved in a mystery involving extraterrestrial elements. Not having seen any of the artefacts featuring the entity, Helen was unaffected by her influence, and was able to help prevent the Doctor and Liv from succumbing to her effects. After they defeated the Red Lady and the artefacts were "disposed of," Helen was dismissed from her position and threatened with being reported for the police, her boss being suspicious that she was behind their theft. Impressed by her help, the Doctor offered her the chance to join him in the TARDIS, which she accepted. (AUDIO: The Red Lady)

Behind-the-Scenes
In the behind the scenes extras to Doom Coalition 1, producer David Richardson cites Verity Lambert as a source of inspiration for the character of Helen Sinclair, something acknowledged in her coming from 1963.