Ian Chesterton

Ian Chesterton is one of the earliest companions to travel with the Doctor. Before meeting the Doctor Ian was a Science Teacher at Coal Hill School, in 1960's London.

Character Description
Ian Chesterton was one of Susan Foreman's teachers at Coal Hill School, London. He is intrigued by Susan's advanced scientific knowledge, and in talking with another of her teachers, Barbara Wright, finds that he is not the only person who has noticed a strange knowledge in this pupil. One evening, as school is finishing, Ian and Barbara decide to follow Susan home. They are concerened about her, and curious. When they see Susan enter I.M. Foreman's junkyard in Totter's Lane, they two school teachers become more concerned for Susan's safety. Following her inside the yard, the two discover a Police Box sitting incongruously with the junk. Barging their way in, when they discover that Susan is inside, Ian discovers something he cannot believe. (An Unearthly Child)

Ian's scientific mind makes him sceptical of anything he has no proof of. When Susan and the Doctor tell him that the Police Box is, in fact, a machine which travels through Time and Space, he is initally scpetical. He feels that the TARDIS is a scientific dream he does not expect to see answered in a junkyard. However, when the Doctor displays his disgust at Ian's arrogance, and ignorance, Ian states that he wants to understand. Once he has proof that the TARDIS is indeed a Space/Time craft he accepts this fact, and becomes the most practical of the travellers.

Quotes
An Unearthly Child Doctor: "Your arrogance is nearly as great as your ignorance" Ian: "But I want to understand"

The Chase Ian: "I'm sorry, but you rattle off explanations that would have baffled Einstein and you expect Barbara and I to know what you're talking about."

Ian: "I want to sit in a pub and drink a pint of beer again. I want to walk in a park and watch a cricket match.  Above all, I want to belong somewhere, do something, instead of this aimless drifting around in space."