As the Eleventh Doctor explained to Dermot O'Leary, miners sometimes used to take canaries down into the mines to check that the air was breathable. As the Doctor's TARDIS attempted to get to the National Television Awards, the Doctor used Dermot as his canary. (TV: Dermot and the Doctor)
According to Missy, "every miner need[ed] a canary." On Skaro, she used Clara Oswald as her "canary" to navigate the sewers beneath the Dalek City. (TV: The Witch's Familiar)
Iris Wildthyme was once turned into a giant canary while Panda was suffering from Toxaemia. (PROSE: Modern Love)