1. Alex Kingston
2. Karen Gillan
3. Catherine Tate
4. Arthur Darvill
5. Billie Piper
6. Freema Agyeman

Billie was alright at the time, but looking back she wasn't as good as people make out. Same with the character, I liked her at the time, but after seeing better I just couldn't see the fuss was about anymore.The series of pining (3) and return didn't help.

Alex Kingston is by far the best for me. Arthur is ok, the character is likeable (now anyway, didn't like him when he first came into it), but sometimes I cringe watching him. This seems to happen a lot of actors I find cute (see also Tom Ellis).

Poor Freema isnt doing to good.

We were asked "Forget which characters you like the most, just focus on the acting.", and my immediate thought as far as Freema was concerned was her part in the programme Law and Order.

I assumed it referred to acting in WHO

1) Karen
2) Alex
2) Catherine
3) Freema
4) Billie

there you go, and I assumed, too, acting anywhere anytime I must have made an ass of u and me

Not a new experience for me I must confess!

I didn't really count River as a companion, but if I did she would have been number 1 by far!

This isn't a hate thread though. As I said in my OP I do think Freema and Karen were decent, but nothing special. I have never thought "wow, that was amazing".

1) Alex
2) Karren
3) Billie
4) Catharine
5) Freema

I feel ashamed that Freema could get a role on the show especially after her completely wooden acting in the doomsday ( Note: I mean when she wasn't being controlled by the cybermen because obviously she was meant to be very wooden then!)

Catharine was also very big not very subtle at all unlike Billie and Karen who are almost too subtle but Alex gets it spot on!

1. Catherine Tate
2. Arthur Darvill
3. Alex Kingston
4. Billie Piper
5. Karen Gillan
6. Freema Agyeman

Freema is at the bottom for me because, as has been mentioned, her acting did come across as quite wooden at times. Whether this was because of her acting ability or poor writing I can't say.

Karen so far doesn't score very highly for me either. I can't quite put my finger on it but there are times when how she portrays her character doesn't seem to fit in with the situation.

Billie Piper
Freema
Karen Gillan

and as for catherine tate - phfft ! she was useless , just did bits of her comedy personas .

1. Karen
2. Catherine
3. Arthur
4. Alex
5. Freema
6. Billie

1. Billie (1st series) & Catherine (rubbish comedian, acomplished actress)
3. Karen (less wooden than Freema, but not much more of a range except occasionally when she really turns it on)
4. Freema

I don't want to rank them but just say I love the parts played by both Catherine Tate and Karen Gillan, however I also feel they've had the better material to work with.

Catherine Tate
Billie Piper
Karen Gillan
Freema Agyeman

Karen is really growing on me this series and she could move above Billie. I think it's hard to judge until her role of Amy is over as it is with the others.

Catherine Tate (Excellent companion for an excellent Doctor! )
Karen Gillan (Same as above! Getting better as of late. )
Freema Agyeman (Not that good. But had some redeeming moments. Some.)
Billie Piper (Used to like her, but now I find her devastatingly irritating. )

Meh, I've always felt Freema got a bad press (and not just because I have a thing for cute black women....)

But then I'm in the minority who couldn't stand Rose

They were all good. I guess. And played completely different characters, so I don't know who is the best really.

But I have to say, I think Catherin and Karen are the best so far imo. At first I found the character of Amy to be rather annoying. but I quite like her now.
And I'm really liking this new series a lot better than the last one.

Hmmm.... Rank the companions acting ability....

1. Catherine Tate
2. Elisabeth sladen
3. Louise Jameson
4. John barrowman
5. Lalla ward
6. Jacqueline hill
7. Nicola Bryant
8. Karen gillen
9. Alex Kingston
10. Billie piper

Can't be arsed to do any more of the companions.

Catherine Tate
John Barrowman
Bernard Cribbins/Arthur Darvill
Karen Gillan
Alex Kingston/Noel Clark
Billie Piper
Freema Agyeman

In order of quality. Top is best, bottom is worst.

Karen Gillan
Billie Piper
Freema Agyeman
Catherine Tate

But they were all good.

I wouldn't rank John Barrowman that high. He's a pretty good actor but nothing special.

The rubbish comedian accomplished actress is a damn strange claim. The characters she played required accomplished acting to pull them off. Derek, nan, the Northern Irish woman, the Essex couple were all extremely well acted characters.