Doctor Who character
David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor
The Doctor
Affiliated with	None
Race	Time Lord
Home planet	Gallifrey
Home era	Gallifrey era
First appearance	100,000 BC
Last appearance	Ongoing
Portrayed by	William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant

The Doctor is the only known name of the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and also featured in a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series. Image File history File links The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), from the television series Doctor Who This is a copyrighted promotional photo with a known source. ... The Tenth Doctor is the name given to the tenth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... A Vardan spaceship approaches Gallifrey from space (from The Invasion of Time). ... 100,000 BC is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from November 23 to December 13, 1963. ... William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... Peter Davison (born April 13, 1951) is a British actor, most commonly associated with playing Tristan to Robert Hardys Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, whom he played from 1981 to 1984. ... Colin Baker (born June 8, 1943) is a British actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959) is an actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. ... Christopher Eccleston on set in London during filming for Doctor Who in 2004. ... David Tennant David Tennant — real name David MacDonald — (born April 18, 1971 in Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom) is a Scottish actor best known for playing various roles in BBC Dramas such as Casanova in the title role. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the national publicly funded broadcaster of the United Kingdom. ... A broadcast of the long-running and popular British science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Main article: History of Doctor Who Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television on November 23, 1963. ...

This article is specifically about the character of the Doctor. For a more general overview of the series, please see the main Doctor Who article. For more about the production history of the show, please see History of Doctor Who. Main article: History of Doctor Who Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television on November 23, 1963. ... The Doctor Who diamond logo, used in the shows opening titles from 1973 to 1980 Doctor Who is a British television science-fiction series, produced and screened by the British Broadcasting Corporation on their BBC One channel from 1963 to 1989 in its original form, with a new series...

The Doctor, as of the conclusion to the 2005 series episode The Parting of the Ways, is currently portrayed by David Tennant. 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... The Parting of the Ways is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on June 18, 2005. ... David Tennant David Tennant — real name David MacDonald — (born April 18, 1971 in Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom) is a Scottish actor best known for playing various roles in BBC Dramas such as Casanova in the title role. ...

Who is The Doctor?

The title screen of the first episode of Doctor Who.

The Doctor is a Time Lord, an extraterrestrial from the planet Gallifrey, who travels in a time machine called the TARDIS — Time And Relative Dimension (or Dimensions) In Space — that allows him to reach any point in time and space and is dimensionally transcendental (larger on the inside than on the outside). The TARDIS originally had the ability to disguise itself according to its environment, but became "stuck" in the form of a police box after landing in London in 1963 and has remained in that shape ever since due to a malfunctioning chameleon circuit. The Doctor has since given up attempting to repair or replace the circuit as he has grown fond of the police box shape. The episode title screen of the very first episode of Doctor Who, broadcast November 23, 1963. ... The episode title screen of the very first episode of Doctor Who, broadcast November 23, 1963. ... Main article: History of Doctor Who Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television on November 23, 1963. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Extraterrestrial, as an adjective, refers to something that originates, occurs, or is located outside Earth or its atmosphere. ... A Vardan spaceship approaches Gallifrey from space (from The Invasion of Time). ... The Third Doctor emerging from the TARDIS (from the 1970 serial Spearhead from Space). ... 8:17 am, August 6, 1945, Japanese time. ... Attempting to understand the nature of space has always been a prime occupation for philosophers and scientists. ... 20th century British police call box, similar to that used in Doctor Who A police box is a telephone kiosk or callbox for use by members of the police. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

For the most part, and usually because the vessel's navigation system is old and unreliable, the Doctor explores the universe at random and uses his extensive knowledge of science and advanced technology to heroically avert the crises that he encounters. The Doctor has, at various times, been accompanied by companions who have chosen to travel with him for a variety of reasons.

Although he physically resembles a human, as a Time Lord his physiology is different. Like other members of his race, he has two hearts, a respiratory bypass system that allows him to go without breathing for periods of time, and on occasion exhibits greater strength and stamina than humans. He has also exhibited a resistance to temporal distortions and a sensitivity to changes in time. In The War Games, the Second Doctor stated that Time Lords could live forever, "barring accidents." When accidents do occur, they can regenerate into new bodies, giving them extremely long life-spans. The 1996 Doctor Who television movie stated that the Doctor was half-human, a revelation that continues to cause controversy among fans (see below). The War Games is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in ten weekly parts from April 19 to June 21, 1969. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Doctor Who is a television movie based on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

The Doctor is considered a renegade by the Time Lords for his penchant of getting "involved" with the universe, in direct violation of official Time Lord policy. However, most of the time his actions are tolerated, especially when he has saved not just Gallifrey, but the universe, several times over. His standing in Time Lord society has waxed and waned over the years, from being a hunted man to even being appointed Lord President of the High Council (an office he did not assume for very long and eventually was removed from in his absence). In the end, though, he has always seemed quite content to remain a renegade and an exile. Ultimately, the Doctor found himself, by the time of his ninth incarnation, the last known surviving Time Lord.

The character was first portrayed by William Hartnell in 1963, who played him as an irascible, grandfatherly figure. When Hartnell left the series, the role was taken over by Patrick Troughton in 1966. To date, ten actors have played the Doctor on television, with perhaps the most enduring incarnation being the fourth, played by Tom Baker. David Tennant currently plays the Tenth Doctor starting at the end of The Parting of the Ways, which was first aired on 18 June 2005. William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... David Tennant David Tennant — real name David MacDonald — (born April 18, 1971 in Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom) is a Scottish actor best known for playing various roles in BBC Dramas such as Casanova in the title role. ... The Parting of the Ways is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on June 18, 2005. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

When the series began, nothing was known of the Doctor at all, not even his name. In the very first serial, 100,000 BC, two teachers from the Coal Hill School in London, Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton, became intrigued by one of their students, Susan Foreman, who exhibited high intelligence and unusually advanced knowledge. Trailing her to a junkyard at 76 Totter's Lane, they encountered a strange old man and heard her voice coming from inside what appeared to be a police box. Pushing their way inside, the two found that the exterior was actually camouflage for the dimensionally transcendental interior of the TARDIS. The old man, whom Susan called "Grandfather" but simply termed himself "the Doctor", subsequently whisked them away on an adventure in time and space. 100,000 BC is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from November 23 to December 13, 1963. ... The school sign as seen in Remembrance of the Daleks. ... St. ... Barbara Wright is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of the First Doctor. ... Ian Chesterton is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and a companion of the First Doctor. ... Susan Foreman is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... 20th century British police call box, similar to that used in Doctor Who A police box is a telephone kiosk or callbox for use by members of the police. ...

As a time traveller, the Doctor has been present at or directly involved in countless major historical events on the planet Earth and on other worlds — sometimes more than once. In the 2005 series premiere Rose, it is revealed that the Ninth Doctor was instrumental in preventing a family from boarding the Titanic prior to her fateful voyage. In The End of World the Doctor claimed to have been on board and survived the Titanic's sinking to find himself "clinging to an iceberg." Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third planet outward from the Sun. ... Rose is an episode in the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on March 26, 2005. ... The New York Herald reports the disaster. ... The End of the World is an episode in the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on April 2, 2005. ...

Many historical figures on Earth have also encountered the Doctor. In City of Death it was revealed that the Doctor had met Leonardo da Vinci and William Shakespeare and that the first folio of the latter's Hamlet was transcribed by the Doctor himself. In Timelash, he met a young H. G. Wells, Albert Einstein in Time and the Rani, and Marco Polo was the subject of an adventure of the same name during the first season. Most recently, the Doctor shared an adventure with Charles Dickens (The Unquiet Dead). City of Death is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 29 to October 20, 1979. ... Leonardo da Vinci (April 15, 1452 – May 2, 1519) was an Italian Renaissance architect, musician, anatomist, inventor, engineer, sculptor, geometer, and painter. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark is a tragedy by William Shakespeare and one of his most well-known and oft-quoted plays. ... Timelash is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from March 9 to March 16, 1985. ... H. G. Wells at the door of his house at Sandgate Herbert George Wells (September 21, 1866 – August 13, 1946) was a British writer best known for his science fiction novels such as The War of the Worlds and The Time Machine. ... Albert Einstein, by Yousuf Karsh Albert Einsteins letter to President Roosevelt in 1939 about his concerns Albert Einstein (March 14, 1879 – April 18, 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist of Swiss and American citizenship, who is widely regarded as the greatest scientist of the 20th century. ... Time and the Rani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 7 to September 28, 1987. ... Marco Polo, after a painting in Badia, Rome Marco Polo (b. ... Charles Dickens used his rich imagination, sense of humour and detailed memories, particularly of his childhood, to enliven his fiction. ... The Unquiet Dead is an episode in the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on April 9, 2005. ...

"Doctor who?"

The Doctor's calling card (from Remembrance of the Daleks).

In the first episode, Barbara addressed the Doctor as "Doctor Foreman", as the junkyard in which they find him bore the sign "I.M. Foreman". When addressed by Ian with this name in the next episode, the Time Lord responded, "Eh? Doctor who? What's he talking about?" Later, when Ian realized that "Foreman" was not his name, he asked Barbara, "Who is he? Doctor who?" The Doctors calling card (from Remembrance of the Daleks) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Doctors calling card (from Remembrance of the Daleks) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Remembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 5 to October 26, 1988. ...

Although listed in the on-screen credits for nearly twenty years as "Doctor Who", the Doctor is never really called by that name in the series, except in that same tongue-in-cheek manner (for example, in The Five Doctors when one character referred to him as "the Doctor", another character asked, "Who?"). The only real exception was a computer in the serial, The War Machines, which commanded that "Doctor Who is required." The Five Doctors was a special movie-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programmes twentieth anniversary. ... A computer is a device or machine for making calculations or controlling operations that are expressible in numerical or logical terms. ... The War Machines is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in 4 weekly parts from June 25 to July 16, 1966. ...

In The Gunfighters, the First Doctor used the alias Dr. Caligari. In The Highlanders the Second Doctor assumed the name of "Doctor von Wer" (a German approximation of "Doctor Who"), and signed himself as "Dr. W" in The Underwater Menace. In The Wheel in Space, his companion Jamie, reading the name off some medical equipment, told the crew of the Wheel that the Doctor's name was "John Smith". The Doctor subsequently adopted this alias several times over the course of the series, often prefixing the title "doctor" to it. The Gunfighters is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from April 30 to May 21, 1966. ... William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (Das Kabinett des Dr. caligari in German) is a groundbreaking 1919 silent film directed by Robert Wiene. ... The Highlanders is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from December 17, 1966 to January 7, 1967. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... The Underwater Menace is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from January 14, 1967 to February 4, 1967. ... The Wheel in Space is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from April 27 to June 1, 1968. ... James Robert McCrimmon, or simply Jamie, is a fictional character played by Frazer Hines in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

In The Armageddon Factor, the Time Lord Drax addressed the Fourth Doctor as "Thete", short for "Theta Sigma", apparently a University nickname. In the 1988 serial Remembrance of the Daleks, the Seventh Doctor was asked to sign a document, which he did using a question mark. Later he also produced a calling card with a series of pseudo-Greek letters inscribed on it (as well as a question mark). The Eighth Doctor briefly used the alias "Dr. Bowman" in the 1996 Doctor Who television movie, known informally as Enemy Within. He has also been mocked by his fellow Time Lords for adhering to such a "lowly" title as "Doctor". The Armageddon Factor is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from January 20 to February 24, 1979. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Remembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 5 to October 26, 1988. ... Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959) is an actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Doctor Who is a television movie based on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

In the early years of the spin-off comic strips, books, films and other media, the character was initially called "Doctor Who" (or just "Dr. Who") as a matter of course. This use declined as the years went by. From the first television serial through to Logopolis (the last story of the 18th season and also of the Tom Baker era), the lead character was listed as "Doctor Who" (or sometimes "Dr. Who"). Starting from Peter Davison's first story, Castrovalva (the first story of the series' 19th season) to the end of the 26th Season, he was credited simply as "The Doctor". For the 2005 revival the credit reverted to "Doctor Who". Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Logopolis is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from February 28 to March 21, 1981. ... Peter Davison (born April 13, 1951) is a British actor, most commonly associated with playing Tristan to Robert Hardys Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, whom he played from 1981 to 1984. ... Castrovalva is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from January 4 to January 12, 1982 It was the first full serial to feature Peter Davison in the starring role. ...

To his greatest enemies, the Daleks, the Doctor is known as the Ka Faraq Gatri, the "Bringer of Darkness" or "Destroyer of Worlds". This was first mentioned in the novelisation of Remembrance of the Daleks by Ben Aaronovitch and subsequently taken up in the spin-off media, particularly the Virgin New Adventures books and the Doctor Who Magazine comic strip. In The Parting of the Ways, the Doctor claims that the Daleks call him "The Oncoming Storm" — this name was used by the Draconians to refer to the Doctor in the Virgin New Adventures novel Love and War by Paul Cornell. The Daleks (pronounced DAH-lecks; IPA: ) are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Remembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 5 to October 26, 1988. ... Ben Aaronovitch is a London born British writer who has worked on television series including Doctor Who, Casualty, Jupiter Moon and Dark Knight. ... The Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which had been cancelled in 1989, continuing the story of the series from where the television programme had left off. ... Doctor Who Weekly #1, cover dated October 17, 1979 Doctor Who Magazine (abbreviated as DWM) is a periodical devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Parting of the Ways is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on June 18, 2005. ... A Draconian (from Frontier in Space) The Draconians are a fictional extraterrestrial race from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Paul Cornell appearing on Doctor Who Confidential Paul Cornell (born July 18, 1967) is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction. ...

Some fans have speculated, taking off from the fact that the full name of the Time Lady Romana is Romanadvoratrelundar, that the first syllable of the Doctor's true name is "Who". It should be noted that, although it is often asserted that "Doctor Who" is not the character's name, there is nothing in the series itself that actually confirms this. In the first episode of The Mysterious Planet, the Doctor was about to give a name after the title "Doctor..." but was interrupted. Romana, short for Romanadvoratrelundar, is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Mysterious Planet is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 6 to September 27, 1986. ...

In the 2005 series premiere, Rose, when asked his name, the Doctor replies, "Just the Doctor." New companion Rose Tyler later finds a website devoted to the Doctor on the Internet, run by a conspiracy theorist who has been tracking the Ninth Doctor's appearances throughout history, carrying the title "DOCTOR WHO?" (see Fictional websites in Doctor Who). The BBC launched a "real" version of this website at "WHO IS DOCTOR WHO?", run by Mickey Smith, Rose's boyfriend (who took over the site following the death of its originator). In The Empty Child, for want of a better name, Rose introduces the Doctor to Jack Harkness as "Mr. Spock". Rose Tyler is a fictional character played by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The front page of the English Wikipedia website. ... The 2005 series revival of the long-running British science fiction televison programme Doctor Who features several fictional websites produced by the BBC website team that viewers can access on the Internet. ... Mickey Smith is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, played by Noel Clarke. ... The Empty Child is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on May 21, 2005. ... Jack Harkness, also known as Captain Jack, is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Mr. ...

Changing faces

The ten faces of the Doctor, clockwise from top left: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Paul McGann, Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant.

The changing of actors playing the part of the Doctor is explained within the series by the Time Lords' ability to regenerate after suffering mortal injury, illness, or old age. The process repairs and rejuvenates all damage, but as a side-effect it changes the Time Lord's physical appearance and personality semi-randomly. This ability was not introduced until producers had to find a way to replace the ailing William Hartnell with Patrick Troughton and was not explicitly called "regeneration" until Jon Pertwee's transformation to Tom Baker at the climax of Planet of the Spiders. On screen, the transformation from Hartnell to Troughton was called a "renewal" and from Troughton to Pertwee a "change of appearance". The Ten Doctors. ... The Ten Doctors. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... Planet of the Spiders is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from May 4 to June 8, 1974. ...

The actors who played the Doctor in the series, and the dates of their first and last regular television appearances in the role, are:

1. First Doctor - William Hartnell: (November 23, 1963–October 29, 1966)
2. Second Doctor - Patrick Troughton: (November 5, 1966–June 21, 1969)
3. Third Doctor - Jon Pertwee: (January 3, 1970–June 8, 1974)
4. Fourth Doctor - Tom Baker: (December 28, 1974–March 21, 1981)
5. Fifth Doctor - Peter Davison: (March 21, 1981–March 16, 1984)
6. Sixth Doctor - Colin Baker: (March 16, 1984–December 6, 1986)
7. Seventh Doctor - Sylvester McCoy: (September 7, 1987–December 6, 1989 in the series, and May 27, 1996, in the Doctor Who television movie)
8. Eighth Doctor - Paul McGann: (May 27, 1996, in the Doctor Who television movie)
9. Ninth Doctor - Christopher Eccleston: (March 26, 2005–June 18, 2005)
10. Tenth Doctor - David Tennant: (June 18, 2005—?)

Despite the fact that the Doctor is supposed to be the same person throughout his regenerations, each actor to play the Doctor has purposely imbued his incarnation with distinct quirks and characteristics. These distinguish one incarnation from the other, not just in physical appearance but personality as well. For example, the Second Doctor was a superficially clownish and sometimes cowardly-appearing figure while the Third was an action-oriented adventurer and the Fourth more bohemian in his manner. The Fifth Doctor was a human, vulnerable figure, while the Sixth was bombastic, the Seventh at first clownish but later darker and more manipulative, and the more romantic Eighth Doctor possessed of an infectious enthusiasm about the universe. The First Doctor is the name given to the first incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 38 days remaining. ... 1963 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 29 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... November 5 is the 309th day of the year (310th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 56 days remaining. ... 1966 was a common year starting on Saturday (link goes to calendar) // Events January January 1 - In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa ousts president David Dacko and takes over the Central African Republic. ... June 21 is the 172nd day of the year (173rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 193 days remaining. ... 1969 was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1969 calendar). ... ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... June 8 is the 159th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (160th in leap years), with 206 days remaining. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... The Fourth Doctor is the name given to the fourth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... 1974 is a common year starting on Tuesday (click on link for calendar). ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Peter Davison (born April 13, 1951) is a British actor, most commonly associated with playing Tristan to Robert Hardys Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, whom he played from 1981 to 1984. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... 1981 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Sixth Doctor is the name given to the Sixth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Colin Baker (born June 8, 1943) is a British actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (76th in Leap years). ... 1984 is a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a British actor. ... Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... September 7 is the 250th day of the year (251st in leap years). ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Doctor Who is a television movie based on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Eighth Doctor is the name given to the eighth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959) is an actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. ... May 27 is the 147th day (148th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 218 days remaining. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Doctor Who is a television movie based on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Ninth Doctor refers to the ninth official incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor, in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Christopher Eccleston on set in London during filming for Doctor Who in 2004. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... The Tenth Doctor is the name given to the tenth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... David Tennant David Tennant — real name David MacDonald — (born April 18, 1971 in Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom) is a Scottish actor best known for playing various roles in BBC Dramas such as Casanova in the title role. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

The Ninth Doctor was a more enigmatic figure, almost manic on the surface but hiding a deep sadness and loneliness. He had a colder, less forgiving personality, perhaps hardened by the Time War that has destroyed Gallifrey and left him the last of the Time Lords sometime prior to Rose. He was also haunted by his actions during the war, when he was responsible for wiping out ten million Dalek warships, an action that apparently also destroyed the Time Lords. Rose is an episode in the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on March 26, 2005. ... The Daleks (pronounced DAH-lecks; IPA: ) are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

At his core, however, the Doctor continues to be a heroic figure, fighting the evils of the universe wherever he finds them, even if his values and motives are sometimes alien. The Tenth Doctor's personality has yet to be revealed.

No attempt is made to hide the regional accents of the different actors, with two Scottish actors (McCoy and Tennant) having now played the role (McCoy kept his accent; it remains to be seen if Tennant will). Only in the case of the Ninth Doctor, whose accent was clearly identified as being the same as that of residents of the North of England, was this ever addressed in the series (The Doctor's response: "Lots of planets have a North!").

Save for the unseen transition between the Eighth and Ninth Doctors, the regeneration has so far always been worked into the story. Six regenerations (William Hartnell to Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee to Tom Baker, Tom Baker to Peter Davison, Peter Davison to Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy to Paul McGann, and Christopher Eccleston to David Tennant) have had the outgoing Doctor seen regenerating into his successor in a symbolic handing over of the role. Following is a list of how each Doctor to date has regenerated:

1. First Doctor: apparently succumbed to old age, steadily growing weaker throughout The Tenth Planet and collapsing at the serial's end. The writer's intent was that this was due to the energy drain from the planet Mondas, but this was not made clear in the transmitted story.
2. Second Doctor: a forced regeneration and exile to Earth by the Time Lords in the closing moments of The War Games.¹
3. Third Doctor: radiation poisoning from the Great One's cave of crystals at the end of Planet of the Spiders.
4. Fourth Doctor: fell from the Pharos Project radio telescope in Logopolis.
5. Fifth Doctor: spectrox toxaemia, contracted near the start of The Caves of Androzani.
6. Sixth Doctor: suffered unspecified injuries when the Rani attacked the TARDIS and caused it to crash land at the start of Time and the Rani. ²
7. Seventh Doctor: died on the operating table while undergoing surgery for gunshot wounds in the 1996 television movie.
8. Eighth Doctor: not revealed as yet.³
9. Ninth Doctor: cellular degeneration caused by absorbing the energies of the spacetime vortex from Rose, which she in turn had absorbed from the TARDIS, in The Parting of the Ways.

In the original series, with the exception of the change from Troughton to Pertwee, regeneration usually occurred immediately following the "death" of the previous Doctor. The changeover from McCoy to McGann was handled differently, with the Doctor actually dying and being dead for quite some time before regeneration occurred. The Eighth Doctor comments at one point that the anesthesia interfered with the regenerative process, and that he had been "dead too long," accounting for his initial amnesia. The Tenth Planet is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 8 to October 29, 1966. ... The War Games is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in ten weekly parts from April 19 to June 21, 1969. ... Planet of the Spiders is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from May 4 to June 8, 1974. ... Logopolis is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from February 28 to March 21, 1981. ... The Caves of Androzani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from March 8 to March 16, 1984. ... The Rani is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Time and the Rani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 7 to September 28, 1987. ... Doctor Who is a television movie based on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Rose Tyler is a fictional character played by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Third Doctor emerging from the TARDIS (from the 1970 serial Spearhead from Space). ... The Parting of the Ways is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on June 18, 2005. ... Amnesia is a condition in which memory is disturbed. ...

The 2005 series begins with the Ninth Doctor already regenerated, with no explanation given. In his first appearance in Rose, the Doctor looked in a mirror and commented on the size of his ears (Eccleston's ears are noticeably large), suggesting that the regeneration happened shortly prior to the episode. Russell T. Davies, writer/producer of the new series, stated in Doctor Who Magazine that he has no intention of showing the regeneration in the series, and that he believed the story of how the Eighth Doctor became the Ninth is best told in other media. In Doctor Who Confidential Davies revealed his reasoning that, after such a long hiatus, a regeneration in the first episode would not just be confusing for new viewers but also lack dramatic impact, as there would be no emotional investment in the character before he was replaced. 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... Russell T. Davies, pictured in 2003. ... Doctor Who Weekly #1, cover dated October 17, 1979 Doctor Who Magazine (abbreviated as DWM) is a periodical devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Doctor Who Confidential logo Doctor Who Confidential is a 13-part documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the 2005 series of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

After the BBC greenlighted a second series on the strength of the ratings for Rose, they further announced that Eccleston would step down from the role after the 2005 season. At first, the BBC cited fears of typecasting as a reason for his departure[1], though they later admitted they had failed to contact Eccleston before responding to the press, and had broken an agreement made in January not to disclose his impending departure. Typecasting is the process by which an actor is strongly identified with a role or genre. ...

The BBC announced on April 16, 2005 that David Tennant would play the Tenth Doctor.[2] In that same press release, Davies commented "Regeneration is a huge part of the programme's mythology, and I'm delighted that new, young viewers can now have the complete Doctor Who experience, as they witness their hero change his face." April 16 is the 106th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (107th in leap years). ... 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... David Tennant David Tennant — real name David MacDonald — (born April 18, 1971 in Paisley, Scotland, United Kingdom) is a Scottish actor best known for playing various roles in BBC Dramas such as Casanova in the title role. ...

Although early reports referenced the 2005 Christmas special as Eccleston's final performance,[3] the changeover occurred in the final episode of the 2005 series. It remains to be seen whether the Ninth Doctor will appear again. Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. ...

The Doctor's regenerations

The Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) regenerates (from The Caves of Androzani).

It was established in The Deadly Assassin that a Time Lord can regenerate twelve times before permanently dying, though as with most such "rules" there were occasionally exceptions. For more on this see: Time Lord. The Fifth Doctor regenerates (from The Caves of Androzani). ... The Fifth Doctor regenerates (from The Caves of Androzani). ... Peter Davison (born April 13, 1951) is a British actor, most commonly associated with playing Tristan to Robert Hardys Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, whom he played from 1981 to 1984. ... The Caves of Androzani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from March 8 to March 16, 1984. ... The Deadly Assassin is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in four weekly parts from [[October 30 to November 20, 1976. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

In The Brain of Morbius (produced shortly before Assassin), it was implied through visual images displayed during a mental battle between the Doctor and Morbius that the Doctor had at least eight incarnations prior to the First Doctor. However, multiple dialogue references throughout the series (particularly in The Three Doctors and The Five Doctors) contradict this, as well as the fact that the Doctor has regenerated five times since Peter Davison. Explanations by fans have included theories that the images were of Morbius's previous incarnations or that they were false images induced by the Doctor. The Doctor Who novels have suggested that these may have been faces of the Other, a figure from Gallifrey's ancient past and the genetic predecessor of the Doctor (although being from the spin-off novels, the canonicity of this character is debatable). The Brain of Morbius is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from January 3 to January 26, 1976 // Synopsis Spoiler warning: Sarah is about to find that she was better off temporarily blind. ... The Three Doctors is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast in four weekly parts from the December 30, 1972 to January 20, 1973. ... The Other is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ...

The Doctor's regenerations are usually as a result of his previous incarnation sustaining mortal injury or (in one case) having the regeneration forced on him by the Time Lords. Other Time Lord regenerations, like Romana's, have not been as dramatic or painful. A commonly held piece of fan continuity (referenced in the novel The Man in the Velvet Mask by Daniel O'Mahony) is that Time Lords only grow their second heart during their first regeneration. Romana, short for Romanadvoratrelundar, is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... For the author, see Frantz Fanon. ...

Since the regeneration from Troughton to Pertwee, it has become common for the Doctor to experience a period of instability and partial amnesia following regeneration. Some post-regeneration experiences were more difficult than others. In particular, the Fifth Doctor began reverting to his previous personalities and required the healing powers of the TARDIS's "Zero Room" to survive. The Sixth Doctor experienced extreme paranoia and flew into a murderous rage, nearly killing his companion. The Eighth Doctor not only experienced amnesia, but also developed unusually romantic feelings towards his companion. It has yet to be revealed what, if any, post-regeneration problems the Ninth Doctor experienced or the Tenth Doctor will experience. In popular culture, the term paranoia is usually used to describe excessive concern about ones own well-being, sometimes suggesting a person holds persecutory beliefs concerning a threat to themselves or their property and is often linked to a belief in conspiracy theories. ... Amnesia is a condition in which memory is disturbed. ...

In the Sixth Doctor story arc The Trial of a Time Lord, a Time Lord with the title of the Valeyard (played by Michael Jayston) was revealed to be a potential future Doctor, existing somewhere between his twelfth and final incarnations and embodying all the evil and malevolence of the Doctor's dark side. The Valeyard was defeated in his attempt to actualize himself by stealing the Sixth Doctor's remaining regenerations, however, and so may never actually come to exist. The Trial of a Time Lord is the name used on screen for all fourteen episodes comprising the 23rd season (1986) of the original Doctor Who series. ... The Valeyard as portrayed by Michael Jayston The Valeyard is a fictional character from the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. ... Michael Jayston (born 29th October, 1935 in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire) is a British actor. ...

The idea of an "in-between" version of the Doctor has its precedents. In Planet of the Spiders, a Time Lord's future self (described as a "distillation" of the future incarnation) was shown to exist as a corporeal projection that assisted his then-current incarnation. In Logopolis, a mysterious white-cloaked figure known as the Watcher assisted in the transition between the Fourth and Fifth Doctors. Nyssa commented that the Watcher "was the Doctor all the time," but there is no real evidence to back up this assertion and the actual nature of the character has never been made clear. Planet of the Spiders is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from May 4 to June 8, 1974. ... In Tibetan mysticism, a tulpa is a being or object which is created through sheer willpower alone. ... Logopolis is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from February 28 to March 21, 1981. ... Sarah Sutton as Nyssa (from Snakedance). ...

The revelation in the 1996 television movie that the Doctor was half-human proved controversial among fans, and some have suggested that only the Eighth Doctor was half-human due to the particularly traumatic circumstances of his regeneration, rather than the Doctor having been half-human all along. (The evidence for or against this in the series is, typically, equivocal.) The Time Lord ability to change species during regeneration is referenced by the Eighth Doctor in relation to the Master in the television movie, and is supported by Romana's regeneration scene in the 1979 serial Destiny of the Daleks. The Daleks also implied during the events of The Daleks' Master Plan that the First Doctor's humanoid form is not his actual appearance. The spin-off novels have also tried to explain this revelation in various ways, suggesting that the Doctor retained some human DNA from a time when he transformed himself to see what living as a human was like (Human Nature by Paul Cornell). However, as noted above, the canonicity of the novels is uncertain. The new series has not made any allusions to mixed parentage, only referring to the Doctor as "alien”. 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... The Master is a supporting fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... 1979 is a common year starting on Monday. ... Destiny of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from September 1 to September 22, 1979. ... The Daleks (pronounced DAH-lecks; IPA: ) are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Daleks Master Plan is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in twelve weekly parts from November 13, 1965 to January 29, 1966. ... Space-filling model of a section of DNA molecule Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or deoxyribose nucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions specifying the biological development of all cellular forms of life (and many viruses). ... Paul Cornell appearing on Doctor Who Confidential Paul Cornell (born July 18, 1967) is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as Doctor Who fiction. ...

The Doctor's age

The Doctor's age has been stated (or estimated) in several stories. In the serial The Tomb of the Cybermen the Second Doctor told Victoria that he was around 450 years old. The Second Doctor was also seen to carry around a 500-year diary in which he kept notes. The Tomb of the Cybermen is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in four weekly parts from September 2 to September 23, 1967. ... Victoria Maud Waterfield is a fictional character played by Deborah Watling in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

By the time of The Brain of Morbius, the Fourth Doctor was stated to be 749 years old ("something like 750 years" in the prior Pyramids of Mars). In The Ribos Operation, the first Romana said the Doctor was 759 years old and had been piloting the TARDIS for 523 years, making him 236 when he first "borrowed" it. In Revelation of the Daleks the Sixth Doctor was 900 years old, and in Time and the Rani, the Seventh Doctor's age was the same as the Rani's, namely 953. In Remembrance of the Daleks the Seventh Doctor said that he had "900 years’ experience" rewiring alien equipment. In the 1996 television movie, the Eighth Doctor kept a 900-year diary in his TARDIS. The Brain of Morbius is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from January 3 to January 26, 1976 // Synopsis Spoiler warning: Sarah is about to find that she was better off temporarily blind. ... Pyramids of Mars is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 25 to November 15, 1975. ... The Ribos Operation is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 2 to September 23, 1978. ... Romana, short for Romanadvoratrelundar, is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Revelation of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from March 23 to March 30, 1985. ... Time and the Rani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 7 to September 28, 1987. ... The Rani is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Remembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 5 to October 26, 1988. ...

The large gap in years between the Fourth and Sixth Doctors can be partially covered by the fact that the Fourth Doctor travelled alone for a time or with an equally long-lived Time Lady as a companion, allowing for several decades or centuries of untelevised stories to take place. Such gaps occur between the stories The Deadly Assassin and The Face of Evil when he travelled without a companion and between The Invasion of Time and The Ribos Operation when he was accompanied by K-9. Another potential gap occurs between The Horns of Nimon and The Leisure Hive when he travelled with Romana. The Face of Evil also revealed that the Fourth Doctor travelled on his own for a time during the events of Robot. The Deadly Assassin is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in four weekly parts from [[October 30 to November 20, 1976. ... The Face of Evil is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from January 1 to January 22, 1977. ... The Invasion of Time is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in six weekly parts from February 4 to March 11, 1978. ... The Ribos Operation is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 2 to September 23, 1978. ... K-9, or K9 is the name of several robot dogs in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Horns of Nimon is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from December 22, 1979 to January 12, 1980. ... The Leisure Hive is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from August 30 to September 20, 1980. ... Romana, short for Romanadvoratrelundar, is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Robot is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from December 28, 1974 to January 18, 1975. ...

While the Fifth Doctor was never seen without a companion, there was a period where he was travelling with Nyssa of Traken, who, not being human, may not have aged normally. There was also a gap just after The Trial of a Time Lord which can account for the difference in ages between the Sixth Doctor in 'Revelation of the Daleks and the Seventh Doctor in Time and the Rani. Sarah Sutton as Nyssa (from Snakedance). ... The Trial of a Time Lord is the name used on screen for all fourteen episodes comprising the 23rd season (1986) of the original Doctor Who series. ...

In the spin-off novels, the Seventh Doctor celebrated his 1000th birthday in Set Piece by Kate Orman, and the Eighth Doctor declared his age to be 1,012 in Vampire Science by Orman and Jonathan Blum. The Eighth Doctor also spent nearly a century on Earth during a story arc spread over several novels. Kate Orman is an Australian science-fiction author, best known for her books connected to the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

In the 2005 series, the Doctor's age is stated in publicity materials as 900 years, and in Aliens of London, he says, "Nine hundred years of time and space, and I've never been slapped by someone's mother." Rose follows up by asking him if he is 900 years old, and he replies affirmatively. He restates his age as 900 in The Empty Child and also in The Doctor Dances. 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ... Aliens of London is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on April 16, 2005. ... Rose Tyler is a fictional character played by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Empty Child is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on May 21, 2005. ... The Doctor Dances is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on May 28, 2005. ...

How this figure is to be reconciled with the Doctor's age in the rest of the series and other (arguably non-canon) sources is uncertain. Possibilities include the Doctor estimating his age or lying about it out of vanity (in The Ribos Operation he gave his age at 756, although Romana insisted it was 759). In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ...

Another possibility is that the Doctor is simply referring to the years he has been travelling for simplicity's sake, as opposed to his physical age (in The Empty Child he speaks of 900 years of "phone box" travel) which, if he began at 236, would make him 1,136 years old. This figure does fit roughly with the Eighth Doctor's period as chronicled in the spin-off media. Of course, all this also presupposes that the figures given correspond to Earth years and not Gallifreyan.

Changing fashions

The Doctor's clothing has also been equally distinctive, from the First Doctor's distinguished Edwardian suit, to the Second Doctor's slightly rumpled, Chaplinesque appearance to the frilly shirts and velvet coats of the dashing Third Doctor's era. The Fourth Doctor's long coat and trailing scarf accentuated his bohemian image, the Fifth's cricketer's outfit suited to his youthful, more aristocratic air and the Sixth's multi-coloured and mismatched jacket reflecting the excesses of 1980s fashion. From the Fourth Doctor onwards, the question mark became a motif of the Doctor's clothing, usually on the shirt collars or in the case of the Seventh Doctor, on his jumper. The Edwardian period or Edwardian era in the United Kingdom is the period 1901 to 1910, the reign of King Edward VII. It is sometimes extended to include the period to the start of World War I in 1914 or even the end of the war in 1918. ... Chaplin in his costume as The Tramp Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin, (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was the most famous actor in early to mid Hollywood cinema, and later also a notable director. ... Cricket is a team sport played between two groups of eleven players each. ... 1980 is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... A question mark An inverted question mark A question mark (or, less commonly, an interrogation point or eroteme) is a punctuation mark that replaces the period at the end of an interrogative sentence. ...

The Seventh Doctor's clothing was more subdued, also sporting an umbrella with a question mark for a handle and in later seasons a dark brown jacket as his personality grew darker and more mysterious. The Eighth Doctor harked back to the Edwardian dandy of earlier Doctors, and had a Byronesque air about him appropriate to his more Romantic personality. Lord Byron, English poet George Gordon (Noel) Byron, 6th Baron Byron (January 22, 1788 – April 19, 1824), English Romantic poet, was the most renowned English-language poet of his day. ...

In contrast to the distinctive looks of his predecessors, the Ninth Doctor wore a non-descript, worn black leather jacket, V-neck shirt and dark trousers. Eccleston stated that he felt that such definitive "costumes" were passé and that the character's trademark eccentricities should show through their actions and clever dialogue, not through gimmicky costumes. Despite this, there is a running joke about his character that the only piece of clothing he changes is his shirt, even when trying to "blend into" an historical era. (However, images of the Ninth Doctor seen in Rose from events such as the launch of the Titanic show that he does on occasion change his style of dress to match the times.) The running gag is a popular hallmark of comedy television shows and movies. ...

When the Tenth Doctor regenerated at the end of the 2005 series he was still dressed in the clothes of the Ninth Doctor. However, as seen in a BBC promotional photograph, the Tenth Doctor will be dressed in a brown pinstripe suit with tie, a light brown long coat and tennis shoes.

Reprising the role

On a few occasions, previous Doctors have returned to the role, guest-starring with the incumbent:

• Jon Pertwee and Patrick Troughton with William Hartnell in a minor role in The Three Doctors. Originally Hartnell's role had been intended to be more extensive, but his health had deteriorated to the extent that he could only make a limited appearance. In the end, it turned out to be his last television role.
• Troughton, Pertwee with Davison in The Five Doctors, the twentieth anniversary special, with another actor, Richard Hurndall, standing in for the late William Hartnell. The story began with a clip featuring Hartnell. Tom Baker declined to appear, feeling that the role came too soon after he had left the programme (a decision he later said he regretted) and the narrative was reworked to use clips from Shada, an intended six-part story from the Fourth Doctor's era that was never completed due to industrial action. A waxwork dummy of Baker was used in the publicity photographs. Shada was remade in 2003 as an animated webcast and audio play with Paul McGann and a different cast.
• Patrick Troughton with Colin Baker in The Two Doctors.
• Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Colin Baker, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy — with rubber dummy heads standing in for William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton — in Dimensions in Time, a charity special in aid of Children in Need in 1993, the programme's 30th anniversary year.
• Sylvester McCoy in the 1996 television movie, to hand over the role to Paul McGann.

Other actors have portrayed the character of the Doctor outside of the television series. For details on this see under Adaptations and other appearances in the main article and Doctor Who spin-offs. John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... The Three Doctors is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast in four weekly parts from the December 30, 1972 to January 20, 1973. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. ... Peter Davison (born April 13, 1951) is a British actor, most commonly associated with playing Tristan to Robert Hardys Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, whom he played from 1981 to 1984. ... The Five Doctors was a special movie-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programmes twentieth anniversary. ... Richard Hurndall (publicity portrait) Richard Gibbon Hurndall (November 3, 1910 – April 13, 1984) was a English stage, radio, film, and television actor. ... William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... Shada is an unaired serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, written by Douglas Adams. ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959) is an actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... Colin Baker (born June 8, 1943) is a British actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Two Doctors is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in three weekly parts from February 16 to March 2, 1985. ... John Devon Roland Pertwee (July 7, 1919–May 20, 1996), better known as Jon Pertwee, was a British actor. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... Colin Baker (born June 8, 1943) is a British actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Peter Davison (born April 13, 1951) is a British actor, most commonly associated with playing Tristan to Robert Hardys Siegfried in All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, whom he played from 1981 to 1984. ... Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... William Hartnell as the First Doctor William Henry Hartnell (January 8, 1908–April 23, 1975), a British actor, was the first actor to play the lead role of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1963 to 1966. ... Patrick George Troughton (March 25, 1920–March 28, 1987) was a versatile and prolific British actor. ... Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman outside the Queen Vic pub Dimensions in Time was a charity special of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that ran in two parts on November 27 and 28, 1993. ... Pudsey is the teddy bear logo of Children in Need, created by designer Joanna Ball and named after Balls home town, Pudsey, in West Yorkshire. ... 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... Paul McGann (born November 14, 1959) is an actor who made his name on the BBC serial The Monocled Mutineer, in which he played the lead role. ... Main article: History of Doctor Who Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television on November 23, 1963. ... Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

For a list of all actors who have played The Doctor see List of actors who have played Doctor Who. Since 1963 the following actors have played the character of Doctor Who: William Hartnell (TV - November 23, 1963–October 29, 1966) Peter Cushing (movies - Dr. ...

Discontinuities

Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor

A common contention among fans and producers of the series is that a large part of the Doctor's appeal comes from his mysterious and alien origins. While over the decades several revelations have been made about his background - that he is a Time Lord, that he is from Gallifrey, among others - the writers have often strived to retain some sense of mystery and to preserve the eternal question, "Doctor who?" This backstory was not rigidly planned from the beginning, but developed gradually (and somewhat haphazardly) over the years, the result of the work of many writers and producers. Image File history File links This work is copyrighted. ... Image File history File links This work is copyrighted. ... Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor Thomas Stewart Baker (born January 20, 1934) is a British actor, mainly associated with playing the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, whom he played from 1974 to 1981. ... The Fourth Doctor is the name given to the fourth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ...

Understandably, this has led to continuity problems. Characters such as the Meddling Monk were retroactively classified as Time Lords, early histories of races such as the Daleks were rewritten, and so on. The creation of a detailed backstory has also led to the criticism that too much being known about the Doctor limits both creative possibilities and the sense of mystery. In fiction, continuity is consistency of the characteristics of persons, objects, places and events seen by the reader or viewer. ... The Meddling Monk, or simply The Monk, is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Time Lords are a fictional race of humanoids, originating on the planet Gallifrey, seen in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Daleks (pronounced DAH-lecks; IPA: ) are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

Some of the stories during the Seventh Doctor's tenure, part of the so-called "Cartmel Masterplan", were intended to deal with this issue by suggesting that much of what was believed about the Doctor was wrong and that he was a far more powerful and mysterious figure than previously thought. In both an untelevised scene in Remembrance of the Daleks and the subsequent Silver Nemesis it was implied that the Doctor was more than "just another Time Lord." The suspension of the series in 1989 meant that none of these hints were ever resolved. The "Masterplan" was used as a guide for the Virgin New Adventures series of novels featuring the Seventh Doctor, and the revelations about the Doctor's origins were written into the novel Lungbarrow by Marc Platt. However, the canonicity of these novels, like all Doctor Who spin-offs, is unclear. Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a Scottish actor. ... Andrew Cartmel Andrew Cartmel is a British science-fiction writer and journalist. ... Remembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from October 5 to October 26, 1988. ... Silver Nemesis is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in three weekly parts from November 23 (the series 25th anniversary) to December 7, 1988. ... 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Virgin New Adventures were a series of novels from Virgin Publishing based on the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which had been cancelled in 1989, continuing the story of the series from where the television programme had left off. ... Marc Platt Marc Platt is a British writer. ... In the context of fiction, the canon of a fictional universe comprises those novels, stories, films, etc. ... Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

The 1996 television movie created even more uncertainty about the character, revealing (among other things) that his mother was human, although this may or may not be true. Fans, however, seemed to be more upset about the fact that the Eighth Doctor was shown kissing Dr. Grace Holloway, breaking the series' long-standing taboo against the Doctor having any romantic involvement with his companions. The 2005 series likewise appeared to be moving towards a Doctor-Companion romance of sorts, with the Doctor seen kissing Rose in the last episode of that series, The Parting of the Ways (although this also served another purpose). 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Daphne Ashbrook as Grace Holloway (from Enemy Within). ... Rose Tyler is a fictional character played by Billie Piper in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Parting of the Ways is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on June 18, 2005. ...

While some fans regard discontinuities as a problem, others regard it as a source of interest or humour (an attitude taken in the book The Discontinuity Guide). A common fan explanation is that a universe with time travellers is likely to have many historical inconsistencies. There has also been much fan speculation centred on exactly which aspects of the television series, books, radio dramatisations, and other sources were considered canon in the 2005 series. 2005 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar and is the current year. ...

Other appearances

• In the comic Death's Head
• In various episodes of The Simpsons including Treehouse of Horror X

Deaths Head II, Issue 1 Deaths Head is the name of an android bounty hunter - although he prefers Freelance peacekeeping agent, yes? -created by Simon Furman for the Marvel UK imprint of Marvel Comics, originally planned to star in his own series, but who was shelved. ... The Simpsons is the longest-running animated television series in American TV history, with 17 seasons and 356 episodes since it debuted on December 17, 1989 on FOX, and is a spinoff of The Tracey Ullman Show. ... Treehouse of Horror X is the fourth episode of The Simpsons eleventh season, as well as the tenth Halloween episode. ... The First Doctor is the name given to the first incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... ... The Fourth Doctor is the name given to the fourth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Sixth Doctor is the name given to the Sixth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Sylvester McCoy (born August 20, 1943) is a British actor. ... The Eighth Doctor is the name given to the eighth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Ninth Doctor refers to the ninth official incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor, in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Tenth Doctor is the name given to the tenth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Shalka Doctor or the Unofficial Ninth Doctor is the name given to the unofficial ninth incarnation of the Doctor, who has only appeared in the flash-animated serial Scream of the Shalka and the short story Feast of the Stone, which were based on the British science fiction television... The Dalek Film Doctor is the term used to refer to the character Dr. Who in the Dalek films, Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 AD, which are loosely based on the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... The Doctor Who diamond logo, used in the shows opening titles from 1973 to 1980 Doctor Who is a British television science-fiction series, produced and screened by the British Broadcasting Corporation on their BBC One channel from 1963 to 1989 in its original form, with a new series...

Footnotes

• 1. We do not see Patrick Troughton turn into Jon Pertwee's Doctor. The War Games had Troughton spinning away into nothingness as the serial ended and the next time we saw the Doctor in Spearhead from Space it was Jon Pertwee who stumbled out of the TARDIS, wearing Troughton's clothes. This left a possible gap between War Games and Spearhead into which some have inserted a hypothetical "Season 6B" for the Second Doctor (see The Two Doctors).

• 2. Colin Baker did not actually appear in the regeneration scene from Time and the Rani, as he declined to participate. Instead, Sylvester McCoy was seen briefly, wearing a blond wig, with his facial features obscured by a video effect before he regenerated into the Seventh Doctor.

• 3. Paul McGann did not return to film a regeneration scene, nor was a regeneration scene filmed with another actor to link between the 1996 Doctor Who television movie and the 2005 series. At the beginning of the 2005 series, it is implied that the Doctor has just regenerated when he comments on his his facial appearance in Rose. No reason is given for his regeneration, but some fans assume that this was a consequence of the Time War. Russell T. Davies has said that no regeneration scene was filmed because the scenes would only work if the audience had an emotional attachment to the previous Doctor, and one had not been established with the Eighth Doctor.

Spearhead from Space is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from January 3 to January 24, 1970. ... Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor in The Two Doctors Season 6B (also Season 6 (b)) refers to a popular fan theory related to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Two Doctors is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in three weekly parts from February 16 to March 2, 1985. ... Time and the Rani is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from September 7 to September 28, 1987. ... 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Main article: History of Doctor Who Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television on November 23, 1963. ... Doctor Who is a television movie based on the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Rose is an episode in the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on March 26, 2005. ...

References

• Howe, David J; Stammers, Mark & Walker, Stephen James (1996). Doctor Who: The Eighties (1st ed.). London: Virgin Publishing. ISBN 1-85227-680-0.
• Howe, David J & Walker, Stephen James (1998). Doctor Who: The Television Companion (1st ed.). London: BBC Books. ISBN 0-563-40588-0.
• Parkin, Lance (1996). Doctor Who: A History of the Universe - From Before The Dawn of Time and Beyond The End of Eternity. London: Virgin Publishing. ISBN 0-426-20471-9.

1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... BBC Books is the book publishing division of BBC Worldwide, the commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation. ...

See also

• Doctor Who
• History of Doctor Who
• List of Doctor Who serials
• Doctor Who spin-offs
• List of actors who have played the Doctor
  
• The Doctor in Wikiquote

Main article: History of Doctor Who Doctor Who first appeared on BBC television on November 23, 1963. ... The Doctor Who diamond logo, used in the shows opening titles from 1973 to 1980 Doctor Who is a British television science-fiction series, produced and screened by the British Broadcasting Corporation on their BBC One channel from 1963 to 1989 in its original form, with a new series... This is a list of Doctor Who television serials. ... Doctor Who spin-offs refers to material created outside of, but related to, the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The ten faces of the Doctor on television (clockwise from top-left) Since the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who began in 1963, many actors have played the title character of the Doctor on television, and in various spin-offs on television, stage, radio, film, audio plays...

External links

• Who's Doctor Who — biography based on the TV series only
• The Doctor's Biography — biography based on the TV series plus other media