It’s been more than six decades now since the very first episode ofDoctor Whofirst aired. It hasn’t always been plain sailing, but, after more than 850 episodes, the show still has a fairly large following and fans all over the world. A lot of the series' themes and antagonists have remained largely unchanged during this time, although the same cannot be said of its titular character.
Since the show’s debut back in 1963, there have been 14 different iterations of the Doctor; 16, if John Hurt’s War Doctor and Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor are included. Each one has brought something a little different to the role, although some have done a much better job of bringing theclassic sci-fi characterto life than others.
Updated June 13, 2025, by Tom Bowen:The sixtieth-anniversary specials were full of big surprises. Ncuti Gatwa coming in as the fifteenth doctor wasn’t one of them, but the manner in which he was introduced definitely was. Thanks to Bigeneration, there are now two different versions of the Doctor in existence, with David Tennant’s Doctor seemingly destined to ride off into the sunset for the time being. He does so as one of the very best versions of the character, butevery version of the Doctordeserves praise for what they have brought to the role.
The Fifteenth Doctor
Portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa
As of the time of writing, it’s still far too early to judge Ncuti Gatwa’s take on the Doctor, though the early signs are certainly promising. As the last of three sixtieth-anniversary specials edged closer toward its thrilling conclusion, viewers were introduced to an incredibly assertive character who exudes both gravitas and confidence in equal measures.
With Russell T Davies back at the helm, these qualities should hopefully be put to good use and explored in more detail as future episodes begin to air. Thankfully, fans of the show won’t have to wait too long to get another taste of Gatwa’s Doctor, as although there’s still no word on when exactlySeries 14 ofDoctor Whowill air in 2024, they’ll at least have a Christmas special to look forward to in late 2023.
14The Sixth Doctor
Portrayed by Colin Baker
Though the show’s decline in quality had more to do with lackluster writing and a lack of ideas than Colin Baker’s portrayal of the Doctor, there are very few moments of real quality to be found throughout the episodes in which the actor starred. In fact, his best moments as the Doctor arguably came in the Radio 4 drama,Slipback, rather than on the silver screen.
The sixth Doctor is best remembered for his passionate retorts and vibrant outfits, the latter of which was often at great odds with his tendency to lose his temper. Perhaps there’s a parallel universe in which Baker took up the role during the golden age of the show rather than in the midst of its downfall, but in this one, his time as the Doctor was both underwhelming and forgettable.
13The Eighth Doctor
Portrayed by Paul McGann
It’s difficult to judge Paul McGann’s Doctor too harshly given how little screen time he ended up getting.Doctor Who: The TV Moviewas originally planned to act as a springboard with which to relaunch the series, but after a seven-year hiatus, it struggled to find an audience and the show ended up lying dormant for another nine years.
The eighth Doctor’s sole solo outing was actually quite a good one, with McGann going toe to toe with the Master after his time machine malfunctions. His Doctor was a classy one in many respects and was not too dissimilar to Peter Capaldi’s portrayal in terms of his stern and, at times, serious demeanor.
12The Seventh Doctor
Portrayed by Sylvester McCoy
Sylvester McCoy has the unfortunate honor of having gone down with the ship, so to speak, with his portrayal of the Doctor being the last before the show slipped into a long and silent slumber. In truth though, the writing had been on the wall for quite some time when he was handed the role, so to suggest that this was in any way his fault would be incredibly unfair.
McCoy’s Doctor was a fairly silly one, though was capable of taking things seriously when the situation called for it. His outfits typically looked like a mismatched bundle of charity shop bargains, though, perhaps thanks to the actor’s charm and non-threatening persona, he was actually able to pull off this atrocious attire surprisingly well.
11The Third Doctor
Portrayed by Jon Pertwee
Though they are all a little different, no Doctor stands out quite as much as Jon Pertwee’s. Those who arrived before him and many who have followed since have leaned into the idea ofbrains over brawn. The third Doctor, however, liked to use both in equal measure and was a keen practitioner of Venusian aikido.
The character’s physical prowess completely changed the vibe of the show at times, although his personality was not too different from those of his predecessors. That said, his anger and frustration did sometimes get the better of him. The storylines in which he featured weren’t all that great, although fan-favorite characters like Sarah Jane and the Master were introduced during Pertwee’s tenure.
10The Thirteenth Doctor
Portrayed by Jodie Whittaker
The decision to replace Peter Capaldi with a female Doctor didn’t go down too well with some series fans, although Jodie Whittaker did an excellent job of silencing her critics. Granted, the thirteenth Doctor’s exuberant and kind-hearted personality was in stark contrast to the dour disposition of her predecessor, but it worked just as well most of the time.
Unfortunately, Whittaker was let down by a series of shoddy story arcs, which many feel were missing both the bite and the bravado that fans had come to expect from the NewWhoera. Whittaker’s last few seasons were some of the most underwhelming since the show’s return in 2005, although her strong performances at least offered fans a silver lining of sorts
9The First Doctor
Portrayed by William Hartnell
It’s been more than half a century since William Hartnell’s Doctor made his on-screen debut and while he may not be the most memorable Doctor, he just might be the most important. Against all of the odds, Hartnell helped the show build an audience and laid the foundations onto which much of its success has since been built.
Hartnell’s was a cold and distant Doctor that tended to talk at people rather than to them. What he lacked in personal skills though, he more than made up for with his grandeur and credibility. Future Doctors would go on to fill in some of the gaps, but without that credibility, the show would likely have been canned after just one season.
8The Fourteenth Doctor
Portrayed by David Tennant
The announcement that David Tennant would be returning as the fourteenth Doctor was met with a certain degree of skepticism; with some believing that the actor was being brought back simply to play on people’s nostalgia and to help steady the ship. However, the sixtieth-anniversary specials showed that Tennant’s Doctor still has a story to tell and offered viewers something that had been missing from the show since its inception all those years ago.
The idea of a version of the Doctor going on to live a (relatively) normal life probably won’t make for captivating television, but for a character who has spent their whole existence fighting evil and keeping the universe safe, it’s nice to see them finally given a chance to rest and live their life like a (relatively) normal person. Moving forward, the fact that they can be brought back into the fold at a moment’s notice should prove interesting too, as there’ll presumably be plenty of opportunities for dual-Doctor escapades.
7The Ninth Doctor
Portrayed by Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston’s tenure as the Doctor was a relatively short one, but the actor played a vital role in the revival of a series that, at the time, had not been broadcast regularly for more than 15 years. Rose and Jack certainly helped out with some of the heavy lifting in this regard, but the brunt of the weight was very much on the Doctor himself.
Eccleston’s perhapswasn’t the most likable Doctorthat fans have seen over the years, nor did he offer up the over-the-top campiness that many had come to expect from the character. The grit and volatility that the actor brought to the role perfectly complimented the story arcs in which he featured though and was arguably exactly what the show needed at the time.
6The Fifth Doctor
Portrayed by Peter Davison
Filling the shoes of Tom Baker was never going to be an easy task, but Peter Davison was a much better fit than some might have expected. His Doctor was defined by his charm and charisma and these are qualities that Davison was able to deliver consistently throughout his three years on the show.
While the decision to revert to a more serious Doctor may have been seen as a backward step by some, Davison’s tenure also brought with it the return of some of the series' mosticonic antagonists. There were ups and downs, but, considering what was to follow, hindsight suggests that the actor deserves quite a bit of credit for keeping the show afloat.
5The Eleventh Doctor
Portrayed by Matt Smith
Matt Smith’s Doctor borrows a lot from the character’s fourth iteration, but while both offera healthy dose of quirkiness, the former arguably does so at the expense of the character’s dignity. During some of the lighter story arcs this isn’t really an issue, but, when the stakes are high, it can sometimes be a little difficult to take the eleventh Doctor too seriously.
Following in the footsteps of David Tennant was always going to be difficult, but Smith’s Doctor arguably falls some way short. He does have his moments, but his zany antics are just far too often at odds with the show’s darker storylines. Much like the fez and the tweed suit, Smith’s interpretation of the character and Stephen Moffat’s writing just did not go well together.
