All 17 Doctors In Doctor Who, Ranked Worst To Best

Doctor Who is the world’s longest-running science-fiction TV show, and here’s our ranking of the various incarnations of the Doctor. Regeneration is the “secret sauce” of Doctor Who‘s success; the Doctor may be timeless, but the power of regeneration means the show is constantly evolving. A regeneration cap briefly seemed to offer an ominous limit to the Doctor’s longevity, but the Matt Smith era circumvented it (and it’s now entirely irrelevant given the Timeless Child retcon).

Naturally, there’s intense debate when it comes to ranking the Doctors. Everybody has their own favorite, frequently shaped by their own childhood; it’s almost impossible to be impartial, because the Doctors are so very different. Still, here’s our ranking, factoring in:

• The actor’s performance
• The quality of their writing
• The overarching character arc
• Interaction with supporting cast

17

Colin Baker

1984-1986

Sadly, the bottom of the list can only be Colin Baker’s Sixth Doctor. Baker stepped in at a time of crisis, when senior figures in the BBC were actively working to cancel Doctor Who, and there were many missteps in the writing; the show tipped towards a certain dark edginess, with the Doctor himself supposedly experiencing a regeneration gone wrong that left him more violent than ever before. His opening story even saw him try to throttle his companion. Even the costume design seemed wince-worthy.

With the benefit of hindsight, Colin Baker never really got the chance to shine on-screen; he didn’t even get a proper regeneration story. That said, Baker has had much more opportunities in other mediums, most notably some excellent Big Finish audios. These have demonstrated just how badly the Doctor Who TV show wasted him as an actor.

16

Jodie Whittaker

2018-2022

The first woman to play the Doctor, Jodie Whittaker is a fantastic and accomplished actor who nevertheless struggled to establish her own identity in the role. The problem really lay in the writing and general direction under showrunner Chris Chibnall, because Whittaker’s Doctor often felt like a passive observer rather than a dynamic force of nature, and many monologs were rendered flat by having her simply stand still – meaning the scenes lacked a sense of momentum. These issues were gradually resolved towards the end of her tenure, but it was all a little too late.

There are occasional moments of brilliance, scenes where Whittaker finally has the chance to demonstrate her own skill. This was most notable in Flux, a season-long story crafted to help the show deal with the complexities of filming during COVID. Even then, her effectiveness was blunted by the narrative inconsistencies of the story. There’s eager anticipation for Whittaker’s Big Finish debut, where many are hoping stronger writing will improve the Thirteenth Doctor’s arc.

15

Paul McGann

1996

It almost feels unfair ranking Paul McGann in this list; he only had two chances to play the Doctor on-screen. The first was in the 1996 TV movie, which is generally seen as a failure due to the unfortunate decision to give the Doctor post-regeneration amnesia; it’s very hard for an actor to create a strong sense of a character as complex as the Doctor, when the Doctor himself doesn’t know who he is. McGann returned in 2013 for “The Night of the Doctor,” a special minisode finally giving him a regeneration story.

As with so many of these lower entries, though, McGann’s Doctor shines in other mediums. The BBC published a fantastic Eighth Doctor range from 1996 through to 2005 (even giving him a Time War – likely inspiration for Russell T. Davies’ arc). McGann has absolutely loved getting the chance to play the Doctor in Big Finish audios, again proving he was a tragically missed opportunity for the Doctor Who TV show.

14

Jo Martin

2020-2022

The Thirteenth Doctor era introduced the lore-shaking idea of the Timeless Child, giving the Doctor pre-Hartnell incarnations. One of these was Jo Martin’s Fugitive Doctor, who crossed paths with her future self in “Fugitive of the Judoon” and would return several times during Whittaker’s tenure. Martin auditioned for the role of a tour guide, and never expected to play the Doctor, a part she truly excelled in.

The Fugitive Doctor appears low on this list simply because she had so little development. Martin was never the star of her own series (although she’s returning in Big Finish audio-dramas), and writer/showrunner Chris Chibnall deliberately left so much of her story vague. Still, there’s a fascinating sense of character continuity between Martin’s confident and dangerous portrayal and the initial Hartnell incarnation. She’s to be commended for pulling that off.

13

William Hartnell

1963-1966

Most viewers will generally agree with the first three entries in this ranking, but it may well be controversial to give William Hartnell such a low position. The core reason for this ranking is that Hartnell played the Doctor before the character had really taken shape, meaning he doesn’t quite fit with who the Doctor became. Watching his stories, you can see the foundations on which so much more would be built; but there are also mistakes and missteps, elements that were quickly abandoned.

Hartnell’s Doctor began as an irascible old man, but matured over the course of time into a gentle, compassionate grandfather figure to so many compelling companions. The actor sadly passed away in 1975, but the First Doctor was subsequently brought back by Richard Hurndall (in “The Five Doctors”) and David Bradley (“Twice Upon A Time,” “The Power of the Doctor”). The First Doctor’s more recent appearances have come in for heavy criticism for overplaying the character’s casual, dated sexism.

12

Peter Davison

1982-1984

It’s time for another controversial one: Peter Davison’s Fifth Doctor. The youngest actor to play the role (at the time), Davison sometimes struggled to convey the sense of confidence that lies at the heart of an ancient, timeless being. That said, he’s particularly notable for the tremendous dynamic with his supporting cast; the Davison era was the first one where the companions really felt like they had arcs of their own, ones that intersected with the Doctor.

Davison is most fondly remembered for his epic regeneration story, “The Caves of Androzani,” which gave him the chance to imbue his Doctor with a sharper edge than ever before. Although this foreshadows the stumbles of the Sixth Doctor era, it is the contrast between “The Caves of Androzani” and Davison’s other stories that really makes it work so effectively. It’s perhaps the best regeneration story in Doctor Who history.

11

Ncuti Gatwa

2023-?

The Doctor’s latest incarnation, Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor still feels as though he’s finding his feet. Modern Doctor Who has worked hard to give the Doctor a sense of character continuity, but that’s sadly been missing from Gatwa’s stories so far; in fact, many argue there are “better” viewing orders for Doctor Who season 14. Still, Gatwa’s portrayal in episodes such as “Boom,” “Dot and Bubble,” and “Rogue” is fantastic, showing his potential.

Gatwa will return this year in Doctor Who season 15, when many hope some of the missteps of his first season will be resolved. This is, however, unlikely; the two seasons were shot straight after one another, before season 14 aired, meaning it’s too soon to expect a course-correction. There will hopefully be a future course-correction down the line.

10

David Tennant

2022-2023

David Tennant has the curious distinction of being the only actor to play two versions of the Doctor. He returned alongside Russell T. Davies as part of Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary celebrations, and Tennant loved the opportunity to play the part again. This was a subtly different Doctor, older and wiser, but now dealing with the fresh trauma of “Flux.”

This felt like something of a Last Hurrah, with Tennant reunited with Catherine Tate’s Donna Noble as well. He starred in three 60th anniversary specials, all penned by Davies, giving the Fourteenth Doctor another strong arc. Some felt he took the shine a little from Gatwa in “The Giggle,” but it was all so very well-received.

9

Christopher Eccleston

2005

Christopher Eccleston was an unusually high-profile actor to play the part of the Doctor when the show returned in 2005, courtesy of showrunner Russell T. Davies. He was a very different Doctor, a traumatized Time Lord who was struggling to deal with the pain he had suffered during the Time War. Not only did the Time War serve to wipe the slate clean, it also gave the Ninth Doctor an incredibly strong arc. He laid the foundation for modern Doctor Who.

In modern Who, the companion serves as an audience surrogate, the window through which viewers experience the Doctor. The dynamic between Eccleston and Billie Piper’s Rose was absolutely electric, especially in episodes like “Dalek” and “Father’s Day.” Eccleston sadly left under a cloud after conflict with Davies, leaving bad blood that meant he stayed away from even Big Finish until recently.

8

John Hurt

2013

The late John Hurt made a shock debut in “The Name of a Doctor,” in a striking scene in which Jenna Coleman’s Clara Oswald was blasted through the Doctor’s timeline. Known as the War Doctor, Hurt’s incarnation of the Time Lord suffered through the Time War. He was the one who ultimately made the decision to destroy both the Daleks and the Time Lords, for the sake of the galaxy – or so he thought, with “The Day of the Doctor” revealing the truth.

Hurt’s War Doctor is a fantastic character, tortured by the conflict he has been part of. “The Day of the Doctor” is easily one of the best Doctor Who stories of all time, largely because of Hurt’s interaction with Matt Smith and David Tennant, and in part because of Hurt’s strong arc. In the end, he learned he was the Doctor after all, saving Gallifrey with the help of his future selves.

7

Jon Pertwee

1970-1974

Now let’s return to classic Doctor Who, the fantastic Jon Pertwee. “The War Games” left the newly-regenerated Third Doctor exiled to Earth, one of the most dramatic relaunches in the show’s history, with a larger supporting cast than ever before. Pertwee found himself at the heart of a family involving actors such as Roger Delgado, Katy Manning, and Nicholas Courtney. It’s no exaggeration to say he loved it, and that passion showed through into his performance. Pertwee’s Doctor was more like James Bond than anything else (complete with Venusian Aikido and a love of vehicles).

Pertwee ultimately left when the family began to break up. Roger Delgado’s tragic death in 1973 served as the catalyst for this, and Manning left later that year, in “The Green Death.” Pertwee ended it all with a memorable (albeit dated) story, “The Planet of the Spiders,” that tried to bring together both the Earth-bound and cosmic scale of his Doctor Who era. His abiding love for Doctor Who is clearly displayed in the fact his memoir was simply titled “I Am The Doctor.”

6

Patrick Troughton

1966-1969

Modern viewers tend to forget just how much a gamble regeneration was. When Patrick Troughton took over as the Second Doctor, he was doing something nobody else had ever tried before, and the stakes were high. His regeneration story, “The Power of the Daleks,” plays it well; the Doctor’s companions are as confused and uncertain as viewers, and took time to be won over, truly serving as audience surrogates. From the outset, Troughton’s Doctor was unpredictable and eccentric, almost impossible to pin down.

This was Troughton’s genius. His Doctor knew he was the smartest man in the room, and he had a sense of darkness to him that meant villains often thought he’d switched sides (and sometimes viewers wondered, too). Yet he could also be wonderfully charming and almost clownish, making him a delight. Troughton set the pattern for so many future Doctors, with Matt Smith in particular owing Troughton for his inspiration.

5

Peter Capaldi

2014-2017

A Doctor Who fan since his childhood, Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor was another very different version of the Time Lord. His original arc focused on the Doctor trying to decide just what kind of a man he really was, struggling to reinvent himself after a regeneration he never thought would happen. Doctor Who season 8 didn’t quite win people over, though, and the story pivoted ever so slightly in later seasons. Capaldi’s rough start proved the beginning of a veritable tour de force.

Capaldi’s Doctor was much more emotionally reserved than previous incarnations in modern Doctor Who, and this allowed him to play well against the likes of Jenna Coleman and Michelle Gomez (whose female Master foreshadowed Jodie Whittaker’s debut). There’s an intensity to Capaldi’s performance that makes episodes like “Face the Raven” and “Heaven Sent” work so well. It will hardly surprise viewers to see Capaldi so high up in this ranking.

4

Sylvester McCoy

1987-1996

Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor came in at one of the lowest points in Doctor Who‘s history, as the show struggled to survive. This is the tragedy of the McCoy era; his performance (and his fantastic dynamic with Sophie Aldred) blazed the trail for Doctor Who‘s future, but it was too late. Doctor Who was canceled in 1989, although McCoy would reprise the role of the Doctor in 1996’s ill-fated TV movie.

McCoy’s Doctor started out comedic, but became increasingly dark as his era continued. It was heavily Influenced by the so-called “Cartmel Masterplan,” a smart strategy by script editor Andrew Cartmel, which aimed to restore the Doctor’s mystery. There’s so much in the Seventh Doctor era that modern viewers take for granted; a more serialized approach, an arc for the companions, and a willingness to more directly confront contemporary politics. McCoy’s departure inspired the popular New Adventures novels, which saw Doctor Who grow up a lot over the years (perhaps a little too much).

3

Tom Baker

1974-1981

Tom Baker became the definitive Doctor for almost all classic Doctor Who viewers, in large part because of the length of his tenure. The Fourth Doctor, Baker’s range made him unlike any of his predecessors; he was even better at switching from dark intensity to comedic buffoonery than Patrick Troughton. Ironically, Baker’s increasing confidence became a problem in the end; he became somewhat frustrating to work with, too sure of the Doctor’s direction, reluctant to change.

Even now, Baker is emblematic of classic Who: the Doctor as a madman in a blue box, stumbling from crisis to crisis, unable to resist getting involved. It’s impossible to present a full list of classic stories that were enhanced by his presence, but they include unforgettable tales such as “Genesis of the Daleks,” “Horror of Fang Rock,” and “The Deadly Assassin.” Baker should not be underestimated, and he deserves a high ranking in this list.

2

David Tennant

2005-2010

Tom Baker defined classic Doctor Who, but there’s a sense in which David Tennant defines the modern era. The most famous actor to play the Doctor under showrunner Russell T. Davies, Tennant has it all; a certain whimsical charm when he wants, a brooding intensity on other occasions, and a madcap zaniness that made some moments unforgettable. He also has a very strong arc, one that culminates in the controversial “Time Lord Victorious” stories.

Classic Doctor Who viewers were taken aback by Tennant’s Tenth Doctor, not least because this was an incarnation who was more than happy to have hanky-panky in the TARDIS. He only comes second on this list because, in this writer’s opinion, his dynamic with Billie Piper’s Rose wasn’t quite as strong; season 2 was a weak start to the Tennant era, and he would go on to exceed it on so many different occasions. Still, Doctor Who would never be quite as big in the U.K. as it was under Tennant.

1

Matt Smith

2010-2013

It’s very difficult to choose between Matt Smith and David Tennant for first place in this ranking, but Smith comes slightly higher because of the consistency of his arc. A tremendously skilled actor, Smith patterned his Eleventh Doctor on Patrick Troughton, right down to the bow-tie; his Doctor moves from eccentric foolishness to brooding menace at whipcrack speed. Smith is also notable for the skill with which he plays against so many other actors, notably Karen Gillen, Arthur Darvill, and Alex Kingston.

Smith’s Doctor faced the challenge of winning viewers over when he came straight after David Tennant. “The Eleventh Hour” won most over straightaway (including with a fantastic Doctor monologue), and he went from strength to strength throughout his tenure. There’s a sense in which Smith’s is the most human Doctor – the first to fully indulge in human sexuality, right down to having a crush on a character in a book – but he’s also so very awkward and unsure of himself. He feels like an ancient being in a young human male body, a perfect portrayal of Doctor Who‘s greatest hero.