Doctor Who is one of the longest-running shows of all time. Since 1962, the science-fiction drama has been a staple of British entertainment (if we ignore its hiatus across the 90s and early 200os).
Since its return from hiatus in 2005, the show has gone from strength to strength, with the show growing in popularity around the world with its modern and innovative storylines. However, while the modern show is fantastic it is important to remember the history of the show. This article will rank the best Doctors from the classic era.
6th Doctor
Most fans of the show will understand why the 6th Doctor has taken the basement ranking on this list. Firstly, immediately after the Doctor’s regeneration into his 6th incarnation, the Time Lord begins to strangle his companion. This was clearly shocking, un-Doctor like behavior and undoubtedly left a bad impression on the viewers as the time.
Secondly, the 6th Doctor’s outfit was simply heinous. It was a horrific blend of colors that did not match all thrown together on one patchwork quilt of a coat. This isn’t to say that Colin Baker didn’t play his role well, it is just that his Doctor is certainly not a fan favorite.
8th Doctor
This one isn’t the fault of the actor, or even the character of the Eighth Doctor, rather, his placement on this list is largely due to the lack of time we had with the character. The Eighth Doctor appeared in the Nineties TV movie Doctor Who. The movie was made with the intention of launching Doctor Who in the US, but this didn’t work out despite the casting of actors such as Eric Roberts.
Due to the film’s failure, Paul McGann’s Doctor’s only main appearance was in this TV movie and did not give wider audiences a chance to connect with the character.
7th Doctor
While Paul McGann’s placement on this list is largely due to his lack of time in the role, Sylvester McCoy’s Doctor is placed relatively low on this due to the quality of the writing during his time as the Doctor. While McCoy’s portrayal was fantastic, the writing did not truly allow the actor to flourish as much as he could in the role of the Time Lord.
It is indicative of the quality of the writing that the show went on hiatus after Sylvester McCoy’s final season as the titular Time Lord.
2nd Doctor
The Second Doctor had an incredibly difficult job. Not only was Patrick Troughton taking over the role of an incredibly popular character, but he also had to steer the character through the risky business that was regeneration. While the idea of regeneration proved to be a fantastic idea by the Doctor Who writers, it could easily have failed and its success must be attributed, at least in part, to Patrick Troughton’s Doctor.
The Second Doctor also represented a huge shift in the character of the Doctor. Troughton was, clearly, much younger than William Hartnell and this allowed for a more physical performance.
5th Doctor
In a similar manner to Patrick Troughton’s challenge to replace William Hartnell, Peter Davison had a similar challenge in replacing Tom Baker. The Fourth Doctor was one of the longest-serving and most popular Doctors of all time, so there would naturally be some difficulty in replacing such a popular role.
However, Davison excelled in the role and went on to become one of the most popular Doctors of all time. This was also achieved while possessing the handicap of the stick of celery on his costume that could easily have dampened the character in fans’ eyes.
1st Doctor
The First Doctor must take a high place on this list. The first incarnation of the legendary Time Lord was portrayed by William Hartnell and his portrayal of the character helped to transform Doctor Who from a low budget, British science-fiction show, into a cultural phenomenon that would continue to run for over fifty years.
The First Doctor’s run on the show gave fans the legendary Daleks and the terrifying Cybermen, causing children everywhere (and some parents) to hide behind the sofa during episodes. Without the amazing portrayal of William Hartnell, the show would certainly not be where it is today.
3rd Doctor
While most incarnations of the Doctor were known for their ability to pilot the TARDIS to any location or time, Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor spent a large portion of his time in exile on Earth. This makes the Third Doctor an incredibly interesting character to watch develop. Rather than relying on his TARDIS, the Doctor must use his own wits and create advanced technology out of every day Earth materials.
While the Third Incarnation could have triggered a decline in the quality of the show, Jon Pertwee excelled in his role as the Time Lord and was incredible to watch. In addition to his magnificent performance, the Pertwee era also introduced us to iconic Doctor Who characters including the Master, the Autons, the Sontarans, and even the institution of UNIT.
4th Doctor
No other incarnation could have received first place on this list. Tom Baker portrayed the Fourth Incarnation of the Time Lord from 1974 to 1981, meaning that Baker portrayed the Doctor longer than any other actor to accept the role. Due to his vast amount of time in the TARDIS and his immense popularity, Tom Baker is THE Doctor for many fans of the show.
Even today, fans of Doctor Who who weren’t even born during Baker’s run as the Doctor wear his iconic long scarf to conventions and quote his famous ‘would you like a jelly baby?’ line. While ranking some of the other incarnations of the Doctor was a struggle, placing the Fourth Doctor in first place was the easiest decision.
