The Evolution of the Doctor in Doctor Who: A Comprehensive Guide

Doctor Who has captivated audiences for over 60 years, starring numerous actors who have each brought their unique interpretation to the iconic role of the Doctor. In this article, we explore the order of the Doctors in the series, the main actors, and a ranking of their contributions to the franchise.

The Order of the Doctor in Doctor Who

The Doctor, a highly revered character in the British science fiction series, has been played by various actors across the years. Here is a chronological list of the Doctors, marking their timelines and the order of their appearance in the show:

Original Doctors

William Hartnell - 1963-1966 Patrick Troughton - 1966-1969 Jon Pertwee - 1970-1974 Tom Baker - 1974-1981 Peter Davison - 1982-1984 Colin Baker - 1984-1986 Sylvester McCoy - 1987-1989 Paul McGann - 1996 (one episode)

Modern Era Doctors

War Doctor (John Hurt) - 2013 (non-canonical) Christopher Eccleston - 2005 David Tennant - 2005-2010 (also for the 2030 sequel) Matt Smith - 2010-2013 Steven of War (Peter Capaldi) - 2013-2017 Jodie Whittaker - 2018-2022 David Tennant (returns in the 2030 sequel) Ncuti Gatwa (forthcoming 2023)

Actors Who Have Played the Doctor

While some actors have repeated their role, here is a list of those who have played the Doctor according to their order of appearance on the show:

William Hartnell Patrick Troughton Jon Pertwee Tom Baker Peter Davison Colin Baker Sylvester McCoy Christopher Eccleston David Tennant Matt Smith War Doctor (John Hurt) Peter Capaldi Jodie Whittaker David Tennant (returning) Ncuti Gatwa (forthcoming 2023)

Ranking of the Doctors: By Importance to the Franchise

Based on their significance to the Doctor Who franchise, the following ranking evaluates the contributions of each actor:

William Hartnell - Starting the show and becoming beloved by audiences Christopher Eccleston - Guiding the show to a new generation David Tennant - Incorporating a new era of popularity in Doctor Who Tom Baker - Becoming the face of Doctor Who to the world Patrick Troughton - Demonstrating that the character can continue with a new face Matt Smith - Leading the show during its peak popularity Jodie Whittaker - Introducing the first female incarnated Doctor Ncuti Gatwa (forthcoming 2023) - Expected to bring diversity to the character Jon Pertwee - Making the show an iconic “hide behind the couch” experience for many viewers Peter Capaldi - Providing a good Doctor during a period of declining writing Peter Davison - Delivering a great performance despite facing network challenges Sylvester McCoy - Handling a low-budget role with remarkable skill David Bradley (First Doctor) - Bringing charisma to the original role Paul McGann - Preserving the essence of the Doctor despite Hollywood interference John Hurt (War Doctor) - Bridging the ninth and tenth Doctors Richard Hurndall - An early replacement who played the role competently

This ranking reflects the impact and significance of each actor's contribution to the Doctor Who franchise. Each Doctor played a pivotal role in shaping the series and retaining its popularity over the years.