Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series, which was first broadcast in 1963. It was brought to our screens by Sydney Newman, CE Webber, and Donald Wilson with the purpose of educating the British public through a combination of historical and futuristic adventures, however, the show grew into something much more magical.

At the centre of the show is The Doctor, a time lord from the planet Gallifrey. He possesses the ability to regenerate meaning that when they’re about to die, they can transform into a new body and personality. This allows for multiple different actors to play the role and allows for the show to continuously evolve. The Doctor travels through time in a ship called the TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) that may look like a British Police box, but is deceptively large on the inside.

The first season of the show introduces William Hartnell as the first rendition of The Doctor, who sets the tone for the Time Lord’s eccentricity and love for adventure. This was followed up by subsequent Doctors including Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker, who all brought their flair to the show and solidified it as one of the nation’s favourites. Tom Baker’s era is seen as the “Golden age” of Doctor Who, as his quirky personality alongside great companions such as Sarah Jane Smith, captured the imagination of the viewers.

The exit of Tom Baker in 1981 initiated the eventual demise of the show in 1989. The following Doctors struggling to stake a claim in the hearts of fans, writers struggling with new ideas for episodes and a schedule change to Mondays and Tuesdays all played their parts in the cancellation of the show. Viewing figures drastically dropped and that seemed like the end for the show loved by so many. 

After a 16-year hiatus, Doctor Who finally returned to the big screen with Christopher Eccleston as the ninth portrayal of the Doctor. The revival of the series introduced a new generation to the show and Christopher Eccleston’s performance laid the groundwork for much of Doctor Who’s recent success. His incarnation was fresh from the time war and wandering the universe in his TARDIS, until he met Rose Tyler who played a big part in the show as the Doctors companion alongside her boyfriend Mickey Smith. Although Eccleston’s stint was short, it left a lasting impression on the fans.

After Eccleston’s short stint, came arguably Doctor Who’s greatest portrayal via David Tennant. Throughout David Tennant’s tenure, the series explored a range of themes and emotions, and his companions played a central role. Travelling the universe with Rose Tyler, Martha Jones and Donna Noble shaped his character and whilst normally seeming clever and quirky, he was able to show a more vulnerable side to the TimeLord. Tennant spent around 4 years playing the Doctor and is considered one of the most iconic iterations of a character to ever touch our TV screens. 

Once David Tennant’s 4-year stretch sadly came to an end in 2010, the torch was passed over to Matt Smith. Even though he had very big boots to fill, alongside companions such as Amy Pond, Rory Williams and Clara Oswald, he did a fantastic job. His eccentric energy and his quirky fashion sense instantly captured the viewer’s attention and his wise but childish nature is what fans remember him best for. The tugging of the heartstrings made his final episode a tough watch, however, fans will always be thankful to Smith for what he brought to this role. 

After Smith, it was the turn of Peter Capaldi, who was one of the most famous Doctor’s before the role. He offered a different perspective on the role, by exploring the Doctor’s more dark and more mature side. While his character began to be spiky and pragmatic, over time he became more compassionate with the help of companions; Clara Oswald, Bill Potts and Nardole. Although he may not have been as loved as the previous two Doctors, Capaldi’s portrayal opened a new side to the Doctor, which left a lasting impact on the series. 

The thirteenth Doctor portrayed by Jodie Whittaker, made history for the series as the first female Doctor. Her version of the character showed similar characteristics to Matt Smith’s Doctor with her enthusiasm. She travelled with three companions at the same time, Ryan Sinclair, Graham O’Brien and Yasmin Khan, who all played parts in allowing Whittaker’s warm and lively nature to shine through. Being the first woman to portray the Doctor, leads the show to potentially new opportunities where more women can take up the mantle.

Throughout the years, the show has brought multitudes of iconic villains to our screens. Some of the villains feel almost as important to the show as the Doctor, due to them being on our screens for so long and being as important to some of the storylines. 

Some of the villains The Doctor has faced off with throughout the years include the Cybermen, Weeping Angels, Missy, The Master and many more, however none more iconic than the Daleks. Starring as the Doctor’s longest-running nemesis, it never feels like the series is complete without them showing up. As much as you may hate them, the Doctor wouldn’t be the same without the Daleks constantly trying to conquer the universe. 

Now that Jodie Whittaker has left the role, all the attention has turned to the next Doctor, N’cuti Gatwa. Although we currently don’t know what his adaptation of the character will look like, we can all hope that he lives up to the incredibly high standards set by the previous Doctors.