There are two types of people in this world: those for whom ‘doctor, who?’ is a question and those who know the answer:Doctor Who. If you consider yourself a Whovian, then you’re probably a diehard fan who has your opinion on whoranks as the best Doctor. In reality, it’s difficult to compare Doctors to each other, as each actor or actress brought their own unique spin and flare to the Time Lord, thus making the role their own.
For example, Christopher Eccleston was the cool, cynical doctor known for exclaiming “Fantastic!” While his starring role as The Doctor only lasted for one season of the show, he made a big splash as the first Doctor to kick off the new season of the rebooted franchise. His portrayal was very different from Peter Capaldi’s grumpy, grandfatherly Doctor, who frequently ordered people to shut up. Plus, we can’t forget about Jodie Whittaker, who caught the eye of fans as the first woman to play The Doctor, orNcuti Gatwa, who was castas the 15th Doctor and who takes center stage as the first Black lead in the show, though not necessarily playing the first Black Doctor, as actress Jo Martin played an alternative version of The Doctor for several episodes in season 12 opposite Whittaker’s 13th Doctor.
While each actor or actress offered a different take on the beloved Doctor, some performances do stand out from the rest. Yet it is hard to argue that when it comes to the most famous Doctor, the two names that tend to pop up are Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor andDavid Tennantas the 10th Doctor. Tom Baker made a return in the 50th Anniversary Special, “The Day of the Doctor,” that hinted in the future, the Doctor would recycle some old favorite faces, which is now playing out as Tennant returned as The 14th Doctor for a series of specials to tie in with Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary. Here is why David Tennant remains the best Doctor of the bunch.
Update August 01, 2025: This article has been updated by Valerie Parker following David Tennant’s return to Doctor Who as the 14th Doctor in a trio of specials to celebrate the 60th Anniversary.
Doctor WhoInspired David Tennant to Become an Actor
It’s ironic that Scottish actor David Tennant would become the 10th doctor, as the show was actually the reason that he decided to become an actor in the first place. According toMental Floss, around the age of 3 or 4, David Tennant decided to pursue a career in acting after being inspired by watchingDoctor Who.It’s even reported that he used to get in trouble at school due to all the essays he would write about the sci-fi show. Therefore, it’s ironic and fateful that he would eventually get to play his dream role of the Time Lord.
Related:Doctor Who Fan Poll Names David Tennant as Most Popular Time Lord
When Tennant was first cast as the 10th doctor in 2005, he had already made his mark as an actor, having appeared in several films, BBC series, Shakespeare plays, and other stage productions. In fact, the same year Tennant made his debut as The Doctor, he had shot onto the radar of many fans playing Barty Crouch Jr. inHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. That movie was released on July 22, 2025, in between the end of series 1 where he regonorated and a month before his Christmas Special would air.
His role as the time-traveling Doctor brought him international fame and a worldwide audience. Today, Tennant is a world-renowned and critically acclaimed actor and has come a very long way from his first onscreen appearance when he was just a teenager. He is a sample of genre franchise as he played the villainous Kilgrave onJessica Jones, voiced Scrooge McDuck in the reboot ofDuck Tales, and voices the droid Huyang onStar Wars: The Clone Warsand recently reprised inAhoska. Yet it is still The Doctor that remains his most iconic role.
A Suave, Charming, and Sophisticated Doctor
David Tennant made hisDoctor Whodebut right after Christopher Eccleston’s Doctor regenerated when he sacrificed himself to save companion Rose Tyler’s life. For many viewers, Tennant was relatively unknown and therefore, the audience wasn’t sure what to expect from this new Doctor. Nonetheless,Tennant quickly became one of the most beloved Doctors on the show. His portrayal as a Time Lord was one of confidence and charisma that earned him the status of a sex symbol. Additionally, the 10th Doctor is known for his romantic feelings for his first companion, Rose Tyler, an entanglement with the real-life historical figure Madame de Pompadour, and an unrequited love story with his second companion, Martha Jones.
While many of the companions look up to The Doctor and think of him as a savior to the universe, David Tennant brings humbleness and weariness to The Doctor. His portrayal showed the toll his adventures had taken on him, expressing regrets at past mistakes or things he couldn’t fix and people he couldn’t save. Tennant’s Doctor was suave and sophisticated, but he also wasn’t arrogant.
He became a heartthrob of a Doctor, and many fans developed crushes on him. He was the coolest dressed Doctor, with a pinstripe suit and a pair of Converse, as well as a more swashbuckling version of the character that the professor archetype of the original series. This Doctor was a man of action. His portrayal was incredibly human and relatable, as he always tried to do the right thing and save the day (or the entire human population). Yet that choice wasn’t always easy, ultimately resulting in the 10th Doctor’s demise.
A Heartbreaking Ending
There are many debates on the internet as to which actor to portray the character has been the best Doctor. However, the show speaks for itself as David Tennant’s regeneration is one of the most dramatic, drawn-out, heartbreaking deaths in the franchise. In the final episode of season four of the new series, the 10th Doctor saves his human friend Wilfred Mott by taking his place in a radiation booth, thus triggering a regeneration process from radiation poisoning.
Related:David Tennant is Back as Doctor Who in New Set Photos
Before the 10th Doctor succumbs to his fate, the audience is treated to a trip down memory lane as he visits familiar faces to say goodbye before the next chapter as a new face takes over. It gives the show a chance to give updates on some of the fan-favorite characters of the Russel T Davies and Tennant era of the series, as well as a look at a Rose Tyler before we knew her, giving The Doctor a chance to say goodbye to someone special to him who he couldn’t visit otherwise, as the Rose Tyler of the moment is locked in another universe with a human copy of The Doctor.
Before he enters the TARDIS to regenerate, The Doctor sees an Ood standing in the snow. In a painfully heartbreaking moment, The Ood tells The Doctor that “The universe will sing you to your sleep.” As the Time Lord succumbs to the radiation poisoning, we get a final closeup of his face in which he tells the universe, “I don’t wanna go.” His pain is reflected in his face and perhaps mirrors David Tennant’s sadness at leaving the show and bidding his dream role farewell.
Tennant’s Tenure Coienceded With The Series Airing On Netflix
Doctor Whohas always had a massive fandom in the United Kingdom, but it has always been a niche show for audiences outside the country. Even with the revival series, due to broadcast issues and licensing, the series would air in the United States on the then-titled Sci-Fi network months after the original UK broadcast. Yet Tennant’s tenure as the Doctor certainly brought with it a greater fanbase.
Then, when the series hit Netflix, just as Matt Smith was stepping into the role,Doctor Whoexploded into mainstream popularity across the globe. Audiences who were going back to discoverDoctor Whoquickly fell in love with David Tennant’s episodes, and because they were available to stream all at once, it made the show a bigger hit, and with it, David Tennant’s version of the character.
Tennant’s Return to The Doctor
Since Tennant’s departureDoctor Whohas continued under two different showrunners, Steven Moffat and Chris Chibnall, and Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, and Jodie Whittaker have all taken their swing at portraying one of the most beloved characters in British television history. Still, every time a new poll is done of the British public to find out who was their favorite Doctor, Tennant’s 10th Doctor is always on top by a considerable margin.
Therefore, while it was initially shocking to discover that not only was Russel T. Davies returning as showrunner upon the departure of Chibnall, but he’d be bringing back Tennant to the role that made him a star. Fans speculated for some time as to how the 10th Doctor would make his return, and they were surprised to discoverTennant would be portraying the 14th iteration of The Doctor. His return would also mean the return of one of the most beloved New Who companions, Donna Noble, as portrayed by comedienne Catherine Tate.
The news excited many Whovians who believed this to be the most beloved and comical pairing in the history of the franchise. In fact, the 13-episode run that Tennant and Tate shared in 2008 was the most successful since the revival of the new series in 2005. During that time, the average episode received more than eight million viewers. That season of the series had a high degree of critical acclaim, which earned Doctor Who a nomination for Best Drama at that year’s BAFTA Awards.
Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary
Tennant and Tatereturned for the show’s 60th anniversaryto much fanfare on November 25th, to positive reviews. It kicked off two more specials, which will air over the following weeks leading up to the eventual moment when Tennant is expected to regenerate again, this time into the face of Ncuti Gatwa, who will be the first man of color and openly gay actor to take on the titular role.
It still remains unclear exactly why Tennant’s Doctor Who face has returned, at least in universe. It is clear the reason the producers have done so is to bring back fans who might have fallen off in recent years to the franchise. Bringing back a fan favorite for nostalgia is nothing new, as it is the modern blockbuster format for franchises likeStar Wars,Ghostbusters,andJurassic Park.
Yet Tennant’s return, alongside Russell T. Davies, is not just repeating the hits. Tennant’s 14th Doctor is a different person than the 10th, and the series uses both the fact that the actor is older and the various versions that have come along since him to inform his character. He is more mature, a quieter version of himself. It is recognizable as the Doctor, but does feel like a new version of the character. Tennant is such a talented actor that even with the same face, he is both the same and a different version of the Doctor.
