Top 10 Favourite Doctors from Doctor Who

If you're a Whovian, you know it's practically impossible to pick just one favorite Doctor. Each regeneration leaves its own unique stamp on the show. Some Doctors bring a dashing energy, others a quirky charm, and there are even those whose grumpy brilliance captivates us.

With a show this long-running, fans' opinions about the best Doctors are almost as varied as the Time Lord's faces. But which Doctors really get your vote? Which regenerations hold that special place in your heart? Who has made you laugh, cry, and shout at the television in excitement?

The Top Ten

10th Doctor

The Tenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor portrayed by David Tennant who first appeared in 2005. This version travels with companions including Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, and Donna Noble before regenerating in 2010.

I'll try not to bring up that he's so good-looking because that's literally nothing to do with why I voted for the 10th out of all these Doctors. I feel like the 10th portrays emotions and connects with the fans more than any other Doctor. I'm not saying the others don't express emotions. I'm just saying I think the 10th did it to the point where, on some level, we could emotionally relate.
We all know Rose and he were in love, and after losing her, he seemed depressed but did his best not to show it and not to let it interfere with his work and everything he did. Although he was slightly annoying with Martha, as all he did was bring up Rose, this just shows how attached he was to her. He didn't bring her up too often, which is critical because if he did, it would've made the show so dry and dull.
The 10th displays his sadness in the same way we do, but he also tries hiding it like we do, feels anger like we do, and I think he's the most human out of all of them.
The 11th is a good Doctor, but I honestly feel he didn't express sadness or anger very well. For a man who's lost so much, he seemed too happy all the time. The 10th is easily an unbeatable Doctor. Arrogant, cocky, smart, tactical (when he wants to be), and witty, he's very hard to beat.
11th Doctor

The Eleventh Doctor is played by Matt Smith and debuted in 2010 following the Tenth Doctor's regeneration. He is associated with companions such as Amy Pond, Rory Williams, and Clara Oswald and concludes his era in 2013.

Eleven was amazing. He was my first Doctor, and I really do love him. If I had a chance, I would like to be the companion of the Eleventh. I guess I would feel more comfortable with him.
I like to think of The Doctor as a human. I mean, every regeneration (or incarnation - sorry for broken English, I'm still learning) of him. Nine was a little serious because he was blaming himself for the Time War. Ten was smart, cheerful, and sad inside because he is the man who regrets. Eleven was also funny, but when he gets sad, he wasn't hiding it (not as much as Ten, anyway).
He lived his life as much as he could. But we all realized that he is a little bit childish (more than what's the point of being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes?). I think the reason is he isn't the man who forgets. He is just trying to forget. He tried to move on.
4th Doctor

The Fourth Doctor is portrayed by Tom Baker and served as the Doctor from 1974 to 1981. This incarnation is recognizable for a long scarf and stories that expanded the Doctor's mythos during the classic series.

Far too low. He is the Doctor. He is the one many other shows use. From his scarf and hat to his jelly babies and bohemian hair, his attitude and sheer brilliance as an actor make him the best Doctor.
Matt and David are good, although I would swap them around. But Tom is the best and the most iconic Doctor, and I have noticed that he is falling low on a lot of the ranking doctors list, and I can't see why since he is the Doctor. He should be number 1. I have no idea why he is not.

The only reason why Tom Baker's Doctor isn't #1 is the same reason why all of the Doctors from classic Who are so low: we have individuals voting for the newer Doctors who haven't seen a single episode of the classic series.
The 4th should be at the top, while the 3rd and 2nd are way too low.
12th Doctor

The Twelfth Doctor is played by Peter Capaldi and appears from 2014 to 2017. His tenure includes companions Clara Oswald, Bill Potts, and Nardole and ends with regeneration into the Thirteenth Doctor.

This should really only be a mix-up between the 11th and 12th Doctors. They are very different, mainly in that while Matt Smith was able to display a whole range of emotions over a short period of time, Peter Capaldi conveys emotions with depth and complexity over time.
Which is the better method depends upon the stories being told. Luckily, both Doctors were gifted with writers that understood these aspects. This means, unlike the Sixth or Tenth Doctors, these two are credibly consistent.
I definitely considered voting for the Twelfth Doctor, but I can't ignore that the Eleventh is just more fun to watch. Don't count Capaldi out yet, however. He's an acting powerhouse with an air of flair, and he's only gotten more fun with Series 9. Here's hoping for another excellent series in 2016.
9th Doctor

The Ninth Doctor is portrayed by Christopher Eccleston and introduced the revived series in 2005. He primarily travels with Rose Tyler and regenerates after confronting the Dalek Emperor.

This Doctor is barely noticed. It's always the 10th or 11th Doctor. He was the first one to meet Rose, sacrificed himself for Rose many times, and face it, that little line right at the last episode he was in before they kissed, is so cute. "I think you need a doctor."
"Ricky the idiot" is what he always called Mickey, and when Captain Jack was complaining about him being the only one single, the Doctor winked and said, "You'll have to buy me a drink first!"
There are so many words for this Doctor I can't even say them all. Nonetheless, this is by far my most favorite Doctor.

This Doctor (Eccleston) had so much gravitas, passion, and hurt in the way he reacted to the stuff around him, enough for a viewer to believe just how old he was and what he had gone through by the time he was in his 9th regeneration.
It takes a lot of authenticity to capture the hearts of a jaded audience after a failed reboot before 2005. This is my first and favourite Doctor hands down, even though I have a soft spot for Troughton, Baker, and Tennant.
3rd Doctor

The Third Doctor is played by Jon Pertwee and appears from 1970 to 1974. Much of his era is set on Earth where he works closely with UNIT and the Brigadier.

By far the second best. You probably miss the TARDIS going to other worlds for about the first half of his time, but he still had a lot of amusing adventures.
He also had more charm than the first two. He was also the wittiest of the first three. The '70s was definitely the best time in the show's history, and it featured the best two Doctors.

Grounded for half his life, but he nevertheless prevailed and made a life for himself in a situation no other Doctor has ever faced.

Honestly, I like Jodie Whittaker and Christopher Eccleston better. But this man helped pave the way for classic Doctor Who to become a landmark show. Plus, it became color.
2nd Doctor

The Second Doctor is portrayed by Patrick Troughton and served from 1966 to 1969. This incarnation introduces a more cosmic scope to the series and ends with enforced regeneration by the Time Lords.

Troughton's Doctor was so influential. His Doctor was rebellious and mischievous, and more of a best friend to his companions than a father figure as the First Doctor had been.
The way in which Troughton played the part rewrote the rule book on the Doctor. Every actor since has copied elements of his portrayal, from his mad eccentricities to his sense of fun and adventure. This was the era where we first see the sonic screwdriver, UNIT, and the Doctor's love of Jelly Babies.

This one was an amusing Doctor. My favorite of his stories, "The Mind Robber," allows him to show his potential. You've got to laugh when he reassembles Jamie's face in the puzzle wrongly, and he ends up with that new face.
His relationship with his next incarnation is also amusing. This Doctor has teamed with more of the others and more often than any other.
7th Doctor

The Seventh Doctor is portrayed by Sylvester McCoy and appears from 1987 to 1989. His stories increasingly emphasize long-term planning and manipulation within the narrative.

Initially started out as an endearing, buffoonish type character. However, thanks to the "Cartmel Master Plan," he was given more depth, becoming the "chess master" and "Time's Champion." His relationship with Ace was great. There was the paternal, caring side of it, but he was also willing to manipulate her into self-improvement.
The 7th Doctor also has wonderful quirks, such as playing the spoons and rolling his "r's." Sylvester McCoy's Doctor is seriously underrated by many, and it's such a shame. He will always be my Doctor.

This Doctor was a bit more back-to-basics than the headstrong and rather obnoxious previous one. He was friendlier and had some of the manners of numbers 3 to 5.
We have no idea what happened to him for six years, but at least we were treated to a bit of him returning to the role before his regeneration. If you add the lost years to the few we did see, he had a pretty long life for one of his incarnations.
1st Doctor

The First Doctor is portrayed by William Hartnell and debuts in 1963. He establishes the character of the Doctor and introduces regeneration as a core concept of the series.

Capaldi and Matt Smith are comparable to him. Very good demeanor and interesting. The 9th Doctor was the hardest, around for the shortest time. They've all had great tools and it's a good show, other than trying to figure out if you're alone in the matter.
Very respectable, and he can rival the 10th Doctor if you're not careful. That's the favorite due to the times. So for now, I'm focusing on these five Doctors only.

He's come a long way since the start. He's also, to date, the only Doctor to be forced to regenerate for natural causes.
He's been portrayed by a few people since, but of all, he will always be the most important Doctor because this is the one who started it all.
8th Doctor

The Eighth Doctor is played by Paul McGann and first appears in the 1996 television film. This incarnation is further developed through novels, audio dramas, and later television appearances.

Okay, the TV movie was a complete disgrace to this incarnation of the Time Lord, but the Big Finish audio stories give him more of a personality and show us what this Doctor did between the events of that catastrophe and the Time War.

Seriously, avoid the TV movie and listen to the Big Finish audio dramas. They're amazing and give a better perspective on this incarnation of the Time Lord.

His novel adventures gave him a tragic but compelling struggle against destiny, and his audios gave McGann a chance to show what he could have done if he'd had more time.

The Newcomers

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Meta-Crisis Doctor

The Meta-Crisis Doctor is created in 2008 through a partial regeneration involving human DNA. This version remains in a parallel universe with Rose Tyler.
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15th Doctor

The Fifteenth Doctor is portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa and debuts in 2023. He succeeds the Fourteenth Doctor and marks a new era of the series.

I'm really looking forward to this new Doctor! I'm hoping they go a little more broody with his character, kind of how Capaldi's Doctor was a lot of the time.

The Contenders

5th Doctor

The Fifth Doctor is portrayed by Peter Davison and serves from 1982 to 1984. This incarnation frequently travels with multiple companions and regenerates after radiation exposure.

I think the 5th is 100% the best. He is funny, endearing, serious, has great companions like Nyssa, and just has his delightfully dotty personality, only rivaled by the 11th.
Also, his daughter played Jenny in The Doctor's Daughter and is married to David Tennant. How can you argue with that?

All the Doctors had a gimmick. Cricket was his thing. This guy is also the luckiest Doctor to date, getting to see down Peri's blouse up close as he was setting her down on the TARDIS floor. It's true. Nicola Bryant has said she noticed it then.
Sadly, by the end of this guy's era, the series just seemed different, and you could tell the show was about past its prime.
6th Doctor

The Sixth Doctor is played by Colin Baker and appears from 1984 to 1986. His era includes a trial by the Time Lords that frames much of his final season.

The Sixth Doctor is unfairly overlooked for really rather ridiculous reasons. While the quality of some (not all) of his scripts may have been poor (especially his very first story, which honestly does deserve its reputation), Colin Baker himself puts forth an amazing, theatrical performance that is absolutely wonderful to watch - more so than even Tom Baker himself, I'd say!
His audio dramas also happen to be some of the best stories Doctor Who has to offer, both in performance and plot. Easily my favorite Doctor.

Colin Baker is clearly the Doctor from my childhood who made me yearn for more Who every time the end credits started to roll. I loved his overall arc on television and in the audio adventures.
It would have been great to see him in that blue coat. If anything, I recommend listening to "old Sixie" with Evelyn by the wonderful Big Finish group!
13th Doctor

The Thirteenth Doctor is played by Jodie Whittaker and debuts in 2018. She travels with a larger group of companions and her era explores previously unseen aspects of the Doctor's origins.

I personally think she deserves more appreciation in this poll! While she isn't my favorite and I'd probably place her at fourth or third, she's an interesting character and has come into her own in a very iconic way. I think that she deserves more episodes and time in the series and that there's a lot more to be done if people actually write more for her.
I really like this Doctor and find her amusing and interesting.

Yes, she isn't my favorite. My order is 10, 11, 9, 13, 12, but why is she below the War Doctor, who was only in one episode? Yes, her season wasn't the best, and she doesn't have as much depth as everyone else, but 12 was rubbish in his first season. Her Doctor is a likeable incarnation, and her character needs more exploration.
And in Doctor-wise (and not in writing-wise), 10 was not much better than her in his first season. Give Jodie a chance.
14th Doctor

The Fourteenth Doctor is portrayed by David Tennant and appears in 2023. This incarnation emerges following the Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration and features a unique variation on the regeneration process.
Fugitive Doctor

The Fugitive Doctor is portrayed by Jo Martin and is introduced in 2020. She is revealed as a previously unknown incarnation with ties to the Division and the Doctor's hidden past.
War Doctor

The War Doctor is portrayed by John Hurt and is introduced in 2013. This incarnation exists between the Eighth and Ninth Doctors and is associated with the Time War.
Unbound Doctor

The Unbound Doctor refers to alternate-universe versions of the Doctor featured in Big Finish audio dramas. These portrayals explore divergent timelines separate from the main television continuity.
The Curator

The Curator appears in the 2013 special The Day of the Doctor and is portrayed by Tom Baker. He is implied to be a future incarnation of the Doctor revisiting a familiar face.