When you think of Doctor, you probably picture a white coat-clad medical professional saving lives, but the word has long had many other meanings and uses. It can refer to someone who is knowledgeable, an expert, or a teacher. It can also describe a soldering tool or a person who makes a prediction. It even refers to someone who tampers with a document, as in doctoring it or “fooling around.” Doctor is the most popular alias for the renowned BBC series Doctor Who, and its fans have embraced several iconic portrayals of the Time Lord, but which one is the best? According to IMDb user ratings, David Tennant is the Doctor of all Doctors. His three series and five specials are some of the most beloved, but his performance in the 2012 Christmas Special is perhaps the defining moment of his tenure.
The 14th century saw the start of the Renaissance, a time when lots of learning was taking place, and the word doctor started to be used as an honorific for qualified academics and medical practitioners. Over the centuries, the word continued to be used in this way, but it also became a generic term for any sort of expert.
After earning their medical degrees, doctors work in hospitals and private practices to treat patients and educate them on health matters. They are responsible for examining and diagnosing patients, developing treatment plans, and monitoring patient progress. In some cases, they may need to perform surgery or prescribe medication.
Doctors also spend a lot of their time doing administrative tasks, such as overseeing medical facilities and managing healthcare teams. They are often involved in research, too, conducting studies to advance medical knowledge and improve patient outcomes.
Despite only appearing in 13 episodes, Christopher Eccleston was a brilliant Doctor who reintroduced the show to new audiences. His manic energy and frenzied outbursts were perfect for the role, and he managed to convey the idea that this was a very wounded character who survived a massive time war.
While Jodie Whittaker’s performances as the Doctor have been excellent, it has been a tough ride for the first female version of the famous character. It’s a little early to judge her full tenure, but so far she’s done an impressive job of bringing the character to new audiences and reestablishing the franchise.
The list wouldn’t be complete without a nod to the show’s longest-running and most iconic actor. Patrick Troughton took on a difficult task when he replaced the original lead William Hartnell, but he made it his own and established much of the Doctor’s core persona. The indignant retorts and puckish retreats that subsequent actors have emulated are all his doing. He’s especially fondly remembered for his farewell to granddaughter Susan, an episode that still stands as a Doctor Who classic.