The Timeless Revival: Exploring the Astonishing Comebacks of Each Doctor in Doctor Who

Summary

Doctor Who has seen multiple Doctors return on-screen for various adventures, showcasing the Doctor's long-spanning lifetimes and the complexities of time travel.

David Tennant is set to make his return as the fourteenth incarnation in the highly anticipated 60th anniversary special. This will mark a significant milestone as it will be the first time a Doctor regenerates into a previous incarnation. This exciting development not only expands the show's timeline but also opens up countless possibilities for the future. While it is not uncommon for Doctors to briefly cross paths with each other in the interest of the universe, the vast universe of Doctor Who allows for old faces to make appearances and continue their journeys.

Since 1963, Doctor Who has featured thirteen different incarnations of the Doctor, and due to time travel, he has made multiple returns. Throughout the years, various Doctors have appeared again on-screen, taking audiences on numerous adventures and showcasing the Doctor's extensive lifetimes. Despite the potential for paradox, some Doctors have crossed paths with each other for the sake of the universe, although these encounters are usually brief.

In the upcoming 60th anniversary special, David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor) will confirm his return as the fourteenth incarnation, marking the first time ever that a Doctor regenerates back into a previous form. Notably, this is not the first occasion where a Doctor has appeared on the show outside of their original era. The Doctor's timeline is complex and will continue to expand in Doctor Who season 14. While the universe is vast, familiar faces from the past can and will make a comeback.

11 First Doctor: 4 Times

10 Second Doctor: 3 Times

The First Doctor made his debut in An Unearthly Child, which premiered in November 1963. Originally portrayed by William Hartnell, he remained in the role for four seasons until his first regeneration in 1966. Hartnell later returned as the First Doctor in the special "The Three Doctors" to celebrate the show's 10th anniversary. Following Hartnell's passing, the character was recast, with Richard Hurndall stepping in for the 1983 special "The Five Doctors." David Bradley also portrayed the First Doctor in the 2017 episodes "The Doctor Falls" and "Twice Upon A Time," and made a cameo as one of the Thirteenth Doctor's Guardians of the Edge in the episode "The Power of the Doctor."

Played by Patrick Troughton, the Second Doctor's tenure spanned three regular seasons from 1966 to 1969. Known for having the highest number of missing episodes, a staggering 59 episodes remain unfound. In his final regular appearance titled "The War Games" in 1969, the Doctor was banished to Earth in the 20th century by the Time Lords and compelled to undergo regeneration. Troughton reprised his role as the Second Doctor on three occasions: the 10th anniversary episode "The Three Doctors," the 20th anniversary episode "The Five Doctors," and the 1985 special "The Two Doctors."

9 Third Doctor: 2 Times

8 Fourth Doctor: 3 Times

The Third Doctor, portrayed by Jon Pertwee, graced our screens for five seasons from 1970 to 1974, making him the first Doctor to be featured in color. Surprising audiences who were accustomed to his dramatic performances, Pertwee's debut in the 1970 episode "Spearhead from Space" marked a significant milestone. The era of the Third Doctor concluded in the episode "Planet of the Spiders," where he was accompanied by his loyal companion, Sarah Jane Smith (played by Elisabeth Sladen). Even after his regeneration, Sarah Jane Smith continued to join him in his adventures. Notably, the Third Doctor made triumphant returns in two memorable instances: the 20th anniversary episode "The Five Doctors" and the 30th anniversary special "Dimensions in Time."

From 1974 to 1981, Tom Baker portrayed the Fourth Doctor for a record-breaking seven consecutive seasons. This remarkable feat established Baker as the actor with the longest tenure as the Time Lord, spanning both the classic and modern eras of the show. While the Fourth Doctor made a brief appearance in "The Five Doctors," there was no interaction with any other incarnation, and the footage utilized was from the unfinished "Shada" storyline. Additionally, he featured prominently in the "Dimensions in Time" special. Notably, Baker made a significant contribution to the 50th anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor" by portraying the enigmatic museum curator, leaving the audience to speculate about his true identity as the Doctor.

7 Fifth Doctor: 2 Times

6 Sixth Doctor: 2 Times

: Peter Davison's tenure as the Fifth Doctor lasted three seasons, from 1982 to 1984. He selflessly sacrificed himself to save his companion Peri (Nicola Bryant) and underwent regeneration, marking the end of the Fifth Doctor's era. In 2007, Davison reprised his role in the special "Time Crash," alongside David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor), which took place just moments before the annual episode "Voyage of the Damned." This groundbreaking special marked the first crossover between a classic-era Doctor and a modern-era Doctor. Furthermore, the Fifth Doctor made an additional on-screen appearance as one of the Thirteenth Doctor's Guardians of the Edge.

Colin Baker took on the role of the Sixth Doctor from 1984 to 1986. However, due to a BBC hiatus, this incarnation only featured in a total of eight stories, each split into four episode chunks. While journeying with Mel, the Doctor's TARDIS falls under attack by the Rani, resulting in the Doctor getting injured and eventually regenerating. The exact cause of his regeneration was never explicitly explained on-screen. The Sixth Doctor made an appearance in the special "Dimensions in Time" in 1993 and also appeared in the Thirteenth Doctor's mind in the episode "The Power of the Doctor."

5 Seventh Doctor: 2 Times

Sylvester McCoy assumed the role of the Doctor in 1987 and continued until the show's cancellation in 1989, spanning just three seasons. Following this, there was a gap in on-screen appearances until the release of the 1996 Doctor Who television movie. In the movie, the Doctor was transporting the remains of the Master from Skaro to Gallifrey when an unfortunate series of events occurred. The Master seized control of the TARDIS, resulting in a crash. Upon exiting the TARDIS, the Doctor found himself caught in a gang shooting, leading to his regeneration. The Seventh Doctor only made one more appearance in "The Power of the Doctor," where he was depicted as an older version within the Thirteenth Doctor's mind.

4 Eighth Doctor: 2 Times

Paul McGann portrayed the Eighth Doctor, who only starred in one official story during his era. The Doctor Who television movie, broadcasted in 1996, came seven years after the show's cancellation and did not feature a regeneration scene until 2013. The Eighth Doctor made his return in "The Night of the Doctor," a minisode serving as a prelude to the 50th anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor," which introduced the War Doctor, portrayed by John Hurt. In "The Power of the Doctor," McGann's Eighth Doctor made another appearance alongside several of his previous incarnations as a Guardian of the Edge, just before Jodie Whittaker's Doctor prepared to undergo regeneration.

3 Ninth Doctor: None

2 Tenth Doctor: 2 Times

The Ninth Doctor, portrayed by Christopher Eccleston, holds the distinction of being the sole Doctor who has not made a return to the franchise on-screen. Introduced in the 2005 reboot, this incarnation of the Doctor only graced our screens for twelve episodes before making the ultimate sacrifice to save Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), who had become infused with the tremendous power of the time vortex. Eccleston departed from Doctor Who after just one season, attributing creative differences with the BBC as one of his reasons for leaving. Despite this, he maintains a positive relationship with Doctor Who and frequently lends his talent to the Big Finish audios. However, in various interviews, Eccleston has made it evident that it is highly unlikely for him to reprise the iconic role.

David Tennant, widely regarded as the most prominent Doctor since the show's revival in 2005, portrayed the iconic character from 2006 to 2010. His tenure came to an end when he regenerated to save the life of Wilfred Mott, portrayed by Bernard Cribbins. The Tenth Doctor enjoyed a remarkable run, spanning three regular seasons and one season of specials. Eventually, Tennant bid farewell, leaving behind a void that was filled by Steven Moffat, who took over as the Showrunner, following the departure of Russell T. Davies.

In an awe-inspiring twist, the Tenth Doctor resurfaced on screen for the show's 50th anniversary special, titled "The Day of the Doctor." This monumental episode featured the collective brilliance of Tennant, Matt Smith (Eleventh Doctor), and John Hurt (The War Doctor). Their captivating performances further enriched the Doctor Who universe.

Excitingly, Tennant will be reprising his role as the Doctor once again in the highly anticipated 60th anniversary special. This time, he will be portraying the fourteenth incarnation of the Time Lord, solidifying his everlasting impact on the longstanding series.

1 Eleventh, Twelfth, and Thirteenth Doctor: None