Doctor Who

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a mysterious alien time-traveller known as "the Doctor" who travels in his time and spaceship, the TARDIS, which normally appears from the exterior to be a blue 1950s police box. With his companions, he explores time and space whilst facing a variety of foes and righting wrongs.

The programme is listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science fiction television show in the world, and as the "most successful" science fiction series of all time, in terms of its overall broadcast ratings, DVD sales, book sales and iTunes traffic, as well as "illegal downloads." It has been recognised for its imaginative stories, creative low-budget special effects during its original run, and pioneering use of electronic music (originally produced by the BBC Radiophonic Workshop). The show is a significant part of British popular culture; in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, it has become a cult television favourite and has influenced generations of British television professionals, many of whom grew up watching the series. It has received recognition from critics and the public as one of the finest British television programmes, including the BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series in 2006.

The programme originally ran from 1963 to 1989. After an unsuccessful attempt to revive regular production with a backdoor pilot in the form of a 1996 television film, the programme was successfully relaunched in 2005, produced in-house by BBC Wales in Cardiff. The first was produced by the BBC and seasons two and three of the new series had some development money contributed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), which was credited as a co-producer. Doctor Who has also spawned spin-offs in multiple media, including the current television programmes Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, the standalone K-9 and a single 1981 pilot episode of K-9 and Company.

The show's protagonist, the Doctor, has been played by ten actors over the history of the show so far. The transition from one actor to another is written into the plot of the show as regeneration, and the different portrayals are often treated as distinct characters, to the extent that they have on occasion encountered one another and worked together. The Doctor is currently portrayed by David Tennant, who will leave the role after appearing in four special episodes throughout 2009 and early 2010. In the programme's most recent series, which ended on 5 July 2008, Catherine Tate played the Doctor's companion, reprising her role of Donna Noble from the 2006 Christmas special. Following the 2009?2010 special episodes, a fifth series will air in 2010, in which the Eleventh Doctor will be portrayed by Matt Smith with Karen Gillan playing his companion, Amy Pond. On 6 October 2009, a redesigned logo was unveiled. The new logo accompanies a redesign of the iconic TARDIS, to be shown in 2010.Gallery of Doctor Who

The First Doctor is the name given to the initial incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor William Hartnell during his tenure from 1963 to 1966. Hartnell would reprise the role in the tenth anniversary story The Three Doctors in 1973 - albeit in a reduced capacity due to his ailing health. Actor Richard Hurndall played the part of the First Doctor in the 1983 20th anniversary story The Five Doctors after William Hartnell's untimely death in 1975. A cinematic version of the character, Dr Who, was played by Peter Cushing.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change.

The Second Doctor is the name given to the second incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by character actor Patrick Troughton.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change.

Transformation into the Second Doctor, a figure who was the same essential character as the first but with a very different persona, was a turning point in the evolution of the series that became a critical element of the series' longevity.

The Third Doctor is the name given to the third incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor; seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by actor Jon Pertwee.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change.

The Fourth Doctor is the name given to the fourth incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Tom Baker for seven consecutive years, and remains the longest-lived incarnation in the show's on-screen history. For American audiences, who saw the show only in syndication (mostly on PBS), it was this incarnation of the Doctor who is the best known, as his episodes were the ones most frequently broadcast stateside.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change.

The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by actor Peter Davison.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change.

The Sixth Doctor is the name given to the sixth incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor, seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by actor Colin Baker, and a cameo by Sylvester McCoy underneath a curly wig during the Sixth Doctor's regeneration scene into the Seventh where McCoy's face is not even seen unblocked as the Sixth Doctor. This technically makes the Sixth Doctor one of only two incarnations of the Doctor to have been officially played by more than one actor, the other being the First Doctor.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change.

Although Baker's time on the series was comparitively brief and turbulent he has gone on to find consistant critical acclaim as the Sixth Doctor in Big Finish's range of original Doctor Who audio adventures.

The Seventh Doctor is a fictional character, the seventh incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by the actor Sylvester McCoy.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change. McCoy portrays the seventh such incarnation, a whimsical, thoughtful character who quickly becomes more layered, secretive and manipulative. His first companion was Melanie Bush (Bonnie Langford), a computer programmer who travelled with his previous self, and who is soon succeeded by troubled teenager and explosives expert Ace (Sophie Aldred), who becomes his protégé.

The Eighth Doctor is a fictional character, the eighth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He was portrayed by Paul McGann. Though he appeared in only one TV feature, his adventures are extensively portrayed in other media.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels in time in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body but in doing so gains a new physical appearance and with it, a distinct new personality. McGann portrays the eighth such incarnation, a passionate, enthusiastic and eccentric character. His only companion in the television movie is Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook), a medical doctor whose surgery is responsible for triggering his regeneration. In the continued adventures of the character depicted in audio dramas, novels and comic books he travels alongside numerous other companions, including self styled "Edwardian Adventuress" Charley, the alien Destrii and present-day humans Lucie and Sam.

Additionally, The 8th Doctor is the first since the original incarnation (portrayed by the late William Hartnell) not to have his face appear in the opening title sequence. This trend would continue with both the 9th Doctor and 10th Doctor.

The Ninth Doctor is the ninth official incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor, in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who.

"Unofficial" Ninth Doctors include the Ninth Doctor played by Rowan Atkinson in the charity parody Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death and the Ninth Doctor voiced by Richard E. Grant in the animated webcast Scream of the Shalka (to avoid confusion with Eccleston's incarnation Grant's Doctor is referred to as the Shalka Doctor by fans). This article is about the official Ninth Doctor, played by the actor Christopher Eccleston, whose tenure as the Doctor made up series 1 of the revived programme in 2005.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels in time in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body but in doing so gains a new physical appearance and with it, a distinct new personality. Eccleston portrays the ninth such incarnation, a brooding and melancholic war survivor after a Time War in which he wiped out both his race and the enemy Daleks. His first companion is Rose (Billie Piper), whom he plucks from obscurity on the planet Earth and to whom he grows increasingly attached. Eccleston's Doctor also travels briefly with unruly boy-genius Adam (Bruno Langley) and with 51st century con man and former 'Time Agent' Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman).

The Tenth Doctor is the tenth incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. He is played by David Tennant, who replaced Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor in the 2005 series finale, "The Parting of the Ways". Tennant has appeared in three series to date, as well as five specials. As with previous incarnations of the Doctor, the character has also appeared in other Doctor Who multimedia.

In the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body; in doing so, his physical appearance and personality change. Tennant portrays the tenth such incarnation. His first companion was Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), who was already travelling with his predecessor. Rose fell in love with the new Doctor, but the two were separated seemingly indefinitely. Subsequently, the Doctor travelled with other companions, including Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman) and Donna Noble (Catherine Tate), but eventually parted ways with them all by the end of the 2008 series finale, "Journey's End".

During the acceptance of a National Television Award for his role as the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant announced that he will not return in this role for the fifth series, currently scheduled to be broadcast in 2010. He will make his final appearance in the role in the The End of Time that is scheduled to be aired in 2009 and early 2010.

In 2009 Doctor Who Magazine readers voted the Tenth Doctor as Number One in Issue 414's Favorite Doctor poll, winning 25.64% of the vote, beating the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) who came in at number 2 with 24.73% of recorded votes.

The Eleventh Doctor is the announced eleventh incarnation of the fictional character known as the Doctor, who will appear on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who beginning in 2010. Matt Smith was cast to replace David Tennant, who will depart from Doctor Who.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels in time and space in his TARDIS, frequently with companions. When the Doctor is critically injured, he can regenerate his body but in doing so gains a new physical appearance and with it, a distinct new personality. Smith will portray the eleventh such incarnation.