It's very hard to justify putting Patrick Troughton so close to the bottom. David Tennant has acknowledged how in many ways Troughton is more important than First Doctor for creating the template of what the character of the Doctor became. He was also the one who proved a change of lead actor could work.

I love you guys, but having Troughton below Whittaker is hard to stomach.

Patrick Troughton being last but one is a crime Sean. He's more important to the role of the Doctor than Hartnell. Hartnell may have been the first, but Troughton had to follow him, and being the first regeneration, had to make sure the show could still work under his watch.

Capaldi is my favorite. His arc over his 3 seasons was a fantastic transformation, and I believe he is the only actor who could’ve carried an episode like Heaven Sent.

My issue with Jodie's Doctor has absolutely nothing to do with the doctors gender, or Jodie herself. I was genuinely hyped when I found out there'd be a female doctor, especially when I found out Jodie was up for the role as I think she's a great actress with the right material. But that right there is the issue, the material she was given, and the writing of the show jumped off a cliff during Jodies era, the companions are wooden, the Doctor is not written as the Doctor, some of the morals and whatnot you'd expect from the Doctor just aren't there for this era, or changed to the complete opposite. The stories themselves we're just never very well written, especially The Timeless Child. I could debate The Timeless Child for hours, but in my opinion, ripping apart the canon and doing it's best to retcon the Doctors history just doesn't sit right with me and completely breaks certain plot points all throughout the years of Doctor who just because they wanted something new. Again, nothing to do with gender, and I think with the right material, Jodie is a fantastic Doctor, I was genuinely looking forward to a female Doctor, for me it was just the writing that let Jodie's Doctor and then some, and that's a damn shame.

I’m so overwhelmed by how many people love Capaldi now. He was my first Doctor. Thanks to him, I’m right now rewatching the show for the 6th time! I remember there wasn’t much love during his era. A lot of fans (I remember) were very critical about Steven Moffat’s decisions. I’m one of those fans that never had a problem and to this day, I speak about Capaldi as the one actor I’d love to meet before I kick the bucket. His last lines became a core memory instantly.

My top 5 goes: 1. 12 Peter Capaldi 2. 10 David Tennant 3. 11 Matt Smith 4. 3 Jon Pertwee 5. 4 Tom Baker

12 is 100% my favourite doctor bc of his 3 season arc of being an arrogant old man to a loveable grandad. His relationship with Clara his first season is strained but the relationship he has with Bill and Nardol is one of the best throughout the entire series. His speeches are brilliant and has some of best one-liners and comebacks.

I love all the Doctors and it's always interesting to see people's rankings as we all have different faves WAIT A MINUTE TWO IS IN 12TH PLACE???? No, no, I will respect it. Not traumatizing at all.

2nd is my favorite. He has so many good episodes, and his relationship with Jamie is absolutely the best!

I was stunned by the Troughton placement. He’s my fav by miles. (I also know every Doctor is someone’s favourite.) PT was smart, funny, wise and his double act with Jamie was sublime. His interplay with The Third Doctor in The Three Doctors and The Five Doctors was such fun. There! Glad to get that out of my system. Carry on.

Putting 2 second to last and 11 at number 1 is hilarious given how similar they are

Peter Capaldi’s Twelfth Doctor is perfection. The balance between his goofiness and gravitas is flawless and his character development, especially alongside Clara, is the best in the series for me. I really hope he comes back for a cameo in the 60th

My favorite doctor is Pertwee, no question asked. Just this perfect mix of dandy and gentleman.

I think the biggest problem with Jodie's tenure was the writing. I'm guessing that the 60th anniversary special is too soon, but I can't wait to see her in a special not written/show run by Chibnal. Her doctor had all the elements and more, but her skills were badly underutilized and the release dates by the BBC (and Chibnal's production) prevented her from getting any momentum.

Glad to see Matt Smith’s 11 at the top as he’s my favorite. Capaldi is an extremely close second. Great arc for his Doctor and loved him and Missy. Thought there was great progression with Clara and him and Bill worked great too.

My main problem with Jodie was just that she didn't feel like the doctor. She didn't have that doctor charm. She just felt like a generic hero that helps people.

Capaldi. Great actor, great writing, great companions, great directing...music...etc etc etc.

David Tennant and Peter Capaldi are my two favorites David Tennant was my childhood hero growing up, when he was the doctor I loved the writing, the stories, the monsters, the music, the atmosphere, his Tardis, his sonic Screwdriver, his companions. Everything about David Tennant’s era (RTD era) I thought was perfection. That was when Doctor Who was at its absolute golden peak.

I think Sean settled the Jodie Whitaker era question with his Tennant and Smith comments: He consistently points to the quality of writing that the actor uses to elevate their Doctor to a higher ground. I would give a lot to see the incredibly talented Whitaker doing a Davies script. Could you imagine the epic levels it would reach?

Personally I love Hartnell's first doctor and would probably rank him in my top 5. I think his character arc across his tenure while not as amazing as capaldi's is so touching as he gradually becomes more comfortable and friendly with Ian and Barbara, and then growing and developing through his relations with his later companions, and has really touching moments throughout. He also managed to show such a childish excitement and wonder when exploring and discovering new things that makes him so endearing to me. Curious to see what others think

Predicable list that most of the classic doctors would be in the bottom half. A bit of research would tell you that it was 7 & not 10 years of Tom Baker when Peter Davison took over.

Gonna say it, Colin Baker is the Timothy Dalton of Doctor Who. Playing a much harsher version of a beloved character back in the 80's when people just weren't ready for such a thing. Of course, it didn't help that the stories often weren't very good and the costume was just f-ing stupid and made him look like a clown... but I maintain that his performance was solid and would have been far better regarded if he had better material to work with.

I do think Hartnell & Troughton should be higher- the person who started it all, & the one who proved it was possible to successfully change your leading actor? Genuinely think they should both be top 5...

Troughton is my favorite Doctor and seeing him ranked so low with little explanation hurts man. He's such a phenomenal actor and is so Integral to how the Doctor is portrayed now. Ain't no way man 😭

The DOCTOR is a multi faceted diamond. How can you rank one facet over another ?

Peter Capaldi's incarnation of the doctor is very underrated in my opinion. It gave a more darker tone that I liked, also he gives a cool grandpa vibe.

12 is my absolute favorite. His range as the Doctor was incredible.

Patrick Troughton is my favourite classic Doctor. I’m sad to see him so far down in this list - but the beauty of DW is it’s so huge and varied, different people love it in different ways.

Now do non-main and non-canon Doctors! The Curse of Fatal Death Docs, Peter Cushing, the works!

As much as I like David Tennant I agree about Matt Smith, he was so good as the Doctor and Tennant was a tough act to follow.

Tenth doctor was the best. Both cool, funny, and serious when needed. You felt his emotions, you saw his emotions of not being able to love. Tom Baker is number 2. But by a very very short margin, and capaldi is my 3rd favorite.

I don't rank them, it's like insulting your mum's cooking, if she's a good cook. All of them. ♥️

Tell me you haven't watched any of Troughton's episodes without telling me you haven't watched any of Troughton's episodes. Arguably the most talented actor to have played the Doctor

I couldn’t agree more with The Eleventh Doctor being number one on the list! He was my first and will always be my favorite Doctor! Because of him, I’m the Whovian I am today. Praying we see that raggedy man running around in a bow tie and fez once more hopefully in the 60th! 💙💙

Finally Eleven get his praise. Matt (who I'm meeting on Saturday can't wait!) In my eyes imbued everything that the Doctor is. He showed the incredible age through a young man's form. He was a Doctor that could make you smile if you were down. He also had my favourite Sonic design as well as Tardis interior. His tenure in my eyes has been one of the best and he has the best opening episode and leaving episode in new Who. But at the end all the Doctor's are brilliant. As the Brigadier once said "Wonderful Chaps, all of them"

Couldn't help myself smiling when you mentioned River Song and dropping Ellie's name, her love for River has passed noone ☺️

Echoing a few on here- I can’t believe that Troughton is so low. He’s THE proto Doctor, the one that inspired the many. I appreciate that these lists are subjective, but even standing back from personal views this one hurts!! Also, purely subjectively, Pertwee should be higher too!

Actually this is factually incorrect. Source: I disagree.

McGann carried the banner for the franchise nearly a decade, without the benefit and exposure of an actual series. Eight deserves every ounce of praise heaped on him.

nah patrick troughton second from bottom is absolutely ridiculous to me considering he is the blueprint for arguably every doctor that came after him (bar maybe pertwee)

Matt Smith is my favorite Doctor too. I really didn't think he'd actually top the list though.

Capaldi is my favourite by a long way, his arc and the characters around him were perfect

Twelfth and Eighth are my favorites. I'd have a huge problem putting someone at the bottom of the list. I think you are unfair towards the Sixth, his BF audios are amazing, especially with Evelyn Smythe as the companion

My two favourites are Tom Baker (my first Doctor) and Matt Smith (incredible acting, and brilliant story arcs - his time was as much the story of his companions as it was his story). I can't rank these two against each other though.

The 9th Doctor was Fantastic!

My biggest difference from your list? Twelve is one. I mean- Heaven Sent? The Doctor Falls? he had so many epic episodes and moments.

Troughton being so low is painful, as he “set the standard” for so many of his successors, such as the 3 seasons and done aspect (Davison specifically mentions a conversation with Troughton about not overstaying in the role). Another is how he tended to play the fool, or at least clueless, but instead was manipulating or planning (7th and 11th immediately come to mind for those that keep that mentality). Finally, he (along with Pertwee) was the one who began the idea of the Doctors incarnations not getting along, or at least trying to one up and/or just being snippy with each other, which has been the standard in many multi Doctor stories. Without Troughton establishing his version of the Doctor, most subsequent ones could’ve been much different.

Putting Troughton so low is a punishiable crime! He made The Doctor non-human and did a wonderful of that. 6 and 1 would be my bottom two. Also I LOVE Jodie's Doctor. She was very stunted by bad writing. Id give a finger to see her in some RTD stories.

For one of the few times I agree with a countdown list, I concur. Matt Smith's 11th Doctor was, imo, the best Doctor there has ever been.

Capaldi will always be my favourite such a brilliant actor and will always have heaven sent as my favourite episode and the zygon inversion as my favourite speech

So refreshing to see Matt Smith ranked above David Tennant. My three favourite Doctors are in your top three. Tennant was superb and I loved his tenure. Smith was my favourite Doctor from New Who though. For a fan of Classic Who he bought so much of that era to the role. Nailing the old man in a young body vibe but then cherry picking and dropping in nods to previous doctors throughout his performance just cemented it for me. That said I would not have ranked him above Tom Baker. Tom was my Doctor, the one I grew up with and will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you Tom.

Looking back, Twelve was better than I gave him credit for. You just don’t know what you have until it’s gone sometimes. 😢 Heaven Sent is up there with Blink for me. ❤

12 is one of my favourite doctor.

I personally can’t fathom not having Troughton in the top 5, or even top half of the list, but placing him at the second worst is an offense to the fandom. The First Doctor is iconic and he will always be the actor who started the role and laid down the foundation, but it’s a rather common understanding that he had to settle into the groundwork of what we see the character as today over time and even still there are some who feel his portrayal is out of character with the Doctor overall. His take is spectacular in its own right, but Patrick Troughton’s second Doctor is truly the basis of all the mannerisms we associate with the Doctor. Wise cracking, agelessness, confrontational, kindhearted, and a genius who was happy to be seen as an idiot are just a handful of the traits he established. Patrick Troughton was brilliant, his era was phenomenal, and his Doctor is arguably The Doctor. To place him below other Doctors who’s times on the show are questionable in quality, or are debated amongst the fans as such, is nothing short of a travesty. Plus, without Troughton we wouldn’t have Doctor Who today; without his success and ability to convince people he was the Doctor and could still helm this show there would be nothing more than 60’s era Doctor Who. At the end of the day your opinion is your own but I would urge you to sincerely reconsider his placement on any future list you make

With the 13th Doctor, you didn't mention how her fans would really lay into you if you said you were not a fan of hers. It's nothing to do with a female Dr. Some had Twitter accounts cult of Jodie. Yes, there was not my Dr lot too. Her regeneration story was good and her regeneration was spot on.

I'm over the moon that you chose Matt Smith as #1. Great storylines, sense of humour, The Ponds, happiness and tragedy. I've watched every episode. Time after Timey Wimey time.

It's a shame to see what came of Jodie's run as the doctor. She was absolutely amazing as the doctor, had all the qualities you love about doctor who, but the writing just set her back so much. An actor can only do so much with the materials they are given, and it showed with her run as the doctor. If she had a script from Davies or Moffat, then she would absolutely be top 5 on the list.

My issue with Jodi as the doctor, wasn't because of her gender. It was that they first of all wrote terrible scripts. The companions were both too many and not interesting, but the biggest issue was the fact that they made the Doctor a woman, but didn't have her play it as a woman. She dresses like a man, expects everyone throughout history to treat her like a man, no matter how historically innaccurate that was, and never showed a softer side. The proof is in the Master. When they changed him up to Missy, there was a clear difference in the character. Missy BTW is one of my favorite characters from Doctor Who. Missy was just as evil as the rest of the Masters, but she was also flirty and playful. Dressed like a woman, and didn't pretend to be a man.

I liked the 11th Doctor as well. WHat I loved was the look he would give when someone hurt his friends, you knew all heck would be released.

14. 13th Doctor (I didn't like her era😅) 13. 6th Doctor 12. 7th Doctor 11. 5th Doctor 10. 8th Doctor 9. 1st Doctor 8. 9th Doctor 7. War Doctor 6. 2nd Doctor 5. 11th Doctor 4. 3rd Doctor 3. 4th ("He was the Doctor all the time."😅) (For the longest time😅😂) 2. 10th Doctor 1. 12th Doctor If I think about the Doctor, I think about 12th. I LOVE his quotes! And I like to quote him😅😂

I watched the 11th and 12th doctor when i was in a bad place mentally. The weekly doctor who episodes were my time of comfort around that time so noone can ever beat them for me. I also really love clara contrary to many as far as i've seen and heard. The writing really was excellent. Many massages of hope and kindness and emotion. The 11th doctors departure did shatter me as well and i'll always love those 2 and their run.

Troughton at 12th is genuinely criminal.

The way Sean describes his relationship with the 11th doctor is how I experienced the 10th. I absolutely adored Tennant's doctor and "I don't wanna go" triggers waterworks every god damn time, and yet, and yet, I have to place 12 as my favorite doctor. I absolutely loved his characterization of just the man who has lived far too long, loved so much, and lost far far far too much. The sheer monologuing power of that man? A scale model of war! I can't handle it. It's too good. Plus, regardless of how you feel about Clara's storyline, (I personally enjoyed it) the banter between those two is (I think) the best in the show. "Any comments about my hips will not be appreciated" "ACH your hips are fine, you're built like a man" "Thanks -_-" While I think unfortunately some of the story writing during his tenure suffered a bit, his character arc, and his portrayal of the doctor is the one I would go back to any day of the week, and I hope we see him again soon.

Nah…Nah!…NAH! Patrick Troughton at the near bottom???!!! The most influential Doctor ever, the one who created the archetypal Doctor & the one who has influenced every future Doctor (Davison, C.Baker, McCoy & Smith have all said that Troughton’s Doctor was what influenced them), near last?!WHAT???!!! I know this is a subjective list & respecting other people’s opinions…But Troughton at 12th place?! Second lowest?! 👎 EDIT: Smith being No. 1 & Troughton being No. 12 makes no sense! Smith has said that Troughton is his favourite & is what influenced his take on The Doctor! Troughton’s Doctor is what made Smith’s Doctor! …

I love all the Doctors for various reasons. My friend introduced me to the series when we were in highschool. The one I first watched was William Hartnell. It was awhile later that I really got into the series with Tom Baker and even more so with Sylvester McCoy. That would be because of Ace. It's always been with trepidation that I've approached the regeneration stories, but I've always given the new Doctor the benefit of the doubt. I've enjoyed each one. During the pandemic it was revisiting old episodes that I gained a greater appreciation for the first doctor and later realized that my favourite is Thirteen despite all the negativity surrounding her tenure. It turned out that while I needed the Doctor in my life, the one I needed at that moment with Thirteen. I think it's that way with each of us.

11 is the goat and always will be. He is everything the doctor should be

13 better than the first three Doctors? Seriously? Have you actually watched Hartnell, Troughton and Pertwee?

Refreshingly interesting to see McGann at 5th spot though, he was good and if he had a fully-fledge TV era I think he could have been a real fan fav given how popular he is purely from 2 on screen appearances and on audio. I also saw him in Bristol today xD

Eleven is my favourite and I think it will be hard to dethrone him.

Tom Baker said it perfectly, "You may be a doctor. But I'm the Doctor”.

Thank you for not putting Thirteen last just for the sake of doing it. You brought a lot of reasoning that made sense and I appreciate that.

I have a real soft spot for Peter Davison as the Dr. because he was the first one I watched.

I'm so glad to finally see this doctor at the top of a 'best doctors' list. What a fantastic job he did; not easy following on from the previous doctor either. Wonderful!

I agree with the general trend of this, but 12 should be higher. Most importantly, though -- and others have already said this -- Troughton needs to be very near the top. That's the one that you've just got waaaaaay too far off. Maybe it's just too far before your time and/or the few surviving episodes, but Troughton is brilliant AND he's the one who proved that this whole regeneration thing could be done. The correct order from the top is: 10, 11, 2, 4....

Getting the 8th dr movie is like finding Star Wars Christmas Special

Let us know your own ranking, we're interested to see them! Something else we've talked about doing is a ranking of every alternate Doctor - for example Metacrisis, the Valeyard, the MasterDoctor. If that's something you'd like to see then let us know that too!

Definitely a risky video to make. Good luck, Sean

It gets annoying when people peddle the false assumption that the 3rd Doctor is stuck on Earth in the 1970s for most of his stories. He has 24 stories, 11 of these he visits another planet, another 3 he travels to a different time periods of Earth's history, he also goes to an alternate earth in one and goes into space in a rocket in another. That's 16 out of 24 stories.

Matt Smith is older now than he was. He might be even better now, bring him back! I think he played the doctor the best. Tom Baker, didn't need to play the doctor. He just is the doctor. It's a not too subtle difference. Love them both.

Well this is one way to piss off absolutely everyone 😂😂

Tom Baker, D. Tennent & Matt Smith.........Pass the Jelly Babies....=))

My list (though it often changes) 1. David Tennant 2. Peter Capaldi 3. Tom Baker 4. Christopher Eccleston 5. Matt Smith 6. Jon Pertwee 7. Patrick Troughton 8. Paul McGann 9. William Hartnell 10. Colin Baker 11. Sylvester McCoy 12. Jodie Whittaker 13. Peter Davison

I have a custom printed lego minifigure of Tom Baker and he has a pack of jelly babies

Colin Baker at the Bottom? Predictable, but sadly understandable, but TROUGHTON IN SECOND TO LAST? My goodness. How did this list put all my favorites at the bottom. 😥Also if you take McGann's audios into account, but not Colin's, I can't think this list was fair.

Two at number twelve?? 😲 I'm trying not to be offended by that but I am. Especially when Eleven is number one. Two is my favorite. Followed closely by Eleven in second place because they are quite similar to each other.

Having the first three doctors so low down on this list is surely a war crime...!?

As a die-hard Eleventh Doctor fan who is friends with about 5 David Tennant die-hards, this list had the same effect as the Argentina winning the World Cup did for Messi fans against Ronaldo fans. Thank you very much for putting my Doctor top of the league.

Alternative Doctors could be fun as could be Tardis interiors.

Based purely on their appearances on the TV show, my ranking (as someone who started watching with Tom Baker) would be as follows: 1. Eleventh doctor 2. Tenth doctor 3. Fourth doctor 4. Twelfth doctor 5. Second doctor 6. Ninth doctor 7. Third doctor 8. Fifth doctor 9. Eighth doctor 10. Thirteenth doctor 11. Seventh doctor 12. First doctor 13. Sixth doctor

Sorry - Colin Baker is my favorite Doctor. People just didn’t quite ‘get’ him. I loved his character.

OK so for me, bottom up: 7th Doctor (just not my cup of tea) 1st Doctor, 2nd Doctor, 3rd Doctor (I am not as familiar with their adventures, haven't gotten around to them) 13th Doctor (Jodie was solid, but the stories were well bad for the most part, w some good ones here and there) 5th Doctor 6th Doctor (Thank you Big Finish) 9th Doctor (I do love him, but cut short) 12 th Doctor (the one that was made for the Fans, by the Fans, played by perhaps THE FAN) 11th Doctor (I like a little bit of fun old man with a kids soul we had here, good doctor and good stories) 4th Doctor (he WAS The Doctor for so long for so many, and Tom Baker will probably be remembered as the actor who defined the role) 8th Doctor (personal favourite. I sped through all of his Big Finish adventures and he made me from a regular fan into a superfan. I would not have checked out 4-7 without him, and I am soo so soooooo elfin sad we won't get more of him in live action. Just once pls BBC/Disney) 10th Doctor (The VERY first Doctor I ever saw. Tooth and Claw I think was the episode, and Tennant stuck with me ever since. He is the guy that defined the role for ME. what McGann did for me for the previous Doctors, Tennant did for the future Doctors). But this is tough and personal really. Like can you say that anyone in here was a bad actor? Sure there are those that had bad stories, or eras, circumstances etc, but all of them brought something unique and theirs to the role. Like McCoy whose work in DW I don't enjoy, I can still appreciate what he did, and get chuckles out of mastermind he was, but also someone who still cared when and where it mattered. Plus... Ace.

My issue with Whittaker was that she was half the time incomprehensible, the stories were....sigh, and the companions were a bit meh. I blame the writer more than anything Whittaker did.

If the writing, opening episode and a full character ark for Colin Baker, he could have been one of the greats. Especially when you hear how much of a fan Colin was to doctor who.

Absolutely shocking order. Having 2nd as the 2nd bottom is behind a joke (as is the 1st and 3rd). Yes everyone is going to have a different opinion which is why these rankings only work if you’ve either polled the fans . It may work as your own opinion but it’s hard to tell if this is your own opinion or the consensus of WhoCulture.

Sees Patrick Troughton my Bronze medal winner at second worst...ummm...you guys ok?

Oh you are taking a big risk with this list. Peter Capaldi will always be #1 for me, followed by Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Chris Eccleston, and Jon Pertwee. Matt Smith is towards the bottom of my list because of his tendency to spew out enough ham while making grandiose speeches that he could fill a football field-size pig sty! I never felt he did anger very well, and his default setting seemed to be "Wave your arms around and act like a wacky children's show presenter!" Tennant's not much higher up, but for me it's because I am just so sick of seeing him practically EVERYWHERE! He's spread himself too thin, he's ubiquitous! His performances of anger were also very unbalanced. He was at his best while being somber and quiet (think of the confrontation with Mr. Finch by the pool in School Reunion), but it was almost embarrassing when he defaulted to "Shout really loud in someone's face". Capaldi, in the meantime, had me at "KIDNEYS"

I haven’t seen the 3rd, 6th, or 8th. 10) 13th - Maybe I’m being unfair here, but I can’t forgive the show’s dramatic decline. 9) 7th - Haven’t seen much but appreciate his take on the role. 8) 5th - Likable but dull. 7) 1st - Early days. Can’t put him at the top, can’t put him at the bottom! 6) 9th - Gravitas with a touch of vaudeville. 5) 2nd - He brought whimsey and darkness to the role. His influence is undeniable. 4) 4th - Iconic. 3) 10th - Charismatic and hilarious. 2) 12th - The best actor and some of the best stories in the show’s history. 1) 11th - Pitch perfect take on the role, in my opinion.

Some people on here seem to forget that this list is just Seán’s opinion. It’s not conditional or etched in stone - it’s just an opinion. I’ve watched Doctor Who since I was around 5 or 6 years old, which means I grew up with the end of the Jon Pertwee era and the main run of Tom Baker’s. I’d still chose David Tennant over them both …and then change my mind next day! 😅

2:40 - The reason Colin didn't do a regen as stated in the video isn't correct. They fired him, then offered him a single story in S24 to regenerate. He countered with "gimme the whole series then I'll leave" (as he didn't want to wait that long for a short amount of work), they said no deal and that was the end of it.