The history of Doctor Who—a long-running British television series about a time-traveling, shapeshifting alien known as a Time Lord—is quite the storied one. It debuted in 1963, got canceled in 1989, was revived ever so briefly in 1996, made a triumphant return in 2005, and now continues to enthrall audiences to this very day in 2024, as Ncuti Gatwa leads the series as the first Black iteration of the title character.
For the uninitiated, these iterations are a major part of the charm of Doctor Who: Every so often, the character regenerates, taking on a new form played by a totally new actor—well, usually, but more on that later. In this article, we'll run down all the main Doctor Who regenerations, detailing who played them, who they shared their adventures with, and even some appropriately themed Doctor Who audiobooks that allow you to dive right into the adventures of whichever Doctor most strikes your fancy. Allons-y!
The First Doctor
William Hartnell was the original Doctor. Over the course of his run, he was joined by a variety of companions, including his granddaughter, Susan; humans from Earth's future, such as the pilot Steven and the orphan Vicki; and humans from Earth's past, such as the Trojan girl Katarina. Recognizable by his all-black ensemble and long gray hair, this Doctor could be quite the curmudgeon, but he loosened up a bit as time went on (Well, whatever "time" may mean to a time traveler...)
First Doctor ASIN
The Second Doctor
After Hartnell's health issues forced him to bow out, Patrick Troughton stepped up to become the new Doctor, along with multiple companions, and, I am so sorry, but it must be said: the worst haircut ever sported by any Doctor. Beyond the bowl cut, Two was notably the first Doctor to confront the Ice Warriors, Martian reptiles who would go on to become allies to future Doctors.
Second Doctor Audiobooks
The Third Doctor
Unlike the other Doctors, Three, played by Jon Pertwee, spent most of his time stuck on Earth after his fellow Time Lords shut down the TARDIS, the phone-booth-shaped vehicle he uses to travel through time. His best-known companion is Sarah Jane Smith, a journalist who later got her own spin-off show, The Sarah Jane Adventures.
The Fourth Doctor
Instantly recognizable by his whimsy and oversized scarf, Tom Baker's Doctor is one of the most popular, and he remained on the show for longer than any other actor to date. His somewhat moody iteration of the character was joined by his previous incarnation's companion, the ever-popular Sarah Jane.