> Skip to content

Article  •  30 May 2016

 

Who’s your doctor?

Watch the TV series, read the books and rate your favourite Doctors.


The Wise First Doctor: Portrayed by William Hartnell
Signature item: Walking cane
Catchphrase: ‘Mm? What’s that, my boy?’
Best baddies: The Daleks, the Cybermen, The Mad Monk
Most notable Companion: Susan Foreman
Classic book: Ten Little Aliens


The Cunning Second Doctor: Portrayed by Patrick Troughton
Signature item: Recorder
Catchphrase: ‘When I say run, run. RUN!’
Best baddies: The Ice Warriors, The Yeti, Dalek Emperor
Most notable Companion: Jamie McCrimmon
Classic book: Dreams of Empire


The Charming Third Doctor: Portrayed by Jon Pertwee
Signature item: ‘Bessie’, his yellow car
Catchphrase: ‘Reverse the polarity of the neutron flow.’
Best baddies: The Autons, The Master, The Sontarans
Most notable Companion: Sarah Jane Smith
Classic book: Last of the Gaderene


The Manic Fourth Doctor: Portrayed by Tom Baker
Signature item: That scarf
Catchphrase: ‘Would you care for a jelly baby?’
Best baddies: Davros, The Zygons, Borusa
Most notable Companion: K–9
Classic book: Festival of Death


The Crusading Fifth Doctor: Portrayed by Peter Davidson
Signature item: Celery stalk on his lapel
Catchphrase: ‘Brave heart, Tegan.’
Best baddies: The Black Guardian, Omega, Kamelion
Most notable Companion: Adric
Classic book: Fear of the Dark


The Egotistical Sixth Doctor: Portrayed by Colin Baker
Signature item: Patchwork coat
Catchphrase: ‘Mmm I wonder…Aha!’
Best baddies: The Rani, The High Council of Time Lords
Most notable Companion: Peri Brown
Classic book: Players


The Shrewd Seventh Doctor: Portrayed by Sylvester McCoy
Signature item: Umbrella with question mark handle
Catchphrase: ‘Somewhere there’s danger, somewhere there’s injustice, somewhere else, the tea’s getting cold.’
Best baddies: The Gods of Ragnarok, Renegade Daleks
Most notable Companion: Ace
Classic book: Remembrance of the Daleks


The Debonair Eighth Doctor: Portrayed by Paul McGann
Signature item: Anything he can steal
Best baddies: The Master
Most notable Companion: Grace Holloway
Classic book: Earthworld


The Tortured Ninth Doctor: Portrayed by Chriostopher Eccelston
Signature item: Leather jacket
Catchphrase: ‘Fantastic!’
Best baddies: The slitheen, Bad Wolf Corporation
Most notable Companion: Rose Tyler
Classic book: Only Human

 

The Noble Tenth Doctor: Portrayed by David Tennant
Signature item: Glasses
Catchphrase: ‘Brilliant!’
Best baddies: Ood, The Weeping Angels, Harold Saxon
Most notable Companion: Donna Noble
Classic book: Beautiful Chaos


The Paradoxical Eleventh Doctor: Portrayed by Matt Smith
Signature item: Fez
Catchphrase: ‘Bow ties are cool.’
Best baddies: The new Daleks, The Silence, The Great Intelligence
Most notable Companion: Amy Pond
Classic book: The Silent Stars Go By


The Impossible Twelfth Doctor: Portrayed by Peter Capaldi
Signature Item: Electric Guitar, Sonic Sunglasses
Catchphrase: I'm not a hugging person (or variants of)
Best Baddies: Missy, Ashildr (Me)
Most Notable Companion: Clara Oswald
Classic Book: Doctor Who: Royal Blood

More features

See all
Article
5 of the hottest YA books right now (2025)

Check out some of the hottest YA books in stores now, from epic romantasy to sweet, unexpected romance.

Article
How to throw the perfect Bluey birthday party

Everything you need to throw the perfect Bluey birthday party!

Article
Your guide to writers’ festivals in May 2025

Check out some of the Penguin Random House authors who will be at upcoming writers’ festivals.

Article
How to save money on groceries: 6 innovative budget tips

Food shopping on a budget? These tips from Money-Saving Meal Plans With Chelsea will help you spend less on food.

Article
Penguin Picks: 4 books to escape with this long weekend – no travel required

Check out the long weekend reads Penguin employees are loving.

Article
Penguin Noir 2025 was a criminally good showcase

Our 2025 Penguin Noir events have wrapped up for another year – featuring four cities, four days, seven authors and a whole lot of crime!

Article
Two Penguin authors make the shortlist for the 2025 Stella Prize

Congrats to Samah Sabawi, author of Cactus Pear For My Beloved and Jumaana Abdu, author of Translations!

Article
Lynette Noni is touring Australia in 2025!

Find out where you can hear Lynette Noni speak about her upcoming book, Wandering Wild.

Article
Two thrilling adaptations of Candice Fox’s bestsellers are coming to screens near you

High Wire and Fire With Fire are both in development for series adaptations.

Article
Maurice and Maralyn wins Nero Gold Prize, Book of the Year 2024

We’re thrilled to share that Maruice and Maralyn by Sophie Elmhirst has won the Nero Book Awards Gold Prize, Book of the Year.

Article
Award-winning and shortlisted books of 2025

Discover some of the best Penguin Random House books of 2025 with this list of award-winning and shortlisted titles this year.

Article
CBCA Book of the Year Notables 2025

We're thrilled to share that fourteen books have been named CBCA Notables this year. Learn more about them here.

Looking for more articles?

See all articles
penguin pop image
penguin pop image