Doctor Who, the beloved BBC sci-fi series that first aired in 1963, has seen over a dozen actors take on the iconic role. As David Tennant returns as the Fourteenth Doctor before Ncuti Gatwa takes over at Christmas, we look at what happened to his predecessors after they left the show.
William Hartnell, the first Doctor, was initially hesitant but became convinced to join in November 1963. He wore a wig and described his character as 'a cross between the Wizard of Oz and Father Christmas'. Hartnell left in October 1966 due to deteriorating health and difficulty learning lines, but returned for the 10th anniversary special in 1972, filming his scenes sitting down reading cue cards. Many of his episodes are missing from the BBC archives after a purge in the early 1970s. Hartnell died in his sleep from heart failure in April 1975 at age 67, after being permanently hospitalised with cerebrovascular disease.
Patrick Troughton, who Hartnell said was the 'only man in England' who could take over, played the Second Doctor from October 1966. He was known for practical jokes but rarely gave interviews to avoid typecasting. After three years, he left the role for the same reason, though he returned for specials in 1973, 1983 and 1985. Troughton died from a heart attack in March 1987 while attending a sci-fi convention in America. His grandson is Harry Melling, who played Dudley Dursley in the Harry Potter films.
Jon Pertwee, who brought a James Bond-style action hero to the role from 1970 to 1974, left to continue his stage career and avoid typecasting, also citing the death of his friend and co-star Roger Delgado. He later played Worzel Gummidge and maintained close ties with fans until his death from a heart attack at age 76. In his will, he requested that a toy Worzel Gummidge be affixed to his coffin.
Tom Baker, the longest-serving Doctor from 1974 to 1981, became famous for his colourful scarf, distinctive voice and love of jelly babies. His tenure was well-received by the public, and he remains one of the most recognisable incarnations of the character.
