Doctor Who has run, on and off but mostly on, for more than fifty years. A key way its achieved this longevity is through recasting its lead actor every few years. Almost exactly the same thing is true, of course, of James Bond – and many other long-running television shows or film series. But Doctor Who differs in that the recasting of the series’ lead is referenced within the fiction. The series becomes about the character changing their face, if only for the new Doctor’s first story.
A changeover of Doctors is a great opportunity for the series to attract new viewers and win back lapsed ones, to change direction and renew itself creatively. It’s also the moment of maximum danger for a series that depends hugely on the popularity of its lead actor and their interpretation of the role. With Thirteenth Doctor Jodie Whittaker about to make her debut on Sunday, here’s a look back at how previous Doctors debuts have been handled and received.
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