| Actor (role) | Tenure | First regular appearance | Last regular appearance |
| William Hartnell(First Doctor) | 23 November 1963 – 29 October 1966(2 years, 11 months and 6 days) | An Unearthly Child"An Unearthly Child" | The Tenth PlanetEpisode 4 |
| Other First Doctor appearances William Hartnell also played the Doctor in an initial version of An Unearthly Child. This was the first attempt at the first episode of the original series, filmed in September 1963 and first released on The Hartnell Years VHS in 1990. Television: The Three Doctors – 30 December 1972 – 20 January 1973 (last appearance in-character) |
| Patrick Troughton(Second Doctor) | 29 October 1966 – 21 June 1969(2 years, 7 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) | The Power of the DaleksEpisode One | The War GamesEpisode Ten |
| Other Second Doctor appearances Television: The Three Doctors – 30 December 1972 – 20 January 1973 Television: "The Five Doctors" – 23 November 1983 Television: The Two Doctors – 16 February – 2 March 1985 (last appearance in-character) |
| Jon Pertwee(Third Doctor) | 3 January 1970 – 8 June 1974(4 years, 5 months and 5 days) | Spearhead from SpaceEpisode One | Planet of the SpidersPart Six |
| Other Third Doctor appearances Television: "The Five Doctors" – 23 November 1983 Stage: Glorious Goodwood – 18 May 1974 (audio recording) Stage: Doctor Who – The Ultimate Adventure – 23 March 1989 – 3 June 1989 Radio: The Paradise of Death – 27 August – 24 September 1993Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993 Fan film: Devious – post-regeneration sequence filmed in 1995 (this recording of Pertwee was also used in the Big Finish audio drama Zagreus) Radio: The Ghosts of N-Space – 20 January – 24 February 1996 Television: Surprise Surprise – episode 13×04 – 21 April 1996 (last appearance in-character) |
| Tom Baker(Fourth Doctor) | 8 June 1974 – 21 March 1981(6 years, 9 months, 1 week and 6 days) | RobotPart One | LogopolisPart Four |
| Tom Baker also appeared as the Curator in "The Day of the Doctor" (2013). It was implied that he was a future incarnation of the Doctor revisiting "a few of the old favourites" of his past faces, and who had retired from adventuring and was now the curator of the National Gallery in London. Other Fourth Doctor appearances Television: Disney Time – 25 August 1975LP: The Pescatons – July 1976Radio: Exploration Earth, Episode 3: "The Time Machine" – 4 October 1976Television: Shada – July 1992Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997Television: Doctor Who Night – 13 November 1999 (in character as a Doctor, after Paul McGann)Audio: Hornet's Nest – 3 September 2009 – 3 December 2009Audio: Demon Quest – 2 September 2010 – 2 December 2010Audio: Serpent Crest – 8 September 2011 – 8 December 2011Audio: Big Finish Productions – 9 January 2012 onwards (first story Destination Nerva)Television: Shada – 24 November 2017 |
| Peter Davison(Fifth Doctor) | 21 March 1981 – 16 March 1984(2 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 3 days) | CastrovalvaPart One | The Caves of AndrozaniPart Four |
| Other Fifth Doctor appearances Television: Blue Peter – 21 November 1983 Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997 Audio: Big Finish Productions – 19 July 1999 onwards (first story The Sirens of Time) Television: Children in Need special episode, "Time Crash" – 16 November 2007 Immersive experience: Time Fracture – 26 May 2021 (pre-recorded audio)Television: "The Power of the Doctor" – 23 October 2022 Television: Tales of the TARDIS: Earthshock – 1 November 2023 |
| Colin Baker(Sixth Doctor) | 16 March 1984 – 6 December 1986(2 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 6 days) | The Twin DilemmaPart One | The Ultimate FoePart Two |
| Colin Baker previously appeared on Doctor Who playing a different character in the Fifth Doctor story Arc of Infinity. Other Sixth Doctor appearances Television: Jim'll Fix It – "A Fix with Sontarans" – 23 February 1985 Radio: Slipback – 25 July – 22 August 1985Stage: Doctor Who – The Ultimate Adventure – 5 June – 19 August 1989 Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997Audio: Out of the Darkness – November 1998 Audio: Big Finish Productions – 19 July 1999 onwards (first story The Sirens of Time) Web: Real Time – 2 August – 6 September 2002Immersive experience: Time Fracture – 26 May 2021 (pre-recorded audio)Television: "The Power of the Doctor" – 23 October 2022 Television: Tales of the TARDIS: Vengeance on Varos – 1 November 2023 |
| Sylvester McCoy(Seventh Doctor) | 7 September 1987 – 6 December 1989(2 years, 2 months, 4 weeks and 1 day) | Time and the RaniPart One | SurvivalPart Three |
| Sylvester McCoy also briefly played the Sixth Doctor in Time and the Rani, during the regeneration scene, wearing a wig. Other Seventh Doctor appearances Television: Search Out Science – "Search Out Space" – 21 November 1990 Television: Dimensions in Time – 26–27 November 1993 Television: Doctor Who (TV movie) – 27 May 1996 Computer game: Destiny of the Doctors – 5 December 1997 Audio: Big Finish Productions – 19 July 1999 onwards (first story The Sirens of Time) Web: Death Comes to Time – 12 July 2001 – 30 May 2002Immersive experience: Time Fracture – 26 May 2021 (pre-recorded audio) Television: "The Power of the Doctor" – 23 October 2022Television: Tales of the TARDIS: The Curse of Fenric – 1 November 2023 |
| Paul McGann(Eighth Doctor) | 27 May 1996 | Doctor Who (TV movie) |
| Other Eighth Doctor appearances Audio: Earth and Beyond – September 1998Audio: Big Finish Productions – 22 January 2001 onwards (first story Storm Warning)Web: Shada – 2 May – 6 June 2003 Radio: BBC7 plays – 31 December 2006 – 18 February 2007 (first story Blood of the Daleks Part 1, last story Human Resources Part 2) Web and Television: "The Night of the Doctor" (mini-episode prequel to "The Day of the Doctor") – 14 November 2013 (via BBC red button service 16 November 2013 – 23 November 2013) Television: "The Power of the Doctor" – 23 October 2022 |
| Christopher Eccleston(Ninth Doctor) | 26 March 2005 – 18 June 2005(2 months, 3 weeks and 2 days) | "Rose" | "The Parting of the Ways" |
| Other Ninth Doctor appearances Video: "Dr. Who Proposal" – 21 April 2014 Video: "Video message from Christopher Eccleston to " – 14 December 2015 Video: "Christopher Eccleston reprises Doctor Who role to wish Blaine & Liam well on their wedding day." – 9 September 2018 Audio: Big Finish Productions – May 2021 onwards (first story Ravagers) |
| David Tennant(Tenth Doctor) | 18 June 2005 – 1 January 2010(4 years, 6 months and 2 weeks) | "The Christmas Invasion" | "The End of Time"Part Two |
| Other Tenth Doctor appearances Television: Children in Need special – 18 November 2005Interactive game: "Attack of the Graske" – 25 December 2005Television: The Infinite Quest – 2 April – 30 June 2007Television: Children in Need special episode, "Time Crash" – 16 November 2007Stage/Radio: "Music of the Spheres" – 27 July 2008Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial, The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith – 29 and 30 October 2009Red Button Service/Television: Dreamland – 21–26 November 2009Television: "The Day of the Doctor" – 23 November 2013Audio: Big Finish Productions – 16 May 2016 onwards (first story Technophobia)Television: Family Guy episode "Inside Family Guy" – 23 October 2016Web: Video message for Gary Russell – 28 January 2018, filmed in 2014Video game: The Edge of Reality – 14 October 2021 |
| Matt Smith(Eleventh Doctor) | 1 January 2010 – 25 December 2013(3 years, 11 months, 3 weeks and 3 days) | "The Eleventh Hour" | "The Time of the Doctor" |
| Other Eleventh Doctor appearances Video games: "Doctor Who: The Adventure Games" – 5 June 2010 – 31 October 2011 (first story City of the Daleks, last story The Gunpowder Plot)Stage/Radio: Doctor Who Prom – 24–25 July 2010Stage/Arena: Doctor Who Live (filmed sequences) – 8 October – 7 November 2010Television: The Sarah Jane Adventures serial Death of the Doctor – 25 and 26 October 2010DVD Extras: Meanwhile, in the TARDIS (Complete Fifth Series box set) – 8 November 2010Video game: Nintendo DS Evacuation Earth – 12 November 2010Video game: Nintendo Wii Return to Earth – 19 November 2010Video game: iPod The Mazes of Time – 16 December 2010Exhibition/3D Video: Doctor Who Experience (filmed 3D sequences) – 20 February 2011Television: Comic Relief special episodes "Space" and "Time" – 18 March 2011Stage: The Crash of the Elysium (filmed sequences) – 1–17 July 2011 (appeared live in character on 16 July 2011)Web: "Let's Kill Hitler" Prequel – 15 August 2011Television: Doctor Who Confidential: "Death Is the Only Answer" – 1 October 2011Children in Need auction promotional video – 18 November 2011DVD Extras: Night and the Doctor, five mini-episodes included in the Complete Sixth Series box set – 21 November 2011Web: "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" prequel – 6 December 2011Web: Promotion for Blue Peter-sponsored Script to Screen competition – 12 January 2012Video game: PlayStation Network The Eternity Clock – May 2012Television: Blue Peter special mini-episode, "Good as Gold" – 24 May 2012Web: Pond Life five-part prequel – 27–31 August 2012Web: "Asylum of the Daleks" prequel – 2 September 2012Television: Children in Need The Great Detective – 16 November 2012Television: Red Nose Day 2013: Call the Midwife: One Born Every Minute – 15 March 2013Web: "The Bells of Saint John" prequel – 23 March 2013Web: She Said, He Said, "The Name of the Doctor" prequel – 11 May 2013Television: BAFTA Doctor Who 50th anniversary tribute message – 12 May 2013Stage/Radio: Doctor Who Prom – 13–14 July 2013Television commercial: 50 years trailer – 19 October 2013DVD Extras: INFORARIUM and Rain Gods, two of three special scenes included in the Complete Seventh Series Box Set – 28 October 2013Television: The Science of Doctor Who – 14 November 2013Television: Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide – 18 November 2013Television: An Adventure in Space and Time (cameo) – 21 November 2013Television: "Deep Breath" – 23 August 2014 |
| Peter Capaldi(Twelfth Doctor) | 25 December 2013 – 25 December 2017(4 years) | "Deep Breath" | "Twice Upon a Time" |
| Peter Capaldi previously appeared on Doctor Who playing a different character in the Tenth Doctor episode "The Fires of Pompeii" and on the spin-off Torchwood as John Frobisher. Other Twelfth Doctor appearances Television: "The Day of the Doctor" (cameo; uncredited) – 23 November 2013Exhibition/3D Video: Doctor Who Experience (filmed 3D sequences) – 24 October 2014Video: "From The Doctor to my son Thomas" – 6 November 2014Web: "The Magician's Apprentice" prologue – 11 September 2015Film: The Doctor's Meditation – 15 September 2015Video game: Doctor Who - Game Maker – 16 September 2015Web: "Home Invasion" – 30 November 2015Video game: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One: Lego Dimensions – 27 September 2015Television: "Friend from the Future" – 23 April 2016Television: Class episode "For Tonight We Might Die" – 22 October 2016Television: Children in Need Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sketch – 18 November 2016 |
| Jodie Whittaker(Thirteenth Doctor) | 25 December 2017 – 23 October 2022(4 years, 9 months and 4 weeks) | "The Woman Who Fell to Earth" | "The Power of the Doctor" |
| Other Thirteenth Doctor appearances Video game: The Runaway – 16 May 2019Video game: The Edge of Time – 12 November 2019Web: Message from the Doctor – 25 March 2020Web: United we stand, 2m apart – 8 April 2020Video game: The Lonely Assassins – 19 March 2021Immersive experience: Time Fracture – 26 May 2021 (pre-recorded video)Video game: The Edge of Reality – 14 October 2021Podcast: Redacted – 17 April 2022 – 19 June 2022Television: "The Reality War" – 31 May 2025Audio: Big Finish Productions – 3 July 2025 onwards (first story Vampire Weekend) |
| David Tennant(Fourteenth Doctor) | 23 October 2022 – 9 December 2023(1 year, 1 month, 2 weeks and 2 days) | "The Star Beast" | "The Giggle" |
| Other Fourteenth Doctor appearances Television: Red Nose Day 2023: "Lenny Henry regenerates into David Tennant" – 17 March 2023Television: Children in Need special episode, "Destination Skaro" – 17 November 2023Television: CBeebies bedtime story – 24 November 2023 |
| Ncuti Gatwa(Fifteenth Doctor) | 9 December 2023 – 31 May 2025(1 year, 5 months, 3 weeks and 1 day) | "The Church on Ruby Road" | "The Reality War" |
| Other Fifteenth Doctor appearances Television: "The Giggle" (supporting role) – 9 December 2023Television: An Adventure in Space and Time (cameo) – 23 November 2023Television: Tales of the TARDIS: Pyramids of Mars – 20 June 2024Television: BBC Proms: Mini Episode: Bad Music – 24 December 2024 |
