Why Every Doctor Actor Quit Doctor Who

Over a span of 60 years, 18 distinct performers have embodied various incarnations of ‘Doctor Who‘, typically leaving the series after a few years as the titular character. The show initially debuted in the UK in November 1963, with William Hartnell portraying the time-traversing Time Lord, alongside Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman, William Russell as Ian Chesterton, and Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright – his initial companions. Since then, the Doctor has undergone numerous transformations, as new actors assume the role due to the Time Lords’ unique ability to regenerate when unwell, hurt, or near death.

In the popular show Doctor Who, the character’s ability to regenerate brings about new faces every few years to take on the role of the Doctor, when the previous actor decides to leave. This departure could be due to various factors such as health concerns, creative disagreements, or even the series being discontinued. The latest instance of this is Ncuti Gatwa’s exit as the Fifteenth Doctor in the recent episode “The Reality War.” However, he is just one among many stars who have bid farewell to the longest-running science fiction TV series ever produced.

17) William Hartnell and David Bradley as the First Doctor (1963-1966, 2017)

In the initial appearance of the character Doctor, portrayed by William Hartnell, battles were waged against timeless adversaries such as the Daleks, the Sensorites, the Celestial Toymaker, and the Cybermen. Hartnell enacted the role from 1963 to 1966, undergoing a transformation in “The Tenth Planet” of ’66 due to health issues stemming from undiagnosed arteriosclerosis that affected his line memorization skills. Hartnell also had a strained relationship with John Wiles, who succeeded Verity Lambert as the show’s producer. It was under Innes Lloyd, Wiles’ successor, that the concept of regeneration was introduced to keep Doctor Who running even after Hartnell left due to his health problems.

In 1972, Hartnell starred as the First Doctor in the special episode titled “The Three Doctors,” marking his last performance due to health issues. Sadly, he passed away from heart failure in 1975; however, David Bradley took on the role of the First Doctor for the Christmas special of 2017, titled “Twice Upon a Time,” alongside Peter Capaldi, and again in the 2022 special, “The Power of the Doctor,” opposite Jodie Whittaker. Interestingly, Bradley had previously portrayed Hartnell himself in the biographical TV film called “An Adventure in Space and Time.” This production depicted real-life events surrounding the creation of Doctor Who.

16) Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor (1966-1969)

Actor Patrick Troughton was selected to step into the shoes of William Hartnell, taking over the role of the Doctor in “Doctor Who” starting from the final episode of “The Tenth Planet.” His first full story unfolded in “The Power of the Daleks.” As the Second Doctor, he battled creatures like the Macra, Yeti, and Cybermen, among others. He bid farewell to the role in 1969’s “The War Games,” primarily due to the demanding production schedule and lengthy shooting hours of “Doctor Who,” as well as concerns about being stereotyped as the Doctor. After leaving, he made appearances in “The Omen,” “Coronation Street,” “Space: 1999,” and “Two Ronnies,” among numerous other projects.

15) Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor (1970-1974)

Just like Jon Pertwee, who portrayed the Third Doctor from 1970’s “Spearhead from Space” to 1974’s “Planet of the Spiders,” also chose to leave Doctor Who due to concerns about being typecast and a longing to return to his stage career. The passing of Roger Delgado, who played the Master, and the refusal of a higher fee request by Pertwee, as suggested by the late Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith), were factors contributing to his departure from the series.

14) Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor (1974-1981)

Tom Baker, widely considered one of the best Doctors in the series by many fans (though others might argue David Tennant took the crown), held the role for a significantly longer period than most of his contemporaries. However, creative disagreements with producer John Nathan-Turner led to his departure in 1981, as changes made to “Doctor Who” at that time didn’t sit well with Baker. Looking back, he admitted that he might have stayed on for too long, given that he portrayed the Fourth Doctor during the show’s most successful viewing period, from the 1974 “Robot” episode up until his departure in “Logopolis.

13) Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor (1982-1984)

Peter Davison had agreed to play the Fifth Doctor for a term of three years, so he chose to depart once this period ended. However, he later expressed some doubts about this choice. “At the point when I definitively decided to leave, I was quite content with it,” Davison shared with Radio Times in 2023. “When it came to the day of filming the regeneration scene, there were instances where I wondered, ‘What on earth have I done?'” Davison’s Doctor made his appearance between the episodes “Castrovalva” in 1982 and “The Caves of Androzani” in 1984. Nevertheless, Davison has reprised the role on several occasions, and interestingly enough, his daughter, Georgia Tennant, went on to marry David Tennant after both had been part of Doctor Who.

12) Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor (1985-1986)

As a passionate fan of Doctor Who, I must say that actors like Hartnell, Troughton, Pertwee, and Baker all decided to part ways with the series. However, it was Colin Baker, who brought the Sixth Doctor to life between “The Twin Dilemma” in 1985 and “The Ultimate Foe” in 1986, who found himself replaced at the behest of higher-ups at the BBC. This wasn’t a reflection of Baker’s performance but rather due to external factors. Doctor Who was facing criticism for growing too violent, mature, and deviating from its earlier tone. Consequently, the show took an 18-month break that largely consumed Baker’s tenure as the Sixth Doctor. Eventually, this led to a change in both the creative team and the Doctor himself. Despite these events, Baker has had numerous opportunities to revisit his role since then.

11) Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor (1987-1996)

Sylvester McCoy joined the show to take over from Baker, but his humorous interpretation of the Seventh Doctor shifted “Doctor Who” to a more comedic tone. This change was met with criticism as viewers felt the series was becoming too light-hearted, leading to a drop in popularity, less prime-time airing, and low ratings. The decreased viewership ultimately led to the show’s cancellation in 1989 following “Survival.” However, McCoy’s tenure as the Doctor ended with the show’s cancelation, though he made a brief reappearance in the 1996 TV movie titled “Doctor Who,” where he regenerated into Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor.

10) Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor (1996)

1996’s “Doctor Who” TV movie functioned as an unofficial audition for a new, U.S.-made “Doctor Who” series. This movie featured Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, marking his only televised appearance until 2013’s “The Night of the Doctor.” Unfortunately, no series materialized following this movie, thereby concluding McGann’s on-screen tenure as the Doctor. However, he has continued to portray the character in various audiobooks and radio plays, resulting in one of the most enduring portrayals of the Doctor among all actors. It’s unfortunate that McGann didn’t get a full season before transitioning into the War Doctor in “The Night of the Doctor.

9) John Hurt as the War Doctor (2013)

Prior to “The Name of the Doctor” in 2013, the character of the War Doctor, portrayed by John Hurt, was introduced as a Time Lord incarnation who fought during the Last Great Time War, a conflict first mentioned by Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor in 2005. The renowned science-fiction actor John Hurt appeared on-screen solely for the 50th anniversary special, “The Day of the Doctor,” where Tennant’s Tenth Doctor and Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor joined forces with the War Doctor to alter the course of the Time War. Hurt later reprised his role in the audio drama series “The War Doctor” until his death in January 2017.

8) Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor (2005)

16 years following its termination and nine years post the unsuccessful attempt to launch a new series after the TV movie, Christopher Eccleston was chosen to play the ninth version of The Doctor during the revival led by Russell T. Davies for Doctor Who. Over the past two decades, discussions about Eccleston’s departure from Doctor Who after a single season have been prevalent. Initially thought to be due to Eccleston not wanting to be stereotyped, the BBC later hinted that the Ninth Doctor was only meant to appear for one season.

After the production, Eccleston admitted that he was overburdened and exhausted, echoing Patrick Troughton’s departure in 1969. He delved deeper into his strained connection with Davies and producers Gardner and Collinson. For a long time, he harbored resentment towards Doctor Who, but attending conventions since 2017 has helped mend those feelings, eventually leading him to reprise the role in 2020 for the first time in audiobooks. During a 2023 panel, Eccleston hinted that he would only return to the series if most of the current creative team were replaced (as reported on YouTube).

7) David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor (2005-2010) and the Fourteenth Doctor (2023)

Initially, David Tennant made his debut as the Tenth Doctor towards the end of “The Parting of the Ways” in 2005, a role that eventually became beloved by many fans. He starred in three seasons and various specials until regenerating in “The End of Time” in 2010. Despite wanting to avoid overstaying his welcome, Tennant felt it was appropriate to move on after nearly five years. However, he reprised his role as the Tenth Doctor in “The Day of the Doctor” in 2013 and again as the Fourteenth Doctor in “The Power of the Doctor” in 2023, for the 60th anniversary celebration of Doctor Who.

6) Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor (2010-2013)

Matt Smith’s tenure as the Eleventh Doctor in “Doctor Who” was divisive among viewers, following the large footsteps left by David Tennant. Despite generally positive reviews, some fans found his performance challenging to accept. Smith played the Doctor from 2010’s “The Eleventh Hour” until 2013’s “The Time of the Doctor.” Later, he admitted regret for not continuing and expressed a desire to work more with Jenna Coleman, who portrayed companion Clara Oswald. Ultimately, Smith chose to leave “Doctor Who,” citing both the appropriate timing and the challenging nature of the role as reasons for his departure.

5) Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor (2014-2017)

Peter Capaldi, a longtime fan and iconic figure in British TV, took over from Matt Smith as the Twelfth Doctor in 2014’s “Deep Breath.” At that time, he was the oldest actor to play the Doctor since Hartnell. Over three seasons and several specials, Capaldi portrayed the Doctor until his regeneration in 2017’s “Twice Upon a Time.” Capaldi decided to leave Doctor Who while still enjoying the role and giving his best performances, aiming to avoid less-than-stellar storylines. Since then, his portrayal of the Doctor has been highly acclaimed.

4) Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor (2018-2022)

Jodie Whittaker made a significant impact as she became the first female actor to play the role of the Thirteenth Doctor on “Doctor Who”. Alongside new showrunner Chris Chibnall, they planned three seasons together before departing, which they both fulfilled. However, their tenure on the show was met with considerable criticism due to a perceived decline in quality, scriptwriting, and an overemphasis on the underlying message of each adventure. Whittaker reappeared as her Doctor in 2025’s “The Reality War” alongside Ncuti Gatwa’s Fifteenth Doctor, and she will also lend her voice to upcoming audiobooks featuring the character.

3) Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor (2020-2025)

Jodie Whittaker’s tenure unveiled that the Doctor, a character from another dimension, had their regeneration power taken by ancient Gallifreyans and given to Time Lords. This revelation suggested that the Doctor had lived numerous lives before William Hartnell first portrayed them in 1963, including Jo Martin’s portrayal as “The Fugitive Doctor.” Martin hasn’t truly departed from the role; after debuting in 2020’s “Fugitive of the Judoon,” she reprised her role in 2020’s “The Timeless Children,” 2021’s “Once, Upon Time,” 2022’s “The Power of the Doctor,” and 2025’s “The Story & the Engine.” She is set to return as The Fugitive Doctor in an upcoming audio drama series.

2) Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor (2023-2025)

In my humble opinion, Ncuti Gatwa, famously known for his role in “Sex Education,” stepped into the iconic shoes of the Time Lord in 2023’s “The Giggle,” taking over from David Tennant’s Fourteenth Doctor. Despite a brief and unexpected tenure, Gatwa graced our screens as the Fifteenth Doctor for just two abbreviated seasons before bidding adieu in 2025’s “The Reality War.” His stint spanned a mere 18 months.

Gatwa himself has hinted at the intense nature of the role being a significant factor behind his decision to leave, but whispers abound that the breakdown of negotiations between Bad Wolf and Disney might have played a part as well. An unusual twist in the narrative is that Gatwa’s regeneration scene was filmed much later than originally planned, leading some to speculate whether it was the original intended outcome.

1) Billie Piper as the Sixteenth Doctor (2025)

The regeneration of the Fifteenth Doctor was surprising not only due to Jodie Whittaker’s departure, but also because Billie Piper took on the role in “The Reality War.” Known for her portrayal of companion Rose Tyler alongside Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant, Piper reappeared for brief appearances in 2008 and 2010 during Tennant’s final episode. Later, she played the embodiment of the Moment – the War Doctor’s weapon – in “The Day of the Doctor.” In an interview with Radio Times, Piper expressed discomfort about the fame that came with “Doctor Who” in the 2000s, but it remains to be seen what her future might hold if the series is revived.

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2025-06-29 21:52