‘Doctor Who’ Poll Results: Your Favorite Doctor Is…
Over the more than 50 years of Doctor Who, 13 people have played the space-and-time-traveling alien, starting with William Hartnell in 1963 and, since 2018, Jodie Whittaker.
In December 2020, as we geared up for the “Revolution of the Daleks” holiday special, TV Insider asked you to choose your favorite Doctor. Over 6,000 votes were cast, with choices including Hartnell, Colin Baker (1984-86) and Christopher Eccleston (the first to take on the role when the sci-fi series returned in 2005). One, of course, walked away the victor.
The favorite Doctor? Whittaker, the first female Doctor and one now entering her third season. She’s the fifth person to play the character since Doctor Who was revived in 2005. She followed Eccleston, David Tennant (2005-10), Matt Smith (2010-13), and Peter Capaldi (2014-17). Watch some of her best moments below.
Whittaker’s Doctor is the one to have learned the truth about the supposed last of the Time Lords: She’s really the Timeless Child, from whom Time Lords were created.
Tom Baker (1974-81), the Fourth Doctor, came in second, and Tennant’s Tenth came in third. Watch all the regenerations (so far?) below.
Doctor Who, Season 13, 2021, BBC America
TARDIS To Your Inbox
Get absolutely everything about Doctor Who in your inbox!
Conversation94 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
B
Another rigged poll
56 2
-
O
You sound just like Trump...
12
-
-
G
Ummmm no. Great actress but thanks to the writing, a terrible doctor. She beat out Tom Baker? I smell a rat.
44 2
-
C
Amended because of errors.
Whittaker is nowhere near the best Doctor. Not because she is a female, as some might assume I mean. She is nowhere near the best because.......
1. Her acting, as The Doctor, is weak and unsure.
2. Her companions are too sure in her stead.
3. The direction of the show has gone completely SJW and is less about scifi and more about "what's wrong with the world."
4. She doesn't even want to do it anymore. Lack of dedication to the character.
For these reasons, she falls far below the top spot. 6000 people is nowhere near enough to get an accurate census, it just shows that most of your readers are far left leaning liberals. This does not include all liberals, just the far left for clarification.
Focus on space and time, Moffat and Chibnall.
52 12
-
C
Whittaker is nowhere near the best Doctor. Not because she is a female, as some might assume I mean. She is not the near the best because.......
1. Her acting, as The Doctor, is weak and unsure.
2. Her companions are too sure in her stead.
3. The direction of the show has gone completely SJW and is less about scifi and more about "what's wrong with the world."
4. She doesn't even want to do it anymore. Lack of dedication to the character.
For these reasons, she falls far below the top spot. 6000 people is nowhere near enough to get an accurate census, it just shows that most of your readers are far left leaning liberals.
Focus on space and time Moffat and Chibnall.
42 8
-
O
I agree that she is NOT the best doctor—my pick is David Tennant, hands down. But I am a “left leaning liberal” who cares about the world, and your indictment (intended insult) of voters in this poll who think differently than you was petty, a complete non-sequitur, and entirely uncalled for. Don’t you have anywhere else to direct your rage? This has nothing whatever to do with party politics, so please! Give it a rest!
27 19
-
O
I don't think that user Donthnkso was insulting you. He was pointing out that the show has taken leftist ideals and made them an important part of the show. This is a big mistake for two reasons. One, although you might please some of your viewers, you'll turn off others. Nobody wants to see the 'other side's' views when they're only trying to enjoy a TV show. Two, and most importantly, when you plug art with an agenda, it becomes no longer art. This is true of any agenda, whether political or otherwise. Good art asks a question, and finds an answer as it's written. When the answer is in mind before you even ask a question, obviously your answer won't be original, or very good. And because essentially, all art is the answer to a question, when all you're trying to do is answer it with a predetermined idea, you aren't creating art, you're creating propaganda. If you notice, the more SJW the show gets, the worse it gets. That's not to say that A causes B, it's to say that both A and B are caused by the same thing: the show is being used for an agenda. This is a fatal mistake and the reason I haven't watched past about halfway through peter capaldi's doctor.
(also David tennant is best 1000%)
3 1
-
B
All art has an agenda. That's what art is. You're going to sit here and
say that Dali didn't have an agenda while painting his surrealist
depictions of the Spanish civil war of 1934? Van Gogh had no agenda
whilst he sat in his asylum when he painted Starry Night? Grant Wood had no agenda when he entered American Gothic into a local art competition? No?
I don't think you have any clue what you're talking about.
-
-
-
O
Yes!
7
-
R
Moffat isn't actually involved anymore. That's part of why it's gone downhill.
-
-
C
The worst. She is a good actor but the writing is trash! Tennant is my favorite! 13 is no ones favorite
38 4
-
O
LMAO! I don’t believe this poll for a second. Jodie’s Doctor is why a lot of us stopped watching our beloved show.
Definitely a rigged poll....what’s new.
34 4
-
O
That's just embarrassing. It's time for older fans like myself who watched this show in the 1960s to walk away from this drivel.
30 4
-
G
That's funny - I'm watching since 1980 and I love her
2 16
-
-
B
R.I.P DOCTOR WHO 1963 - 2017
34 9
-
G
This sounds like an absolute joke. Viewers have dropped with this show no doubt thanks to Jodie yet somehow she’s the favorite ? Yeah ok. Ask the longtime real fans of the show and not all the little girls that came to the show for girl power speeches and you’ll find who the favorite Doctor is. Hint, it’s not Jodie
25 1
-
O
I like Jodi, but really, first? I love Tom Baker best but he was the doctor of my youth. I put Jodi ahead of say Sylvester McCoy but even Matt Smith (who I mostly hate) is probably a better doctor.
27 3
-
G
Something seems fishy about this poll. Jodie is a good Dr but the writing was just rubbish. Tenant and Smith seem much more likely to be the winner less this poll was fixed or brigaded
24 1
-
B
Jodie is NOT a good doctor! She's absolutely abysmal!
20 3
-
-
O
No way.
19 1
-
B
I suggest those who somehow believe that Whitaker is the best doctor, should watch episodes of previous doctors. Also, compare this article to the mountain of other articles that state differently and look at websites that rate the Doctor Who actors and the episodes.
16 1
-
B
She was the worst doctor by far less of an alien and companion more 4 friends in a time machine
19 6
-
G
ROTFLMAO!!! Congratulations on having the most ridiculous "poll" results in the entire history of voting...
12 1
-
O
There’s absolutely no way she beat out Tennant. How?!
9 1
-
O
My favourite was the War Doctor.
7
-
O
Yeah, I find this questionable at best.
Y'know, given the falling ratings, bad reviews and everything.
8 1
-
C
Yep. And everything.
-
-
C
Jodie and her time was awful... it was just the show becoming P.C. Clearly 100 percent top 3 are, David Tennant, Tom Baker, Matt Smith....... This poll is more rigged than the US Election...
11 4
-
G
The poll was more rigged than the US election? That wouldn't be difficult as the US election wasn't rigged? Just because something doesn't go the way you hoped doesn't mean there is a conspiracy at play.....though I do agree that Jodie's Dr is no where near as good several others.
6 7
-
-
B
Obviously, this is a biased poll. Check out Digital Spy results that re based upon more IMBD users, a broader sample.
https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a852277/doctor-who-ranked-actors-doctors/
6
-
B
Actually, IMDB is still a self-selecting poll, which is skewed by definition.
The only polls which avoid demographic skew and other biasing factors are ones conducted from a proper sample pool, like YouGov does. And YouGov's actor poll puts Whittaker behind Tennant but ahead of Smith and Capaldi. Lot of people clearly do like her.
Her *episodes* show lower scores in the BBC's audience-reaction surveys, but people don't seem to be blaming her for them...
1
-
-
B
Whitaker, really, Whitaker this is just silly. Good luck keeping this drivel on really sad but I can't tell what direction the show is going. Alienating fans for decades to what end.
8 2
-
C
Uhhhhhh Tennant for life, followed closely by Capaldi. Pertwee if we’re going old school.
5
-
R
The ratings are at an all time low because of her but somehow she is the bestest eva lol sure
5
-
G
There’s no way that you got a NewWho doctor that wasn’t Tennat or Smith from a legitimate poll
6 1
-
R
Jodie had some pretty good moments but justI can't see where a significant portion of people would deem her their favorite.
5 1
-
B
This is most definitely not voted by the viewers.. She is not the best doctor, nowhere near. Not because of a female doctor but because of this SJW trash writing of the previous seasons. They've just gone to worse and worse. Tennant and smith were brilliant. Hard to decide which one was better.
7 3
-
R
I like Jodie as an actress. Her character - based on the ones I've seen - was OK. The show, however, has been terrible since she's taken over. I blame Chibnall, and the writers.
My list:
1. Tom Baker
2. Jon Pertwee
3. David Tennant
4. Matt Smith
5. Christopher Eccleston
6. Peter Davison
7. Patrick Troughton
8. Sylvester McCoy
9. Paul McGann
10. Peter Capaldi
11. William Hartnell
12. Colin Baker
13. Jodie Whittaker
3
-
R
It's because of Whittaker and the current production staff that Dr Who might be cancelled.
5 2
-
P
Feminist propaganda. Stop lying. This is the worst the show has ever been.
6 3
-
C
The poll must of been compiled and voted on by drug induced monkeys in a lab. Whittaker voted as favourite Doctor....you must be kidding right? Viewer numbers have literally tanked thanks to that imposter.
How very, very embarrassing.
2
-
G
Jerry Springer: The television ratings have determined, that is a lie.
2
-
B
Fact check: the latest special just hit the Top 10 of the weekly TV charts, with at least 6.4m viewers. Not really the best time to claim she's flopping.
-
-
B
If the ratings hadn't taken such a nosedive in her and Chibs tenure, maybe this joke fraud of a poll would have had more than 6000 votes. Just look at the comments! Everyone can see and smell your bull, TV Insider! Re-name this article to, "And Your Least Favorite Doctor Is...". Jodie never put in the effort and research to make her version of the Doctor unique and interesting, and she has revealed this herself! I originally wanted to like this version of the Doctor before Series 11 and 12 became a thing. If you enjoy her as a Doctor, good for you, 99.9% of the world disagrees with you.
2
-
B
Fact check. Average ratings are within about 0.3m of where Capaldi left them. Their "nosedive" just means they've returned to the level they were at before the Woman Doctor ballyhoo -- and that level was a solid success. The latest special just made the Top 10 with at least 6.3m viewers.
You don't enjoy her as a Doctor, good for you -- but the show's really not flopping.
-
-
O
Another rigged vote...
3 1
-
R
Another? What was the first?
2
-
-
R
When I saw that Whittaker won the poll, i scrolled up so fast to see what site I even on and yeah, it do start making sense when you see who published this. Jodie will never have the chance to become a fan favorite. That is something you lot and this rigged poll need to understand. She was robbed throughout what will be three seasons. Three seasons of what is in most cases usually one hell of a bloody adventure. But the last few years was nothing like that whatsoever. Yeah, it could easily be disguised as a hollow rendition of a Doctor Who episode but it will never share the same two hearts as the seasons before it.
Hell, Big Finish seem to know what about Doctor Who that makes it tick.
3 1
-
R
"... it do start making sense ..." ? What?
It DOES start making sense
Please try to write like you have an education.
3
-
R
Please write like you had an upbringing.
4
-
-
-
B
Who the heck voted in the poll, her family??? Viewing figures have plummeted.
1
-
P
I'm surprised David Tennant isn't the winner; he's by far the best of the "modern" Doctors, though I also liked Eccleston and Smith. I really wanted to hate Smith, but at least the adventures of he and his companions made me feel something. The Amy and Rory stuff was particularly good. Anyone after Smith really hasn't captured my attention at all. Though I fully support the idea of a female Doctor, I just couldn't get on board with her "fam."
1
-
P
Who the heck did you poll? Yourselves? There is NO WAY Jodi beat out Tennant and Baker. She would have to be darn near last place if you polled actual fans concidering her episodes are the lowest rated in the history of Who...
1
-
O
They must have polled people that don't watch the show. They want us to believe that the Doctor that has the honor of having the lowest watched shows ever, yes that includes the Classic Who series, is the favorite?
1
-
G
Me and my brother agreed it was probably Chibnall voting over 6000 times. That's why Whittaker won and not Tennant.
2 2
-
B
Watch out for those pesky alternative facts. One episode of Whittaker's is the lowest-rated of the *new* show (4.7m on 7-day / 5.2m on 28-day), but the *old* show went much lower -- lowest rating ever was 3.1m for "Battlefield" 1 in 1989.
And the new special has just bounced back up to the Top 10 for the week with 6.3m, so, not exactly languishing there.
2
-
B
I see you're username alot throughout these comments as only one defending this tripe.
-
B
No doubt! Know why? It's because the overwhelming share of the sizeable mass audience -- who watch Doctor Who the way they watch EastEnders or other normal TV shows, and generally like this era *more than I do* -- would never even bother reading a nerdy comments-section argument like this one.
I'll freely admit that it's kind of odd that I'd waste my time posting corrections about the ratings of an era of Doctor Who that I'm not really keen on -- but fans posting BS non-facts as if they were gospel annoys me far more than the Chibnall era ever could.
Have a nice day!
-
-
-
-
O
This article is factually incorrect. Ok let's discount Peter Cushing,(I don't bit trying to explain that the CGI of Moff Tarkin twice played the Doctor and his companion was Bernard Cribbin aka Wilf, iin movies in the 1960's. Welll that's way too timey Wimey) as well as Rowan Atkinson and the numerous actors, including the first female in Steven Moffat's Comedy retief special from the 90's.
David Bradley, John Hurt, Richard E Grant, Richard Humball have all portrayed the Doctor.
They may not be anybody's favourite, Though Hartnell, I like to think, would if he could, vote for Bradley.
1
-
R
Peter Cushing was in horror movies. I think you mean Peter Capaldi.
1 1
-
R
Think again
1
-
R
You should check your googles before you post.
2
-
O
Back in 1965, Peter Cushing played a character called "Dr. Who" in two widescreen adaptations of two William Hartnell stories: the first was "Dr. Who and the Daleks" in 1965 and the second was "Dalek Invasion Earth: 2150 AD" in 1966. This was the time when "Dalekmania" (not my word) was at its peak in the UK so two colorful big screen movies were produced to capitalize on the fad. Much of the Who mythology was not really in place at the time so...no sonic screwdriver; the Doctor was a human eccentric genius with a daughter (Barbara) and granddaughter (Susan); the Tardis was an invention of the Doctor and not a Gallifreyan one; the Tardis interior was a hodgepodge of levers and controls and not the console design we're familiar with; the Daleks spit out smoke and occasionally fire rather than the familiar death ray; his name really is Dr. Who. These movies were made as kiddie films and aren't considered as canon by the Who fandom.
1
-
C
Yes. Peter Cushing certainly played Dr Who. Thank you for the extra information.
-
-
-
-
O
Nope my favorite was Tennent. Jodie is ok, but she isn't David, Smith or Capaldi they bodied the Doctor, I believe this show has went all the way down. It could rebound if they go back and look at past episodes. Time to pass the baton. My son has some great ideas on who the next Doctor should be.
1
-
O
I think you may mean David Tennant
2 2
-
B
I binge watch Tennant's and Smith's episodes yearly. Tennant is my favorite.
1
-
-
-
C
Whittaker, is the reason our group stopped watching, not because she is a woman, we actually were excited it was going to be a woman thinking it was going to make it better after watching Missy and how that turned out. Whitaker was never even close! A total disappointment! They needed someone like Missy, project confidence, strong, someone that reels you in with the character and keeps you wanting more!
1
-
C
I agree. I can take or leave it. She bores me and that hurts my heart I loved all the others so much.
12
-
C
I agree. I was disappointed when Missy turned out to be the Master. I thought it would have been interesting if she was the future regeneration of the Doctor. She would have made a great first female in the role.
-
-
P
Why do you hate Matt?
-
G
I stopped watching when Capaldi showed up he was too into himself, And Jodi was the most terrible actress I've ever seen.
-
R
I think she is a terrible actress i stopped watching because of her. What a joke.
-
G
'Lack of dedication to the character' what a load of rubbish. Jodie has done 3 series the same as Tennant, Smith and Capaldi and 2 more than Eccleston. Did they all have a lack of dedication to the character? Pure prejudice.
1 1
-
G
You are completely wrong. Series 13 averaged 5.4 million viewers, 50,000 less than Capaldi's last series which got 5.45 million. The series with the lowest ever viewing figures is Season 26 which averaged just 4.2 million viewers. The episode with the lowest viewing figures in history is Battlefield part one, which got 3.00 million viewers. The episode with the lowest ever overnight viewers is Capaldi's The Eaters Of Light which got 2.89 million viewers.
-
R
Worst Dr Who. Lowest ratings in history of show.
-
C
She only won because most fans have bailed on the show at this point so there's only newbies left to vote.
-
G
What a joke. David Tennant is by far the best doctor
-
B
This show is garbage with Whittaker as the lead. People did this as a joke.
-
O
They obviously didn't poll Doctor Who fans. It was probably just a bunch of people who were crazed over the fact that she was a female. Like seriously people that doesn't make her great🤣
-
B
Absolutely a joke! She has the lowest ratings in the history of Dr. Who.
-
G
My favourite was Jon pertwee talking about the classic Doctor who the revamp show would have to be Jodie
Whitteker, I am hoping the next Doctor tn be another woman. To put another spin on the timeless child
Jiont 2nd would have to be Matt Smith & David Tennant, 3rd place Peter Capaldi especially the rock guitar performing episode.
-
B
I used to think it would be impossible to find a better Doctor than Tom Baker. Then Chris Eccleston came along and I changed my mind. At this point, the only actor I would rank LOWER than Whittaker is Colin Baker.
1 1
-
C
Always interesting to get someone's opinion. Nothing wrong with that. However, I do feel that Colin Baker's doctor might have been unfairly overlooked in the overall scheme of things. Possibly worth another look?
-
-
B
Are you kidding? Those 6,000 people who voted are the only ones still watching the show.
-
O
She is an ok Doctor I guess but only mid level, she might have been much better with another show runner though such as Moffet because this one tries too hard to make a statement without making a truly enjoyable show. As far as my pick for best from old and new Tom Baker hands down but from new I would have to go with Tennant. I will admit when they replace her after this next season they need an older actor with class and comedic abilities as well as obviously a British accent.
BTW Capaldi really had great potential as a Doctor but they saddled him with the actress that played Bill. I don't know if the character was badly written or if she just played it badly but she was the worst companion in the entire new series.
1
-
G
Let’s play a drinking game - a swig each time a poster says “woke” or “SJW”. Must hate the marvel films. Really anything on tv or streaming in 2021
4 5
-
R
Egads! The poll was for FAVORITE... not BEST. These term are not synonyms. Honestly, try just enjoying a bit of fun for a change, rather than attacking everything online.
3 6
-
P
My favs would be a toss up tween Matt Smith's Doctor and Jodie Whittaker's Doctor to add my favs in Doctor's Companions would be tween Rose Tyler and Yaz...
So Say We All
1 5
-
R
Favorite Companions...agree with Billie Piper...but would add Karen Gillan...and...Jenna Coleman... .
1
-
-
G
Love Jodie. Love Matt. Love Peter. Love Tenn... Hell! They've made great choices!
5
-
G
Y’all are stupid she’s a great doctor
2 22
-
O
Plays The Doctor well but she's not better than Tom Baker or the newer generation of Doctors - Eccelston, Tennant, Smith, Capaldi... No contest. Chibnall's fault, not hers.
15
-
G
Right, I'm sure it's just a bizarre coincidence that the shows ratings have been in a nosedive since she came on board...
11 1
-
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services