BBC Doctor Who Time Lords' lives from tragic deaths to Hollywood films as show turns 61

This month marks the 61st anniversary of the BBC's iconic sci-fi and fantasy series Doctor Who, which first graced TV screens on 23 November 1963. Doctor Who has been a constant presence in many people's lives for over six decades. The show initially ran from 1963 to 1989 before taking a brief hiatus.

Despite a television film being released in 1966, it wasn't until 2005 that the show made a triumphant return due to its enduring popularity. Over the years, a host of actors have stepped into the shoes of the legendary Time Lord.

From the original actor, William Hartnell, to fan-favourite David Tennant and the first female Doctor, Jodie Whittaker, audiences have seen 15 different Time Lords grace their screens.

As the show commemorates its 61st year, and with a Christmas special on the horizon, we've taken a look at what the previous Doctors have been doing since their time on the show.

The first Time Lord, portrayed by William Hartnell, was a fixture on screens from 1963 to 1966. Despite his age, he delivered vigorous performances against formidable adversaries, including the infamous Daleks. Outside of Doctor Who, William was a respected English actor, known for his military roles in The Army Game and Carry On Sergeant.

William Hartnell, the first actor to bring the iconic Time Lord to life on screen, was married to Heather McIntyre and together they had one child. Tragically, he died in April 1975 when he was just 67 years old.

In an interview which has recently come to light, William discussed the challenge of acting against the Daleks, describing them as "difficult to play to."

Patrick Troughton succeeded William as the Second Doctor, serving from 1966 to 1969. His portrayal offered a distinct departure from his forerunner with a mix of quirky charm and underlying darkness.

The actor is particularly remembered for one of his crowning achievements cleverly ensnaring the Cybermen in ancient tombs. A distinguished figure on the stage, Patrick soon became deeply embedded in the fabric of television history.

He returned to the role of the Doctor several times during the '70s and '80s. The family man and beloved actor passed away in March 1987 at the age of 67, reports Express.

Jon Pertwee was the third incarnation of the Doctor from 1970 to 1974, bringing a blend of poise and empathy to the part. Apart from his guise as the charismatic space traveller, Jon had a vibrant career as a comedian, actor, and prior service as a Navy officer during the World War II era.

Jon, who also gained fame through his comedic work in the Carry On franchise and on The Navy Lark, died in May 1996 at 76, leaving behind two children.

The adventurous fourth Doctor, famous for questing after the Key to Time, was portrayed by Tom Baker from 1974 to 1981. Tom, an English actor and author, stands out for being the longest-serving Doctor to date.

At 90 years old, he is celebrated for his voice-over work on Little Britain, including the unique instalment aired during The Big Night In in 2020. He also returned to his iconic role as the Fourth Doctor in the Doctor Who episode Shada from 2017.

Peter Davison, famous for his portrayal of Tristan Farnon in the classic All Creatures Great and Small series, took on the mantle as the fifth Doctor. This iteration of the Doctor was noted for his compassion, sagacity, and benevolence.

He is remembered for gathering with former versions of himself to battle within the Death Zone on Gallifrey. Now 73, Peter currently appears as a brusque vicar in ITV's adaptation of the beloved series The Larkins.

In addition, the actor shares familial bonds with Georgia Tennant and her husband, the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant. The Sixth Doctor, recognised for his passionate nature, was brought to life by Colin Baker from 1984 to 1986.

Colin Baker, now an 81 year old actor who famously played the Time Lord in Doctor Who, has been featured in recent shows such as Emmerdale and graced the stage in productions like A Christmas Carol.

During a discussion with Digital Spy, Colin shared his predictions about the future casting of Doctor Who: "I suspect that the trend is going to take us down the BAME route and quite right, too!"

Addressing past exclusionary practices in the industry, he continued: "There's a whole sector of the acting community that's been ill-served for decades. It'll certainly, I suspect, not be a white middle-aged man; I would like to think it will be another female Doctor because I enjoyed watching [Jodie Whittaker]."

Sylvester McCoy, famed for his portrayal of the seventh Doctor, a character marked by whimsy and hidden depth, reprised his role in a 1996 TV movie. Now 81, his career remains vibrant, with notable roles such as Radagast in The Hobbit trilogy from 2012 to 2014.

His most recent appearance was in the 2020 film Lost at Christmas. Paul McGann assumed the mantle of the eighth Doctor for a single film in 1996, making a brief reappearance for the show's 50th anniversary special in 2013.

Paul is also recognised for his performances in The Monocled Mutineer and Hornblower. He joined the cast of Holby City as John Gaskell, featuring in over 40 episodes. His latest work includes a role in the 2021 series Annika.

Christopher Eccleston, who played the ninth Doctor on the BBC show, is known for his roles in The A Word and The Leftovers. The father-of-two is currently engaged in two television projects, playing Fagin in Dodger and Rob Harding in Close to Me.

The actor recently opened up about his struggle with clinical depression and how it almost cost him everything. David Tennant, who embodied the Tenth Doctor from 2005 to 2010, made his debut on Christmas Day.

Voted the nation's favourite Doctor, David, who is also Peter Davison's son-in-law, has since starred as Dennis Nilsen in ITV's Des, himself in Staged alongside Michael Sheen and as Crowley in Good Omens.

Recently reprising his role as the iconic Time Lord before passing the torch to the newest Doctor, Ncuti Gatwa, Matt Smith, who was the eleventh incarnation of Doctor Who, enthralled viewers from 2010 to 2013, famously piloting an erratic TARDIS.

Renowned for his encounters with the spine-chilling Weeping Angels, Matt has since played Prince Philip in Netflix's acclaimed series The Crown.

At present, the 39-year-old is captivating audiences as Daemon Targaryen in the Game of Thrones prequel, House of the Dragon. Peter Capaldi stepped into the Doctors shoes as the twelfth regenerator from 2013 until 2017 and also joined the momentous 50th-anniversary episode, having had cameos in earlier seasons.

Now at 66, Peter isn't just hailed for his acting but also his talents in singing and writing, notably his performance as Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It. Of late, his voice brought Beethoven to life in Being Beethoven, and he portrayed Siegfried Sassoon in Benediction.

The mantle was then handed to Jodie Whittaker, who broke new ground as the show's thirteenth Doctor in 2017, making history as the first female to take on the revered part. Her introduction as the Time Lord was punctuated with the words: "Aw, brilliant!"

Jodie bid farewell to the TARDIS in 2022, her departure in tandem with that of showrunner Chris Chibnall. Ncuti Gatwa has absorbed the role of the fourteenth Doctor, stepping in after Whittaker and premiered in the role in 2023.

Reflecting on the enormity of the Doctor Who legacy, Ncuti admitted to initially not grasping the full extent of the Whoniverse upon receiving the part. He reflected: "I feel quite silly that I didn't comprehend the sheer scale of it beforehand. But once I stepped into the world, I realised how huge it is. I thought, 'Well, of course, it's Doctor Who!

"I immediately understood why it's a show we all know and love. It just takes your breath away how far-reaching the scope of the show is. You embrace the fandom. The fans absolutely make the show what it is. They're the final character."

Famous not only for his emerging role in Doctor Who, the 32-year-old actor has also been recognised for his performance in Netflix's Sex Education, as well as featuring in the Hollywood film Barbie.

Fans can stream Doctor Who on BBC iPlayer.