After a sixteen year absence missing from episodic television since its cancellation in 1989 (not counting the one-off TV movie in 1996), a new Doctor Who materialised on British screens on March 26, 2005, brought back to life by self-confessed Whovian Russell T. Davies and played by the enigmatic (and Northern) Christopher Eccleston.
The many looks of Doctor Who
Here's a closer look at the outfits worn by the
Ninth, Tenth and
Eleventh Doctors on display at the
Doctor Who Experience in
Cardiff Bay, Wales on May 20, 2013.
Yes, in 2005 the time and space traveling alien
'Doctor' was back with his iconic blue police box time machine, the
TARDIS, and making all kinds of new friends, but most importantly his new
Companion 'Rose Tyler', played by former teenage pop star,
Billie Piper.
With every regeneration
The Doctor takes on a new physical form and new personality, plus he chooses new attire to complete and reflect his new appearance.
Replica of the costume worn by Christopher Eccleston
as The Ninth Doctor (2005)
Rather cleverly for his TV revival, the
BBC decided to make his outfit probably the least costumey it had ever been, wearing what some people would describe as modern, normal clothes. The black jacket and sweater really was a good decision, as it wouldn't scare off those casual viewers who thought
Doctor Who was too sci-fi or kiddie from them, plus it allowed this
Doctor's eccentric personality to shine through and stand out even more.
A survivor of the
Last Great Time War, the last of his kind of
Gallifreyan Time Lords, he was haunted by these terrible events, at times serious, but also capable of a cheeky grin and quirky sense of humour.
As well as re-introducing the world to the compelling space/time traveler,
Christopher Eccleston also spent the least amount of time as the
Doctor in an episodic series, just one season and then he was gone (not counting
Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor in the TV movie). Personally I'm glad his tenure was so short-lived, as his departure ushered in a new
Golden Age of
Doctor Who with the arrival of
David Tennant as the
Tenth Doctor.
Sonic Screwdriver used by the Ninth and Tenth Doctors
In the first season finale,
The Parting of the Ways, to prevent the
Time Vortex from killing
Rose after their battle with the
Dalek Emperor, the
Ninth Doctor absorbed the temporal energy into himself, which triggered his regeneration into his next incarnation.
Original costume worn by David Tennant
as The Tenth Doctor (2005-2010)
This version of the 900-year-old
Time Lord was filled with much more enthusiasm and charm than his predecessor, but he also possessed a vengeful and unforgiving streak too.
David Tennant's slim and foxy
Tenth Doctor sported a four-buttoned pin-striped suit, shirt and tie, plus a light brown faux-suede coat (a treasured possession given to him by iconic singer
Janis Joplin), finished off by different pairs of trainers/sneakers depending on the colour of his suit. The longer overcoat certainly helped evoke the looks of
Doctors past.
As well as continuing to travel with
Rose Tyler, his other notable
Companions included medical student 'Martha Jones' and the outspoken
'Runaway Bride' Donna Noble (quite possibly my favourite pairing).
Tenth Doctor pyjama and dressing gown costume
from The Christmas Invasion
Also on display in addition to his signature look, were the dressing gown and pyjamas (the clothes belonged to a male friend of
Rose's mum) that he wore whilst recovering from his premature regeneration in the 2005
Christmas Day special.
Original costume worn by Matt Smith
as The Eleventh Doctor (2010-2013)
Finally, here's a waxwork and the costume worn by the
Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith, with his signature tweed jacket and bow-tie (although this incarnation is also partial to a fez or cowboy hat).
Be sure to check out more detail about the
Eleventh Doctor Who and his Companions costumes in my earlier post.
Recent events have called into question the numbering of these last three
Doctors (when did
John Hurt's Doctor exist?), plus with
Matt Smith leaving the series in the 2013
Christmas Special, we'll soon be treated to an entirely new
Time Lord once again.
Sonic Screwdriver and Sonic Cane props used by the Eleventh Doctor
Plus here's the
Eleventh Doctor's trusty
Sonic Screwdriver, which was supplied when the
TARDIS regenerated at the start of the fifth season of the revival
Doctor Who series, plus a
Sonic Cane that the
Time Lord uses in the 2011 episode,
Let's Kill Hitler, to complement his top hat and tails.
If you're a fan of the 50-year-old show, be sure to also check out the
First through Fourth Doctor Who outfits, plus
Fifth through Eighth Doctor Who costumes, plus much more cool vehicles, props and monsters from the
Doctor Who Experience.
