Why Every Lead Actor Left Doctor Who
Those TARDIS doors are hiding quite a bit of drama...
Even though it must be extremely daunting to take on, the role of the Doctor is right up there with the most sought-after parts in the TV business.
With such a huge legacy and a devoted global fanbase, the level of scrutiny these actors are forced to endure is truly extraordinary, and a string of bad episodes could doom them to be remembered in a negative light for the rest of their career.
With that in mind, it's not surprising that most actors only play the character for a couple of years. It must be an honour to step into those shoes, absolutely, but the amount of pressure hoisted upon their soldiers is an unreasonable amount for someone to carry for five or more years, and because the show is so highly publicized, we often hear stories about what prompted the stars to leave Doctor Who behind.
Some actors have straightforward motives, others were victims of unfortunate circumstances, and a few didn't have the happiest of endings. Whatever the cause, it's a subject that each leading man has touched on at one point or another.
13. William Hartnell
When William Hartnell agreed to play the Doctor in the early '60s, the concept of regeneration didn't even exist. This was a family program about a mad man with a box – nobody involved thought that Doctor Who would spawn an unprecedented 60-year run.
But sadly, several problems necessitated a plot device that would allow the show to switch leads.
Hartnell was no spring chicken, and as his health deteriorated it became difficult for him to keep up with Doctor Who's gruelling production schedule. He suffered from arteriosclerosis, a condition which hardens the artery walls and restricts blood flow, which would often cause him to forget or mix up his lines.
Combined with the fact that Hartnell didn't get along with producer John Wiles (who replaced original producer Verity Lambert in 1965), the idea was floated to recast him during The Celestial Toymaker. The Doctor would be invisible for most of the narrative, only to return with a brand-new face.
Though this idea wasn't used here, a similar concept of "renewal" (the term "regeneration" wasn't invented until later) was devised for The Tenth Planet, by which point Hartnell's health had declined to such an extent that it was difficult for him to keep going.
The First Doctor changed his face on 29 October 1966, and Doctor Who continued under a new lead actor.