10 Ways Modern Doctor Who Changed The Show Forever

Arguably the biggest change to Doctor Who over the past 20 years was the introduction of a secret Doctor between Paul McGann and Christopher Eccleston, but arguably even bigger than that was the brand-new origin story that was given to the Doctor in The Timeless Children. 

The episode revealed that the Doctor was no longer from the planet Gallifrey, but was a mysterious alien from another world who'd been taken in by the Time Lords. Not only that, but their DNA provided the building blocks for the Time Lords' regenerative powers. It was a huge revelation that made us rethink the Doctor's outsider status on Gallifrey.

Chris Chibnall's dark new origin for the Doctor was not without its controversy, which constituted a significant portion of the fan reaction – and understandably so. But over five years on, has it really changed the show that much? Not at all. In that sense you could argue it was a bit pointless, but it has allowed for a few new storytelling opportunities, such as Russell T Davies using the Doctor's adoption as a means for him to connect with companion Ruby Sunday.

As for whether the Doctor will ever find their way back home... well, we'll just have to watch this space. And time.