The Doctor has had his fair share of appearances in various TV shows throughout his time as defender of the universe but it's the US sitcom The Big Bang Theory which has established itself as the show most known for its continuing references to our beloved Time Lord. It's hardly surprising, really, given that the premise of the show follows the lives of a group of nerdy and socially awkward friends, one of whom - that's its breakout character Sheldon Cooper, played by real life Doctor Who fanatic Jim Parsons - pretty much encapsulates everything a stereotypical Doctor Who fan should be. It's important not to generalise too much though, as Sheldon is also conveyed as being an idiosyncratic narcissist with a general lack of humility and empathy. But he has his good points, too... Actually, the writers aren't even shy about flying the flag for their favourite Time Lord anymore. What started out as a few subtle references has become one of the show's most discussed running gags and arguably one of the most popular aspects of Sheldon's otherwise generally socially inept character (although that's probably one of the main reasons that watching Doctor Who forms part of his Saturday morning ritual). It's always exciting when there's another nod to the Doctor, though, and throughout the show's run they've hidden Dalek figures in Sheldon's apartment, displayed posters and characters have even been known to dress up as the Time Lord as part of their New Year's festivities, too. They're just like us, really, except they're nerdy tendencies are exaggerated for an (apparently) comedic effect. Not too sure about that one. Had you already spotted these Doctor Who references? Have you seen any that we've missed from the list? Post your comments below.
Dan Butler is the Doctor Who Editor at WhatCulture.com. When he isn't writing his own articles or editing other people's, he can be found trawling the internet for gifs of Steven Moffat laughing. Contact him via dan.butler@whatculture.co.uk.
