8 Doctor Who Fan Theories That Became Fact

In the mid-90s, an avid Doctor Who fan took to the then-primitive internet, eager to share one of their theories on a Doctor Who message board.

The theory? That humanity's use of the word "doctor" actually came from the Doctor themselves, due to the Time Lord's many appearances throughout history as a healer and a wise man. Sounds pretty plausible, right?

Brilliantly, that fan's name was none other than Steven Moffat, the man who would one day take charge of the show and catapult it to international success. And when he finally took the reigns? He used that opportunity to work his decades-old theory into the fabric of the show. Because why not?

In the closing moments of Series 6's A Good Man Goes To War, River Song shows up and berates the Doctor for his reckless behaviour, reminding him just how powerful his name has become throughout the universe. In doing so, she tells him where the word "doctor" originally came from, and lo and behold... Moffat actually did it:

"When you began, all those years ago, sailing off to see the universe, did you ever think you'd become this? The man who can turn an army around at the mention of his name. Doctor. The word for healer and wise man throughout the universe. We get that word from you, you know. But if you carry on the way you are, what might that word come to mean?"

It's no secret that the likes of Moffat, Russell T Davies, and Mark Gatiss were huge fans of the show while growing up, and heck, if any one of us had the opportunity to make our fan theories canon, you can bet your sonic screwdrivers that we'd take it!

But sticking with Moffat for a moment, this wouldn't be the last time he weaved his own fan-fictions into the show he adored so much...