Doctor Who: 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Eleventh Doctor
He's got wild hair and waves his arms a lot, but how well do you REALLY know the Eleventh Doctor?
He’s the Doctor who thought bow ties, fezzes, and Stetsons were cool. The Doctor who married River Song, visited his own grave, and journeyed to the centre of the TARDIS.
He witnessed the creation of a new Dalek paradigm, was almost silenced by the Silence, and reckoned with redesigned Silurians, Ice Warriors, and Cybermen.
He is the raggedy man. The madman with a box. The Eleventh Doctor.
At just 26 years of age, Matthew Robert Smith was the youngest actor to play TV’s favourite Time Lord. His tenure saw the show break viewership records in America, and culminated in Doctor Who’s 50th anniversary celebrations, a monumental moment in the legacy of the show. He had four Christmas specials, three main companions, two TARDIS interiors, and one sonic screwdriver.
You may know everything there is to know about his TV episodes. But what about behind the scenes revelations, or trivia that will make your head go wibbly? How about Eleven’s exploits in the vastness of the expanded universe?
Jammie dodgers at the ready, because this is where it gets complicated. Geronimo!
10. His Favourite Dance Was Improvised
The Eleventh Doctor was something of a trailblazer, inventing the quadricylce, Yorkshire puddings, fish custard, and pasta – allegedly.
But arguably his most enduring innovation was devised by Matt Smith himself.
Upon arriving at Amy and Rory’s wedding, the Doctor declares that he only came for the dancing, before breaking into a routine hilariously dubbed ‘The Drunk Giraffe’.
Basically, just stick your arms in the air on either side of your head, and wiggle them from side-to-side. Simple, yet bound to make you the talk of the family Christmas party!
As Karen Gillan recalled to Doctor Who Confidential, this iconic arm-shaking action was ad-libbed by Matt Smith on the day. "It was written, obviously, that he’s a terrible dancer", she said. "Matt made up this whole routine."
Arthur Darvill concurred that "That is just how he dances", with Steven Moffat adding that "He’s incredibly athletic and graceful in his own way."
It’s hardly the most stylish dance ever, but it was a hit with the kids at the Ponds’ wedding, and a whole generation of young fans watching at home.
Maybe don’t go doing it at weddings in real life though.