Doctor Who: 15 Real Historical Characters The Doctor Has Met
7. Winston Churchill
Another character who was utilised over multiple episodes, the wartime PM played a significant role in Matt Smith's reign as the Doctor. Ian McNeice first appeared as the iconic PM in the disappointing Victory of the Daleks, with Winston making a call to the Doctor to address an urgent matter. McNeice's portrayal verges on the caricature side here, although this is easily done when portraying the larger than life Churchill.
McNeice makes a small cameo in The Pandorica Opens as Churchill finds important information that the Doctor needs to stop the end of the universe, but his final, and best performance, comes in the sixth season finale, The Wedding of River Song. Churchill is seen in interrogation mode in this episode and it works a treat, as he demands information from The Doctor as to exactly why time has quite literally stopped.
The highlight comes when the PM and the Doctor come under attack from the mysterious 'Silence', the two forced to use their wits to escape the oncoming threat despite having no memory or idea of what they're running from. It's exciting and places Churchill in the apt role of a stoic leader making some tough decisions on the run.