Doctor Who: Every Doctor Ranked From Worst To Best
5. The Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann)
Paul McGann made his first (and, for a long time, only) appearance in the ill-fated TV movie in 1996. With Sylvester McCoy's appearance confirming that this Eighth incarnation was canon, some fans were left quite puzzled about this new dandy claiming to be part-human on his mother's side.
When the show returned in 2005, this element of the character was quietly dropped - and McGann was nowhere to be seen.
Then, in 2013, Steven Moffat shocked fans with the completely unexpected, and completely brilliant, Night of the Doctor. Here, Eight's regeneration into the War Doctor was shown in full, with McGann returning to reprise the role. It was a triumph, airing in the run-up to the 50th anniversary special. It was also a slice of what could have been, had he been given a full series order.
While this fun little curio could've been his final outing, McGann then returned in The Power of the Doctor. He would display a cantankerous aversion to robes, prompting the Seventh Doctor to roll his eyes and grumble "There's always one". Wonderful stuff.
McGann's Doctor has appeared far more often in the Big Finish audio stories, which have elevated him to being one of the most beloved Doctors in the show, despite his frustrating lack of screen time.