Doctor Who: Every Doctor Ranked From Worst To Best

4. The Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston)

Doctor Who Christopher Eccleston Ninth Doctor
BBC Studios

Christopher Eccleston's Ninth Doctor (not to be confused with Richard E. Grant's Ninth Doctor from Scream of the Shalka), was an absolute marvel from the moment he uttered the word "Run!".

The fact that he only appeared for a single series feels like a mistake, as the impact Eccleston had on the franchise is hard to truly quantify. He brought a quiet rage, masked with smiles and comedy, to the TARDIS, slipping every so often to display the true horror of the Time War. This incarnation of the Doctor believed that he truly was the last of the Time Lords, and Eccleston sells it with ease.

Behind-the-scenes strife saw Eccleston's departure marred with ill-feeling and controversy, with a press release being issued without his knowledge. For years, the actor refused to discuss what happened, before parts of the story started to bleed through. Then, a happy surprise - he returned to the role of the Doctor, appearing in Big Finish audio dramas.

While this may not be the return that some fans had hoped for, perhaps it may be the beginning of a mending of the ways. It truly feels as though Nine's tenure was cut far too short - here's hoping that will be turned around in the future.

 
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Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"