Doctor Who: EVERY Doctor Ranked Worst To Best

It still feels weird to say that Ncuti Gatwa is no longer the Doctor.

Though never officially acknowledged, it’s all-but confirmed that his era was cut short. And regrettably, that’s part of the reason why he’s not higher. We never got to see this Doctor’s story culminate as intended, and Gatwa clearly had so much more to give.

That’s not to downplay what we did get though. Character-wise the Fifteenth Doctor was arguably the biggest shakeup since the Ninth – carefree, cheeky and charming, with a new costume every episode (or sometimes every scene) and both hearts firmly on his sleeve.

For those who like their Doctors more consistently dressed and less emotionally available, it was a reimagining too far. But it was a distinctive take on the role and you could feel Gatwa settling more into his portrayal throughout his second season.

Fifteen wasn’t without more serious, steely moments either, with Gatwa rising to the challenge in stories like Boom and Lucky Day – though some beats, such as the Doctor’s angst in Joy to the World, felt rehashed, and at odds with the idea of a Doctor who had undergone “therapy”.

Hopefully one day he'll get a bit more development, perhaps in the expanded universe. But the fact that his era ended the way it did will never not be frustrating.