Doctor Who: Every Doctor's BEST Episode
7. The Ninth Doctor - Dalek
Christopher Eccleston made a name for himself appearing in landmark UK dramas like Cracker, Hillsborough and Our Friends in the North. There's a realism to all of those dramas that are light years away from the heightened reality of Doctor Who. It was therefore a huge surprise when he was cast as the Ninth Doctor in 2004.
And yet, he was fantastic. Eccleston was superb at hinting at the childlike wonder that was hidden behind the gruff exterior of a damaged veteran of the Time War.
It feels reductive, therefore, to single out Dalek as Eccleston's best episode, given that it showcases the intensity that he was known for, rather than his Doctorish qualities.
Dalek lets us in to another side of the Doctor, however, one that we very rarely see. We've seen the Doctor get angry before, but never like this. Eccleston was the perfect actor to tackle this kind of story, and he is utterly spellbinding throughout.