Harbottle

I would agree with that list I gave up on new Who after a few Ecclescakes episodes. Watched one Tennant I think.... that was enough. Pretty awful stuff I thought

716Jones

Has to be Patrick Troughton, but then again, I liked everything he did. Tom Baker second though.

johng

I have to agree with Harbottle the new series is pretty awful when compared to the classic - but again no more than my opinion.

alan french

Hi.
Jon Pertwee is my favourite. In his case prior to taking on the role, he had a comedy image. He was, if you pardon the expression, a 'master' at funny voices. I, at first baulked when I heard that he was to take on the part. However, when I saw him acting serious, I was impressed. I warmed to Patrick Troughton when he got rid of his hat. Tom Baker took his part well. But his scarf made me itch. I would have liked to have seen more of Paul McGann. Although he did star in the last Radio series. I agree that the series fell apart after Tom Baker left. But in my opinion, irrespective whether deliberate or not, it was apallingly handled by the BBC in the 1980's. All the actors however, have done their best, including auxillery ones such as Peter Cushing and Richard Hurndle. Although I regret William Hartnell did fluff his lines. But he was experiencing bad health.
Alan French.

batman

But it is an opinion worth knowing and one shared by many other people.

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Grey Wyler

Many think that the show lost its way after Tom Baker departed, however
there is a good quality that runs through all of the Peter Davison era. I personally think that it was after THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI, the show struggled hard to find an identity.

The switch to early Saturday evening 45 minute episodes with Colin Baker was a big mistake. His second season cut to 14 instead of 26 episodes suffered due to the continuing Trial story arc. The arrival of Sylvester McCoy did nothing to dig the show out of the doldrums, his first season contains some of the worst WHO ever. It was only in his final season that things started to go right - the very good BATTLEFIELD, the brilliant CURSE OF FENRIC, and the first class GHOST LIGHT & SURVIVAL. The sad thing is that things were really looking up when the rug was pulled.

Automotivehistorian

Well, I was there with my brother watching AN UNEARTHLY CHILD in November 1963 and I have to say that the original was the original. Having seen every episode since, I would not like to place any actors in order, though 'David Tennant' has done a darn good attempt.

However looking back, the Pertwee years when he was marooned on Earth (because of BBC budget limitations?) was a low point. Conversely, Tom Baker was a good choice...eight years at the helm and all.

Andy H

Hmm. I'd better declare that I'm most definitely not a fan of the 'new' Who sreies. Having watched the good Doctor since the very fisrt one (when I was about ten), I have an attachment to William Hartnell, even though he had a habit of fluffing his lines quite a lot.
My favourite is Patrick Troughton, along with Jamie and the lovely Zoe. Cor!
Tom Baker made the Doctor all his own.

Of the new chaps, I must say I find David Tennant intensly irritating, whith his mugging and OTT cockiness.
Add to this the fact that the show has become a kind of 'star fest' with the latest celebs queuing up to get a walk-on, and that the BBC PR dept constantly feed the fire with non-stop gossip and 'behind the scenes' revelations, and it all gets a bit horrid.

Sorry, I know this thread isn't really about the show itself, but I had to get it off my chest.
(Ducks)

batman

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Modular

I'm far too young (no sniggering at the back there!) to remember the series in the 60s, so I grew up with (and enjoyed) both Pertwee and Baker. When I hit my teens, I (along with most of the kids I knew at the time) just grew out of the series.

I'd say that for the majority who aren't 'fans' of the series, their favourite would be the actor they remember most when growing up.

I've little doubt that kids of today will remember the 'new' current series with just as much nostalgic fondness as those of us a generation or two ahead of them.

alan french

Hi again Whovians.
The reason I think that the series fell apart after Tom Baker is because of what else I said and what someone else said.

Up to Tom Baker's last episode in his reign, the series was on Saturdays. The story ended with some loose ends and a regeneration into Peter Davison. The audience's appettite was now whetted for the new series. The first of the new series carried on from the end of Logopolis. But for those who did not have video recorders and only could watch it on Saturdays it was hard luck. The series continued on weekday evenings. There were two episodes a week which meant the series finished twice as quick.

Colin Baker was, I think treated very badly. The programme was reverted back to Saturdays at one point. One series did not make sense. Colin Baker had a ridiculous outfit to wear. Even in a story, where he went to a friend's funeral, he still looked like Joseph and the amazing technicolour dreamcoat. He did in fairness act the part on radio during the day while the series was at one point taken off television.

It was announced after his last television series, that a new season was to be made. But Michael Grade, who did not like science fiction and this show, which he was after coming off, said that he felt that no actor should be Docter Who for more than three years. So Colin Baker was out. He quite rightly, in my opinion declined to continue his role for the first few minutes of the new season. This meant that Sylvester McCoy had to be delicately captured by the camera in the regeneration scene.

The series had now reverted back to weekday evenings. Some episodes in competition with Coronation Street. Complaints came in from the public concerning some story lines. Even the series original producer, Verity Lambert thought these people were having a laugh. ie. such villains as The Candy Man, who looked like Bertie Bassett. Inevitably the series was taken off.

I do not know quite why the Doctor Who specially made for television film did not spawn a new series in the 1990's. But the Doctor was not all that far away. There have been some interim projects involving the character. Eventually, the general public forced the Doctor to come back. I gather that Michael Grade, who now returned to the BBC, watched the series return with his son, and this time was pleased. He became a Doctor Who fan and wanted more.

So yes, I feel it has been mishandled up to a point. But I am glad the BBC has seen the error of its ways and irrespective what I think of the show, I am glad it has come back and is now a huge success.

Before I depart, I have seen somewhere, someone refer to over publicity in Radio Times. I agree. I wonder how many people know that for years Doctor Who has from time to time had a radio series. The last being on BBC7. A digital channel.
The last season, starred Paul McCann and was broadcast in between the Russell T. Davies television version. And yet there has been hardly a peep about this.

Must sign off.

Alan French.

byebyebadman

the best is john pertwee and my favourite series is 'death to the daleks'. patrick troughton is second and i have to say i've enjoyed everything i've seen with patrick troughton - not just doctor who, hes a brilliant actor.

rose ellen

I remember watching Dr Who as a child in the 60`s.My favourite was Tom Baker I lost interest after he left although I still watched it with my children.

smiffy

I have to agree with you Andy ,my nostalgic choice Is William Hartnell and like you can remember the first episode as if it was yesterday (Trouble Is I can't remember yesterday very well )

And as much as I loved Patrick Troughton (And again agree with your favourite choice) Tom Baker was the quintessential Doctor

I gradually stopped watching after Tom Baker, Teenage years and all that ,and haven't bothered with any of the new series ,so can't offer an opinion

I May be getting older ,but I refuse to grow up

wellpip

Jon Pertwee. I thought he was the best by far.. A great comedy actor too.