Say what you want: David Tennant is one of the best Doctors of modern Who. Ever since he strolled into the Tardis for the first time in his pyjamas (it's a long story), he has captivated audiences and arguably (under the showrunning command of Russell T Davies) helped make Doctor Who the international success is it today.
Part of it, of course, is down to Tennant's amazing acting range. From fury to playfulness, we got the full gamut during his time as Doctor - but in the interests of whittling them down, we've picked some of his best moments here. Enjoy.
Meeting Donna again – Partners in Crime
Both Tennant and Catherine Tate really get to show off their comedy chops in this episode. After first appearing in the 2006 special The Christmas Bride, Donna and the Doctor end up running into each other again when both start investigating the obviously evil Adipose Industries (yes, they’re aliens).
Mouthing words at each other from opposite sides of an office window, the wordless comedy is on point, Tennant’s confusion is priceless and their energy gels perfectly: an auspicious start to the new season.
Time Lord Victorious – The Waters of Mars
Sometimes, the Doctor bites off more than he can chew; nowhere more so than in ultra-horror special The Waters of Mars. As evil sentient water wreaks soggy havoc and kills members of a Martian research station one by one, the Doctor is forced to watch helplessly because it’s a nexus event – i.e. a moment in the timeline that can’t be changed. Until, that is, he stops caring and rescues the last member of the research station - only for her to commit suicide.
It’s a shocking moment and Tennant sells the whole thing utterly as the weary, battle-worn Doctor who ultimately tells the Tardis: “I’ve overreached myself.”
Sarah-Jane returns – School Reunion
One for the classic Doctor Who fans: the Doctor’s companions always leave, but just sometimes, they get to come back. School Reunion marked Elisabeth Sladen’s return to the Whoniverse after more than two decades as fan favourite Sarah-Jane Smith, who (as it turns out) has become somewhat of a mini-Doctor in her own right. Everything about this scene is gold: the Doctor’s simple introduction (“Hello, Sarah-Jane”), her sudden realisation of who he is, Tennant’s giddy grin, and their reminiscing about the old times. Chef’s kiss.
John Smith is the Doctor – Family of Blood
Family of Blood is one of the more out-there Who episodes. On the run from a mysterious family of aliens, the Doctor traps his Time Lord essence in a pocket watch and starts a new life without his memories, living happily as “John Smith” the literary professor.
He even ends up in a relationship – so imagine his horror when he is told that John Smith isn’t real, and that he has to give up his life (aka restore his memories as the Doctor, thus making him a completely different person) in order to save the school from the supernatural horrors plaguing it. Even though John Smith only appears for one episode, he makes an impression, especially with his anguish towards the end of the episode.
The Doctor and Rose are separated – Doomsday
This devastating scene happens at the end of Tennant’s first season as the Doctor, when Rose is dragged into a parallel universe and the two are separated forever. Or so they think!
It’s not just the heartbreaking scene where the pair realise they’re stranded on opposite sides of the massive white wall that serves as a portal between dimensions (sob) but their final goodbye in Bad Wolf Bay, where Ten tells her he’s burning up an entire sun to say goodbye. Tennant is acting his heart out, the puppy dog eyes are working overtime. Those who don’t want it and end up crying have hearts of stone.
“Did you miss me?” - The Christmas Invasion
Tennant’s Doctor spends most of his first episode trapped in a deep slumber after a traumatic regeneration. As the warlike Sycorax attempt to take over the planet, Rose puts him in the Tardis with a flask full of tea… which magically revives him. Strolling nonchalantly into the heart of the war operation armed with nothing but a satsuma, he winks at her and asks, “Did you miss me?” And in no time at all, it’s as if he never went away.
Possessed by Cassandra – New Earth
Few would argue that New Earth is one of the best Doctor Who episodes, but there’s one thing it does get right: when Ten gets possessed by the malicious sentient trampoline (yes, really) Cassandra. It’s a golden opportunity to Tennant to showcase his comedy chops. “Two hearts!” he crows. “Oh, baby, I’m beating out a samba!” In fact, he was so good he reportedly had co-star Billie Piper in fits of giggles throughout.
Timey-wimey – Blink
Who’d have thunk it: the most iconic Who episode ever is the one where the Doctor hardly appears. Zapped back in time by the Weeping Angels, the only way he can communicate with modern-day protagonist Sally Sparrow (Carey Mulligan) is via pre-recorded video tape. This is the episode that coined the phrase ‘wibbly wobbly, time-wimey’ that are now common Who parlance. Plus, while it’s hard to be charismatic through a grainy TV screen, he manages it.
The Master dies – Last of the Time Lords
Though Derek Jacobi was the first person to play the Master since the show’s reboot (what a catch), John Simm was the one who made the role his own. After capturing the Doctor, he transformed the Earth into an ultra-capitalist hellscape. When his comeuppance finally arrives, he’s shot by Martha’s mum Francine (Adjoa Andoh) but in one final act of spite, he refuses to regenerate, leaving the Doctor completely alone. The closing shots of him sobbing over his old rival’s body are gut-wrenching.
Goodbye Donna – Journey’s End
The scene that spawned a thousand memes: Sad Doctor In The Rain. After successfully saving the world (yet again) it turns out that Donna (who has sort-of merged with the Doctor’s DNA in order to save them all; another long story) is going to die unless she has her memory wiped. That means removing any trace at all of the Doctor. She pleads and begs to try and prevent it, but it’s no good – and that parting shot of him leaving her for ever is haunting. Sad eyes for days.
The Doctor regenerates – The End of Time (Part 2)
It’s the big’un. David Tennant plays a blinder in his last-ever episode as the Doctor who has lost his way: alternately raging, terrified, and accepting of his fate. His last swansong - revisiting all his companions, checking in that they're doing okay - is sweetly touching, and of course his final words, "I don't want to go," are delivered with such gusto that they elicit all the emotions. Every single time.
