Doctor Who: All 6 modern Doctors ranked from worst to best

4. Christopher Eccleston – The Ninth Doctor

The process of bringing Doctor Who into the 21st Century was no easy task. In order to rejuvenate the franchise, the BBC needed to cast the perfect Doctor, capable of not only bringing audiences back but proving to the masses that Doctor Who was going to be as good as ever. Christopher Eccleston was chosen as the one to lead the revival, and he did it with a flourish!

His Doctor was the perfect blend of grittiness and silliness. Of course, his darker outlook was a consequence of the Time War. When things got dark, viewers really felt the gravity of situations. That said, he loved a good laugh and dance: “Just this once, everybody lives!”

The BBC also cast the perfect companion too, Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), who brought some young flair and offered a grounded voice on the chaos and wackiness of the universe. Piper went on to reprise her role several times following Eccleston’s departure, becoming a fan favorite.

If he got more seasons, I’ve got no doubt that he’d rank higher. But the fact that he decided to pass on the baton after just one season, left a little more to be desired. When previously asked about why he left the role, Eccleston said he feared becoming typecast as the Doctor.

His one season set a gold standard and a solid platform for which the series could continue to progress with a different lead.

Best episode/s: Dalek, The Parting of the Ways.