Fourteenth Doctor

The Doctor

The Fourteenth Doctor
Doctor Who character
David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor in "Wild Blue Yonder" (2023)
First regular appearance	"The Star Beast" (2023)
Last regular appearance	"The Giggle" (2023)
Introduced by	Russell T Davies
Portrayed by	David Tennant
Preceded by	Jodie Whittaker (Thirteenth Doctor)
Succeeded by	Ncuti Gatwa (Fifteenth Doctor)
Information
Tenure	25 November – 9 December 2023
Appearances	3 stories (3 episodes)
Companions	Donna Noble
Chronology	Specials (2023)

The Fourteenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, and the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who for the 2023 specials. He is portrayed by Scottish actor David Tennant, who previously portrayed the Tenth Doctor and was last seen on the programme in that role in 2013.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a millennia-old alien who is thought to be a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, with somewhat unknown origins, who travels in time and space in the TARDIS, frequently with companions. Usually at the end of each incarnation's life, the Doctor regenerates; as a result, the physical appearance and aspects of the personality of the Doctor changes. Tennant's second incarnation is similar to the Tenth Doctor, but has different quirks in his personality to reflect the time he has spent since the Tenth Doctor in-universe.

Initially it had been announced that the Thirteenth Doctor, played by Jodie Whittaker, would be succeeded as the programme's lead by a Fourteenth Doctor portrayed by Ncuti Gatwa. Upon Whittaker's final appearance as the character, she instead regenerated into a form similar to that of the Tenth Doctor. This character was confirmed to be the Fourteenth Doctor, with later clarification that Gatwa would portray the Fifteenth Doctor.

The Fourteenth Doctor appeared in three special episodes in 2023 commemorating Doctor Who's 60th anniversary, which were executive produced by Russell T Davies, who also returned to the series after having previously executive produced the show from 2005 to 2010. Tennant was praised for his performance as the Fourteenth Doctor, though some have criticised the move to bring back a previous actor, feeling it detracted from the performances of other actors who had portrayed the Doctor.