The Tenth Doctor

Allons-y! A slim, foxy Time Lord with spiked hair, pinstripe suits, and a heart full of righteous fury.

The Tenth Doctor is an incarnation of the protagonist of Doctor Who, played by David Tennant across three series and nine specials. A centuries-old alien Time Lord from Gallifrey, he travels in time and space within the TARDIS. Following the Ninth Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), this charismatic adventurer possesses a likable, easygoing demeanor that can swiftly turn to righteous fury when provoked. Tennant's portrayal features an Estuary English accent, dropping his natural Scottish dialect at producer Russell T Davies' request to avoid another obvious regional sound. This incarnation was succeeded by the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith) but returned in 2013 for the 50th anniversary and again in 2023 as the fourteenth Doctor.

Quick Facts

Start: "The Christmas Invasion" (2005)
Finish: "The End of Time" (2010)
Introduced: Russell T Davies
Portrayed: David Tennant
Preceding: Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor)
Succeeding: Matt Smith (Eleventh Doctor)
Period start: 25 December 2005
Period end: 1 January 2010

Lore & Background

Narratively, the Tenth Doctor is characterized by his outwardly charming nature and distinct Estuary English accent. David Tennant revealed that a scripted line explaining he imprinted on Rose Tyler's accent like 'a chick hatching from an egg' was cut from 'The Christmas Invasion'. He adopted two catchphrases: 'allons-y' (French for 'let's go') and 'molto bene' (Italian for 'very good'), with the former coined by Langston Mooney Ganesh. His appearance includes dark brown hair styled in a spiked-up fashion described by Wilfred Mott as a 'modern style sort of hair.

All sticky-uppy', along with a light brown faux-suede duster coat he claimed was given to him by Janis Joplin. In the audiobook 'The Last Voyage', this incarnation states he is not neurotypical. Costume Designer Louise Page cited his pinstripe suit and Converse trainers as her most proud creation, noting the look was inspired by an outfit Jamie Oliver wore on Parkinson.

Reader's Guide

Fans should note that while the Tenth Doctor often attempted to travel alone after 'Journey's End', his final adventure in 'The End of Time' featured Donna's grandfather Wilfred Mott. His tenure included guest spots in 'The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith' and appearances in animated serials like 'The Infinite Quest' and 'Dreamland'. The 2013 special 'The Day of the Doctor' marked a significant return, followed by his transformation into the Fourteenth Doctor for three 60th anniversary specials in 2023. His costume varied slightly, with Tennant changing button combinations on his jacket between episodes. He also wore dark tortoise-shell rectangular glasses, an affectation borrowed from the Fifth Doctor, which became a signature accessory despite appearing in only one story originally. The character was chosen to be 'slim and a little bit foxy' to attract attention for the revived series.