The role of the Doctor had been played by William Hartnell at the programme's inception in 1963.

The production team was tasked with finding a suitable actor for the role of the Doctor.

Series one was Christopher Eccleston's only series in the role of the Doctor.

A double plays the role of the Doctor in all the location footage, his face being clearly visible in some shots.

He was playing the role of The Doctor.

Tom Baker was originally approached to reprise the role of the Doctor, but declined.

How remark-able then that this unwavering self-determination should have taken him full circle and to the role of the Doctor himself, in 2005, aged 34.

Series two was David Tennant's first in the role of the Doctor.

This is the first time Tom Baker has reprised the role of the Doctor in an original full-length story.

At various times, press reports linked her with numerous actors touted to play the role of The Doctor.