9781785948299

WELCOME TO THE WHONIVERSE.

Non-Fiction

£35

JONATHAN MORRIS, SIMON GUERRIER & UNA McCORMACK

FIRST STOP: EVERYWHERE.

JONATHAN MORRIS, SIMON GUERRIER & UNA McCORMACK

BBC Books www.penguin.co.uk

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FEATURING FAMILIAR VOICES FROM ACROSS TIME & SPACE

JONATHAN MORRIS, SIMON GUERRIER & UNA McCORMACK

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CONTENTS SECTION 1 HEROES HEROES OF TIME

8

HEROES OF SPACE

34

HEROES OF EARTH

45

SECTION 2 VILLAINS

108

VILLAINS OF TIME

110

VILLAINS OF SPACE

120

VILLAINS OF EARTH

131

SECTION 3 MONSTERS

142

MONSTERS OF TIME

144

MONSTERS OF SPACE

168

MONSTERS OF EARTH

200

SECTION 4 MACHINES

206

MACHINES OF TIME

208

MACHINES OF SPACE

209

MACHINES OF EARTH

215

SECTION 5 WORLDS

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6

218

DIMENSIONS IN TIME

220

ALIEN WORLDS

223

EARTH

266

SECTION 6 TECHNOLOGY

296

INDEX

320

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SECTION 1

HEROES

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HEROES OF TIME

THE FIRST DOCTOR Goodness me, so there are fifteen of me now! And

friends or protection. I always

you’re my latest replacement. Another young man, still

thought that one day we would

wet behind the ears. Well, well, I wish to speak. Kindly

get back... but I couldn’t.

pay attention and don’t interrupt, there’s a good fellow.

I couldn’t.

Now, then. There is good and evil in the universe,

Instead, we wandered in the

yes? Good requires loyalty, self-sacrifice and, well,

fourth dimension to Quinnis,

love – so, by any logical analysis, evil should always

Esto and the court of Henry the

win. Then why does good prevail, hmm?

Eighth. I feared that if we stayed in

Something of a pioneer amongst my own people,

one place too long, Susan would become too settled

I wished to answer this question, I borrowed a

and not wish to leave. My fears proved correct in

TARDIS and set off with my granddaughter Susan

London in the 20th century when two schoolteachers

to investigate all of time and space – only to find

forced their way into to my Ship, uninvited!

ourselves exiled, cut off from our own planet, without

But, as we learned about each other, we learned about ourselves. You could say that fear made companions of us all! We faced many dangers together, but perhaps the greatest was the temptation to change history. I could never make any of them understand. Not Ian and Barbara, not Vicki, not Steven, not even little Susan. You see, you can’t rewrite history. Not one line! Because we’re too small to realise its final pattern. Far too small!

But as we travelled, so we learned. Even I learned a little. From my first encounter with the Daleks on Skaro, I learned that sometimes one must get involved if good is to prevail. And that there was something very satisfying in destroying something evil!

If it hadn’t been for those two teachers, I might never have let go of Susan. She’s still my grandchild and always will be, but I saw she needed to belong somewhere; to have a place, a time, an identity. And

THE FIRST DOCTOR FEATURES IN An Unearthly Child (1963) to The Tenth Planet (1966), then The Three Doctors (1972-73), The Five Doctors (1983), The Doctor Falls and Twice Upon a Time (2017), and The Power of the Doctor (2022)

that she had come to rely more on that young man David than on her silly old buffer of a grandfather.

But one day, I shall see her again. One day. And what I said to her then, I say to you now: Go forward in all your beliefs, and prove to me that I am not mistaken in mine.

And if you like adventure, my boy, I can promise you an abundance of it.

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THE SECOND DOCTOR FEATURES IN The Tenth Planet (1966) to The War Games (1969), The Three Doctors (1972-73), The Five Doctors (1983) and The Two Doctors (1985)

THE SECOND DOCTOR Oh, my giddy aunt. Here I am, finally home again, and

meet! Yes, it was jolly frightening, some of the time.

facing punishment from my own people. Standing trial

But it was also jolly exciting. That’s the point, isn’t

for getting involved. Helping people. But some corners

it? Our lives are different to anybody else’s and so we

of the universe have bred the most terrible things. Ice

should make a difference. And have fun! Dance and

Warriors, Daleks, Cybermen, Yeti and Quarks. Things

dress up and run. Run like rabbits!

which act against everything we believe in. They must

Oh yes, breaking the law. I was afraid you would

be fought. And all those computers, bullies, trying to

get back to that. Well? Oh? You accept my plea. There

make mankind all the same, like a string of sausages!

is evil in the universe that must be fought? You’re going

I could hardly stand by and do nothing, could I?

to let me go free?

Yes, I am aware that it is our most important law

No! You can’t condemn me to exile on Earth – just

not to interfere in the affairs of other planets. But I

one primitive planet in one century in time! Yes, I did

wasn’t breaking the law. I was just bending it a little.

keep landing there, but not by choice!

And I couldn’t resist. All those millions of planets

And no, you can’t change what I look like without

to explore. Eons of time and countless civilisations to

consulting me! Can you? Oh, dear…

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WHOTOPIA

THE THIRD DOCTOR How d’you do, m’dear fellow? I’m the Doctor, UNIT’s

I did resent my exile at first. But I also grew

Scientific Advisor. I’ll have to be quick as I’m afraid

rather fond of the old place. Particularly Jo, and my

you catch me rather on the back foot.

dear friend, the Brigadier. Not forgetting Captain

You know, much of this incarnation has been a bit like that. Exiled to Earth by the Time Lords

Yates and Sergeant Benton and dear Liz. And my car, good old Bessie.

with no memory of the laws of time travel – and no

Even when my exile ended, I couldn’t quite bring

dematerialisation circuit even if I could remember

myself to leave. Instead, they left me. Liz went back

them. They had certainly chosen a good time for

to Cambridge with barely a farewell. And Jo, well,

my exile, though, as it coincided with half a dozen

I was never going to turn her into a scientist. Maybe

alien invasions and the arrival of the Master. I think

Professor Jones will have better luck. This new girl,

it amused them to have me preventing a Time Lord

Sarah, has her own life to lead. But I like to think

from interfering in the planet’s affairs.

I helped them all to see the universe with a little more

And then, of course, they’d send me off on errands – operating my TARDIS by remote control before returning me to Earth. They treated me as a cross

wonder. And to know that there is always a perfectly rational scientific explanation for everything.

I’ve had the time of my lives. It’s been one long

between a glorified delivery boy and a ticket inspector.

adventure: of helicopters and hovercraft, Venusian

It turns out, they needed me more than they realised,

lullabies and aikido, swordfights and bullfights.

especially when Omega started draining away their

I’ve enjoyed the company of kings, queens and

vital cosmic energy. My reward for digging them out of

presidents, and enjoyed some quite marvellous

that black hole was the end of my exile.

wine, cheese and sandwiches.

THE THIRD DOCTOR FEATURES IN Spearhead from Space (1970) to Planet of the Spiders (1974), and The Five Doctors (1983)

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HEROES OF TIME

THE FOURTH DOCTOR Hello there! Would you like a jelly baby? They’re a little delicacy I discovered on a planet called Earth.

That’s also where I got this scarf, knitted for me by Madame Nostradamus. A witty little knitter!

I’m the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, but I long ago renounced the society of the Time Lords and no longer run around after the Brigadier. Now, I don’t work for anybody; I’m just having fun.

What? Well, I suppose I still do the odd job occasionally for the Time Lords. They claim it is the price of my freedom. And I did agree to recover the segments of the Key to Time for the White Guardian.

But when the alternative is universal chaos or, even worse, boredom, what do you expect?

Although, now I come to think of it, I do have a

personality print in a computer and it had turned

sort of full-time job. Rushing around saving planets

a planetary survey team into savages and priests

from destruction. It started off as a hobby but, well,

as a manifestation of its madness. I like to think I

always do what you’re best at, that’s what I say!

helped Leela. Or at least got her to stop killing quite

Which planets? Oh, you know. Earth. Humanity

so much.

is quite my favourite species but is always finding

My other best friend was K-9. Clever dog. He beat

itself in desperate peril. Zygons, Krynoids, Kraals.

me at chess once. And then there was Romana. Triple

Sutekh and Scaroth. But now I’m more likely to

first from the academy, she thought she knew it all.

be found on some distant planet in the far future

She claimed she could drive the TARDIS better than

dealing with some ruthless dictator or a computer

me. I mean, she could, but that’s not the point.

with delusions of grandeur. Or a crustacean with

After that business with Princess Astra, Romana

megalomania. Or a cactus intent on galactic

decided to have a makeover. Floppy hat, scarf,

domination.

coat. I approved; external appearances are terribly

Not forgetting Gallifrey. I was elected Lord

important. She also changed her face. Now she’s a

President, you know. By mistake, as it happens, I only

beautiful woman, probably.

put myself forward to prove my innocence after being

But I think I deserve some time off. After all the

accused of assassinating the outgoing President.

planets I’ve saved from peril, I’m allowed a holiday.

Apparently I was inducted and saved Gallifrey from

Maybe a spot of fishing. Or a trip to the theatre.

Vardans and Sontarans but I don’t remember a thing

Maybe a quiet stagger around Paris and lunch at

about it. You’d have to ask Leela about that.

Maxim’s. Failing that, there’s always the opening of

Ah, Leela. Found her in a jungle. She mistook me

the Brighton Pavilion.

for a god. Turns out I had, er, accidentally left my

Happy times and places. Bye, bye, human!

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THE FOURTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN Planet of the Spiders (1974) to Logopolis (1981), and The Five Doctors (1983)

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WHOTOPIA

THE FIFTH DOCTOR Ah. Yes. My last regeneration was difficult.

My senses were all jumbled up and unravelling like a scarf and I relied on the help of my friends.

Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. I’ve depended on them ever since. Who was it who said a man is the sum of his memories? I like to think a man is the sum of his friendships, too.

That’s another thing. I have the... unusual problem of being far too young for my age. It can be quite frustrating not to be taken seriously.

I don’t actually need to wear spectacles, but, well, I find it helps give the impression I know what I’m talking about.

Youth does have its advantages, however.

I am forever dashing about, chasing after Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. Travelling with them is sometimes like trying to herd cats. And as for getting them to agree... but, well, that’s democracy for you!

What with trying to get Tegan back to Heathrow Airport, and the TARDIS needing constant repairs, I’ve not had much time for myself. I content myself with small pleasures.

A nice cup of tea. A well-prepared meal. After all, that’s what life’s all about.

I suppose I’m more open than my predecessors.

But that’s not a weakness. Even when it means the loss of a dear friend. I knew there was nothing I could do to stop it happening but that didn’t make it any easier to cope with – I don’t think I’ll ever get over losing my sonic screwdriver.

And Adric. I won’t forget Adric. All he ever wanted was to prove himself worthy of my friendship. He didn’t realise he had nothing

THE FIFTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN Logopolis (1981) to The Caves of Androzani (1984), and The Power of the Doctor (2022)

to prove.

Now Nyssa, Tegan and Turlough have gone too, and I’m haunted by something Tegan said.

It’s stopped being fun. Too many good people have died. I couldn’t save the Silurians, or Sir George, or Stien. How long before my luck finally runs out?

Brave heart, Doctor.

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THE SIXTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN The Caves of Androzani (1984) to Time and the Rani (1987), and The Power of the Doctor (2022)

THE SIXTH DOCTOR I rather think this occasion calls for some apposite

mad plutocrats, and the Valeyard. An amalgamation

erudition.

of all the darker sides of my nature, the person I might

Regeneration has always been a swift but

become. But I have banished him. That is not and will

volcanic experience for me, but in the case of this

not be me.

particular incarnation, I believe it resulted in the

But every battle comes at a cost. I’ve lost old

most extraordinary improvement! A noble brow.

friends: Azmael, Dastari, Stengos. For a while,

A clear gaze. A firm mouth. A face beaming with

I thought I had even lost Peri. I’m not sure it’s a great

vast intelligence. And the humility of a saint.

comfort knowing that she is alive and married to

I dressed to match the dazzling explosion

that stentorian oaf, King Yrcanos. And, oh, Melanie!

inside me. True, that explosion left me psychically

I thought we would have more time together.

unsettled. There were manic incidents, violent mood

I thought we could pop over Centauri Seven, then

swings. I worried for a while that my regeneration

take a quick holiday…

had failed.

Still, as I’ve spent much time perusing my

But, with the help of the redoubtable Perpugilliam

own future in the Time Lord matrix, I know what’s

Brown, I turned things around. Literally, I turned

coming.

my anger on those who most deserved it. Daleks,

Nothing can be eternal. Even the brightest of stars

Sontarans, Cyberman, amoral scientists and money-

go out… but at least they do so with a bang!

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WHOTOPIA

THE SEVENTH DOCTOR You know, I could spend a whole afternoon listening

laws of Time and protector of Gallifrey, I have certain

to a jazz band or my records, losing myself in a novel

responsibilities. So, I gave the Daleks and Cybermen

or a game of chess. Or I might while away the time

fair warning, and then tricked them into bringing

juggling or playing the spoons. And I don’t just

about their own destruction. I have outwitted ancient

love jazz. There’s Elvis, and the blues, the old

gods, and brought down despots, sadistic villains and

American songbook... and my favourite, the sound

mad architects with deadly designs.

of empires toppling.

There are also things I don’t care for. I can’t stand

Sometimes, you have to be cruel to be kind. I put my dear friend, Ace, through so much, making her

burnt toast. I loathe bus stations – terrible places, full

face her fears. But what joy I’ve taken in watching her

of lost luggage and lost souls. There’s unrequited love,

fly. It has been... wicked.

and tyranny, and cruelty. We all have a universe of our own terrors to face – and face them I have.

As President-elect of the High Council of Time Lords, Keeper of the legacy of Rassilon, defender of the

Of course, there’s rarely been time for me to stop still. Somewhere there’s danger, somewhere there’s injustice, and somewhere else the tea is getting cold.

So, come along. We’ve got work to do.

THE SEVENTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN Time and the Rani (1987) to the TV Movie (1996), and The Power of the Doctor (2022)

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HEROES OF TIME

THE EIGHTH DOCTOR Who am I? And then I knew. Oh, and how! It all came back in a sudden, thrilling rush. Memories, feelings I’ve kept buried for so many lifetimes. That warm Gallifreyan night with my father, watching the sky dance with colour in a meteor storm. Or the death of my friend Puccini – that was so sad!

I was dead. And now I am so alive. Shoes! Have you any idea how wonderful it is to have a pair of shoes that fit perfectly? Or to ride a motorbike at speed! Or to make a quick getaway with a fire hose!

THE EIGHTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN the TV movie (1996), The Night of the Doctor (2013) and The Power of the Doctor (2022)

And I can see it all. Into people’s hearts, their dreams, their futures. And I can feel it all, so much, in a single kiss.

I think that’s what’s different about me. The joy of life.

I even tried to save the Master, after he just tried to steal my lives. The only person I’ll ever point a gun at is me.

I tell you what, though. I’d be absolutely no good in a war.

THE WAR DOCTOR No more!

I’ve fought in this Time War for so many weary

THE WAR DOCTOR FEATURES IN The Name of the Doctor (2013) and The Day of the Doctor (2013)

years. I’m a warrior now, not a Doctor – and long ago lost the right to that name. I have had to fight. The suffering I have seen, the peoples lost… and who never were. Now every moment in time and space is burning.

Until today, I have stayed my hand. I thought I could find some other way but I have exhausted all possibilities. The Time War must end and I must end it the only way I can. Time Lords of Gallifrey, Daleks of Skaro, I serve notice on you all. All I have to do is press the big red button and there’ll be an almighty bang, and you’ll all be gone for good.

And me. I have no desire to survive this. No more, Doctor. No more.

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WHOTOPIA

THE NINTH DOCTOR Why couldn’t they just die?

The last day of the Time War. The final battle between my people and the Daleks. I was there. I

Those things had destroyed my home, my people. The thought of losing one more was just too much.

walked to the old barn in the Drylands. I used the

So, yeah. I got a great big gun. Couldn’t fire it,

Moment. And then they all burnt. Every last stinking

though, could I? Didn’t need to, this time. The Dalek

Dalek. Ten million ships on fire. The entire race wiped

had been contaminated, human DNA. Self-destructed

out in one second. Along with every last Time Lord.

rather than go on. Finished the job for me.

I made it happen. I had no choice. Everyone lost.

And my punishment was to survive.

ROSE

EVERYBODY LIVES! Being with Rose, that survivor of the Time War had started

Then I met Rose Tyler. It was

to change. Started to feel.

just like old times. Having

Started to care.

a laugh. Showing her the

Me too. I started to hope.

future, showing her the

So it was back to the old

past. Showing off. Wandering

routine. Satellite Five, Jagrafess

the universe, putting it to

on the top floor. Turn up the heating, problem solved.

rights. The Lady Cassandra. The

Then Rose... she thought she could travel back in

Gelth. The Slitheen. Christmas

time, save her dad. Didn’t she think I would’ve done

with Charlie Dickens. A spaceship crashing into Big

it if it was that easy? Saved my whole family? But she

Ben, police escort to Number Ten, Downing Street.

had to find out the hard way you can’t always save

We were a team. We were fantastic.

who you want.

And then, oh, London during the Blitz! One damp

DALEK

little island standing up to the German war machine.

I should’ve known it couldn’t

Homeless kids running around, nicking food from

last. Signal draws the

houses during air raids. Brilliant! And some conman

TARDIS off course.

from the future accidentally setting a load of Chula

Underground museum, full

nanogenes loose, turning everyone into gas-mask

of alien tech. The collection

zombies. All sorted with a little bit of motherly love

of a billionaire. And what’s

and a software patch.

his pride and joy?

A Dalek.

One last Dalek. Powerless. Defenceless. Nobody to give it orders. All alone in the universe. Pathetic.

And, get this. Everybody lived. Just once.

Everybody lived.

COWARD OR KILLER?

In that moment, I saw what I had to do. Rid the

I really thought my luck had

universe of their filth. But... no, the stupid apes had

changed. I had a nice little

to stop me. They wouldn’t listen. Even Rose, she

gang, Rose, Jack. Even

thought she could help it. Instead, she gave it power

Margaret Blaine couldn’t

to regenerate itself and ended up as its hostage.

spoil it. We went for steak and

I thought... for a moment there, when I sealed her in with the Dalek. I thought I’d killed her.

chips and she got reverted to a Slitheen egg. Nobody had to die.

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THE NINTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN Rose (2005) to The Parting of the Ways (2005)

But I just can’t catch a break, can I? The Daleks

Cassadyne energy. Only problem is, it will kill

survived. Their Emperor escaped the final battle. And

everything in its path. Humans, Daleks. And me.

he was building a new army of Daleks out of the dead.

The important thing is, I’ve got Rose Tyler home.

I had destroyed my own people to stop them. I had

So I just have to decide whether I can go through it

almost made myself believe it was worth it. And now

again. Wipe out another race just to stop the Daleks.

it turns out that Gallifrey burned for nothing.

And I’m not sure I can.

But I can still stop them. This station’s a great

So what am I? A killer, or a coward?

big transmitter, I can send out a delta wave of Van

Know what? I’ll take ‘coward’. Every time.

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WHOTOPIA

THE TENTH DOCTOR Right, keep up, I move fast and talk fast and think fast in

Some stuff is more straightforward. First and

this incarnation – buzzing with energy, me. And there

foremost, I’m the defender of planet Earth. And if

is an awful lot of running. That’s what the footwear’s for.

Earth people break the rules, I’ll sort them out too.

GEEK CHIC

When the British Prime Minister shot down a Sycorax spaceship while they were retreating,

So, clothes. I do like looking

I told her six words – just six – and brought down

good, let’s be honest. And I

her government.

usually like a tailored, pinstripe suit and long flowing

NO MERCY

coat – which looks great

I used to have such mercy but

flapping about behind me when

now you get one warning. And

I run. I also look pretty good in

if you don’t like it, if you want

a dinner jacket and I’m not bad in pyjamas or a bulky

to take it to a higher authority,

orange spacesuit. Then there’s the big hair, sideburns

well – there isn’t one. The buck

and – when I need ’em, usually when I’m showing

stops with me.

To be fair, as a lonely,

people how smart I am – my glasses. A whole geek chic thing going on.

wandering old Time Lord I can lose perspective and

Geek! Yeah, fair. Exactamundo. I get enthusiastic

sometimes go too far. Just recently, I tried to change

about all kinds of everything, and can see the beauty in

history to save a bunch of brave humans on Mars. I

a werewolf or a clockwork robot, even as they’re trying

abused my power and called myself the Time Lord

to kill me! I delight in my travels, all those planets, and

Victorious – except I didn’t win. I went too far, and

creatures and horizons. Most of the time, it’s about

good people died. That was a hard lesson.

My friend Donna Noble once said I needed

having fun.

SURVIVOR

someone to stop me – a good friend, like she was, who knew when to tell me ‘No.’ One time, when

Only that’s not always true. I

I told her we couldn’t stop the tragic events in Pompeii

like to pretend that I’m just

where a volcanic eruption buried the whole town,

larking about. But I’m also the

she asked me to save just one family. And because

last survivor of the Time War,

of her, I did.

the last of my own people. I have to live on, alone, because

FRIENDS

I’ll outlive any of the humans I ever

Friends like Donna are very

get close to… Still, better to keep busy than dwell on all

important to me. I can form

of that. As the last of the Time Lords, I’ve a solemn duty

strong, even passionate

to protect the fixed points in time that keep the whole

relationships quickly

universe together. That’s trickier than it sounds ‘cos

– snogging Madame du

people assume that time is a strict progression of cause

Pompadour within minutes of

to effect. Actually from a non-linear, non-subjective

meeting her or marrying Queen

viewpoint, it’s more like a big ball of, um, wibbly-

Elizabeth the First. But, more than any of my other

wobbly, timey-wimey stuff…

incarnations, I’ve had lasting relationships. I have to

Okay, that sentence got away from me.

remind myself of that sometimes: my friend Sarah Jane

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THE TENTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN The Parting of the Ways (2005) to The End of Time Part Two (2010), and The Day of the Doctor (2013).

Smith says that for all I act like a lonely man, I’ve got the

THE END?

biggest family on Earth.

The thing is, I’ve had the best

It’s true – Sarah, Rose, Martha, Donna, and then

time as the Doctor, thank you

their friends and families, too. I might have been closer

very much. It’s been brilliant.

to my travelling companions than ever before in my

I flew a double-decker bus

travels. I almost told Rose Tyler exactly how I really felt

on a planet of sand, I fought a

about her – but instead I left her to live out her life with

werewolf with Queen Victoria,

a fully human version of me, another man who needed

and lit the flame for the London

to be stopped from going too far.

Olympics in 2012!

All my friends leave me in the end, and I think this

So it’s not fair that it has to come to an end. There’s

version of me feels it more keenly than my other selves,

been a prophecy: “He will knock four times.” I know it’s

because unlike them I’ve often caught up with my

coming, just like I innately feel what is a fixed point in

travelling companions after they’ve left the TARDIS.

time. But I don’t want to go.

Which is why I’ll fight to the end. I will rage against

Me and Sarah Jane picked things up after decades!

One day, I’ll look up all my old friends and companions –

the dying of the light. I’ll have fun, I’ll travel, I’ll get into

even if it’s the last thing I do.

trouble but do what’s right. Allons-y!

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WHOTOPIA

THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR I can’t resist a mystery. You show me a puzzle to

RAGGEDY MAN

solve, something that doesn’t make sense, and

And for me, the first face

I will be there like a shot. Clever specs on, bow

I saw was a mystery. A girl

tie straightened for business. Because, while the

being pursued by a crack

universe is bad and vast and complicated, you should

in space and time. A girl

never ignore a coincidence. Unless you’re busy, in

who was somehow pregnant

which case, you should always ignore a coincidence.

and yet not pregnant. And,

THE GREAT DETECTIVE

most curiously of all, a girl who sometimes couldn’t see that Rory was the best man

You could say I’m a great detective. And that’s why

for her. Me? I was just her best friend. The raggedy

I chose my name. Because the name you choose, it’s

Doctor. An imaginary friend from her childhood who

like a promise you make to yourself. Which is why

turned out to be real.

I decided that I should be known as…

Of course, running towards mysteries, not always

Sherlock Holmes.

a good idea. My reputation precedes me. Dress a trap

Oh, alright then. The Doctor. I’m the Doctor.

up as a great puzzle box and I won’t be able to resist

Yes, yes. Sherlock Holmes is the other fella. Fictional,

opening it; I’ll just think it’s Christmas. So, yes, the

doesn’t exist, probably based on a couple of friends

Pandorica. Well done, guys, you got me. But let me

of mine. But, when it comes to mysteries, we’re

tell you. There is one thing you don’t want to put in

the same.

a trap, if you value your continued existence, if you have any plans about seeing tomorrow. Me. Ooh. Got a little bit angry there. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. I have rules for a reason. So if you see me with my grumpy face, do the smart thing.

Basically, run.

Another way that mysteries are like Christmas is that once you’ve unwrapped your presents, there’s nothing left to look forward to. And that was my last Christmas. I’d solved too many mysteries. How to escape certain death at Lake Silencio? River Song?

Amy and Rory’s marriage? I’d saved Kazran Sardick and Reg the pilot. I had nothing left to do.

CLEVER BOY Madame Vastra, Jenny and Strax tried to snap me out of it. Snowmen appearing out of thin air, rather than out of

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THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN The End of Time Part Two (2010) to Deep Breath (2014)

snow as is more traditional. And then I met Clara.

so much to see? Crimson stars

A girl I kept on bumping into, like it was destiny. A

and silent stars and tumbling

girl who was alive and well and having trouble with

nebulas like oceans set on

her internet in 2013. An impossible girl. A mystery

fire. There are more wonders

wrapped in a babysitter. I couldn’t resist. I just had to

in this universe than you

find out who she was.

could ever dream of. So

So yes, you could say that thanks to her, I got

many worlds to save, so many

my mojo back. Run, you clever boy. Always running

important people to meet – and in

towards the mysteries.

nine hundred years, I’ve yet to meet a person

Funny word, mojo.

who wasn’t important.

Every life I save is a victory. Every single one.

VICTORY

Being alive is the best thing there is. But in the end

Amy asked me once, why I couldn’t stay in one place.

everybody dies. Everything’s got to end sometime.

Why I had to keep moving. But how can I when there’s

Otherwise, nothing would ever get started.

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WHOTOPIA

THE TWELFTH DOCTOR Who frowned me this face? I mean, it’s alright, apart

Question: Why do I care about humans when

from the eyebrows. They are attack eyebrows. It’s like

they are complete pudding brains? Answer: They

they’re independently cross. But I’m not cross. I’m just

have pudding brains, they need someone to look after

a bloke in a box. The bloke who ran away from Gallifrey.

them. A good doctor.

Not because I was bored. Because I was scared.

A GOOD MAN?

Question: Am I a good doctor? Answer: I was so sick of death, so sick of losing, I broke the rules to save Ashildr. I wanted to prove the universe wrong,

Proposition: I chose this face

so I gave her a Mire repair kit. Made her immortal. I

for a reason. I was trying to

condemned her to life. To being the only one to go on

tell myself something. The

as her loved ones died.

face of Caecilius, the man I

I condemned her to being me.

saved from certain death in

Question: When is a good man not a good man?

Pompeii. Conclusion: I chose

When he will stop at nothing to save his friend. When

it to remind myself; I’m the

he betrays himself, out of anger and grief. I was

Doctor and I save people.

willing to risk all of time and space to save Clara. To

Question: Why do I need reminding? Answer: Because I’ve lived a long time and I’ve made mistakes.

bend the rules of life and death. I told myself the ends justified the means.

And I’ve made enemies. Example: When I see a Dalek,

But I went too far. I had to be stopped. And the

my immediate response is hatred. Which doesn’t

only way to do that was for me to forget her and lose

make me a good man. It makes me a good Dalek.

her. Clara was a good teacher. Maybe that’s why I

A GOOD DOCTOR

became a teacher too. To be more like her. And maybe that’s why I got stuck with Nardole as my assistant at

Question: Why am I Scottish? Answer: To make it

St Luke’s University. To have someone to keep me in

easier to complain.

line.

A GOOD IDEA And Bill Potts? I liked the way she asked questions.

Questions are good. They’re the first half of an idea.

Question: Do I want to be a good man? Answer: No. I just want to be an idiot. A bloke in a box with a sonic screwdriver. Or a guitar and sonic sunglasses. Just passing through, helping out and learning. Running like hell. Laughing at everything, because it’s always funny. Never being cruel or cowardly.

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THE TWELFTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN The Day of the Doctor (2013) to Twice Upon A Time (2017)

BE KIND

reward. A good man is not one who does the

And always, always, making

right thing out of wanting to beat the bad guy,

amends.

or hatred, or blame, or fun, or because it’s easy, or

Question: What is a

because it will work. A good man is one who does

good man? Answer:

the right thing because it’s right. Because it’s decent.

A good man is one who

And above all, because it’s kind. Hate is always

does the right thing without

foolish. Love is always wise. But never, ever fail

hope, without witness, without

to be kind.

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WHOTOPIA

THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR Yeah, I know what you’re thinking. This one’s

THE FUTURE

a bit different, right? Well, imagine how I felt. One

And the future? You want me to

minute I’m a grumpy old Scotsman, the next I’ve got

tell you that it’s all going to be

blonde hair and sound like I’m from Huddersfield.

okay? Cos I can’t. It’s not fixed,

Bit weird, takes a bit of getting used to. Oh, and I’m

it’s still up for grabs. So go

also a woman.

out and grab it. It all depends

You know what’s really great, though? I am

on people stepping up to make

absolutely loving it. The whole thing. Alien worlds.

a difference. Lives change worlds.

Monsters. Travelling through space, sorting out

People change worlds. I’m not the only one who can

fair play, helping people, fixing stuff. I love fixing

save planets. Anyone can, with a bit of faith, hope and

stuff. I made myself a sonic out of spoons. I love

love. They’re the most powerful weapons we have.

all tech. You just get me started and I’ll be here all day. Anti-matter drives, transmats, Braxium

THE PRESENT

Bouncers.

You might have noticed, I’ve got a mouth on me now.

THE PAST

But you try walking around with a billion thoughts in your head. I have to talk to myself just to hear myself

And meeting people from

think. Don’t worry about it, Doctor, we all do it from

history. Can’t get enough of

time to time. You’re welcome, Doctor. But my fam

it. Rosa Parks. King James.

don’t mind. That’s right, I have a fam now. A team.

Ada Lovelace. Noor Inayat

With a very flat team structure. We all have our areas

Khan. Nikola Tesla. Mary

of expertise. Yaz, she’s a police officer. She’s good with

Shelley. Mary Seacole. Madam

people, getting them to trust her. Ryan, he’s kind of

Ching. Amelia Earhart. And

our moral compass. And Graham. He’s the dad. He’s

either Audrey Hepburn or Pythagoras. I always get

the one looking after us all. And Dan? The one who

those two mixed up.

tells the home truths. Cos sometimes I can be a bit...

History’s another thing I have to keep in order.

well. There are things about people I can’t read. I’m

No changing it. One word in the wrong place and the

still quite socially awkward. Don’t quite know what

whole of history can change in a blink. Lives unlived.

the right thing to say is, or even if there is a right

Someone tries to disrupt it, I stop them, fix it back to

thing.

how it was. Whether they’re some criminal from the

So, yeah. I didn’t realise that Yaz liked. As in,

future, mud creatures with attitude, glowing things

liked me. But I don’t really do that sort of thing. Not

from another dimension, scavenger scorpions or

anymore. If I did... it would be with her. But I can’t.

Ashad the half-Cyberman. Oh, and the Thijarians.

Cos I know how it ends. It ends with goodbyes, and

Thought they were alien assassins, they weren’t, just

the more special it was what came before, the harder

goes to show, you live and learn.

it hurts. And she was very special.

But it isn’t easy being the one who has to make the

But all those people, my fam, people I meet.

call. The only one who can. Sometimes even I can’t

They’re all still with me. I carry them with me, make

win. Sometimes I just have to do what’s right.

them part of who I am. That is who I am.

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THE THIRTEENTH DOCTOR FEATURES IN Twice Upon a Time (2017) to The Power of the Doctor (2022)

TIMELESS

Karvanista. Past lives, memories that were taken

THE FUGITIVE DOCTOR

from me. And a story about a child, discovered at

Alright, so I’m not a tour guide

a gateway, who gave the Time Lords the power of

in Gloucester called Ruth after

regeneration. The Master thought the knowledge

all. Surprise. Surprise for me

would break me.

too, as it happens. Chameleon

Cos I know there’s a whole other story: a life I had before I began, running missions for Division with

But my childhood, my time at the academy – they

Arch job, complete memory-wipe.

all still happened. And everything that’s happened

Turns out, I’m the Doctor… used to work for the

since, since I left Gallifrey, that’s what matters. Who

Division – kicked the Ravagers out of the Temple

I am is the person I am now, not the person I was.

of Atropos. I didn’t fancy the old retirement and

And who I am is the Doctor. I eat danger for

carriage clock routine, so I went on the run. My

breakfast. I don’t, actually – I prefer cereal. Or

fellow operative took on a human identity, Lee,

croissants. Or... never mind, it’s not important.

to watch over me. Got himself killed, but he knew the risks. Yeah, I’m not as sentimental as

POWER

my successors. Sue me, I’ve got a job to do. I’m

Keep the faith. Travel hopefully.

not all rainbows and trousers that don’t reach.

The best thing is always

I guess I get whimsical in my old age. Shoot me

finding out what happens

now, eh? If you don’t mind, I’ve got places to go.

next. And though my time is

Don’t come after me – cos there’s a reason

over now, my power passes

I made the Doctor forget when she was me.

to the next me, bobbing

 THE FUGITIVE DOCTOR FEATURES IN

about down the line. So, Doctor

Fugitive of the Judoon (2020), The Timeless Children (2020), Once, Upon Time (2021) and The Power of the Doctor (2022)

Whoever-You-Are or Whoever-You’re-Gonna-Be… Tag. You’re it.

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THE FOURTEENTH DOCTOR What? What? What?

I shouldn’t have this face again. This hair.

These teeth. I should be somebody else, somebody new, not somebody I’ve been before. And my clothes changing with me... no, that’s weird.

What is going on?

THE FIFTEENTH DOCTOR Okay. Definitely a different face now. New Doctor, new adventures.

New friends, new threats.

A whole pantheon of new enemies. And they have no idea what they’ve let themselves in for. You just watch me.

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HEROES OF TIME

TRAVELLING COMPANIONS  INCOMING MESSAGES  RIVER SONG Hello Sweetie!

Thanks for doing this, though I know it won’t be

Not long after I was born, I was kidnapped

by Madame Kovarian. I spent my first years in an orphanage with only a madman for company. Then

easy. You said there were some things – all right,

the Silence came and put me in a spacesuit full of alien

a lot of things – you didn’t quite understand, so let

tech. I remember being frightened and calling for help.

me try and get them straight. Spoilers, obviously. But here goes…

I was born Melody Pond, on the asteroid known as Demons Run. Amy and Rory, my parents, were

Help came. But Mum thought the spacesuit was attacking and she wanted to keep everyone safe. She shot me. I escaped to New York. I regenerated.

It took me years to track down my parents but I

time travellers, so you could say I’m also a child of the

eventually found them in the village of Leadworth –

TARDIS with just a touch of Time Lord. Which is just

when they were still kids. In a way they got to raise

as well, or I wouldn’t have survived.

me, as their ill-behaved best friend.

RIVER SONG FEATURES IN Silence in the Library/ Forest of the Dead (2008), The Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone (2010), The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang (2010), The Impossible Astronaut/Day of the Moon (2011), A Good Man Goes To War (2011), Let’s Kill Hitler (2011), Closing Time (2011), The Wedding of River Song (2011), The Angels Take Manhattan (2012), The Name of the Doctor (2013) and The Husbands of River Song (2015)

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WHOTOPIA

Growing up, I was processing all I’d been through

Of course it was all a trick. But we had to make

and rebelled against boredom and feeling trapped.

it look like the Doctor died as history said. So he

Plus there were the stories Mum shared about her

kept a low profile – all right, no, he didn’t – and I

amazing raggedy Doctor. I promised her that one day

was found guilty of murder. To be honest, twelve

I’d marry him.

thousand consecutive lifetimes was a little harsh. I

Then the Doctor turned up – for real! – only for me

was consigned to the Stormcage Facility, the highest

to get shot by Adolf Hitler. I never did like that man.

security prison in the known universe, with no

Again, I regenerated – with this rather wonderful hair.

chance of parole or escape.

And I did what Kovarian had programmed me to do all

We escaped what felt like every night. The Doctor

those years before. With one kiss, I killed the Doctor.

showed me all of time and space. The stars of Calderon

I loved him. I hated him. I was conditioned to

Beta, a picnic at Asgard, a frost fair on the River Thames.

kill him. With another kiss, and all my remaining

All those wonders and joy, and all of it with him…

There were still challenges. I saw my parents

regenerations, I saved his life.

The Sisters of the Infinite Schism – the greatest

suffer such terrible pain and loss. Then I lost them

hospital in the universe – explained the gift left for

entirely. And each time I saw the Doctor, it was

me by the Doctor. A diary, its blank pages a sign that

further back in his timeline. The more I knew him,

I could make a fresh start, and tell my own new story,

the less he knew me. When I was pardoned and freed

not one written for me.

from the Stormcage, I knew our days together were

But I had only one path ahead – I had to get back

numbered.

to the Doctor. So in 5123 I enrolled at Luna University

All this time we’ve been together, he’s known

to study archaeology, so I could track him down in the

where and when I will die. Because when he gave me

past. The cruel irony is that the day I completed my

this precious gift, he knew exactly how long a diary

course and became a doctor, Kovarian was waiting.

I would need, right down to this last page.

The end is almost upon us. But I will not regret

In fact, I’d never escaped her. Back I went into the spacesuit, so I could kill the Doctor, just as the accounts I’d studied said I would.

I decided history could be rewritten. I drained my

it. Not those times. Not one line. Good is good in the final hour, in the deepest pit without hope, without witness, without reward. This is what he believes and

weapon systems and ripped up all space and time just

that is the reason, above all, I love him. My husband.

to save him. The Doctor forgave me, married me, and

My madman in a box. My Doctor.

So look after him for me, Nardole. And you have

kissed me.

Then I killed him stone dead.

my full permission, when he needs it, to kick his arse.

 JENNY

soldier, primed and in peak physical health, with

Hello Dad!

a head full of the colony’s strategic and military

Surprise! No, I

protocols, but you taught me to be so much more

didn’t die. Or I did,

than that. Plus, there’s the gymnastics, and

but then something

the running, and the joy I take from life – that

brought me back.

definitely all comes from you.

Maybe it was the Source,

I get that you lost a family before, and when

or maybe it was cos I’m

you look at me you see them. So no pressure.

extrapolated from a tissue sample taken

This is just to say I’m fine, and I’ve got planets to

from you. Generated anomaly by name, generated

save, monsters to defeat and an awful lot of running

anomaly by nature!

to do. I think I’m going to make you proud.

It’s not the only thing I got from you, either.

Obviously, I was created as a Generation 5000

 JENNY FEATURES IN The Doctor’s Daughter (2008)

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SUSAN FEATURES IN An Unearthly Child (1963) to The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964), and The Five Doctors (1983)

 SUSAN

being discovered – and yet you stayed, for me.

Dear Grandfather,

Thank you.

I’m sending out this message sure it will find you

We were discovered. But I think those

in time. Here, it’s sixty years since you left me on

schoolteachers pushing their way into TARDIS

Earth to be with my beloved David. We’ve done you

was the best thing that could have happened.

proud, I think. We worked hard and rebuilt a world

Barbara helped me to stand up for myself and Ian

free from the Daleks.

taught me self-reliance.

You said no tears or anxieties, but I still miss

They taught you not to simply run from danger

you very much. The older I get, the more I think of

but to fight to make things better. I know that’s what

our adventures in the Ship. Do you remember King

you’ve been doing ever since – yes, I hear tell of the

Henry the Eighth, and Akhaten, and the metal seas

legend of the Doctor.

on Venus?

I’m proud of who you’ve become. When you’re

Yet the five months we spent in London, 1963,

not too busy, visit us some time. I hope you’ll be

were among the happiest of my life. I loved Coal

proud of who I’ve become, too.

Hill School and belonging to one place and time.

Love

You knew the longer we stayed the more we risked

Susan

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