If you’re a Doctor Who fan, you probably did a double-take during David Tennant’s appearance on The Assembly when he was asked about becoming “the 10th Doctor Who.” It might have seemed like a throwaway phrase — but for fans in the know, it was a noticeable misstep.
Let’s clear things up: the character is not called Doctor Who. He’s called The Doctor. And Tennant played the 10th Doctor, not the “10th Doctor Who.”
Here’s why that matters — and why this kind of slip-up keeps happening.
🔍 The Character’s Name Is The Doctor, Not Doctor Who
From the beginning of the show in 1963, the mysterious time-travelling alien has only ever called himself “The Doctor.” The show is titled Doctor Who as a reflection of the central mystery: Doctor… who?
The name “Doctor Who” isn’t used by the character, nor by his friends — and certainly not by the Time Lords. So when an interviewer like the one on The Assembly refers to Tennant as “the 10th Doctor Who,” they’re mistakenly treating the show’s title as the character’s name.
🕰️ But Wasn’t He Ever Called “Doctor Who”?
Technically, yes — but only in outdated or non-canonical contexts:
- Early credits (1960s): William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton were credited as “Dr. Who” in the closing credits of early episodes, likely due to behind-the-scenes shorthand or public misunderstanding.
- Peter Cushing films (1965 & 1966): Cushing played a human scientist literally named “Dr. Who” in two non-canon feature films. These versions had little to do with the TV continuity and aren’t considered part of the official timeline.
- Occasional jokes or confusion in-universe: A few rare episodes have characters misunderstand the name, but these are exceptions played for humour or irony — not canon indications that “Doctor Who” is a valid name.
🧑🚀 So Why “10th Doctor” Works (and “10th Doctor Who” Doesn’t)
Fans and commentators use numbered titles — like 10th Doctor, 13th Doctor, or 14th Doctor — to distinguish between incarnations of the character. It’s an external classification, not something used in-universe.
Calling David Tennant the 10th Doctor makes sense: he’s the 10th incarnation of the same character.
Calling him the “10th Doctor Who”? That’s like calling James Bond “the 6th 007 Movie Man.”
🧐 If the Interviewer Was a Fan, They’d Know Better
Interestingly, the interviewer on The Assembly comes across as someone familiar with Doctor Who, which makes the slip even more surprising. If they were truly a dedicated fan, they would have been well aware of the clear distinction between “The Doctor” and “Doctor Who” as a show title — and would likely have phrased the question correctly. This kind of confusion usually comes from outside the fandom, so it’s a reminder that even fans can sometimes mix things up in casual conversation or interviews.
📻 What Went Wrong on The Assembly?
When The Assembly podcast asked Tennant about the “10th Doctor Who,” they likely meant to ask about his era on the show — but misunderstood the distinction between the title of the programme and the name of the character.
It’s a small mistake, but a telling one — and one that fans have heard many times before. It reflects how Doctor Who as a cultural icon is sometimes misrepresented by those outside the fandom.
💬 Final Thoughts
So yes, The Assembly got it wrong — but they’re far from the first to make this error. It’s an easy mix-up if you’re not steeped in Doctor Who lore. Still, for fans, it’s important to get it right.
After all, “Doctor Who” is the show — “The Doctor” is the hero.
So next time you hear someone say “the 10th Doctor Who,” you’ve got the facts to gently correct them. And David Tennant? He’s not “Doctor Who.”
He’s The Doctor — and he always will be.
Got any other media slip-ups you’ve spotted around Doctor Who? Share them in the comments!
#DoctorWho #TheDoctor #10thDoctor #DavidTennant #Whovian #TimeLord #DoctorWhoTrivia #DoctorWhoFandom #ClassicWho #NewWho #DoctorNotDoctorWho #TheAssemblyPodcast #PeterCushing #SciFiTV #BBCDoctorWho