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The Third Doctor, who was exiled by the Time Lords to Earth in the 20th century for a significant period of his life, was a distinguished man of high class and gadgetry, often tinkering away and privy with machines as he worked with Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart as the UNITscientific advisor, assisting the Brigadier and his UNIT troops Sergeant John Benton and Captain Mike Yates in their fight against invading aliens with his companions Liz Shaw, Jo Grant and Sarah Jane Smith. The Doctor also liked to share his wisdom with those who had open minds, but his patience would quickly dissolve if something annoyed him. Those who got on his good side soon found him to be a friendly fellow, while those who were against him soon found that this gentleman could actually get physical and hold his own in a fight.

Biography[]

Main article: Third Doctor/Biography

Forced into an exile on Earth in the 20th century by the Time Lords, (TV: The War Games [+]Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke, Doctor Who season 6 (BBC1, 1969).) with his TARDIS rendered inoperable, the Doctor allied himself with UNIT under Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart, working as their scientific advisor, initially alongside Dr. Liz Shaw, (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 7 (BBC1, 1970).) until she decided to return to the University of Cambridge to pursue her own work. (TV: Terror of the Autons [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 8 (BBC1, 1971).) The Doctor often took exception to the Brigadier's military approach, especially concerning the outcome of the Wenley Moor Affair, just as the Brigadier was frequently irritated by the Doctor's air of superiority and seeming disregard for authority, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians [+]Malcolm Hulke, Doctor Who season 7 (BBC1, 1970).) but they ultimately developed an easy mutual trust and strong friendship. (TV: Inferno [+]Don Houghton, Doctor Who season 7 (BBC1, 1970)., The Mind of Evil [+]Don Houghton, Doctor Who season 8 (BBC1, 1971)., The Dæmons [+]Guy Leopold, Doctor Who season 8 (BBC1, 1971)., Day of the Daleks [+]Louis Marks, Doctor Who season 9 (BBC1, 1972).)

Following Liz's departure, the Doctor was given a new assistant named Jo Grant, who was as bubbly as she was unscientifically trained, but he developed a great fondness for her. No sooner had Jo arrived that the Doctor became entangled in an ongoing battle of wits against the Master, who also became stranded on Earth when the Doctor stole the dematerialisation circuit from the Master's TARDIS in an attempt to fix his own, (TV: Terror of the Autons [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 8 (BBC1, 1971).) until he was forced to return it during the Stangmoor Incident. (TV: The Mind of Evil [+]Don Houghton, Doctor Who season 8 (BBC1, 1971).) However, the Master's attempt to ally with Axos forced him to ally with the Doctor, allowing him to trick his two foes into partially repairing his TARDIS, though with him stuck as a "galactic yo-yo" that would always have to return to his exile. (TV: The Claws of Axos [+]Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Doctor Who season 8 (BBC1, 1971).)

After the Master was finally arrested by UNIT following his failure to ally with the Dæmon Azal at Devil's End, (TV: The Dæmons [+]Guy Leopold, Doctor Who season 8 (BBC1, 1971).) the Doctor found himself pushing the limits of exile as he travelled to an alternate future ruled by Daleks, (TV: Day of the Daleks [+]Louis Marks, Doctor Who season 9 (BBC1, 1972).) visited Peladon for the first time, (TV: The Curse of Peladon [+]Brian Hayles, Doctor Who season 9 (BBC1, 1972).) and was even recruited by the Time Lords for a mission on 30th century Solos. (TV: The Mutants [+]Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Doctor Who season 9 (BBC1, 1972).) After the Master escaped his imprisonment with aid from the Sea Devils, (TV: The Sea Devils [+]Malcolm Hulke, Doctor Who television story season 9 (BBC1, 1972).) the Doctor and Jo ended up chasing him to Ancient Atlantis, where they stopped him harnessing the power of Kronos the Chronovore, though the Doctor allowed him to escape. (TV: The Time Monster [+]Robert Sloman, Doctor Who season 9 (BBC1, 1972).)

The Doctor's exile finally came to an end when the Time Lords united him with his first and second incarnations in the First Omega Crisis, with the Doctors' defeat of Omega in the anti-matter universe being rewarded with the Time Lords restoring the TARDIS to full working order. (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1972-1973).) The Doctor tried to celebrate his new freedom by taking Jo to Metebelis III, but they ended up getting side-tracked by misadventures (TV: Carnival of Monsters [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1973).) like the Daleks' Spiridon campaign. (TV: Frontier in Space [+]Malcolm Hulke, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1973)., Planet of the Daleks [+]Terry Nation, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1973).) Eventually, Jo became homesick, (TV: Planet of the Daleks [+]Terry Nation, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1973).) and a return trip to Earth saw her leave the TARDIS to marry scientist Clifford Jones after meeting him at Llanfairfach while the Doctor was on Metebelis III. The Doctor gave her a Metebelis crystal as a wedding gift. (TV: The Green Death [+]Robert Sloman, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1973).)

The Doctor would then adventure alone, until he met journalist Sarah Jane Smith while saving UNIT associated scientists kidnapped to the 13th century by the Sontaran Linx. (TV: The Time Warrior [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1973-1974).) While she first tried to leave his company due to initially being an accidental stowaway, her aid to him during Operation Golden Age, which saw Yates betray UNIT due to his political beliefs, encouraged them to continue to travel together, (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs [+]Malcolm Hulke, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1974).) visiting planets such as Exxilon, (TV: Death to the Daleks [+]Terry Nation, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1974).) Florana (PROSE: The Hungry Bomb [+]Gareth Roberts, Doctor Who Yearbooks (1994).) and Peladon. (TV: The Monster of Peladon [+]Brian Hayles, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1974).)

However, the Doctor's adventures came to an end when the Metebelis crystal was returned to him, heralding an invasion by the Eight Legs of Metebelis III to reclaim the crystal. With the aid of Sarah and a repentant Yates, the Doctor was encouraged by his childhood mentor to face the Eight Legs' Great One in the caves of Metebelis III to thwart their invasion, where he received a lethal dose of radiation as he escaped the cave's destruction in the TARDIS. The Doctor would be stuck wandering around the Time Vortex until the TARDIS "brought [him] home" to UNIT, where he managed to regenerate into a younger body. (TV: Planet of the Spiders [+]Robert Sloman, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1974).)

Other realities[]

Alternate timelines[]

In an alternate timeline created by the Discordia, the Doctor had a passionate romantic relationship with River Song that began in his first incarnation, having married her by his fourth incarnation. Without the Brigadier's knowledge, the Doctor and River would meet up to practice one-legged Venusian aikido while blindfolded on a tightrope. (AUDIO: Someone I Once Knew)

In an alternate timeline created by Mortimus using the Chronovore Artemis, (PROSE: No Future) the Third Doctor was killed by Morka during his confrontation with the Silurians, resulting in humanity being decimated as the Silurians attempted to return Earth to its original state. (PROSE: Blood Heat)

In one possible timeline envisioned by the Nexus, the Third Doctor decided to remain on Earth after his exile, settling down an old house with a garden. When the Ice Warriors invaded in 2010, the Doctor surrendered on Earth's behalf, with the Ice Warriors ruling the Earth Empire peacefully, assisting the humans and Silurians in combating the Rutan Hosts and the Daleks, but largely leaving them to their own devices, with Earth eventually becoming a nature reserve that shunned war. The Third Doctor was able to live for a thousand years on Earth without regenerating, though became wheelchair bound, and was aware that he was only a "copy" of the Doctor. (PROSE: So Vile a Sin)

In an alternative timeline where his exile never ended, the Doctor remained in Britain for forty years, forming a working relationship with PM Melanie Bush for over twenty years. However, he eventually betrayed the United Kingdom when it was invaded by the Cybermen in 2010, as he felt that Britain's best efforts against the Cybermen were destined to be useless. The Cybermen partly converted the Doctor and restored his ability to travel in time. (PROSE: The Quantum Archangel)

Averted timelines[]

Three in time distortion

The Doctor in the midst of a time distortion. (COMIC: Prologue: The Third Doctor)

This section's awfully stubby.

Info from Prisoners of the Sun needs to be added

When the Cybermen allied with Rassilon to take over history, (COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen) the Doctor encountered a time distortion during a battle with the Master that ended with the Master being cyber-converted. (COMIC: Prologue: The Third Doctor) This timeline was eventually unwritten by Rassilon and the Twelfth Doctor. (COMIC: Supremacy of the Cybermen)

Undone events[]

In a negated timeline, the TARDIS was attacked on 23 November 1963 by a conceptual bomb bought by the Decayed Master and began to be erased from time. The Third Doctor, along with his first and second incarnations, became trapped in another dimension, and tried to warn their other incarnations by reducing the explosion to a blinking light on the TARDIS with the coordinates of the explosion. However, when their four successors followed the warning, the Master took direct action in attacking them, until the Sixth Doctor managed to bring them together to formulate a plan. After the Fifth Doctor ensured that the TARDIS would not explode, the Doctors prepared to time ram the Master's TARDIS. However, rather than kill the Master, the First Doctor instead turned off the automatic distress actions, making it so none of the Doctors followed it into the explosion and undoing the events of the day. (AUDIO: The Light at the End)

Other references[]

Travelling through the caves of the Death Zone to save Borusa from the Dark Tower, the War Doctor and Cinder found various cave paintings which the Doctor speculated were depictions of himself throughout his lives, some of which he failed to recognise. One of the paintings depicted a figure "with bouffant white hair and a cape being chased by a silver robot". (PROSE: Engines of War)

Psychological profile[]

Personality[]

Unhappy Doctor

The Doctor expresses his outrage at orders taking priority over democracy. (TV: The Green Death)

A champion for peace and justice, (TV: Colony in Space) who "hardly ever" lied, (TV: The Time Warrior) the Third Doctor valued his freedom, (TV: Frontier in Space) believing "the collection of the simplest animal lifeforms [to be] a dubious enough pursuit in itself", but that "the collection of civilised [and] intelligent beings [was] a positive crime", (TV: Carnival of Monsters) sympathising with such caged creatures due to his experience as an exile on Earth. (AUDIO: Walls of Confinement) He was also more of a show-off than his predecessors, often putting himself at the centre of attention when his plans and contraptions worked accordingly. (TV: Spearhead from Space) Liz Shaw believed he only really required an assistant to "pass [him] [his] test tubes and to tell [him] how brilliant [he was]." (TV: Terror of the Autons)

Having "an air of natural authority", (AUDIO: A True Gentleman) he was far more assertive than his preceding incarnations, (TV: Spearhead from Space) with less patience for protocols such as visitor's passes, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death) and strove to maintain his independence while working for UNIT, such as by ignoring the Brigadier's summonings. (TV: TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) He also disliked having to answer to the Time Lords, maintaining that he worked only for himself. (TV: Colony in Space, Day of the Daleks) However, he could be more passive when it came to rescues, not questioning the falsehoods his allies would give when coming to his aid, (TV: The Dæmons) and, while he disliked having to work for them, he would use his association with UNIT as a means of getting his way. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Mind of Evil, The Green Death)

Authoritative, yet rebellious, the Third Doctor always favoured peace and diplomacy above violence and aggression, though this lead him to clash with stalwart military-minded individuals who chose rules over morality, with figures such as the Brigadier often being a thorn in his side, especially when a particularly aggressive influential had a greater majority of imprudent people on their side. The Doctor held a strong disgust towards these people, who were any combination of stubborn, selfishly goal-driven or close-minded, and would be further outraged if they refused to listen to him, ignored his protests or went to absurd lengths just to dodge the risk of being proven wrong, especially when they acted antagonistic and undiplomatic. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos, Day of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, Frontier in Space, The Green Death) If unsatisfied with someone's handling of a situation, however, the Doctor would step in forcefully and take charge, (TV: Inferno) but, if diplomacy outright failed, he reacted in a subdued manner, giving a scathing and virulent dressing down to the foolhardy individuals that destroyed a bid for peace and order. (TV: The Mind of Evil, The Green Death)

Feeling akin to "a shipwrecked mariner" while stranded on Earth without a working TARDIS, (TV: Inferno) the Third Doctor spent a lot of his time trying to escape his exile, either by tricking others into helping him unlock his TARDIS' capabilities, (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Claws of Axos) by trying to repair the circuits himself, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, Colony in Space, Day of the Daleks, The Mutants) or by stealing parts from other TARDISes. (TV: Terror of the Autons) His desire to escape would cause him to become overconfident at the first sign of liberation, though he was often forced to humble himself once he realised he was still trapped. (TV: Spearhead from Space, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Claws of Axos) After he threatened his eighth incarnation with the Master's TCE for a working TARDIS, the Doctor decided to remain in his exile of his own free will, (PROSE: The Eight Doctors) eventually coming to see UNIT as a "new-found family", which he continued to visit after his exile was lifted. (PROSE: The Shadows of Avalon)

Having a distain for bureaucracy, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, Colony in Space, The Sea Devils) he was rebellious against authorities that were openly hostile towards him. (TV: Inferno, Invasion of the Dinosaurs)

While he was very hospitable with fellow intellects of his calibre, (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Green Death) the Doctor would get rude and dismissive with those he saw as beneath his intellectual prowess, particularly when they interfered in his work. (TV: Terror of the Autons, The Curse of Peladon, The Sea Devils, The Three Doctors) However, he could not bring himself to be dismissive of them in the face of their kindness, (TV: Terror of the Autons) and would not dismiss someone who others looked down upon for their poor intelligence. (TV: Planet of the Spiders) At times, however, the Doctor could become argumentative and needed to be defused in order to establish fluid communication with people. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, The Dæmons)

Never judging by appearance, (TV: Carnival of Monsters) the Doctor would eagerly extend the hand of friendship to any new species he encountered, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, Colony in Space) attempt to embrace the customs of the cultures he visited, (TV: The Time Warrior) and would reserve his judgement on people until he had all the facts, (TV: Day of the Daleks) though his opinions on species as a whole could be clouded by past experiences with specific members. (TV: The Curse of Peladon, Death to the Daleks)

While he would chide others for having a "childish attitude", (TV: Inferno) the Doctor himself admitted a liking for "being childish", such as by enjoying the prospect of battling villains, (TV: Terror of the Autons) even prolonging a swordfight with the Master out of sheer enjoyment. (TV: The Sea Devils) He also had no problem interrupting lecturers when he disagreed with what was being said. (TV: The Mind of Evil) By his own admittance, it was "impossible" for him to admit when he was wrong. (TV: Carnival of Monsters)

The Third Doctor had a passion for science and gadgets that caused him to drown out other people when he was invested in his work. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Time Monster, The Green Death, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Planet of the Spiders) He also loved his vintage car, Bessie, almost as much as he loved his TARDIS, fixing it up and giving encouraging pats and kisses, (TV: TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Five Doctors) and even preventing the Brigadier from shooting when Bessie was in the line of fire. (TV: The Dæmons)

In moments of leisure, the Third Doctor could be found tinkering away at his car, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Dæmons) undergoing a scientific experiment, (TV: Terror of the Autons) visiting events to indulge his "scientific curiosity", (TV: The Mind of Evil, Planet of the Spiders) or building a new gadgetry contraption. (TV: The Green Death)

Though he desired a "quiet life", (TV: The Monster of Peladon) the Doctor craved in seeing the wonders of the universe, (TV: Colony in Space) with his favourite planets being Metebelis III, (TV: Carnival of Monsters) and Florana. (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs)

He enjoyed gorgonzola cheese, wine, (TV: Day of the Daleks) and ice cream. (PROSE: Dr. Third) His liking of tea was so great that he allowed the UNIT tea lady unrestricted access to his private laboratory, (TV: Terror of the Autons) while also preferring lime to lemon in his drinks. (PROSE: Verdigris)

Always trying to find the "good in everyone", the Third Doctor was an eternal optimist with a belief that life would always continue in some form, (TV: The Dæmons, The Mutants, Frontier in Space) often comforting people when all hope seemed lost to them, (TV: The Time Monster, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, Planet of the Spiders) believing that "nothing [was] impossible" as long as there was an answer to find. (TV: Carnival of Monsters) He considered the greatest virtues in humanity as being "kindness, compassion, humour, friendship, [and] generosity". (WC: U.N.I.T. On Call)

3 & Jo

Despite his victory, the Doctor voices his pity for Omega. (TV: The Three Doctors)

A strong believer in fairness, the Doctor was reluctant to release the Master back into the cosmos, (TV: The Mind of Evil) but argued against executing him at his trial due to his the belief that the Master was capable of redemption, (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Sea-Devils) and also bargained for him to be spared "an eternity of torment" from Kronos. (TV: The Time Monster) He was also saddened by the fate of Omega. (TV: The Three Doctors) He strove to find a peaceful alternative to the more violent methods that others' held in resolving a crisis. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Sea Devils)

Not believing in the supernatural, the Doctor put his faith in science, believing that a scientific explanation could be found to anything unexplainable. (TV: The Dæmons) He saw "absolute power" as "evil", (TV: Colony in Space) and would turn away supreme powers when they were offered to him, (TV: The Dæmons, The Five Doctors) instead focusing on obtaining the "power of friendship", which he considered to be "real power". (COMIC: The Kingdom Builders) He thought that "superior intelligence and senseless cruelty just [did] not go together", (TV: The Three Doctors) and once voiced the belief that "rules were made for breaking". (COMIC: The Forgotten)

While the place where he felt "most at home in the whole universe" was in his TARDIS, (AUDIO: Terror of the Master) the Doctor also saw "time and space" as being his "home", (TV: The Shrink) but also held a similar sentiment for his UNIT laboratory. (TV: Planet of the Spiders)

While very little managed to scare him, (TV: Planet of the Spiders) the Doctor had a fear of seeing a planet being overwhelmed by fire and destruction (TV: The Mind of Evil) after seeing the Inferno Earth being destroyed in volcanic ash. (TV: Inferno)

While he was unafraid to use deadly force if it was "the only way" to end a fight, (COMIC: The Labyrinth) the Doctor was reluctant to destroy something if it had a trace of intelligence, likening it to murder, (TV: Terror of the Autons) though he would end a life if it "had to be done". (COMIC: The Hungry Planet) He felt nervous about his capabilities with a gun, (TV: The Mind of Evil) even when he proved effective with one. (TV: Day of the Daleks)

While he had a dislike for machines, (TV: The Green Death) he held a particular distain for computers, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death) believing them to be "stupid", (TV: Frontier in Space) but noted that they could be useful tools. (TV: Inferno)

The Third Doctor owned a country house thirty miles from Thisis, that he had bought with his UNIT wages. He decorated the dining room with French windows, robin's egg blue décor, a red wood dining table, and portraits of his past incarnations. There was also a room decorated in deep underwater blue, with a collection of blue Chinese ginger jars containing holograms of planets and creatures, including a Stranovitican. He had a laboratory in the house, which, though messier, was better equipped than the UNIT lab. He had the drive lined with marble statues of various mythical beasts, including a faun and a Minotaur. He also kept a pet ginger cat in the house, and had a huge yellow teapot in the kitchen. (PROSE: Verdigris)

The Third Doctor had a noticeably antagonistic relationship with the Second Doctor, their personalities so different that they seemed incapable of working together amicably without the authoritative presence of their first incarnation. (TV: The Three Doctors, The Five Doctors) He also disliked the Eighth Doctor, as he blamed him for the advice he gave the Second Doctor that resulted in his forced regeneration and exile. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors)

The Fourth Doctor considered his immediate predecessor to be "an incorrigible show-off", (PROSE: Categorical Imperative) while the Fifth Doctor described the Third Doctor's behaviour as "arrogant" and "overbearing", although he admitted that he matured over time. (PROSE: Deep Blue)

While the Sixth Doctor told Peri Brown that his third incarnation was "more interested in axle grease and looking in the mirror" than in reading great literature, (AUDIO: Year of the Pig) he was willing to acknowledge the Third Doctor's superior skill with a sword, even if he dismissed him as having an "unusual dress sense". (PROSE: State of Change) The Seventh Doctor also acknowledged that the Third Doctor's technical skill outstripped his other incarnations, (PROSE: Timewyrm: Genesys) and considered his third incarnation to be a "real dandy of a fellow". (COMIC: Under Pressure)

While the Eighth Doctor looking down at his third incarnation, (COMIC: The Pictures of Josephine Day) he still acknowledged him as an "elegant dandy struggling bitterly against the chains of his exile but unable to resist defending the planet that had become his prison". (PROSE: The Eight Doctors)

During to his exile on Earth, the Third Doctor was often frustrated about his mistreatment and became disrespectful from time-to-time, often bickering with Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart due to not agreeing with his military methods. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Claws of Axos) However, the Doctor also held a great respect for the Brigadier, despite his "military mind", (TV: Frontier in Space) and often found himself telling his assistants to show him due respect. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Dæmons)

Despite his occasional rudeness, the Doctor grew very fond of his friends, often taking on the role of a teacher turning them into young scientists, (TV: The Dæmons) though he also enjoyed a professional relationship with his scientific equal, Liz Shaw. (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians) At first, he was fearful of Jo Grant due to her bumbling nature, (TV: Terror of the Autons) but soon became fond enough of her to feel that meeting her made his exile worthwhile, (TV: Frontier in Space) becoming upset when she decided to leave his company in pursuit of marrying Professor Clifford Jones. (TV: The Green Death)

Doctor eats Sandwich while Swordfighting

The Doctor has the audacity to eat the Master's lunch while holding him at sword point. (TV: The Sea Devils)

While the Third Doctor initially only saw the "UNIT era" Master as an "unimaginative plodder" that only caused trouble, (TV: Terror of the Autons) he eventually came to see him as the "personification of evil." However, he still visited him in prison due to their old friendship. When he and the Master broke out into a sword fight, the Doctor duelled him light-heartedly, being courteous to let the Master retrieve his weapon, and throw banter with him. He even stole a sandwich from a platter in the Master's cell and began eating it while he had his sword pinned on the Master's neck, for no reason other than a playful show of spite. (TV: The Sea Devils) However, the Doctor distrusted him greatly, such as when he met the Tremas Master in the Death Zone, and, despite him carrying the Seal of the High Council as proof, the Doctor refused to believe the Master had been sent to aid him, instead assuming him to be behind the predicament and having stolen his credentials, and held no qualms about leaving him stranded in an attack. (TV: The Five Doctors)

Resentful at them for exiling him, the Doctor thought the Time Lords to be a "mean, despicable, [and] underhanded lot" (TV: Spearhead from Space) who "delighted in deviousness". (TV: The Five Doctors)

He was afraid of the Daleks, (TV: The Mind of Evil) viewing them as "the most evil [and] ruthless life form[s] in the cosmos", (TV: Day of the Daleks) and took "great satisfaction" in destroying them. (TV: Planet of the Daleks) Because they were inherently violent and lacked the intelligence to reason with properly, the Doctor did not show restraint against Ogrons, immediately resorting to fatal action if they were given orders to kill. (TV: Day of the Daleks, Frontier in Space)

Sarah Jane Smith once described the Third Doctor as being like a "favourite teacher". (PROSE: Still Need a Title!)

Charles Lawrence called the Third Doctor "insolent, [and] impertinent", and criticised him for "showing no respect for [his] authority", (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) while King Dalios recognised him as a philosopher. (TV: The Time Monster) Florrie Cooper considered the Third Doctor to be "a proper toff". (AUDIO: The Three Companions) When the Eighth Doctor had a tarot card reading, the Third Doctor was identified as "the Emperor". (PROSE: The City of the Dead)

While the "UNIT era" Master described the Third Doctor as a "bouffanted buffoon", (COMIC: Doorway to Hell) the Tremas Master remembered him as a "worthy foe" with "such cunning [and] such ingenuity" that was "all wasted through [his] stubborn streak of goodness". (GAME: Destiny of the Doctors)

Brigadier & Sarah Jane

The Doctor dies, with Sarah and the Brigadier by his side. (TV: Planet of the Spiders)

After confronting the Great One on Metebelis III to redeem himself for causing her incursion on Earth after stealing a Metebelis crystal, the Doctor returned to his UNIT lab on Earth, claiming to Sarah Jane that "the TARDIS [had] brought [him] home". Telling a saddened Sarah that facing his fears was more important than "just going on living", he wiped away her tears and tried to comfort her as he succumbed to the radiation poisoning of the crystal. (TV: Planet of the Spiders)

Habits and quirks[]

The Third Doctor developed a habit of uttering, "good grief", when he was annoyed, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, The Dæmons, The Curse of Peladon, The Green Death, The Five Doctors) surprised (TV: Day of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, The Three Doctors, Frontier in Space, Invasion of the Dinosaurs) or alarmed. (TV: The Time Monster, The Green Death, Planet of the Spiders) When tampering with machinery, he would find himself having to "reverse the polarity" to achieve his objectives. (TV: The Dæmons, The Sea Devils, The Time Monster, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, The Five Doctors)

The Doctor also made a habit of saying, "Yes, well...", to start his sentences, (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Claws of Axos, Day of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, The Mutants, The Time Monster, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, The Time Warrior, The Monster of Peladon, Planet of the Spiders, The Five Doctors) and would also say a variation of, "Now you listen to me", when trying to be persuasive, gain authority, obtain attention or issue instructions, (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil, The Sea Devils, The Time Monster, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, The Time Warrior, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Death to the Daleks, Planet of the Spiders) or say, "Do as I say", when asserting his authority. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Curse of Peladon, The Three Doctors, The Green Death)

He frequently addressed his male contemporaries as, "my dear fellow", (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, The Mind of Evil, The Green Death, Planet of the Spiders, The Five Doctors) or, "old chap", (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil, Colony in Space, Day of the Daleks, The Curse of Peladon, The Mutants, The Time Monster, The Three Doctors, Frontier in Space, The Time Warrior, The Monster of Peladon, Planet of the Spiders) and would affectionately address his female associates as, "my dear". (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos, The Sea Devils, Planet of the Daleks, Invasion of the Dinosaurs)

He frequently said, "Yes, of course", when responding to someone, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Dæmons, The Mutants, The Time Monster, The Three Doctors, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Death to the Daleks, Planet of the Spiders) or when reaching a conclusion. (TV: The Dæmons, Day of the Daleks, The Mutants, The Time Monster, Frontier in Space, The Time Warrior, Planet of the Spiders)

When making a statement, the Doctor would say, "look", before elaborating on his statement. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Claws of Axos, Colony in Space, The Dæmons, Day of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, The Mutants, The Three Doctors, Frontier in Space, Invasion of the Dinosaurs)

When in moments of panicked outrage, he would often ask, "What/Who the blazes…". (TV: Terror of the Autons, Colony in Space, The Mutants, The Time Warrior, The Monster of Peladon) He also used words such as "pompous" and "nitwit" to describe people he thought were idiots. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno) When displeased, he would utter a blunt, "oh, no". (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, Planet of the Daleks)

He also had a habit of saying "Jehoshaphat", (TV: The Five Doctors; COMIC: Time & Time Again; PROSE: Interference: The Hour of the Geek, Verdigris; AUDIO: Pop-Up) or "Jumping Jehoshaphat", (COMIC: *Sub Zero; PROSE: The Eight Doctors, The Wages of Sin) and singing when tinkering on things or driving Bessie. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, Death to the Daleks)

When not in the pockets of his jackets, the Third Doctor would often stand with his hands on his hips, (TV: The Dæmons, Day of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, The Mutants, The Green Death, Death to the Daleks, Planet of the Spiders, The Five Doctors) or keep them in the pockets of his trousers. (TV: Inferno, Day of the Daleks, The Time Warrior, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Death to the Daleks, The Monster of Peladon, Planet of the Spiders) He typically stood with a single hand in his pocket, while his other hand dithered above his waist or by his side. (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, The Claws of Axos, Colony in Space, The Dæmons, The Curse of Peladon, The Mutants, The Time Monster, The Three Doctors, Carnival of Monsters, Frontier in Space, The Green Death, The Monster of Peladon, The Five Doctors)

He sometimes stood with his hands crossed behind his back, (TV: The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos, The Mutants, Frontier in Space) or in front of him. (TV: The Curse of Peladon, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, The Green Death, The Time Warrior) He would also have his arms folded on occasion. (TV: Day of the Daleks, The Sea Devils, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Planet of the Spiders)

Fidgety when in thought, the Third Doctor would rarely not be seen scratching at his mouth and chin, (TV: The Dæmons, The Shrink, Dimensions in Time) rubbing his fingers with his thumb (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Dæmons, The Sea Devils, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, The Monster of Peladon, Planet of the Spiders, The Five Doctors, The Shrink, Dimensions in Time) or singlehandedly rub at his neck. (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, The Mind of Evil, Day of the Daleks, Planet of the Daleks, The Green Death, The Time Warrior, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Death to the Daleks, The Shrink, Dimensions in Time) Instead, the Doctor would bop at his nose, (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, The Dæmons, Frontier in Space) play with his lip (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Ambassadors of Death, The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos, Day of the Daleks, The Curse of Peladon, Frontier in Space) or tug at his ear. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, Colony in Space, The Dæmons, Day of the Daleks) He would also often fiddle with a pencil in his hand. (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Ambassadors of Death, The Mind of Evil)

He would interlock his fingers together when sitting down. (TV: Terror of the Autons, The Mind of Evil, The Claws of Axos, The Dæmons, Day of the Daleks, The Curse of Peladon, The Mutants, The Time Monster, The Three Doctors, Carnival of Monsters, Frontier in Space, Planet of the Daleks, The Time Warrior, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Planet of the Spiders, The Shrink)

He would often bring up his association with historical figures and events, causing him to be labelled a "name dropper". (TV: The Curse of Peladon, The Monster of Peladon)

The Doctor made use of an eye loupe magnifying glass for examining materials. (TV: Inferno, Terror of the Autons, Colony in Space, The Curse of Peladon, The Green Death, Invasion of the Dinosaurs) He also carried a cane on his person, (COMIC: The Arkwood Experiments) which he had modified with gadgets to fulfill his requirements. (COMIC: Assassin from Space)

When he needed to respond to something, he would utter, "I see".[source needed] When his friends guessed correctly, he would call them the "top of the class".[source needed] When annoyed, he would say, "for heaven's sake",[source needed] and was known to indulge in epizeuxes.[source needed]

Skills[]

Boxing

The Doctor boxes with John Andrews. (TV: Carnival of Monsters)

Possessing strength that rivaled a healthy young man (COMIC: The Magician) and a reaction time "ten times faster" than a human's, (TV: The Time Monster) the Third Doctor was a man of action, joining the fray whenever needed with his mastery of Venusian aikido, (TV: Inferno) boxing, (TV: Carnival of Monsters) Saturnian kung-fu, (PROSE: The Devil Goblins from Neptune) Martian karate, (PROSE: Inferno) and Mercurian kung fu. (COMIC: Heralds of Destruction) The Third Doctor's skill at combat was so exceptional that the Sixth Doctor considered him to be the best hand-to-hand combatant of his previous five incarnations. (PROSE: State of Change)

Doctor v Robbie

The Doctor aims at Robbie from afar. (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Robot)

The Doctor was a good marksman, (TV: Day of the Daleks, The Time Warrior) being able to hit a precise spot on a faraway robot from a moving helicopter. (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Robot) He was also a skilled swordsman, (TV: The Sea Devils, The Monster of Peladon) and could score a perfect golf game while blindfolded. (TV: The Sea Devils)

Doctor vs BOSS brainwashing

BOSS unsuccessfully uses its conditioning on the Doctor. (TV: The Green Death)

The Doctor was able to break states of hypnosis and mind control caused by others, (TV: Spearhead from Space, Terror of the Autons, The Green Death, The Time Warrior) and could also resist forms of hypnosis which would defeat weaker-minded individuals, (TV: The Claws of Axos, The Green Death, The Time Warrior) such as being able to withstand numerous mind probes. (TV: Frontier in Space) He could also perform standard hypnotism. (TV: The Curse of Peladon, The Green Death)

Having an enjoyment for tinkering with gadgets, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) though unsatisfied with the technology at his disposal during his exile, (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Ambassadors of Death, Terror of the Autons, The Claws of Axos) the Doctor was able to use what he had to quickly construct equipment needed to defeat his adversaries. (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Ambassadors of Death, The Sea Devils, The Time Monster) He was also able to repair and improve the relay circuit for the Uxarieus colony, (TV: Colony in Space) and construct his own formula for a smoke bomb in the 13th century. (TV: The Time Warrior)

With the aid of Liz Shaw, the Doctor was able to manufacture a counteragent to the Silurian virus. (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians)

His eyesight was strong enough for him to see hairs a millimetre in length unaided. (AUDIO: The Paradise of Death)

Having "an excellent ear for music", the Doctor could use his recorder to control animals by playiong the correct musical notes. (COMIC: Castaway) He was also an acclaimed singer, being able to tame an Aggedor with a Venusian lullaby. (TV: The Curse of Peladon)

An enthusiast for transportation, the Third Doctor was able to easily commandeer cars, (TV: Spearhead from Space) space capsules, (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Rocks from Venus) motorcycles (TV: The Dæmons) steam engines, (COMIC: Backtime) quadbikes, (TV: Day of the Daleks) jet skis, (TV: The Sea Devils) gyrocopters, and hovercrafts. (TV: Planet of the Spiders) He also made for an experienced astronaut, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death) and could ride a horse. (COMIC: Backtime) He once piloted an RAF Superhawk from England to Kebiria, (PROSE: Dancing the Code) and once engaged in aerobatics to evade a swarm of giant wasps. (COMIC: Insect)

The Third Doctor's knowledge of the TARDIS greatly increased from his previous incarnations, chiefly due to him repeatedly taking it completely apart and reassembling it to try and make it work during his exile. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, Inferno, The Claws of Axos, Day of the Daleks) Once the Time Lords returned the knowledge of how to operate it, (TV: The Three Doctors) the Doctor was more adept at controlling his destinations than before, denying any mistake on his part if he strayed, and being elevated when he learnt he had been interfered with, rather than his navigation being faulty. (TV: Carnival of Monsters, Death to the Daleks)

According to River Song, he was as an "amazing gourmand", (GAME: The Eternity Clock) and once prepared a roast dinner for Jo, Iris Wildthyme and Tom. (PROSE: Verdigris)

The Third Doctor could speak Hokkien, Cantonese, (TV: The Mind of Evil) Spanish, (TV: The Time Monster) and Tibetan. (TV: Planet of the Spiders) He also knew Morse code, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death, Terror of the Autons) could speak in sign language, (COMIC: Nova) and was able to control his pheromones to communicate with the Builders. (PROSE: Primitives) He could also read Persian, (COMIC: The Magician) and Old High Gallifreyan. (TV: The Five Doctors)

The Third Doctor was a skilled diplomat, (TV: The Curse of Peladon) and linguist, (TV: The Mind of Evil) as well as having a knack for disguises, even altering his voice for his characters. (TV: The Green Death, The Time Warrior) He was a fast drawer, able to draw a somewhat decent picture of a Silurian in seconds, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) and could also sculpt with a hammer and chisel. (PROSE: Sedna)

Being able to utilise transmigration, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death) the Doctor could perform magic tricks, (TV: Colony in Space, The Dæmons, The Three Doctors, The Monster of Peladon) such as levitation, (COMIC: Levitation) and control anti-gravity through concentration. (COMIC: Who is the Stranger) He also learnt escapology from Harry Houdini. (TV: Planet of the Spiders)

He had a photographic memory. (COMIC: Steelfist)

When his body underwent too much strain, or he was exceptionally injured, the Doctor could force himself into a coma to allow himself to heal. (TV: Spearhead from Space, The Dæmons, Planet of the Daleks, The Monster of Peladon)

Appearance[]

Number 5 reception centre

The Doctor sarcastically poses for his mug shot. (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs)

The Third Doctor had a "craggy" face that made him look like a grandfather, (AUDIO: A True Gentleman) with a shock of white hair, a pronounced chin, a pointy nose and blue eyes (TV: Spearhead from Space) that "sparkled with intelligence". (AUDIO: A True Gentleman) By his own account, he had "slim, artistic hands". (PROSE: Independence Day) The Doctor sported a tattoo of a snake coiled into the shape of a question mark on his right forearm, (TV: Spearhead from Space, Doctor Who and the Silurians) which was a mark made by the Time Lords to signify that he was in exile. (PROSE: Christmas on a Rational Planet)

The Doctor disliked his face at first, but quickly thought himself as looking "quite distinctive". (TV: Spearhead from Space)

ThirdDoctor-Tattoo-CloseUp

The Doctor's convict tattoo. (TV: Spearhead from Space)

Jo once described the Doctor as a "whirlwind in a frilly shirt," (AUDIO: The Doll of Death) while Irongron described him as a "long-shanked rascal, with a mighty nose." (TV: The Time Warrior) Cindy Wu commented that he had a "nice face" that looked "sort of old, but young at the same time." Though he appeared older than the Tenth Doctor, Cindy found that she could tell the true difference in their age by looking into their eyes. (COMIC: The Lost Dimension) Arthur Ollis described the Third Doctor as being "tall, [in] fancy get up, [with] white hair." (TV: The Three Doctors)

The Fifth Doctor described his third incarnation as an "aristocrat", (PROSE: Five Card Draw) while the Sixth Doctor called him the "ruffle-shirted toff with the big nose", (PROSE: The Shadow in the Glass) and "a tall chap with white hair and rather flamboyant clothes". (AUDIO: Urgent Calls) The Seventh Doctor described him as "tall [and] white-haired". (PROSE: First Frontier)

When Affinity took on the Third Doctor's appearance, the Twelfth Doctor noted that his third incarnation had "[a] rather impressive height, [with] an impressive bouffant of white hair." The manifestation appeared in a "ruffled shirt, purple velvet smoking jacket, and scarlet-lined cape." (PROSE: Silhouette)

Hair and grooming[]

Shortly after his regeneration, the Third Doctor possessed a flat, inconspicuous short-cut hairstyle, (TV: Spearhead from Space) that gradually evolved into a voluminous and exuberant bouffant. (TV: Inferno, Terror of the Autons, The Dæmons, Day of the Daleks, The Time Monster, The Three Doctors, The Green Death, The Time Warrior, Planet of the Spiders)

When Ace encountered the Third Doctor in the Seventh Doctor's mind, she noticed that he had "a shock of white hair." (PROSE: Timewyrm: Revelation) River Song believed that the Third Doctor's hair made him look "like a lion", (GAME: The Eternity Clock) while Winstanley mistook it for a wig. (TV: The Dæmons)

Clothing[]

Main attires[]

Following his regeneration, the Doctor kept wearing a TARDIS homing watch on his left wrist and a flat metal chain bracelet on his right. After he stole clothes from Ashbridge Cottage Hospital, his outfit consisted of a white frilled shirt, a navy blue velvet suit, black trousers with suspenders, black dress shoes, a black cravat and Dr. Beavis' black Inverness cape with red innings and his black fedora hat. (TV: Spearhead from Space) The Doctor had chosen these clothes to help him cultivate his chosen persona, but he eventually decided that the Fedora hat had been a mistake. (PROSE: Prisoners of the Sun) He returned them after being recruited by UNIT, since one of his requests for his employment was identical clothing to call his own. (TV: Spearhead from Space) His choice of clothes would change with a variety of colours and designs that were kept in a wardrobe by the TARDIS control console. (TV: Planet of the Daleks)

The Third Doctor wore a variety of smoking jackets and blazers, with colours and designs coming in navy blue with a rolled collar, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) maroon with a rolled collar, (TV: Terror of the Autons) rust orange with a notched collar, (TV: The Curse of Peladon) olive green with a notched collar, (TV: Carnival of Monsters) plum purple with a notched collar, (TV: Planet of the Daleks) petrol blue with scarlet piping on the notched lapel, (TV: The Green Death) aquamarine with a notched collar, (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs) emerald green with a notched collar, (TV: The Monster of Peladon) charcoal with a notched collar, (TV: Planet of the Spiders) and burgundy with a rolled collar. (TV: The Five Doctors)

His shirts were coloured in white, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) magenta, (TV: Planet of the Daleks) lime green, (TV: The Monster of Peladon) sky blue, (TV: Planet of the Spiders) and purple. (PROSE: The Spear of Destiny)

He wore a series of Inverness capes that could function as "para-cloaks" if needed, (COMIC: The Hungry Planet) which were coloured in red silk-lined black, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) purple silk-lined black, (TV: Terror of the Autons) red and green tartan, (TV: The Curse of Peladon) blue silk-lined black, (TV: The Three Doctors) burnt orange silk-lined brown, (TV: Carnival of Monsters) grey checked with mid-blue lining, (TV: Invasion of the Dinosaurs) and brown tartan. (TV: The Five Doctors)

On his collars, he wore a black cravat, (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) a midnight blue cravat, (TV: The Ambassadors of Death) a white jabot, (TV: Terror of the Autons) a patterned jabot, (TV: The Dæmons) a vermillion cravat, (TV: The Mutants) a black bow tie, (TV: The Three Doctors) a bottle green bow tie, (TV: Planet of the Daleks) a wine red bow tie, (TV: The Green Death) a cyan bow tie, (TV: The Time Warrior) an ivory bow tie (COMIC: The Lost Dimension) or he would go with an unbuttoned collar instead. (TV: Day of the Daleks) Sometimes, he would don a magnifying glass pendant. (TV: The Time Warrior)

He sometimes wore either a grey, zigzagged patterned waistcoat, (TV: The Curse of Peladon) or a 6-buttoned crimson velvet collared vest with a golden fob watch. (TV: The Green Death, Death to the Daleks) He also had a pair of knee-high wellington boots. (TV: Carnival of Monsters)

The Third Doctor was also keen on wearing decorative rings, having a coin mounted on a silvery circlet on his left little finger, (TV: Spearhead from Space) and a plain one on his right little finger at some point. (TV: The Green Death) He also sometimes wore riding gloves while driving Bessie (TV: Doctor Who and the Silurians) or outdoors in general. (TV: The Claws of Axos)

Because of his more frilled and flamboyant fashion, his first incarnation sneeringly called him a "dandy," (TV: The Three Doctors) while his second incarnation labelled him "fancy pants". (TV: The Five Doctors) Upon first seeing him, Morgan thought that the Doctor was wearing "fancy dress". (TV: Colony in Space)

Behind the scenes[]

Information from invalid sources[]

Devious

Pertwee in the Devious regeneration scene

In 1995, Pertwee reprised his role as the Doctor for the fan film Devious, filming a regeneration scene to transition between the film's "Second-and-a-Doctor" and the Third Doctor. Audio from Pertwee's scene was later used for Zagreus, and parts of the film (including the regeneration scene) were included in the form of a trailer of sorts on the DVD release of The War Games. However, this wiki deems Devious to be invalid, partially under the factor of it being fan-made, and additionally for being unreleased in full.

Casting[]

  • Ron Moody was approached by the producers after his success in Oliver Twist, but he turned down the role. He stated in interviews that turning down the role of the Third Doctor was the worst thing he ever did professionally.[source needed]

Costume influences[]

  • The Third Doctor's wardrobe was more colourful and ornate than any of those of his previous incarnations partially because, in real life, the BBC was experimenting with various combinations of colours during Jon Pertwee's tenure in the role to determine which ones would photograph best.[source needed]
  • The Third Doctor's increasingly-bouffant hairstyle originated from Katy Manning teasing Pertwee about a tiny bald spot on the back of his head, and then recommending he make his hair "bigger" to cover the bald spot when he became self-conscious about it. (DCOM: Planet of the Daleks)

Reprising the role[]

  • In early 1996, Pertwee reprised the role again for a Vodafone advertisement, in which an unnamed government agent (played by Kyle MacLachlan) travels to Liverpool to prevent the construction of a dangerous time machine. When this device turns out to be an elaborate karaoke machine, the agent leaves – not realising that an actual alien time traveller, the Doctor, is coincidentally working in a garage two doors down. Pertwee died the following May.

Other matters[]

Third Doctor Illustration in DWM 122

Illustration of the Third Doctor in Doctor Who Magazine 122, by Philip Cottrell.

  • The Third Doctor is unique in having first appeared in the title sequence before appearing in any actual scenes on the show.
  • The tattoo visible on the Doctor's arm during Spearhead from Space was Pertwee's own, left over from his days in the navy. It can be seen more clearly in the 1955 film, A Yank in Ermine, and its promotional images.[1]

A green and scarlet cobra was squirming itself into a question mark on my forearm. In the middle was a small letter C, which I could only assume stood for Carlotta. On the other hand perhaps the choice of subject had been taken from a child's spelling book and the C stood for cobra.Moon Boots and Dinner Suits, by Jon Pertwee

External links[]

Footnotes[]

  1. Moon Boots and Dinner Suits, an autobiography by Jon Pertwee
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