Eurovision 2025 live updates as EBU boss addresses Celine Dion rumours
It's the night we've all marked in our calendars – the Eurovision Song Contest is finally here! As we prepare to switch on our tellies for a night of epic live performances, with perhaps a special one from a music icon, Mirror Online will be bringing you all the latest updates right here.
Tonight's show, which will see UK's entry Remember Monday take to the stage against 25 other international acts, will be available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The action kicks off on TV at 8pm – but plenty more is going on before the live finale show.
For the first time ever, Eurovision will be going inter-galactic, with a special episode of Doctor Who. The sci-fi programme will air The Interstellar Song Contest just before the grand final. During the special episode, the Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu) will travel to the 803rd contest, which is co-hosted by Rylan Clark.
Doctor Who star Ncuti, 32, was also set to be a spokesperson for Eurovision, but he has since withdrawn from the competition due to "unforeseen circumstances" – however some fans have speculated this is due to Isreal's inclusion in the competition.
Amid all the off-stage drama and conflict, could the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest final in Switzerland be pulling out the big guns?
Thanks to her private jet being spotted in the area, Eurovison - and general - legend Celine Dion is rumoured to be involved in tonight's show in some way.
Celine, who won for the Swiss in 1988 with Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi, could take to the St Jakobshalle stage, amid her stepping back from touring due to health issues. The It's All Coming Back To Me hitmaker is no stranger to making surprise appearances at big cultural events - famously popping up on top of the Eiffel Tower at the Paris Olympics last year.
She did appear during the first semi-final on Tuesday, where she sent a video message saying she wants 'nothing more' than to be in Basel, and recalling her triumph as a 'life-changing moment'. Switzerland had not seen a winner until Nemo last year.
At a press briefing on Saturday, Eurovision director Martin Green, from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), commented on Celine, saying: 'My answer was going to be, Father Christmas exists, you'll have to wait and see.'
Bit of a nothing answer from Martin there but we'll have to do what he says and wait and see!
The Remember Monday girls are giving fans a reminder that they need to get voting this evening!
Ahead of tonight's performance, the group – who are set to perform their tune What The Hell Just Happened – shared their excitement for the show as they wrote a post on Instagram, which read: "Hey everyone, if you're reading this, firstly, thank you for supporting us on this crazy journey.
"We've come from singing silly little songs in carparks during lockdown to the craziness that is the Eurovision Song Contest and we wouldn't be here without all your support and encouragement. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
"WE DO NEED YOUR HELP THOUGH! If you can spare 2 minutes, head to esc.vote and vote#08 for the UK and our song 'What The Hell Just Happened'. You can vote up to 20 times each so tell your friends and family to help us if you can! See you tonight! Aaaaaaaa!!!"
The Eurovision Song Contest famously claims to be apolitical, citing its slogan 'United By Music' but the annual event has been unable to distance itself from global events over recent years.
In May 2022, the EBU made the decision to kick Russia out of the competition due its invasion of neighbouring country Ukraine. On this basis, many have called Israel to also be banned due to its ongoing actions in Palestine.
Last year saw multiple protests from activists take place, amid calls for music fans to boycott and refrain from watching the contest, and it looks like this year's final will be hit with similar demonstrations.
A small group were ejected from the arena after Israeli singer Yuval Raphael's rehearsal on Thursday was disrupted by what appeared to be pro-Palestinian demonstrators with "oversized flags and whistles", and the EBU confirmed it has received a complaint from Israeli broadcaster Kan over another incident.
This year, there is no ban on types of flags brought in by fans, unlike acts, but there are restrictions on their sizes, as Palestinian symbols have been seen inside the arena this week.
There were pro-Palestinian protests in Basel on Sunday and Wednesday, which were attended by no more than 150 people, police said, a significant drop from Malmo 2024, which saw thousands of marchers demonstrating against Israel's inclusion.
On Thursday, a protest was held against antisemitism by around 150 people, which went without incident.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
14 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
EastEnders legend Ross Kemp refuses to rule out return
The 60-year-old returned to EastEnders as Grant Mitchell after almost 10 years away earlier this year. His character arrived back on the Square to help his brother Phil with his mental health problems. Grant recently left Walford again for his home in Portugal. 🏆🥳 WINNER! 🥳🏆 What a year and what an honour to be crowned Best British Soap at The British @SoapAwards 2025 by the people who matter the most - YOU! ❤️ Thank you to everyone who voted! Lots of love, your #EastEnders family. #TheBritishSoapAwards @BBC @BBCOne @BBCiPlayer — BBC EastEnders (@bbceastenders) May 31, 2025 Speaking on Loose Women, Kemp said he owes the BBC soap 'a great debt' for giving him a career in television. Asked whether he would return to the role of Grant again, Kemp said: 'You just don't know, do you? You don't know what's in the minds of the people who work on it. 'I've also (always) known that without it, I wouldn't have had the career that I've had, I've always owed it a great debt and it was very good to me, and hopefully I was good to it, and why not keep it that way? 'I've always believed that you should leave doors swinging rather than shut them.' Kemp, who went on to produce a number of documentaries since first leaving EastEnders in 1999 including Ross Kemp On Gangs, Ross Kemp In Afghanistan and Ross Kemp: Extreme World, said he enjoyed returning to the soap. He explained: 'It was so wonderful to jump into Grant's leather jacket again, which I can still get in. EastEnders' top 5 villains 'It's a family, it's an ongoing thing, and I'm talking about the past, and they're really busy doing their own thing, I just parachute in, and I exit generally by the tube station. 'But they've got to be welcoming, because it's like a high-speed train, you've got to jump on it at the right time or you miss it. 'So luckily, Steve McFadden (who plays Phil), and Paul Bradley (who plays Nigel Bates), and Letitia (Dean, who plays Sharon Watts) opened the door for me, and it was like going back home, and it was great.' Are Ross Kemp and Steve McFadden friends? Their brotherly love on-screen may have been tested over the years, but in real life Kemp and actor McFadden share a close relationship. 'We've [McFadden and I] always remained friends, but, yeah, we are more in touch since I've gone back for the 40th anniversary,' Kemp told The Mirror earlier this year. 'Steve is a fine actor and I don't think soap actors get recognised for how good they are.' Recommended reading: Kemp began on the soap in 1990, and his previous appearance prior to his 2025 return, in 2016, marked his on-screen mother Dame Barbara Windsor's final episode as Peggy Mitchell. Where does Ross Kemp live? Kemp lives in the picturesque Thames-side village of Cookham in Berkshire. He is well known within the community and has openly spoken about how he frequently visits nearby Marlow's restaurants.
Metro
19 hours ago
- Metro
Free streaming service adds 'bingeable' new drama perfect for Pride Month
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video If you want to celebrate Pride Month by bingeing an inspiring, funny LGBTQ+ TV series, you shouldn't have to pay a subscription fee to do it. Fortunately, there are a handful of free streaming services out there that won't cost you a penny. Tubi is one of these, and boasts 97 million users, and Pluto TV is also a popular option. Freely, meanwhile, has a huge catalogue of LGBTQ+ stories to stream, from inspiring documentaries to heartwarming comedy. And this month, it's added a new coming-of-age drama: What It Feels Like For A Girl. The eight-parter is based on the memoir of award-winning author and trailblazing trans rights campaigner Paris Lees, chronicling her tumultuous upbringing in the 2000s. What It Feels Like For A Girl landed on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer, and Freely on June 3. The series follows Byron (played by Ellis Howard), who, desperate to break free from his small, working-class town, escapes to Nottingham's vibrant underworld on a quest of self-discovery and enlightenment. And reviews have heaped praise on the new BBC drama. The Guardian called it 'extraordinary' and 'a wild ride', while the Independent applauded its 'messy' and 'raw' nature. Freely is a relatively new way to stream live and on-demand shows for free in the UK, with content from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5. It was launched in 2024 and replicates the terrestrial TV experience of browsing through a programme guide, but is accessed via WiFi. All on-demand content from apps such as BBC iPlayer and ITVX is also available in the app, and it allows viewers to pause and rewind live TV too. Freely is completely free with a compatible TV. Hisense, Bush, Panasonic, Sharp and Toshiba are all manufacturers that currently sell TVs with the app — all you need to do is press the Freely button on your TV remote to open it. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! Meanwhile, The Times hailed What It Feels Like For A Girl as 'bingeable' as well as 'funny, heartbreaking, occasionally disturbing, sharply written and well acted'. The i called it 'an absolute riot'. Speaking exclusively to Metro, Howard, known for roles such as Red Rose (2022) and Help (2021), said Paris' memoir 'touched' him, and made him feel 'seen'. 'I read the book, and I fell in love with it, and I couldn't believe that they were making it into a BBC drama, warts and all,' he explained. 'I couldn't believe it was gonna be on television, so I was desperate to be part of it in any way.' Boasting a cast of fresh, vibrant talent, What It Feels Like For A Girl is keen to remind viewers of one simple yet poignant message — trans people have always existed and will always exist. But it's not the only LGBTQ+ story available on the streaming app at the moment. Lost Boys and Fairies, BBC iPlayer: A heartbreaking, joyous and musical tale of gay couple Andy and Gabriel's journey to adoption. Smoggie Queens, BBC iPlayer: A fiercely loving chosen family of LGBTQ+ friends from Middlesbrough navigate love, life, and their pride for a town that feels neglected. Spent, BBC iPlayer: Inspired by Michelle de Swarte's own life, this uplifting comedy drama follows model Mia, who may have a world-class skincare regime, but her career has crashed down to earth. Juice, BBC iPlayer: Jamma's on a quest for attention — from anyone. A trippy, comic joyride through chaotic family life and a literal stumble through love, starring Mawaan Rizwan and Russell Tovey. I Kissed A Boy, BBC iPlayer: Pop goddess Dannii Minogue plays cupid in the UK's first ever gay dating show. No small talk, no swiping — it's all about the first kiss. I Kissed A Girl, BBC iPlayer: You guessed it. Dannii Minogue plays cupid to ten singles in the ladies-only spin-off series from I Kissed A Boy. RuPaul's Drag Race UK, BBC iPlayer: UK drag queens battle it out to dazzle Mama Ru, the celeb judges and the amazing Michelle Visage in the hopes of emerging as the ultimate winner. Mr. Loverman, BBC iPlayer: Barry is hiding a secret – but it's not what his wife suspects. This is a life-affirming story about being true to yourself, starring Lennie James and based on the novel by Bernardine Evaristo. In My Skin, BBC iPlayer: Bethan deals with the quiet heartbreak of an imperfect family and the awkwardly real anxieties of teenage life and sexuality in this bittersweet story with Welsh wit and grit. Love, Victor, BBC iPlayer: A heartfelt high school tale of finding out who you are and coming out to the world, from the writers of 2018 film Love, Simon. Gentleman Jack, BBC iPlayer: In Halifax in 1832, Anne Lister shakes up her shabby ancestral home, determined to restore its fortunes and find herself a wife. Changing Ends, ITVX: Between a dad managing a fourth division football club and friends ditching him for being camp, Alan wants to change. Should he go against his instincts and become a footballer? Confessions of Frannie Langtern, ITVX: A powerful period drama about a young Jamaican woman who arrives in Georgian London. When a crime takes place, Frannie is accused. But is she to blame? #MyPride, ITVX: Famous faces mark Pride by opening up about their experiences of being part of the LGBTQ+ community and writing poignant letters to their 14-year-old selves. Butterfly, ITVX: 11-year-old Max begins to dress and live life as a girl. But when he wants to be known as Maxine, his father struggles to cope with the news. Vicious, ITVX: Freddie and Stuart have been partners for nearly 50 years. As they host a wake to mark the passing of an old friend, they are joined by their new young neighbour upstairs, Ash. Feel Good, Channel 4: Mae Martin stars as Mae in this comedy, who is recovering from drug dependence and navigating the modern-day world of love, addiction and sexuality. Big Boys, Channel 4: Jack Rooke's comedy follows two mismatched boys who strike up an unlikely friendship when they're thrown together at university. It's a Sin, Channel 4: Critically acclaimed drama from Russell T Davies about a group of friends living in London in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic. Queer as Folk, Channel 4: Set in and around the Manchester 'scene', this groundbreaking Channel 4 drama, written by Russell T Davies, documents the lives and loves of young gay men Stuart, Vince and Nathan. More Trending Virgin Island, Channel 4: More people are remaining virgins for longer and, in this reality show, adults embark on a unique course to overcome their intimacy anxiety. Freddie Mercury: In His Own Words, Channel 5: The story of Freddie's career from his early days in Queen to the height of their fame. Jamie: Drag Queen at 16, U: After coming out at age 14, teenager Jamie Campbell has faced his fair share of difficulties while growing up in an ex-mining village in County Durham. But now he's attending his prom in drag. View More » What It Feels Like For A Girl is available on BBC Three, BBC iPlayer and Freely now. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Inside Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo's marriage as they announce pregnancy MORE: Emmerdale pulled from ITV schedules amid huge death story MORE: Call the Midwife rejects claim star was 'disrespected' before shock exit
Daily Mail
19 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Doctor Who viewers switch off over 'woke, boring rubbish' after storylines featuring trans, non-binary and drag-queen characters exterminate fans
Doctor Who viewers are turning off in droves due to storylines condemned as ' woke ' and 'boring', new figures reveal. The primetime BBC1 show has taken a turn, with previous star Billie Piper making a comeback while Ncuti Gatwa departs after just two series in the lead Time Lord role. But while 2.3million viewers tuned in to last Saturday's episode including the Doctor's latest regeneration, it appears many more have been tuning out. Researchers have found that 42 per cent of Doctor Who fans say the show has got worse since 2005, when the BBC brought it back after 16 years away. And almost half of current continuing viewers, 46 per cent, say they believe the series now puts social justice and so-called 'woke' issues above quality, according to a poll. The survey of 2,135 people was carried out by London firm JL Partners, set up by people who previously ran research programmes for Theresa May as Prime Minister. The apparent slump in popularity for Doctor Who comes after a series of appearances by trans, non-binary and drag queen characters in recent years. In last Saturday's season finale, Gatwa's Time Lord regenerated and fans got a glimpse of Billie Piper, who played Rose Tyler for 35 episodes from 2005 to 2013. The new findings suggest that 42 per cent of viewers believe Doctor Who has got worse since being brought back to screens in 2005, with only 18 per cent approving. Overall, 38 per cent of people responded by saying it put social justice and 'woke' issues over quality - rising to 46 per cent among those still tuning into the show. James Johnson, from pollsters JL Partners, said: 'This is the first ever major poll done on attitudes to Doctor Who and the results are bleak. 'The public believe a once-great show has lost its way - and their biggest complaint is it puts pursuit of wokeness above entertainment value. The main words associated with it are rubbish, boring, and woke. 'If the BBC want to grow the show's audience once more, they will need a total revamp - and to get back to telling entertaining stories rather than preaching lessons that simply do not have an audience among the British public.' Other terms featuring most prominently in a 'wordcloud' produced by the polling firm after questioning people were 'weird', 'irrelevant' and 'awful' - but also 'entertaining', 'popular' and 'timeless'. Billie Piper's character Rose Tyler was a companion to versions of the doctor played by Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant. Producers are keeping Piper's new role secret, for now, with the BBC saying in a statement after the finale aired: 'Just how and why she is back remains to be seen.' Doctor Who's 'woke' characters at a glance Rose Noble: The transgender daughter of Doctor companion, Donna Noble. She is imbued with Time Lord energy which supports her non-binary personality. She famously grilled David Tennant's Doctor for 'assuming' an alien's gender. Maestro: A non-binary villain played by American drag queen, Jinkx Monsoon. She uses music and singing as a power. Yoss: A pregnant man from the alien species known as the Gifftans. He reveals that unlike humans, both male and female Gifftans can give birth. The Doctor: David Tennant's Doctor, in the 60th anniversary episode, hints at being homosexual after encountering an Isaac Newton of Indian heritage who he goes on to call 'hot'. Showrunner Russell T Davies said in a statement: 'It's an honour and a hoot to welcome her back to the TARDIS, but quite how and why and who is a story yet to be told.' Piper herself described how Doctor Who had provided some of her best memories - and felt she could not pass up the opportunity to come back. The former chart-topping popstar said: 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return. 'But who, how, why and when, you'll just have to wait and see.' If Piper does indeed become the Doctor, she would be the third woman to fill the role. The Rwanda-born, Scotland-raised Gatwa, 29, was the first Black actor to helm the show, but he was not the first Black Doctor - with Jo Martin having played the so- called 'Fugitive Doctor' in several episodes. Gatwa took over the role from Jodie Whittaker in 2023. Whittaker was the 13th Doctor - and the first woman to play the central galaxy-hopping, extraterrestrial Time Lord who regenerates into new bodies, taking over from Peter Capaldi in 2017. Martin was the second woman to play the title role in a franchise that first aired from 1963 to 1989 before returning in 2005. Campaigners have accused bosses behind the BBC series of 'promoting the cult of gender ideology' in the latest episodes of the time-hopping romp, which is streamed globally thanks to a lucrative deal with Disney thought to be worth £100million. After last Saturday's episode was shown, a statement released by the BBC quoted Gatwa as saying: 'You know when you get cast, at some point you are going to have to hand back that sonic screwdriver and it is all going to come to an end, but nothing quite prepares you for it. 'This journey has been one that I will never forget, and a role that will be part of me forever. There are no words to describe what it feels like to be cast as the Doctor, nor are there words to explain what it feels like to be accepted into this iconic role that has existed for over 60 years and is truly loved by so many across the globe. 'The fans are truly the final character and beating heart of this show and I can't thank the Whoniverse, and the Whovians, enough for welcoming me in, and making this such a touching experience. 'I've loved every minute of it, but now is the time to hand over the keys to that beloved blue box and let someone else take control and enjoy it every bit as much as I have. 'I'll truly miss it, and forever be grateful to it, and everyone that has played a part in my journey as the Doctor.' Meanwhile, Piper said: 'It's no secret how much I love this show, and I have always said I would love to return to the Whoniverse as I have some of my best memories there, so to be given the opportunity to step back on that Tardis one more time was just something I couldn't refuse.' The development came as it was revealed Gatwa would exit after just two series - with ratings for the stalwart show having fallen in recent years. The BBC programme was reported to have been paused for an extended break amid criticism about recent plots involving non-binary aliens, incels and even a pregnant male extra-terrestrial. A small number of social media critics have pointed to the diversity of the cast, a drag queen villain and the introduction of transgender and non-binary characters. Ncuti's first series as the Doctor attracted between 2.25million and 3.18million viewers - a tiny fraction of what it used to pull in. The slump came after Russell T Davies returned as showrunner and introduced a string of controversial plots - which included David Tennant's Doctor realising he was gay after developing a crush on the 'hot' Sir Isaac Newton. Tennant, who stepped back into the Tardis to be the 14th doctor for three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials, made the hint about his sexuality in a comment to Catherine Tate, who returned as his assistant Donna Noble. In the exchange about Newton - who appears to be of Indian heritage in the show and is played by Nathaniel Curtis - Donna said: 'Is it just me or was Isaac Newton hot?' And the Doctor replied: 'He was, wasn't he? He was so hot. Oh! Is that who I am now?' Donna added: 'Well, it was never too far from the surface, mate. I always thought you...' In the anniversary special, fans were also introduced to Donna Noble's transgender daughter, Rose, played by trans actress Yasmin Finney. The 21-year-old, most recognised for her role as Elle Argent in Heartstopper, scolded Tennant's Doctor for 'assuming the gender' of an alien. Tennant was called out by Finney's character for describing a fluffy rat-like creature called Beep The Meep as 'him '. Rose lambasted the Doctor's assumption that the alien was a 'he', asking him: 'You're assuming he as a pronoun?' In an exchange dubbed 'cringe-worthy' by some viewers, the Doctor then apologised and asked Meep if it was a 'he or she or they', to which the creature replied: 'My chosen pronoun is the definite article. I am always The Meep.' But the scene was slammed by viewers, with the Family Education Trust saying it promoted a 'cult of gender ideology' for young people watching the TV show. Taking to X, the trust raged: 'The whole episode is dedicated to promoting the cult of gender ideology. Many vulnerable children watch Dr Who - this is dreadful propaganda from the BBC yet again.' Fans also lamented at the introduction of the screeching, wide-mouthed, ginger-haired non-binary villain, Maestro - played by American drag queen Jinkx Monsoon. The camp icon, who is seen slithering out of a piano while gurning and laughing maniacally, went viral for correcting another character for using 'him' pronouns incorrectly. Ncuti Gatwa and Russell T Davies are pictured here attending the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards 2022 at London's Royal Festival Hall on May 8 2022 In the show, Maestro encounters a man who warns other characters to 'get away from him' - to which the villain replies: 'Them.' 'What?' the bemused man then asks. 'I'm "them", but my notation is "Maestro",' Monsoon's character then replies, before going on to use musical chords as a weapon. Back in 2018, when Jodie Whittaker was the titular Time Lord, fans were introduced to a heavily pregnant man as one of the side characters. The 'man' called Yoss is an alien from a species known as the Gifftans. He reveals that unlike humans, both male and female Gifftans can give birth - when men giving birth to boys and women giving birth to girls. However, both Davies and Gatwa have hit back at flak, with Davies telling BBC Radio 2's 20 Secrets From 20 Years: 'Someone always brings up matters of diversity. 'And there are online warriors accusing us of diversity and wokeness and involving messages and issues. 'And I have no time for this. I don't have a second to bear (it). Because what you might call diversity, I just call an open door.' Gatwa told Attitude magazine last year that hateful racist comments were 'fascinating, because there's so much energy they're putting into it', adding: 'I think they need to go find a hobby is one thing.' During his time in the lead role, his companions have included Andor actress Varada Sethu, and ex-Coronation Street star Millie Gibson. When contacted by MailOnline, a BBC spokesperson said: 'Doctor Who remains one of the biggest dramas on the BBC and is the most watched drama for the under 35s, as well as being one of the most popular brands on BBC iPlayer.' The corporation confirmed the figure of 2.3million viewers tuning in at home, while saying the episode was also watched in 450 cinemas across the UK and Ireland. The spokesperson also responded to reports of a new longer-term tie-up with Disney+ by saying: 'As we have previously stated, a decision on any future deal between the BBC and Disney+ regarding Doctor Who is yet to be made and any other claims are pure speculation.' The changing face of Doctor Who: Every actor who has played the Time Lord 1. William Hartnell - 1963 to 1966 William Hartnell played the iconic Time Lord in his first incarnation, as he crashed to Earth with his granddaughter Susan after being 'exiled' from their planet Gallifrey. He was initially portrayed as a stubborn old man but a softer side was later shown to him in his compassion as a grandfather and towards his companions. The initial appearance of the doctor was very different to the modern episodes, with black-and-white filming and shaky effects. Hartnell's time as the Doctor also saw the first appearances of the Daleks and the Cybermen but years of travel took their toll on the aging Doctor and he collapsed in the TARDIS, leading to the second incarnation. The First Doctor sadly suffered through ill health while filming, ultimately forcing him to retire from acting. He passed away in 1975, aged 67. 2. Patrick Troughton - 1966 to 1969 Patrick Troughton's Doctor was in stark contrast to his predecessor, and was outwardly scruffy and light-hearted. In the second incarnation, fans met with new enemies such as the Great Intelligence and the Ice Warriors. This time also saw the debut of classic series mainstay Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (or the Brigadier), when he met the Doctor in the tunnels of the London Underground. The Second Doctor's time came to an end when the TARDIS landed in the middle of a war-zone, created by a race of alien warlords. He was able to defeat the plot but was forced to regenerate due to breaking laws of non-interference. Troughton passed away in 1987 after suffering a fatal heart attack. 3. Jon Pertwee - 1970 to 1974 Many modern-day fans will also know Pertwee for his role in Worzel Gummidge and his Doctor was more prone to action that his predecessors. After his exile to Earth was lifted, he and his companions travelled to all corners of the universe, along with meeting journalist Sarah Jane Smith. This era also the first ever multi-Doctor crossover, as the Third Doctor met his two previous selves. It saw the introduction of prehistoric villains The Silurians and The Autons, who appeared in the first episode of the 2005 reboot series. Eventually Pertwee's Doctor regenerated following a nasty encounter with The Green Death. Pertwee is sadly also no longer with us and passed away in 1996. 4. Tom Baker - 1974 to 1981 With his mass of curled hair and legendary striped scarf, Tom Baker was both the longest-serving Classic era Doctor and its most iconic, partly due to his partnership with Sarah Jane, played by the late Elizabeth Sladen. Tom - now 84 - is also known to younger fans as the narrator for comedy sketch series Little Britain. 5. Peter Davison - 1981 to 1984 Peter's Doctor was dressed as a cricketer and his personality tended towards being indecisive - although he had a vulnerable side. Even though popularity for the show dwindled through this era, the Doctor and his companion Adric (Matthew Waterhouse) are fondly remembered. A heart-wrenching scene also saw the first major death of the series, when Adric died trying to stop a space freighter from crashing into prehistoric Earth. 6. Colin Baker - 1984 to 1986 Colin Baker's time as the sharp-tongued Doctor was a turbulent period, with the actor's early dismissal as ratings plummeted leading to a slightly awkward regeneration scene. After the TARDIS was attacked by villainous Time Lady scientist The Rani, the Sixth Doctor was left injured and regenerated, though his death was never played out on-screen. In addition, the Doctor was never reunited with his companion Peri (Nicola Bryant). 7. Sylvester McCoy - 1987 to 1989 The Doctor headed into his seventh incarnation with his signature cane and punctuation-printed vest while, as now-EastEnders star Bonnie Langford took on the role of dizzy companion Mel Bush. However McCoy's tenure in the TARDIS came to an abrupt end when BBC axed the show in 1989. 8. Paul McGann - 1996 and 2013 After a near-decade off-screen Doctor Who was brought back as a TV movie in an American co-production, with Paul McGann taking on the leading role. This film saw The Master (played here by Eric Roberts) trying to steal the Doctor's remaining lives by opening the Eye of Harmony the TARDIS, which nearly destroyed the Earth. Luckily, the Doctor and his companion Dr Grace Holloway (Daphne Ashbrook) prevent the Earth's destruction, leading the Master is sucked into the Eye. It was in this film that fans saw their first glimpse at what a romance between the Doctor and his companion could look like, as they shared a firework-lit kiss in the closing scenes which infuriated fans at the time. 9. Christopher Eccleston - 2005 The series was an instant hit as Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) teamed up with Eccleston's version of The Doctor, this time a leather jacket-clad man with a Northern accent because 'lots of planets have a North!' A drastic change for the series at this point was the absence of Gallifrey, which had been destroyed - off-screen - in a Time War with the Daleks. The Daleks took centre stage in this new series with a scary gold exterior, and an explosive finale saw thousands of the alien robots try to conquer a futuristic version of Earth under the leadership of their Emperor. Sadly Eccleston's tenure in the TARDIS was brief - largely due to reports of disagreements behind the scenes - but his regeneration proved epic, kissing Rose to absorb the TARDIS vortex and save her life. 10. David Tennant - 2005 to 2010 Ask most Doctor Who fans, and they would predominantly name David Tennant as their favourite Doctor and fans became invested in his feelings for Rose Tyler. It was also the birth of his famous partnership with Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) which saw hilarious banter between 10 and companion. Ten's exit also saw Russell T Davies step down as showrunner and his closing scenes saw the fan-favourite alone in the TARDIS saying 'I don't want to go' before bursting into regeneration, with viewers of more than 11 million struggling to hold back their tears. 11. Matt Smith - 2010 to 2013 Matt, 27, made for the youngest-ever Doctor as he had big shoes to fill, while Stephen Moffatt took on the reins of show-running. Known as the 'raggedy Doctor', fears were soon gone as Eleven's sprightly nature and signature bow tie won over fans in a heartbeat alongside companion Amelia Pond. He stepped down after four years after saying it was long enough in the role. 12. Peter Capaldi - 2013 to 2017 Fans felt the show headed back to its classic roots during Twelve's era as Scottish actor Peter took on the role. The character was capricious and spiky but became more compassionate over time. Fans grew to love the friendship between the older Doctor and his companion Clara (Jenna Coleman) while the show's first ever gay companion was introduced in the form of Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) 13. Jodie Whittaker - 2017 to 2022 Jodie Whittaker took on the then-controversial role of the first-ever female Doctor. The actress, 41, has portrayed the eponymous Time Lord on-screen for four years, and bowed out of the sci-fi series in her last episode in October 2022. However, the role and the show's script were criticised throughout her tenure. Her departure featured in the episode The Power Of The Doctor, which even saw a brief return of David Tennant. 14. Ncuti Gatwa - 2023 to present Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa is making history as the first-ever black actor to take on the role of the Doctor. He will be taking on the iconic role from Christmas Day onwards after his first appearance in the 60th anniversary episode, in which the Doctor 'bi-generated', meaning there were two versions at the same time. He is set to cross paths with new companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) for the first time.
