It’s been reported that (spoiler alert) current Doctor Who title actor Matt Smith will be leaving the series this winter. It feels as if the current crop of Who actors aren’t spending as much time with the show as old. In terms of episodes, the classic actors filmed more than the modern. But in terms of total series, the time classic and modern Who actors spend with the show is comparable.*
Classic Doctors
- William Hartnell – 4 series, 134 episodes
- Patrick Troughton – 3 series, 119 episodes
- Jon Pertwee – 5 series, 128 episodes
- Tom Baker – 7 series, 172 episodes
- Peter Davison – 3 series, 169 episodes
- Colin Baker – 3 series, 31 episodes
- Sylvester McCoy – 3 series, 42 episodes
- Paul McGann – 0 series, 1 TV movie
Modern Doctors
- Christopher Eccleston – 1 series, 13 episodes
- David Tennant – 3 series, 47 episodes
- Matt Smith – 3 series, 34 episodes to date
* Except for Eccleston who only ever spent a year with the show as the first modern, and dare I say best, Doctor Who
