12. A Twelfth Dr Who?

In the Dr Who time universe, there are supposedly only to be thirteen Doctors.  We are up to No. 11 in Matt Smith. But was there a twelfth Dr Who?  Well, technically yes, Peter Cushing in the two films, “Dr Who and the Daleks” (1965) and “Daleks’ Invasion Earth: 2150 AD” (1966). Cushing was an excellent Dr Who.

DR TWO 2

However, because it is the TV episodes that forms the canon, only the actors who appeared in the TV episodes by the BBC forming the continuity of the rejuvenating Doctors one after the other, are counted. This is not strictly true – hey, we’re dealing with Time Lords, so we get Time Warp – as  Paul McGann the “eighth Doctor” was also only in a movie (one episode) in May 1996 (“Doctor Who,” 1996) which was launched to try and rejuvenate the franchise after its TV lapse in 1989.

Doctor_Who_1996_poster

McGann, 1996, is at left.

The 1996 McGann movie was a British/ Canadian/American attempt to introduce the Doctor to American audiences.  It rated well in the UK but not the States and the intended USA TV series was never made.  However, because McGann’s Who was:

  • a continuity of the others, just in a film concept,
  • it was created as a rejuvenation of the TV franchise and intended as a US TV series,
  • bridges the TV hiatus 1989 -2005 TV renewal (starring Christopher Eccleston, the Ninth Doctor),
  • and is extensively covered in other media, books and comics, dvds, etc, McGann is included.

Cushing starred in two movies (1965, 66) and McGann in only one (1996) so Cushing has perhaps the better claim (he was also much better).  However, McGann’s character fits inside the continuity whereas Cushing’s sits outside it; that is why Cushing is not added, and McGann is, making up the eighth of the “Eleven Doctors.”

If we want to get technical, Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean) also plays Dr Who, in “Dr Who and the Curse of Fatal Death” (four episodes I think) but again, these were a spoof for charity, and sit outside the canon.

Screen shot 2013-01-25 at 11.55.44 AM

See also: 11. The Eleven Drs Who

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About coNZervative

A blog about politics, life, culture, literature, music and thought from Christchurch, New Zealand [NZ] (the home of 10,000 earthquakes since 4 Sept. 2010) built because of the bullying and cajoling of Liberal opinion-makers (journalism and Hollywood) against conservative-minded people who are as entitled to opinion and a perspective as anyone; and because Conservativism has served the world well. John Stringer is a New Zealander (Christchurch) in his 40s married to an American from Taco Bell; they have 5 adult children in 3 diff. countries. John is an ex-Anglican pastor, a teacher, published author (NZ), novelist (USA) and cartoonist (Aust, NZ), and has spent the last 25 years in NZ politics with the National party (he was a parliamentary candidate in 1999). There was a stint in London working for the British Conservative party as well, where he did media minding and campaign work with several Brit cabinet ministers, including Baroness Thatcher, Baroness Blatch, Michael Howard, Tom King, among others. He has an MA (classical studies, Victoria); is a graduate of the New York Film Academy; and has various awards for writing. His passions include British bulldogs, fly fishing, and history (Ancient and WWII). Winston Churchill was mainly a “Conservative” but also a “Liberal” MP between 1900-1964. A Member of Parliament for 64 years, he contested 21 parliamentary elections (for Oldham, Manchester North West, Dundee, and Epping/Woodford). Throughout his career Churchill stood for liberty. He believed in open debate and freedom of speech, and opposed any system or ideology that tried to dictate the way one should think. Churchill felt deeply that disagreements within the democratic system should not degenerate into personal animosities. RIDER: This site is not connected to nzconservative, a Catholic site, or NZ Conservative Party, although from time-to-time I share some of the views espoused by both groups and other sites I follow, as published; I am an independent thinker and blogger.
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2 Responses to 12. A Twelfth Dr Who?

  1. doompaul says:

    As Cushing was human and not at all a time lord….probably not.

  2. paul scott says:

    I looke up Taco Bell , in USA and it said nowhere, just advertisement for cheese or food

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