The Fifth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Peter Davison.

Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time and space in the TARDIS, frequently with companions. At the end of life, the Doctor regenerates; as a result, the physical appearance and personality of the Doctor changes. Preceded in regeneration by the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker), he is followed by the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker).

Davison portrays the Fifth Doctor as having a vulnerable side and a tendency towards indecisiveness, dressed as a boyish Edwardian cricketer. He travelled with a host of companions, including boy genius Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), alien aristocrat Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) and Australian flight attendant Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding), who had travelled with his previous incarnation. He also shared later adventures alongside devious schoolboy Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson) and American college student Peri Brown (Nicola Bryant). Davison, who is of half Afro-Guyanese descent, has been credited as the first mixed-race actor to portray the character.

The Fifth Doctor's era was notable for a "back to the basics" attitude, in which "silly" humour (and, to an extent, horror) was kept to a minimum, and more scientific accuracy was encouraged by the producer, John Nathan-Turner. It was, at times, a darker and grittier series, in part for seeing the death of one of his companions, Adric. It was also notable for the reintroduction of many of the Time Lord's enemies, such as the Master, Cybermen, Omega, the Black and White Guardians, and the Silurians.

Biography

The Fourth Doctor was seriously injured after falling off the Pharos Project Radio Telescope so he merged with a future incarnation of himself called the Watcher and regenerated into his new youthful fifth incarnation. The regeneration was difficult, and nearly failed, with the Doctor briefly taking on personality aspects from his four previous incarnations. After recovering in the fictional city Castrovalva, he continued his travels with Adric, Tegan Jovanka and Nyssa. Initially his travels centred on getting Tegan back to Heathrow Airport in time for her first day as an airhostess, but the TARDIS repeatedly missed this destination and Tegan eventually decided to stay in the TARDIS. After trips to the future and the past encountering villains such as Monarch and the Mara, the Fifth Doctor was confronted with tragedy when Adric died trying to stop a space freighter from crashing into prehistoric Earth (Earthshock).

Appearances

The Fifth Doctor was first seen on television in the last episode of Logopolis, broadcast on 21 March 1981. Davison played the role through the 19th and 20th seasons of Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special "The Five Doctors". Patrick Troughton (who had played the Second Doctor) reportedly advised Davison to move on from the role after three years to avoid becoming typecast, and acting on this advice Davison informed producer John Nathan-Turner that he would leave after the 21st season. In a break from recent tradition, Nathan-Turner decided to regenerate the Doctor in the season's penultimate story, to introduce the Sixth Doctor to audiences before the seasonal break. Davison's last regular appearance as the Fifth Doctor was in the last episode of The Caves of Androzani, broadcast on 16 March 1984.

Davison returned to the role briefly in the 1993 charity special Dimensions in Time. Beginning in 1999, he recorded a series of Doctor Who radio dramas for Big Finish Productions. In 2007, Davison, at the age of 56, appeared alongside Tenth Doctor David Tennant in a Doctor Who special for Children in Need, written by Steven Moffat and titled "Time Crash".

Images of the Fifth Doctor are shown, alongside other incarnations, in the episodes "The Next Doctor" (2008) and "The Eleventh Hour" (2010). He also appears in "The Day of the Doctor" (2013), via archival clips.

In 2022, Davison returned to play The Fifth Doctor in the form of a AI hologram of The Doctor where he was reunited with his former companion Tegan Jovanka, and as a fragmented projection of The Doctor's psyche in "The Power of the Doctor" alongside the Sixth Doctor, Seventh Doctor and Eighth Doctor. In 2023, Davison returned to the role again in Tales of the TARDIS, when he and Tegan were reunited a second time to remember the events of the serial Earthshock and to emotionally overcome the death of their friend Adric. In all three of these appearances, the character appeared to have aged.

The Fifth Doctor has also appeared in officially licensed novels, short stories and comics.

Non-television appearances

Short stories

  • "Birth of a Renegade" by Eric Saward, Doctor Who 20th Anniversary Special
  • "Fascination" by David J. Howe, Virgin's "Decalog"
  • "Lackaday Express" by Paul Cornell, "Decalog"
  • "Lonely Days" by Daniel Blythe, "Decalog 2: Lost Property"
  • "Past Reckoning" by Jackie Marshall, "Decalog 3: Consequences"
  • "Zeitgeist" by Craig Hinton, "Decalog 3: Consequences"
  • "The Parliament of Rats" by Daniel O'Mahony, "Short Trips"
  • "The Eternity Contract" by Steve Lyons, "More Short Trips"
  • "Hot Ice" by Christopher Bulis, "More Short Trips"
  • "A Town Called Eternity" by Lance Parkin and Mark Clapham, "Short Trips and Sidesteps"
  • "Sagittarius: Five Card Draw" by Todd Green, "Short Trips: Zodiac"
  • "Hearts of Stone" by Steve Lyons, "Short Trips: Companions"
  • "Qualia" by Stephen Fewell, "Short Trips: Companions"
  • "The Canvey Angels" by David Bailey, "Short Trips: Companions"
  • "The Comet's Tail" by John Binns, "Short Trips: A Universe of Terrors"
  • "Long Term" by Andrew Campbell, "Short Trips: A Universe of Terrors"
  • "Soul Mate" by David Bailey, "Short Trips: A Universe of Terrors"
  • "Erato: Confabula" by Ian Potter, Short Trips: The Muses
  • "Clio: The Glass Princess" by Justin Richards, "Short Trips: The Muses"
  • "Light at the End of the Tunnel" by Mark Wright, "Short Trips: Steel Skies"
  • "No Exit" by Kate Orman, "Short Trips: Steel Skies"
  • "Greenaway" by Peter Anghelides, "Short Trips: Steel Skies"
  • "The Immortals" by Simon Guerrier, "Short Trips: Past Tense"
  • "Graham Dilley Saves The World" by Iain McLaughlin and Claire Bartlett, in Short Trips: Past Tense
  • "White Man's Burden" by John Binns, "Short Trips: Past Tense"
  • "Observation" by Ian Farrington, "Short Trips: Life Science"
  • "Lant Land" by Jonathan Morris, "Short Trips: Life Science"
  • "The Gangster's Story" by Jon de Burgh Miller, "Short Trips: Repercussions"
  • "The Juror's Story" by Eddie Robson, "Short Trips: Repercussions"
  • "The Assassin's Story" by Andrew Collins, "Short Trips: Repercussions"
  • "Flashpoint" by Matt Grady, "Short Trips: Monsters"
  • "Categorical Imperative" by Simon Guerrier, "Short Trips: Monsters"
  • "Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life" by Anthony Keetch, "Short Trips: Monsters"
  • "Artificial Intelligence" by Andy Campbell, "Short Trips: 2040"
  • "In the TARDIS: Christmas Day" by Val Dougla, "Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury"
  • "Never Seen Cairo" by Darren Sellars, "Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury"
  • "Last Minute Shopping" by Neil Perryman, "Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury"
  • "The Eight Doctors of Christmas" by Matthew Griffiths, "Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury"
  • "Lily" by Jackie Marshall, "Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury"
  • "The Feast of Seven... Eight (and Nine)" by Vanessa Bishop, "Short Trips: A Christmas Treasury"

Novels

Virgin New Adventures
  • Timewyrm: Revelation by Paul Cornell (appears in the Seventh Doctor's subconscious mind, representing his future self's conscience)
Virgin Missing Adventures
  • Goth Opera by Paul Cornell
  • The Crystal Bucephalus by Craig Hinton
  • Lords of the Storm by David A. McIntee
  • The Sands of Time by Justin Richards
  • Cold Fusion by Lance Parkin (Appears with the Seventh Doctor)
Past Doctor Adventures
  • The Ultimate Treasure by Christopher Bulis
  • Zeta Major by Simon Messingham
  • Deep Blue by Mark Morris
  • Divided Loyalties by Gary Russell
  • Imperial Moon by Christopher Bulis
  • The King of Terror by Keith Topping
  • Superior Beings by Nick Walters
  • Warmonger by Terrance Dicks
  • Fear of the Dark by Trevor Baxendale
  • Empire of Death by David Bishop
Eighth Doctor Adventures
  • The Eight Doctors by Terrance Dicks
  • Seen in the TARDIS mirror in Camera Obscura
Telos Doctor Who novellas
  • Blood and Hope by Iain McLaughlin
Penguin Fiftieth Anniversary eBook novellas
  • Tip of the Tongue by Patrick Ness

Comics

Doctor Who Magazine
  • The Tides of Time
  • Stars Fell on Stockbridge
  • The Stockbridge Horror
  • Lunar Lagoon
  • 4-Dimensional Vistas
  • The Moderator
  • The Lunar Strangers
  • The Curse of the Scarab
Doctor Who Yearbook
  • Blood Invocation
IDW series
  • The Forgotten
  • Prisoners of Time

Video games

  • Doctor Who: The First Adventure
  • Destiny of the Doctors
  • Lego Dimensions

Audio

  • The Sirens of Time (An Adventure related by the Characters the Fifth Doctor (While travelling with Tegan Jovanka & Vislor Turlough, although neither appear directly), the Sixth Doctor and the Seventh Doctor) (1999)
  • Phantasmagoria (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Turlough) (1999)
  • The Land of the Dead (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2000)
  • Red Dawn (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Peri Brown) (2000)
  • Winter for the Adept (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2000)
  • The Mutant Phase (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2000)
  • Loups-Garoux (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Turlough) (2001)
  • The Eye of the Scorpion (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2001)
  • Primeval (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2001)
  • Excelis Dawns (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Tegan Jovanka & Turlough) (2002)
  • Spare Parts (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2002)
  • The Church and the Crown (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2002)
  • Nekromanteia (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2003)
  • Creatures of Beauty (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2003)
  • Omega (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2003)
  • Zagreus (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2003)
  • The Axis of Insanity (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2004)
  • The Roof of the World (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2004)
  • The Game (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2005)
  • Three's a Crowd (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2005)
  • The Council of Nicaea (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2005)
  • Singularity (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Turlough) (2005)
  • The King Maker (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2006)
  • The Gathering (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Tegan) (2006)
  • Circular Time (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2007)
  • Renaissance of the Daleks (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2007)
  • Exotron (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Peri) (2007)
  • Son of the Dragon (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2007)
  • The Mind's Eye (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2007)
  • The Bride of Peladon (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Peri & Erimem) (2008)
  • The Haunting of Thomas Brewster (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Thomas Brewster) (2008)
  • The Boy That Time Forgot (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Brewster) (2008)
  • Time Reef (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Brewster) (2008)
  • The Darkening Eye (An Adventure related by the Character Nyssa) (2008)
  • Return to the Web Planet (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2008)
  • The Judgement of Isskar (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Amy) (2009)
  • The Destroyer of Delights (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Amy) (2009)
  • The Chaos Pool (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Amy) (2009)
  • Castle of Fear (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2009)
  • Ringpullworld (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Tegan & Turlough) (2009)
  • The Eternal Summer (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2009)
  • Plague of the Daleks (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2009)
  • Cobwebs (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2010)
  • The Whispering Forest (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2010)
  • The Cradle of the Snake (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2010)
  • The Four Doctors (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2010)
  • The Demons of Red Lodge and Other Stories (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2010)
  • Peri and the Piscon Paradox (An Adventure related by the Character Peri) (2011)
  • Heroes of Sontar (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2011)
  • Kiss of Death (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2011)
  • Rat Trap (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2011)
  • The Elite (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Tegan) (2011)
  • Hexagora (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Tegan) (2011)
  • The Five Companions (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2011)
  • The Children of Seth (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Tegan) (2011)
  • The Emerald Tiger (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2012)
  • The Jupiter Conjunction (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2012)
  • The Butcher of Brisbane (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2012)
  • The Burning Prince (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2012)
  • 1001 Nights (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2012)
  • Eldrad Must Die! (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2013)
  • Smoke and Mirrors (An Adventure related by the Character Tegan) (2013)
  • The Lady Merica (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2013)
  • Prisoners of Fate (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2013)
  • 1963: Fanfare for the Common Men (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2013)
  • The Light at the End (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2013)
  • Moonflesh (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2014)
  • Tomb Ship (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2014)
  • Masquerade (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2014)
  • The Fifth Doctor Box Set (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa & Tegan) (2014)
  • Psychodrome
  • Iterations of I
  • Mistfall (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2015)
  • Equilibrium (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2015)
  • The Entropy Plague (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa, Tegan & Turlough) (2015)
  • The Secret History (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Vicki & Steven Taylor) (2015)
  • The Waters of Amsterdam (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Tegan) (2016)
  • Aquitaine (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Tegan) (2016)
  • The Peterloo Massacre (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Nyssa & Tegan) (2016)
  • And You Will Obey Me (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2016)
  • Fallen Angels (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2016)
  • Memory Banks and Other Stories (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Turlough) (2016)
  • Cold Fusion (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa & Tegan) (2016)
  • The Star Men (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa & Tegan) (2017)
  • The Contingency Club (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa & Tegan) (2017)
  • Zaltys (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Adric, Nyssa & Tegan) (2017)
  • Alien Heart/Dalek Soul (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor & Nyssa) (2017)
  • Empire of the Racnoss (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2017)
  • Time in Office (An Adventure related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Tegan and Leela) (2017)
  • Kingdom of Lies, Ghost Walk and Serpent in the Silver Mask (Adventures related by the Characters the 5th Doctor, Tegan, Nyssa and Adric) (2018)
  • The Helliax Rift (An Adventure related by the Character the 5th Doctor) (2018)

Short Trips audios

  • The Deep
  • Sock-Pig
  • Seven to One
  • Wet Walls
  • The Lions of Trafalgar by Jason Arnopp

References

  • The Fifth Doctor on the BBC's Doctor Who website
  • Fifth Doctor Gallery
  • Fifth Doctor's theme music QuickTime file
  • Fifth Doctor title sequence