Doctor Who: 100 Trivia Facts For Whovians

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Greetings, Whovians! Grab your sonic screwdrivers, tighten your bow ties, and hold on tight to your fezzes as we embark on a wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey journey through the vast universe of Doctor Who. I’ve searched the depths of the Time Vortex and peeked into the corners of the TARDIS to bring you “Doctor Who: 100 Trivia Facts For Whovians” – an article that will undoubtedly keep you entertained until the TARDIS lands on your doorstep. Maybe.

But beware! This list is chock-full of spoilers, Easter eggs, and mind-bending paradoxes, so don’t blink or you might miss something crucial. Whether you’re a seasoned fan who’s been traversing time and space with the Doctor since 1963 or a newcomer who’s just begun your journey through the endless wonders of the cosmos, this collection of trivia is sure to make even the most dedicated fan exclaim, “Fantastic!”

So, Allons-y, my fellow Time Lords and Companions! Let’s delve into the hidden treasures of Doctor Who lore, unravel the enigmas of the universe, and unlock the secrets of the Last of the Time Lords. Remember, in the immortal words of the Doctor, “We’re all stories in the end. Just make it a good one, eh?” And with that, let the adventure begin!

Here’s a list of some of the most popular Doctor Who trivia:

1. The show first aired on November 23, 1963, the day after the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
2. The Doctor’s time machine, the TARDIS, stands for Time and Relative Dimension in Space.
3. The TARDIS is stuck in the shape of a 1960s British police box, because its “chameleon circuit” is broken.
4. The Doctor is a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey.
5. As of my knowledge cutoff in 2021, there have been 13 official actors who have portrayed the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor, was the first woman to take on the role.
6. The Doctor’s ability to regenerate allows the character to change appearance and personality, which helps explain the casting changes throughout the series.
7. Tom Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor, holds the record for the longest tenure, playing the role from 1974 to 1981.
8. The Doctor’s main enemies include the Daleks, the Cybermen, and the Master.
9. The show was off the air between 1989 and 2005, with the exception of a 1996 TV movie starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor.
10. The sonic screwdriver, a multi-functional tool used by the Doctor, was introduced in the 1968 story “Fury from the Deep” featuring the Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton.
11. Doctor Who has a dedicated fanbase known as “Whovians.”
12. The Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey, is located in the constellation of Kasterborous.
13. The Doctor’s real name remains a mystery, as it is never revealed in the series.
14. A spin-off series, “Torchwood,” aired from 2006 to 2011, and featured Captain Jack Harkness, a character who first appeared in Doctor Who.
15. River Song, a popular recurring character, is the Doctor’s wife and has a complex timeline throughout the series.
16. The Doctor has had numerous companions throughout the series, with some of the most notable being Sarah Jane Smith, Rose Tyler, Martha Jones, Donna Noble, Amy Pond, Rory Williams, Clara Oswald, Bill Potts, and Yasmin Khan.
17. The show’s iconic theme music was composed by Ron Grainer and realized by Delia Derbyshire at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop using electronic music techniques.
18. The iconic sound of the TARDIS materializing and dematerializing was created by Brian Hodgson by running a key along piano strings and then processing the sound.
19. The Doctor has a strong affinity for Earth and humans, which is why many of their adventures take place on Earth or involve human companions.
20. The Doctor has two hearts, a unique characteristic of Time Lords.
21. The Weeping Angels are a fan-favourite villain who only move when they are not being observed.
22. Doctor Who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest-running science fiction television series.
23. “The Five Doctors,” a special episode that aired in 1983, featured the first five actors who portrayed the Doctor.
24. K-9, a robotic dog, was a companion of the Fourth Doctor and later appeared in the spin-off series “The Sarah Jane Adventures.”
25. Each Doctor has their own distinct wardrobe and fashion sense, with iconic items such as the Fourth Doctor’s long scarf, the Eleventh Doctor’s bow tie, and the Thirteenth Doctor’s striped shirt and suspenders.
26. The Doctor has a recurring catchphrase that changes with each regeneration, such as the Tenth Doctor’s “Allons-y” and the Eleventh Doctor’s “Geronimo.”
27. The Face of Boe, a mysterious recurring character, is eventually revealed to be a future version of Captain Jack Harkness.
28. The Time War is a major event in the series’ backstory, which led to the destruction of Gallifrey and the near-extinction of the Time Lords.
29. In the 50th-anniversary special episode, “The Day of the Doctor,” John Hurt played a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor known as the War Doctor.
30. The Doctor’s granddaughter, Susan Foreman, was the first companion, appearing alongside the First Doctor, played by William Hartnell.
31. The Doctor has a psychic paper, a blank piece of paper that appears to show whatever the viewer expects or needs to see, often used for identification or to gain access to restricted areas.
32. The Silence is a religious order and a group of alien villains who manipulate events behind the scenes and are instantly forgotten when not being looked at.
33. The Doctor’s preferred method of transportation when not using the TARDIS is a vintage British car called “Bessie,” first introduced during the Third Doctor’s era.
34. “Doctor Who Confidential” was a behind-the-scenes documentary series that aired from 2005 to 2011 alongside the main series, providing insight into the production of each episode.
35. The Doctor has encountered several historical figures throughout the series, including William Shakespeare, Vincent van Gogh, Winston Churchill, and Queen Elizabeth I.
36. Peter Capaldi, who played the Twelfth Doctor, is a lifelong fan of Doctor Who and even wrote a fan letter to the Radio Times when he was 15 years old.
37. The Doctor has a device called the Timey-Wimey Detector, which was introduced by the Tenth Doctor in the episode “Blink.”
38. The Twelfth Doctor’s sonic screwdriver was replaced by a pair of wearable technology called “sonic sunglasses” for a period of time.
39. The Doctor has been shown to have a strong aversion to pears, as mentioned in both the TV series and the spin-off novels.
40. The Doctor has an affinity for playing musical instruments, with the Second Doctor playing the recorder, the Fifth Doctor playing the cricket bat, the Seventh Doctor playing the spoons, and the Twelfth Doctor playing the electric guitar.
41. The concept of “fixed points in time” was introduced in the series, referring to events that cannot be altered by time travel, no matter how hard the Doctor tries.
42. The Doctor’s pocket watch has been a recurring element in the series, with some versions containing the essence of a Time Lord’s identity, as seen in the episodes “Human Nature” and “Utopia.”
43. The Paternoster Gang is a group of recurring characters who assist the Doctor in Victorian London, consisting of Madame Vastra, Jenny Flint, and Strax.
44. The Doctor has encountered various versions of Robin Hood, both real and fictional, in the series.
45. “Doctor Who” has inspired a multitude of novels, comics, audio dramas, and video games, expanding the universe and adventures of the Doctor beyond the television series.
46. The Doctor’s home planet, Gallifrey, was initially believed to be destroyed during the Time War. However, it was later revealed to be hidden in a pocket universe for its protection.
47. The Doctor’s regenerations were initially limited to 12, but the character was granted a new set of regenerations by the Time Lords in the episode “The Time of the Doctor.”
48. Several Doctor Who actors have crossed paths in other roles, such as David Tennant (Tenth Doctor) and Peter Capaldi (Twelfth Doctor), who both appeared in the British TV series “Casanova.”
49. Many famous actors have guest-starred in Doctor Who episodes, including John Cleese, Simon Pegg, Derek Jacobi, Carey Mulligan, and Kylie Minogue.
50. The Ood, a telepathic alien species, are known for their servitude and assistance to other species, although they later gain independence thanks to the Doctor’s intervention.
51. The Doctor Who logo and title sequence have evolved throughout the years, with each era of the show featuring unique visuals and music arrangements.
52. The phrase “Bad Wolf” is a recurring theme throughout the series, first introduced in the Ninth Doctor’s era as a message scattered across time and space by Rose Tyler.
53. The TARDIS is said to be sentient, with the Doctor often referring to it as “alive” and claiming that it sometimes takes them where they need to go rather than where they intend to go.
54. The Eleventh Doctor’s era introduced the concept of “Cracks in Time,” fractures in the universe that serve as the basis for the season’s overarching storyline.
55. The Doctor has occasionally used a Time Lord technology called a “perception filter” to make objects or people unnoticeable to others.
56. The “UNIT” (Unified Intelligence Taskforce, formerly United Nations Intelligence Taskforce) is an organization that works with the Doctor to defend Earth from extraterrestrial threats.
57. The show has a history of notable writers, including Douglas Adams, who served as a script editor during the Fourth Doctor’s era, and Neil Gaiman, who wrote episodes for the Eleventh Doctor.
58. The Doctor has been known to wear a “Celery Stalk” as an accessory, particularly associated with the Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison.
59. The Fourth Doctor’s iconic scarf was supposedly created when the costume designer provided the knitter with large amounts of wool, and the knitter used all of it without being told to stop.
60. The Doctor has a fondness for jelly babies, a British candy, which was especially popular during the Fourth Doctor’s era.
61. In the 2013 episode “The Name of the Doctor,” it was revealed that Clara Oswald, a companion of the Eleventh and Twelfth Doctors, was scattered across the Doctor’s timeline, making her the “Impossible Girl.”
62. The Doctor has a granddaughter named Susan Foreman, who was one of the original companions of the First Doctor. Her fate remains largely unknown, as she was left on a future Earth to begin a new life.
63. The Doctor’s regenerations have been shown to have varying degrees of difficulty and side effects, such as memory loss and erratic behaviour.
64. Doctor Who has produced several Christmas specials, with one of the most memorable being “A Christmas Carol,” featuring guest star Michael Gambon.
65. The Doctor’s age is a long-standing point of debate among fans, as it has been inconsistently mentioned in the show. As of the Twelfth Doctor, it was stated to be around 2,000 years old.
66. The TARDIS has a swimming pool, library, and wardrobe room, among many other unseen rooms and facilities.
67. The Doctor has encountered several versions of Frankenstein’s monster, both as fictional creations and real-life beings.
68. The Doctor has used a variety of aliases throughout the series, including “John Smith,” “Dr. James McCrimmon,” and “Theta Sigma.”
69. The Doctor has a complicated relationship with the Time Lords, often criticizing their bureaucracy and rigid adherence to the Laws of Time.
70. The Doctor has occasionally used the “Vortex Manipulator,” a wrist-mounted time-travel device, as an alternative to the TARDIS.
71. The Doctor has mentioned having siblings and other family members, but their identities and fates are largely unexplored.
72. The Doctor has encountered many myths and legends in the series, such as the Minotaur, the Siren, and the Loch Ness Monster.
73. The Doctor has shown a deep understanding and appreciation for various forms of art and culture throughout human history.
74. Doctor Who has been parodied and referenced in numerous other television shows, movies, and books, highlighting its cultural impact and popularity.
75. The Doctor has been portrayed by several actors in spin-off media, such as audio dramas and web series, including Richard E. Grant as the “Shalka Doctor” and Peter Cushing in two 1960s films.
76. Doctor Who has a tradition of “multi-Doctor” stories, in which different incarnations of the Doctor meet and work together, such as “The Three Doctors,” “The Five Doctors,” “The Two Doctors,” and “The Day of the Doctor.”
77. The series has inspired a multitude of fan conventions, gatherings, and events dedicated to celebrating Doctor Who and its universe.
78. The Tenth Doctor’s catchphrase “Allons-y” is French for “Let’s go.”
79. The Twelfth Doctor made a cameo appearance in the 50th-anniversary special episode “The Day of the Doctor,” even before his official debut.
80. The Doctor has mentioned having met several famous authors, including Charles Dickens, H.G. Wells, and Agatha Christie.
81. The series has been adapted into stage plays, including “Doctor Who: The Ultimate Adventure,” which starred Jon Pertwee and later Colin Baker as the Doctor.
82. The Doctor has been married multiple times, with notable spouses including Queen Elizabeth I and River Song.
83. The Doctor has shown an interest in various sports, including cricket, soccer, and fencing.
84. The Master, one of the Doctor’s most iconic enemies, was initially portrayed as a suave and charismatic villain before taking on more sinister and unhinged incarnations.
85. The Doctor has occasionally used the “Chameleon Arch” technology to temporarily become human and hide from enemies, as seen in the episodes “Human Nature” and “The Family of Blood.”
86. The series has tackled complex themes and issues, such as prejudice, war, mental health, and the environment.
87. The Doctor’s various companions have often served as a grounding influence, helping the Doctor make difficult decisions and providing a human perspective on their adventures.
88. The Doctor has a history of recruiting temporary companions or allies, such as astronaut Adelaide Brooke in “The Waters of Mars” and one-off companion Astrid Peth in “Voyage of the Damned.”
89. The Doctor has a fondness for Earth food and beverages, with favourites including fish fingers and custard, bananas, and tea.
90. The Doctor has shown a strong sense of morality, often advocating for non-violence and diplomacy, and has been deeply affected by the loss of friends and the consequences of their actions.
91. Many episodes of Doctor Who from the 1960s are considered “lost” due to the BBC’s policy of wiping tapes at the time. Efforts have been made to recover and reconstruct these missing episodes using audio recordings and still images.
92. Doctor Who has inspired several spin-off series aimed at younger audiences, such as “The Sarah Jane Adventures” and “K-9 and Company.”
93. “Class,” another Doctor Who spin-off, focused on a group of students at the Coal Hill Academy (a location with a long history in Doctor Who) dealing with alien threats and other issues.
94. Throughout the series, the Doctor has demonstrated an exceptional understanding and fluency in various languages, including both human and alien dialects.
95. In 2010, the Doctor Who Experience, an interactive exhibition and walkthrough adventure, opened in London before relocating to Cardiff, where it remained until its closure in 2017.
96. The Doctor has shown a fondness for hats, with iconic examples including the Fourth Doctor’s fedora, the Eleventh Doctor’s fez, and the Seventh Doctor’s Panama hat.
97. Over the years, the Doctor has formed close friendships with recurring characters such as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, played by Nicholas Courtney, and Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen.
98. The Doctor has occasionally demonstrated telepathic abilities, allowing them to communicate mentally with other beings and even share memories.
99. Doctor Who has been recognised with numerous awards, including BAFTAs, National Television Awards, and Hugo Awards.
100. The series has been praised for its ability to reinvent itself and remain relevant for over five decades while continuing to captivate and inspire new generations of fans.

These are just a few of the countless fascinating facts and trivia about Doctor Who. The long-running series has amassed a wealth of lore and memorable moments, making it a beloved part of science fiction history.

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