Doctor Who or The Doctor?

[jbny67]

'The Doctor' is his name, I think he's only named himself 'Doctor Who' on one occassion (which was an extremely early episode), so why should the credits read anything other than 'The Doctor'?

It would be like Harry Potters credits reading

Snugglywugglygoggleboy - Daniel Radcliff.

I know that's not entirely the point, but I'm sure people get what I mean.

The only time I remember the character of The Doctor referring to himself as "Dr. Who" was in the Peter Cushing movies.
I only remember the W.O.T.A.N. computer in The War Machines calling him Dr. Who.
Other than that, it's always been posed as a question. First by William Hartnell, in the very first episode of the show, and then by many others since. (Too many IMO. The joke has worn a bit thin)

Am I forgetting any other times that he was actually referred to as "Dr. Who"?

 

[Brendan Moody]

Am I forgetting any other times that he was actually referred to as "Dr. Who"?

Nope. He goes by "Doctor von Wer" (an approximate translation of "Doctor Who" into German) in "The Highlanders" and signs a note "Dr. W" in "The Underwater Menace," though.

 

[Jim Steele]

Does it matter?

To be honest I'd be surprised if Tennant threw a "fanboy fit". As I understand it he simply asked Russell. I can't imagine a Christian Bale style prima donna rant from ol' Dave...

 

[The Badger]

Am I forgetting any other times that he was actually referred to as "Dr. Who"?

Just to muddy the waters a bit, in a Colin Baker episode (I think it was in the 'Mysterious Planet' section of 'Trial...') he says something like "And I am Doctor...", as if he is going to give his actual name. He's interrupted before he can finish though.
It's interesting how the various Doctors have introduced themselves. Jon Pertwee would confidently announce "I am the Doctor", whilst Colin Baker used a more enigmatic "I am known as the Doctor", and Chris Ecclestone said the slightly odd "My name is the Doctor".

 

[Cutter John]

It's interesting how the various Doctors have introduced themselves. Jon Pertwee would confidently announce "I am the Doctor", whilst Colin Baker used a more enigmatic "I am known as the Doctor", and Chris Ecclestone said the slightly odd "My name is the Doctor".

Not quite as classy as "I am generally referred to as the Master." But there you go.

 

[26138]

It's interesting how the various Doctors have introduced themselves. Jon Pertwee would confidently announce "I am the Doctor", whilst Colin Baker used a more enigmatic "I am known as the Doctor", and Chris Ecclestone said the slightly odd "My name is the Doctor".

Not quite as classy as "I am generally referred to as the Master." But there you go.

"I am the Master and you will obey me!" - can't get much better than that line

 

[Newspaper Taxi]

This is a Christmas special. People are watching the show that have never seen the show before. If Uncle Ronny wants to figure out who the hyperactive guy is, the credits make it really obvious.

Also, this story featured two people who claimed to be "The Doctor". Even if that's figured out in the plot of the episode a point of confusion exists. To be honest I don't remember the character's name at the moment.

Then, since the Daveison/Colin Baker regeneration, both Doctors have been credited in the credits. This title teased at the prospect of seeing a new regenerated form of the Doctor, but that didn't happen.

In the end I don't think it has anything to do with what the Doctor's name is. The suits just want you to know who David Tennant is and that he was the main guy.

 

[Brendan Moody]

^If that were the case, they'd have credited him as "Doctor Who" on the actual multi-million viewer broadcast version, not just the niche DVD release. But they didn't.

I doubt this was a conscious decision by anyone important in the production; it's just a quirk or mistake on a one-off vanilla DVD.

 

[captcalhoun]

This is a Christmas special. People are watching the show that have never seen the show before. If Uncle Ronny wants to figure out who the hyperactive guy is, the credits make it really obvious.

Also, this story featured two people who claimed to be "The Doctor". Even if that's figured out in the plot of the episode a point of confusion exists. To be honest I don't remember the character's name at the moment.

Then, since the Daveison/Colin Baker regeneration, both Doctors have been credited in the credits. This title teased at the prospect of seeing a new regenerated form of the Doctor, but that didn't happen.

In the end I don't think it has anything to do with what the Doctor's name is. The suits just want you to know who David Tennant is and that he was the main guy.

that's all very well except for the fact that mr Morrisey was credited as 'Jackson Lake'. so that kinda makes a mockery of your theory that it was in some way connected to the 'next Doctor' guff.

 

[Cky]

Yeah, he was credited as Jackson Lake, but the title of the episode was "The Next Doctor", which I think everyone might have assumed that there could have been a second Doctor, and Tennant also announced he was stepping down from the role of The Doctor so that just makes more speculation.

And also, isn't the DVD included in the series one boxset? As it's technically episode 1.xx isn't it?

 

[Sci]

Does it matter?

To be honest I'd be surprised if Tennant threw a "fanboy fit". As I understand it he simply asked Russell. I can't imagine a Christian Bale style prima donna rant from ol' Dave...

Pfffft. It's the Internet. Why make reasonable presumptions or report verifiable facts when you can make up the most melodramatic, gossipy piece of trash and then report it as though it's the gospel truth?

 

[The Borg Queen]

"Hello, I'm The Doctor."

"Doctor who?"

"Just 'The Doctor'."

"Nice to meet you, 'The'."

 

[The]

^Someone finally gets my username....

 

[wamdue]

^Someone finally gets my username....

is that true?

 

[The]

Yes, that's exactly true. Why, how did you think I came up with the name "The"?

 

[wamdue]

it was on Gwens t-shirt

 

[The]

 

[Stevil2001]

In the fourth Doctor novel Last Man Running, the native aliens have a naming pattern that "Thedoctor" actually fits right into, and the Doctor ends up telling one of them to call him "The" for short.

 

[mirandafave]

^^ Am sure there's a logic behind it.

As for the question it's The Doctor. he says so himself all different versions of himself. You'd think at some point he'd decide to call himself Brad, or Tom or ... well truthfully the choices are endless.

 

[Starkers]

Lets be honest, neither The Doctor, nor Doctor who are his actual name...Only River knows that