A bow tie or dickie bow (PROSE: A Big Hand for the Doctor [+]Eoin Colfer, Puffin eshort (Puffin Books, 2013).) was a form of necktie in the shape of a bow. They could be either pre-tied or self-tied. The Doctor wore a bow tie in many of his incarnations.
The Doctor's bow ties[]
The First Doctor wore a navy blue ribbon bow tie; most notably during his first adventure with Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton during the Stone Age, (TV: An Unearthly Child [+]Anthony Coburn, adapted from The Pilot Episode (Anthony Coburn), Doctor Who season 1 (BBC tv, 1963).) his alliance with Thals to defeat Skaro City Daleks in his first Dalek encounter on Skaro, (TV: The Daleks [+]Terry Nation, Doctor Who season 1 (BBC tv, 1963-1964).) during his encounter with Marco Polo and Kublai Khan on 1289, (TV: Marco Polo [+]John Lucarotti, Doctor Who season 1 (BBC tv, 1964).) during his first encounter with Voord, (TV: The Keys of Marinus [+]Terry Nation, Doctor Who season 1 ('"`UNIQ--poem-00000000-QINU`"', 1964).) during his time with Aztecs, (TV: The Aztecs [+]John Lucarotti, Doctor Who season 1 (BBC1, 1964).) during his first encounter with Sensorites, (TV: The Sensorites [+]Peter R. Newman, Doctor Who season 1 (BBC1, 1964).) during the French Revolution, (TV: The Reign of Terror [+]Dennis Spooner, Doctor Who season 1 (BBC1, 1964).) when confronting the Inventor Master on Destination, (AUDIO: The Destination Wars [+]Matt Fitton, The First Doctor Adventures: Volume One (The First Doctor Adventures, Big Finish Productions, 2017).) when confronting Takagi Mamoru and Casper Knox in Japan during the 1820s, (AUDIO: The Barbarians and the Samurai [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) during his first encounter with a Dalek Supreme, (AUDIO: Return to Skaro [+]Andrew Smith, The First Doctor Adventures: Volume Four (The First Doctor Adventures, Big Finish Productions, 2020).) during the First Omega Crisis, (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1972-1973).) when preventing Mark Forester's mad plan with DN6 from endangering life, (TV: Planet of Giants [+]Louis Marks, Doctor Who season 2 (BBC1, 1964).) and when helping the Rebels of London foil Dalek Earthforce's Project Degravitate and saying goodbye to Susan Foreman, (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth [+]Terry Nation, Doctor Who season 2 (BBC1, 1964).).
The Second Doctor's bow tie appeared along with his other clothes when his first incarnation regenerated with the TARDIS' assistance. As with the rest of his clothing, the Second Doctor's bow tie was untidy and crumpled; it was a small pre-tied dark tie with small spots, attached to his collar with a safety pin. (TV: The Power of the Daleks [+]David Whitaker, Doctor Who season 4 (BBC1, 1966)., et al.)
The Third Doctor wore a variety of bow ties towards the latter part of his life. He often wore bow ties done in raven black, (TV: The Three Doctors [+]Bob Baker and Dave Martin, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1972-1973).) bottle green, (TV: Planet of the Daleks [+]Terry Nation, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1973).) wine red, (TV: The Green Death [+]Robert Sloman, Doctor Who season 10 (BBC1, 1973).) cyan, (TV: The Time Warrior [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1973-1974).) Prussian blue, (TV: Planet of the Spiders [+]Robert Sloman, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1974).) or ivory. (COMIC: The Lost Dimension [+]George Mann, et al., Titan summer events (Titan Comics, 2017).) His successor, the Fourth Doctor, wore the Prussian blue bow tie briefly. (TV: Planet of the Spiders [+]Robert Sloman, Doctor Who season 11 (BBC1, 1974)., Robot [+]Terrance Dicks, Doctor Who season 12 (BBC1, 1974-1975).)
The Sixth Doctor wore a navy blue bow tie with crimson polka dots with his 'Bletchy Tweeds'. (AUDIO: Criss-Cross [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW., Quicksilver [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
The Tenth Doctor usually wore a necktie, but on some occasions dressed up in formal wear, including a bow tie. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen [+]Tom MacRae, adapted from Spare Parts (Marc Platt), Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006)./The Age of Steel [+]Tom MacRae, adapted from Spare Parts (Marc Platt), Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006)., The Lazarus Experiment [+]Stephen Greenhorn, Doctor Who series 3 (BBC One|BBC One]], 2007)., Voyage of the Damned [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2007 (BBC One, 2007).) He also wore one when posing as John Smith. (TV: Human Nature [+]Paul Cornell, adapted from Human Nature (Paul Cornell), Doctor Who series 3 (BBC One, 2007)./The Family of Blood [+]Paul Cornell, adapted from Human Nature (Paul Cornell), Doctor Who series 3 (BBC One, 2007).)
The Eleventh Doctor adopted a bow tie along with the other clothes he stole from Royal Leadworth Hospital soon after his regeneration. (TV: The Eleventh Hour [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).) He was extremely fond of his bow tie and would often insist that "bow ties are cool" in spite of his companions' criticism. (TV: The Eleventh Hour [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010)., Vincent and the Doctor [+]Richard Curtis, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010)., The Lodger [+]Gareth Roberts, adapted from The Lodger (Gareth Roberts), Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010)., A Christmas Carol [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2010 (BBC One, 2010)., et al.) He wore bow ties in burgundy, (TV: The Eleventh Hour [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).) navy, (TV: Victory of the Daleks [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).) and blue. (TV: The Impossible Astronaut [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011).) He also included a white bow tie as part of his formal wear, seen during Amy and Rory's wedding (TV: The Pandorica Opens [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).) and on the occasion of his death. (TV: Let's Kill Hitler [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011).) During his period of retirement after losing Amy Pond and Rory Williams, the Eleventh Doctor changed his outfit to something more befitting his sojourn in Victorian London, but put on a violet purple bow tie again when spurred back into adventure by Clara Oswin Oswald. (TV: The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012).) He varied the patterns of his violet bow ties to include wheat, (TV: The Bells of Saint John [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).) chevron squares, (TV: The Rings of Akhaten [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).) polka-dotts, (TV: Cold War [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).) flowers, (TV: Nightmare in Silver [+]Neil Gaiman, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).) and thistles. (TV: The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary Specials (BBC One, 2013).) He wore both classic and clip-on bow ties and told Alice Obiefune that he wore clip-ons because someone had once tried to use his bow tie to throttle him. (TV: The Bells of Saint John [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013)., COMIC: The Friendly Place [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) Before his regeneration into the Twelfth Doctor, he removed it and let it drop to the floor as a sign of his upcoming change. (TV: The Time of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2013 (BBC One, 2013).) The Twelfth Doctor dismissed bow ties as "embarrassing". (TV: Time Heist [+]Steve Thompson, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014).') However, upon seeing Adrian Davies, a teacher at Coal Hill School with a fashion sense reminiscent of his previous incarnation, complete with bow tie, he responded more favourably because he was under the mistaken impression that he was the boyfriend of his companion Clara Oswald, taking pride in that she was dating a man resembling him. (TV: The Caretaker [+]Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014).)
He would later compliment Osgood on her "nice bow tie", which she took to wearing after meeting his predecessor, to which she quoted him "bow ties are cool". Osgood's bow tie would later be disintergrated along with herself by Missy. (TV: Death in Heaven [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014).) However, it later became unclear if the Osgood that got disintegrated was the actual Osgood or her Zygon double, (TV: The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary Specials (BBC One, 2013)., The Zygon Invasion [+]Peter Harness, Doctor Who series 9 (BBC One, 2015)./The Zygon Inversion [+]Peter Harness and Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 9 (BBC One, 2015).) which meant the bow tie could have been part of a camouflage and not actual clothing.
The Thirteenth Doctor wore a black bow tie with her tuxedo. (TV: Spyfall [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 12 (BBC One, 2020).)
An early incarnation of the Doctor who wore a tricorn wore a bow tie. (TV: The Brain of Morbius [+]Robin Bland, Doctor Who season 13 (BBC1, 1976).)
The Curator, taking the form of an older Sixth Doctor, wore a turquoise bow tie. (AUDIO: Crossed Lines [+]Matt Fitton, Stranded 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2022).) When he met Tania Bell after she moved into 107 Baker Street, he took the form of an elderly Eleventh Doctor, who was "all bow ties and elbows". (AUDIO: The Keys of Baker Street [+]Roy Gill, Stranded 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2022).)
Companions[]
Sarah Jane Smith wore an ebony black ribbon bow tie when braving the Game of Rassilon set up by President Borusa in his quest for immortality. (TV: The Five Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, Doctor Who 20th Anniversary Special (Public Broadcasting Service, 1983).)
Ace wore an ivory bow tie as part of her tuxedo when she went to Gabriel Chase on 1883. (TV: Ghost Light [+]Marc Platt, Doctor Who season 26 (BBC1, 1989).)
Romana II wore a black ribbon bow tie when she met Great Vampires. (TV: State of Decay [+]Terrance Dicks, Doctor Who season 18 (BBC1, 1980).)
Ryan Sinclair and Graham O'Brien wore black bow ties with their tuxedos. (TV: Spyfall [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 12 (BBC One, 2020).)
Brian, an Ood assassin, wore an ebony black bow tie as part of his tuxedo. (PROSE: The Guide to the Dark Times [+]Paul Lang, Doctor Who The Official Annual 2021 (Doctor Who annual, Penguin Group, 2020)., The Knight, The Fool and The Dead [+]Steve Cole, Time Lord Victorious (BBC Books, 2020).)
The Master[]
The Master wore bow ties.
The Tremas Master wore a midnight blue bow tie when he met the Seventh Doctor, Ace, and the Cheetah People during his Survival Stratagem. (TV: Survival [+]Rona Munro, Doctor Who season 26 (BBC1|BBC1]], 1989).)
The War Master sometimes wore a burgundy bow tie. (AUDIO: The Sincerest Form of Flattery [+]James Goss, Killing Time (The War Master, Big Finish Productions, 2021)., A Quiet Night In [+]Lou Morgan, Killing Time (The War Master, Big Finish Productions, 2021)., The Orphan [+]Lou Morgan, Killing Time (The War Master, Big Finish Productions, 2021)., Unfinished Business [+]James Goss, Killing Time (The War Master, Big Finish Productions, 2021).)
The Spy Master wore a black bow tie when posing as O at Daniel Barton's party. (TV: Spyfall [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 12 (BBC One, 2020).)
Others[]
The Toymaker wore an alabaster bow tie when he was mock dancing with the Fourteenth Doctor in London during 2023. He also wore a burgundy bow tie with ivory polka dots in Soho during 1925. (TV: The Giggle [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 2023 specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).)
Winston Churchill who was prime minister for Britain during World War 2 wore an ebony bow tie; (TV: Victory of the Daleks [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).) as did his parallel counterpart who was Holy Roman Emperor on River Song's World. (TV: The Wedding of River Song [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011).)
Sir Keith Gold, the Executive Director of the Inferno Project, was also seen to wear a bow tie. (TV: Inferno [+]Don Houghton, Doctor Who season 7 (BBC1, 1970).)
Gwendoline and Nimrod wore ivory bow ties with tuxedos. (TV: Ghost Light [+]Marc Platt, Doctor Who season 26 (BBC1, 1989).)
Charles Dickens wore an ivory bow tie when he met the Ninth Doctor, Rose Tyler, Gwyneth, and the Gelth in Cardiff during 1869. (TV: The Unquiet Dead [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 1 (BBC One, 2005).)
Oscar Botcherby wore a black bow tie up to his death when he was mortally wounded by the Androgum Shockeye with a knife. (TV: The Two Doctors [+]Robert Holmes, Doctor Who season 22 (BBC1, 1985).)
Professor Jeremiah P. Kettlewell wore a wine purple bow tie. (TV: Robot [+]Terrance Dicks, Doctor Who season 12 (BBC1, 1974-1975).)
Gerald Peach wore a bottle green bow tie up to his death. Christopher, a Vespiform posing as a human to study humans, wore an ivory bow tie as part of his tuxedo on Delhi during the Victorian era. (TV: The Unicorn and the Wasp [+]Gareth Roberts, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008).)
Mr Copper wears a plum purple bow tie. Bannakaffalatta and Rickston Slade wore alabaster bow ties. (TV: Voyage of the Damned [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2007 (BBC One, 2007).)
Dr Henry Black sported various bow ties while working for the Musée d'Orsay, much to the Eleventh Doctor's approval. (TV: Vincent and the Doctor [+]Richard Curtis, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).)
After being visited in childhood by the Eleventh Doctor and assured that "bow ties are cool", Kazran Sardick wore a bow tie throughout his life. Kazran's father, Elliot Sardick, was also pictured wearing a bow tie. (TV: A Christmas Carol [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2010 (BBC One, 2010).)
The Ringmaster of the Psychic Circus wore a gold bow tie. (TV: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy [+]Stephen Wyatt, Doctor Who season 25 (BBC1, 1988-1989).)
The Pied Piper wore a black bow tie when posing as Mr. Spellman, director of Spellman's Magical Museum of the Circus. (TV: The Day of the Clown [+]Phil Ford, The Sarah Jane Adventures series 2 (CBBC, 2008).)
The Tenth Doctor once derisively noted that bow tie were only worn by art critiques but upon further reflection, noted that it wasn't a terrible look. (COMIC: The Arts in Space [+]Nick Abadzis, Doctor Who: The Tenth Doctor (Titan Comics, 2014).))
The Monk wore a garish bow tie. (AUDIO: The Book of Kells [+]Barnaby Edwards, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).)
The Dream Lord wore a crimson bow tie when he appeared in the Eleventh Doctor's console room. (TV: Amy's Choice [+]Simon Nye, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).)
Adrian Davies wore a bow tie, making him resemble the Eleventh Doctor, to the approval of the recently regenerated Twelfth Doctor. (TV: The Caretaker [+]Gareth Roberts and Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014).)
