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Leading a life of great temporal complexity, the Eighth Doctor was so frequently involved in time paradoxes and parallel universes that it was impossible to know with certainty how the major epochs of his existence fitted together, complicated even further by his frequent bouts of amnesia and his claim of being half-human — though sources dispute if this was actually the case.
The Eighth Doctor was inherently a happy adventurer, falling in love with companions Grace Holloway and Charley Pollard, and was not averse to experiencing and appreciating very human emotions, from kissing Grace to providing psychological support for Izzy Sinclair. A playful man who wanted the universe to be a peaceful and beautiful place, even when met with disaster, he was not averse to cheekily giving people hints about their futures as he revelled in life and living, but his lifetime was equally defined by some of the nastiest circumstances possible, from him constantly being captured and tortured to witnessing many senseless deaths. In the later years of his life, he turned colder and angrier and less willing to take on companions when it became clear that a terrible tragedy was brewing in the universe.
Biography[]
- Main article: Eighth Doctor/Biography
An optimist and romantic at his core, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) the Doctor tried to remain a cheerful and pacifistic adventurer in spite of a universe that grew ever increasingly hostile around him, (AUDIO: To the Death [+]Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2011).) eventually culminating in the eruption of the Last Great Time War between the Time Lords and the Dalek Empire. (TV: Dalek [+]Robert Shearman, adapted from Jubilee (Robert Shearman), Doctor Who series 1 (BBC One, 2005).) Despite his efforts to avoid the conflict, (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) the Doctor was often forced into involvement by outside intervention, (AUDIO: The Starship of Theseus [+]John Dorney, The Eighth Doctor: Time War: Volume One (The Eighth Doctor: Time War, Big Finish Productions, 2017)., Planet of the Ogrons [+]Guy Adams, The Eighth Doctor: Time War: Volume Two (The Eighth Doctor: Time War, Big Finish Productions, 2018)., Darkness and Light [+]David Llewellyn, Rage of the Time Lords (The War Master, Big Finish Productions, 2019).) through he himself was adamant to keep his distance from the centre of the battle. (PROSE: Ghost of Christmas Past [+]Scott Handcock, Twelve Doctors of Christmas (2016).)
After the end of the Time War, the Ninth Doctor emerged, (TV: Rose [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 1 (BBC One, 2005).) and some sources and spectators indicated that the Eighth Doctor had regenerated directly into him. (PROSE: Have You Seen This Man? [+]various authors, Who is Doctor Who? (BBC, 2005)., Doctor Who and the Time War [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who: Lockdown! (2020).) However, a far greater number of sources suggested that the Eighth Doctor chose to regenerate, while abandoning his name, into the War Doctor when he succumbed to despair after failing to save a single life during the Time War. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).)
Psychological profile[]
Personality[]
With an carefree exterior (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) and a belief that it was never too late, (PROSE: All Flesh is Grass [+]Una McCormack, Time Lord Victorious release order (BBC Books, 2020).) the Eighth Doctor was an enthusiastic figure who explored the universe for the sheer love and experience of it, (COMIC: By Hook or By Crook [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997).; AUDIO: The Silver Turk [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) craving open spaces and natural things, such as trees, grass, birds and animals, (PROSE: The Novel of the Film [+]Gary Russell, adapted from Doctor Who (Matthew Jacobs), BBC Books novelisations (BBC Books, 1996).) and relishing in the unpredictability of his travels. (AUDIO: Echoes of Extinction [+]Alfie Shaw, Time Lord Victorious (Big Finish Productions, 2021).) Thriving on the activity of righting wrongs, (COMIC: Descendance [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996).) and safe guarding the future, (COMIC: Coda [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (BBC Magazines, 1997).) the Eighth Doctor was a direct, sympathetic and emotionally accessible individual, (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).; COMIC: Beautiful Freak [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001).) but these traits were balanced by his occasional feelings of self-doubt and weariness of his endless battles to maintain order, (PROSE: Longest Day [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Legacy of the Daleks [+]John Peel, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Interference: The Hour of the Geek [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).; COMIC: Where Nobody Knows Your Name [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).; AUDIO: Scherzo [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2003)., To the Death [+]Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2011).) with the Doctor commenting to Fitz Kreiner that his travels had made him "appreciate the beauty and delicate sadness of the interconnectedness of all things." (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) While he did not object to being called British, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) the Doctor "consider[ed] [himself] primarily a citizen of the galaxy", (PROSE: Vanderdeken's Children [+]Christopher Bulis, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and believed that "nothing [was] alien" to a "citizen of the universe". (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).)
Not wanting to be "burdened by [his] past", (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) and believing it to be his job, (COMIC: The Road to Hell [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1999).) the Doctor would always make an attempt to save a life if he could, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) believing that any life was worth saving, (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) even the life of his Imagineum doppelganger, (COMIC: Endgame [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1996).) and even risked the Web of Time by warning his seventh incarnation about avoiding the events that would lead to his regeneration. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) He felt guilt when reflecting on the lives he had been forced to take, (PROSE: Revolution Man [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and strove to compensate for the lives he had taken by saving just as many. (PROSE: Fallen Gods [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, Telos Doctor Who novellas (Telos Publishing, 2003).)
The Eighth Doctor was full of spirit and the joy of life, possessing the willpower to hold off a cyber-conversion on a mental plane, (COMIC: Dreadnought [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (BBC Magazines, 1996).) make his body scream while his soul was in the psionic plane, (COMIC: Bad Blood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003-2004).) and was unable to surrender against the odds. (AUDIO: Neverland [+]Alan Barnes, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) He was also something of a thrill-seeker, hitting the fire alarm of the ITAR building simply to "liven things up" during his and Grace's escape, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) sneaking into the Gorolith's sphere after he pointed out that he didn't need too, (COMIC: Ophidius [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001).) enjoying the feeling of not knowing where the TARDIS had landed, (AUDIO: The Chimes of Midnight [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) and once indulged in multiple adventures simultaneously for the sheer fun of it. (PROSE: The Wickerwork Man [+]Paul Magrs, Short Trips: Farewells (Short Trips short stories, 2006).)
The Doctor vents his anger towards Destrii. (COMIC: Uroboros [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2002).)
Although full of spirit and humanity, the Eighth Doctor did have a dark side within him, especially when the forces of evil tried to unbalance the laws of the universe, but he still held on to his belief in mercy, offering to save the Bruce Master from the Eye of Harmony, even after he attacked him for killing Grace and Lee. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) However, he warned Ice Lord Artix that he was "very dangerous when roused", (COMIC: Ascendance [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996).) spoke in an icy tone when confronting Niroc about the Sixth Doctor's trial, (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) and tried to strangle Qixotl in retaliation for past betrayals. (PROSE: Alien Bodies [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) He also gave the Master a particularly violent punch to the face while denying their similarities during their duel for the Glory, (COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000).) became more abrupt and short-tempered after Izzy got kidnapped due to being in Destrii's body, (COMIC: Uroboros [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2002).) and slaughtered an entire Cyber-Fleet with the power of the Time Vortex after they had angered him. (COMIC: The Flood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2004-2005).) After Lucie's death, the Doctor took his frustration out on the Monk for his part in the tragedy, (AUDIO: To the Death [+]Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2011).) and later felt frustration at the Reborn Master for leaving the Ramossans to die at the hands of the Eminence, hitting the TARDIS in frustration and trying to avert the creation of the Eminence despite the Laws of Time. (AUDIO: The Reviled [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
As a coping mechanism, (AUDIO: Zagreus [+]Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2003).) the Doctor would react to threats of death and torture with dark humour; mocking the Bruce Master's affection for Chang Lee while he was strapped to a gurney, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) calling the Cybermen unimaginative during their attempt to cyber-convert him, (COMIC: Dreadnought [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (BBC Magazines, 1996).) getting sarcastically formal with the Dalek Supreme, (COMIC: Fire and Brimstone [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997).) jesting with Eric Rawden until he could no longer stand the interrogation, (AUDIO: Something Inside [+]Trevor Baxendale, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2006).) bitterly asking his torturers for some more pain, (AUDIO: Memory Lane [+]Eddie Robson, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2006).) cracking jokes when aboard a crashing spaceship with the Reborn Master, (AUDIO: Masterplan [+]Matt Fitton, Dark Eyes 3 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2014).) and brashly listing hobbies he could indulge in after Ohila informed him he had four minutes left to live. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) The Ice Warriors believed he did so to "suppress his fear". (AUDIO: The Resurrection of Mars [+]Jonathan Morris, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).)
The Eighth Doctor was willing to help anyone he came across regardless of his connection to them, (AUDIO: Orbis [+]Alan Barnes and Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2009)., Prisoner of the Sun [+]Eddie Robson, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2011).) and sacrifice himself for the sake of others, as his was the only life he felt he had the right to give, (AUDIO: The Resurrection of Mars [+]Jonathan Morris, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).) to the point that even his TARDIS began scolding him for it. (AUDIO: Zagreus [+]Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2003).) He told Grace to leave him at the Master's mercy so she could reroute the power of the TARDIS and close the Eye of Harmony, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) ran back into Adisham to save its residents from the Red Death, (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) was going to kamikaze a helicopter to destroy Donald Stark, (COMIC: The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999).) and was willing to surrender his life so the Cybermen would copy his regenerative pattern and abandon their invasion of Earth. (COMIC: The Flood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2004-2005).)
In contrast to his scheming predecessor, the Eighth Doctor had little patience and could not stay on one train of thought for more than a few seconds, getting distracted by the comfort of his new shoes while recalling his childhood, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) reading books too fast to realise what he was reading, (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) forgetting to eat for days on end, (PROSE: Camera Obscura [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and slipping into soliloquies while in conversation. (PROSE: The Face-Eater [+]Simon Messingham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).; AUDIO: Seasons of Fear [+]Paul Cornell and Caroline Symcox, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) He also bored of things quickly, only making an omelette for Anji Kapoor before suddenly proclaiming his boredom and stopping. (PROSE: Timeless [+]Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2003).) Sam theorised that the Doctor took on companions because he "couldn't think in a straight line without [them]", (PROSE: Unnatural History [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) but he was able to make sound decisions when the need called for it, (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) and was both aware and annoyed that he "[kept] missing the important bits". (PROSE: Placebo Effect [+]Gary Russell, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).)
Though he felt that talking helped him to concentrate, (AUDIO: Prisoner of the Sun [+]Eddie Robson, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2011).) he would sometimes naively say and do things without taking the situation in, such as suddenly reaching into his pocket for a jelly baby in front of an armed motorcycle policeman, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) unironically telling Detective Inspector Foster he was a Time Lord while being interrogated for drug possession, (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) stopping to oink at pigs in the company of Inspector Bengt Nordenstam, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and almost ruining his cover story by pointing out the brilliance of his interrogator's deduction. (COMIC: The Road to Hell [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1999).)
The Doctor's mental health was somewhat questionable; while he usually acted like an eccentric gentleman, he also had moments of certifiable insanity, with him describing himself as an "ethnomethodologist", (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and Compassion noting that he was "prone to flights of fancy". (PROSE: Frontier Worlds [+]Peter Anghelides, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) While he dismissed Julya's question of his madness as him being "very, very clever", (PROSE: The Janus Conjunction [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) he believed he "must be insane" when asked by Anji, (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and Fitz Kreiner worried that the Doctor was aware of his breakdowns, just unconcerned by them. Both the Doctor and Fitz shared a worrying moment when they realised the Doctor seemed to be "unbalanced" to the point of schizophrenia. (PROSE: The Slow Empire [+]Dave Stone, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).)
The Doctor was a fan of Marvel Comics' X-Men, (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) Transformers, (PROSE: The Taking of Planet 5 [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) model train sets, (PROSE: The City of the Dead [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) Thunderbirds (PROSE: Trading Futures [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and Zap Daniel, (PROSE: The Tomorrow Windows [+]Jonathan Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) but disliked Babylon 5 (PROSE: Escape Velocity [+]Colin Brake, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and the Aggrotron! comics. (AUDIO: Izzy's Story [+]Alan Barnes, The Company of Friends (Main Range, Big Finish Productions, 2009).) He enjoyed reading Victorian literature, such as The Time Machine, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) Sherlock Holmes novels, (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) The Strand magazine, (PROSE: Genocide [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, (PROSE: Option Lock [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and Cold Comfort Farm, (PROSE: All Flesh is Grass [+]Una McCormack, Time Lord Victorious release order (BBC Books, 2020).) and had a liking for the opera. (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., War of the Daleks [+]John Peel, adapted from War of the Daleks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Longest Day [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., The Janus Conjunction [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Demontage [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., Coldheart [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).; COMIC: The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).)
He also liked solving mysteries, (COMIC: The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999).) pigs, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) trains, (PROSE: Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) butterflies, (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) Orson Welles's films, (AUDIO: Invaders from Mars [+]Mark Gatiss, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) Christmas, (AUDIO: The Chimes of Midnight [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).') bats, (AUDIO: Seasons of Fear [+]Paul Cornell and Caroline Symcox, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) parties, (AUDIO: Neverland [+]Alan Barnes, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) penguins, (AUDIO: The Next Life [+]Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) dinosaurs, (AUDIO: The Resurrection of Mars [+]Jonathan Morris, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).) spiders, (AUDIO: Worldwide Web [+]Eddie Robson, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2009).) sunsets, and moonlight. (AUDIO: World of Damnation [+]Matt Fitton, Ravenous 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous, Big Finish Productions, 2018).)
By his own admission, the Doctor had a "pink bunny slipper fetish", (PROSE: Grimm Reality [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Kelly Hale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and enjoyed the dark, seeing it as "[enhancing] the mystery." (AUDIO: The Chimes of Midnight [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).') He also enjoyed Winnie the Pooh, with his favourite character being Tigger, (AUDIO: Caerdroia [+]Lloyd Rose, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) but disliked cats so much that he removed one from the TARDIS on sight, (AUDIO: Nevermore [+]Alan Barnes, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).) though did enjoy petting them. (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) Among his favourite times and places were late 19th century England, (PROSE: The Banquo Legacy [+]Andy Lane and Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) the city of Florence, (PROSE: Fear Itself [+]Nick Wallace, BBC Past Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).) and Edward the Confessor's reign. (AUDIO: Seasons of Fear [+]Paul Cornell and Caroline Symcox, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) He appreciated the smells of freshly-mowed grass (AUDIO: World of Damnation [+]Matt Fitton, Ravenous 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous, Big Finish Productions, 2018).) and arriving on a "fresh new planet". (PROSE: Steps [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
He hated "long goodbyes", (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) pastel colour schemes, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) commercial airplanes, (PROSE: Unnatural History [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) getting pins and needles, (PROSE: The Taking of Planet 5 [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and rats. (PROSE: The Banquo Legacy [+]Andy Lane and Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) He also disliked "pointless things". (AUDIO: Lies in Ruins [+]James Goss, The Legacy of Time (Big Finish Productions, 2019).)
The Doctor "wouldn't have minded being a bus conductor", (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and, when looking up at the sky, saw rocket trails and animal shapes in the clouds. (PROSE: Frontier Worlds [+]Peter Anghelides, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) His lucky stars were a couple of red dwarves in Pavo. (PROSE: To the Slaughter [+]Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).) He prided himself on "being able to find a quick fix, [and] an easy solution to any problem", and would fall into despair when he couldn't help someone. (COMIC: The Way of All Flesh [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2001).) The Doctor revelled in arriving on new worlds, thinking them as "fresh blank pages" that became his "stage". (POEM: Steps [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
The Doctor enjoyed jelly babies, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) preferring them to Liquorice Allsorts, (PROSE: The Tomorrow Windows [+]Jonathan Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) with his favourite being the red ones. (AUDIO: Scaredy Cat [+]Will Shindler, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2005).) He also got very excited about 99 Flakes, (AUDIO: Memory Lane [+]Eddie Robson, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2006).) cotton candy and chunky monkey ice cream. (AUDIO: Terror Firma [+]Joseph Lidster, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2005).) Being a vegetarian, (AUDIO: Relative Dimensions [+]Marc Platt, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).) he rarely touched meat, (AUDIO: Seasons of Fear [+]Paul Cornell and Caroline Symcox, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) but did like bacon sandwichs. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) He claimed apricot jam calmed him down. (COMIC: By Hook or By Crook [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997).)
He also liked turkish delights, (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) Darjeeling tea, dry-roasted gumblejack fritters, (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) chocolates with soft centres, (PROSE: Beltempest [+]Jim Mortimore, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) ice cream, (PROSE: Unnatural History [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) walnut muffins, (COMIC: The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).) Manhattan cocktails, (AUDIO: Invaders from Mars [+]Mark Gatiss, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) plum pudding, and custard. (AUDIO: The Chimes of Midnight [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).')
He favoured Custard Creams above all biscuits, (PROSE: The Deadstone Memorial [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) and preferred tea to coffee, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) specifically "hot, sweet tea", (PROSE: The Deadstone Memorial [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) with lemon tea being his preference. (PROSE: Casualties of War [+]Steve Emmerson, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) He also liked to have his tea with milk and either two sugars (PROSE: Thinking Warrior [+]Huw Wilkins, Short Trips: 2040 (Short Trips short stories, 2004).) or six sugars, (AUDIO: The Zygon Who Fell to Earth [+]Paul Magrs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2008).) but preferred it white without sugar. (AUDIO: The Eight Truths [+]Eddie Robson, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2009).) He also enjoyed drinking ginger beer and lemonade, (PROSE: The Blue Angel [+]Paul Magrs and Jeremy Hoad, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., Parallel 59 [+]Natalie Dallaire and Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) but disliked tizer. (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell [+]Peter Anghelides and Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).)
The Eighth Doctor believed that "the universe [hung] [on] such a fragile thread of coincidences" that it was "useless to meddle with it", unless the meddler was a Time Lord, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) but he later confided in Grace that even he shouldn't meddle in the affairs of others, (COMIC: The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999).) but maintained that it was good to change the universe for the better. (COMIC: Tales of the Dark Times [+]Comic Creator (Scary Beasties, 2020).) He also didn't believe in ghosts, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) coincidences, (COMIC: Fire and Brimstone [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997).) or curses. (AUDIO: The Stones of Venice [+]Paul Magrs, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2001).)
Though he would pray to "whatever gods he [had]" every day, (AUDIO: Seasons of Fear [+]Paul Cornell and Caroline Symcox, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) the Doctor didn't have a "faith", (PROSE: Placebo Effect [+]Gary Russell, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) claimed not to understand the idea of gloating, (PROSE: History 101 [+]Mags L. Halliday, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and insisted he was psychologically incapable of experiencing survivor's guilt, (PROSE: The Gallifrey Chronicles [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).) despite evidence to the contrary. (AUDIO: Hothouse [+]Jonathan Morris, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2009).) He though that honour was a matter of "recognising your mistakes and being aware that you [had] to fix them" regardless of the consequences. (COMIC: The Road to Hell [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1999).)
He deemed "class war[s]" to be "stupid", (COMIC: Descendance [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996).) was a firm believer in manners, (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) thought that "pride and stupidity [were] indistinguishable", (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) tried to keep an open mind, (COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000).) didn't view himself as a family man, (AUDIO: Other Lives [+]Gary Hopkins, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2005).) claimed to hold a distain for clairvoyants (COMIC: Uroboros [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2002).) and an admiration for "enquiring mind[s]", (COMIC: The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).) and hated being "cooped up in one place for so long", (PROSE: Unnatural History [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) such as when being locked up. (PROSE: EarthWorld [+]Jacqueline Rayner, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) Towards the end of his life, he began to think that everything happened for a reason. (AUDIO: The Traitor [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2014).)
He considered eight to be his "lucky number" (COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000).) due to it becoming an infinity symbol when turned. (PROSE: The Knight, The Fool and The Dead [+]Steve Cole, Time Lord Victorious (BBC Books, 2020).) He was not against theft if he saw it in his power to return what he stole, (PROSE: The Novel of the Film [+]Gary Russell, adapted from Doctor Who (Matthew Jacobs), BBC Books novelisations (BBC Books, 1996).) but would avoid stealing if he thought it would cause more trouble than it would solve. (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).)
Despite his enthusiasms, the Doctor had a fear of heights, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) hospitals, (PROSE: Kursaal [+]Peter Anghelides, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., The Ancestor Cell [+]Peter Anghelides and Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) spiders, (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and his TARDIS being shattered into a million shards. (AUDIO: Faith Stealer [+]Graham Duff, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) He also disliked diving because he "[didn't] like the constriction of being cocooned in a diving suit." (PROSE: The Infinity Race [+]Simon Messingham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) He could be deeply unnerved when imprisoned, (PROSE: Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Interference: The Hour of the Geek [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and acknowledged that he was corruptible when he realised how much he wanted the Glory. (COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000).)
The Doctor reluctantly orchestrates an Ice Warrior's demise. (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).)
Like his previous incarnations, the Eighth Doctor stood against wanton violence, (PROSE: The Novel of the Film [+]Gary Russell, adapted from Doctor Who (Matthew Jacobs), BBC Books novelisations (BBC Books, 1996).) and was insistent on solving solutions in a peaceful manner, (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997)., Revolution Man [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).; COMIC: Endgame [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1996).) but knew that that would not be an option all the time, and was not above resulting to violence when needed, even attacking Kroton with lethal intend before he knew he was a sentient Cyberman, (COMIC: The Company of Thieves [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (1999).) and massacring some Torajenn during their attack on Coyoacan. (COMIC: The Way of All Flesh [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2001).) He killed a pair of vampires, commentating on how melodramatic it was, aware that he couldn't try anything less fatal due to the vampires' strength and healing abilities. However, Romana II noted the regret in his eyes, (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) and the Doctor later remarked that he killed them due to "[not] [knowing] [himself] well enough at the time" to know different. (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).)
He later talked Anton la Serre into death for his part in the deaths on the Dreamstone Moon, (PROSE: Dreamstone Moon [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and killed Ed Hill with a gun to prevent the imminent destruction of the Earth, and in part to save Fitz Kreiner from having to bear the responsibility of killing him. (PROSE: Revolution Man [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) When his memories were gone, he pushed murderer Roger Nepath to his death without remorse while Nepath pleaded for his life, (PROSE: The Burning [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) allowed a guard to be shot in his place, telepathically convinced his interrogator's heart to stop beating, (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and killed Hilary Pink to save him from possession. (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) He didn't complain when he thought someone being attacked deserved the retribution, (COMIC: The Final Chapter [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1998).) or hold any qualms about destroying a non-living entity. (COMIC: The Road to Hell [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1999).)
While he sometimes "yearned" for the ability to "hit a rewind button" and fix the pain he had seen, the Doctor knew he couldn't undue the pains of the past, and that he had to accept time's impact as it "move[d] through [him]". (COMIC: Beautiful Freak [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001).) However, he allowed Liv to "stuff the ethics" and give antiseptic to a woman whose son had been attacked in 1639 Florence. (AUDIO: The Galileo Trap [+]Marc Platt, Doom Coalition 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2015).)
In touch with his feminine side, the Doctor was sometimes called a "ponce," (PROSE: The Turing Test [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).; AUDIO: Blood of the Daleks [+]Steve Lyons, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2006).) or a "poof" on one occasion, (PROSE: Timeless [+]Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2003).) and had a maternal urge to see to it that everyone around him was well-fed, even carrying food around in his pockets to give to his companions on a moment's notice. (PROSE: The Year of Intelligent Tigers [+]Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) He often got teary-eyed around his adopted daughter, Miranda Dawkins. (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).)
Though it was thought[who?] that he was trying to distract himself from its sudden loss, (PROSE: Coldheart [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) the Doctor allowed himself to become a darker and angrier person with the loss of his TARDIS in the dimensional barrier between Earth and Avalon, and his then reliance on Compassion as a means of travel, (PROSE: The Shadows of Avalon [+]Paul Cornell, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) with Fitz noting the Doctor's tendency to throw himself into others' problems to avoid facing his own. (PROSE: The Space Age [+]Steve Lyons, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).)
During his time stranded on Earth following Gallifrey's destruction, the Doctor fell into a deep state of depression due to his failure to get off the planet, (PROSE: Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) and often dreamt of his TARDIS, (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) though he reacted with terror when offered the chance to have his memories restored. (PROSE: Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) Throughout his time on Earth, the Doctor was unable to feel "at home", knowing that he didn't belong on the planet. (PROSE: Fear Itself [+]Nick Wallace, BBC Past Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).) Once he adopted Miranda Dawkins, he decided to improve his situation in order to be able to provide for her, such as working as a business consultant and taking up beekeeping. (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) The Doctor would later realise his behaviour was similar to the symptoms of Albrecht's Ennui, (PROSE: The Book of the Still [+]Paul Ebbs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and would come to look back on his time stranded with fondness, (PROSE: The Deadstone Memorial [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) but did not wish to be stranded a second time. (PROSE: History 101 [+]Mags L. Halliday, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) Once he was able to travel off Earth, the Doctor was keen to encounter "monsters" again. (PROSE: Vanishing Point [+]Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).)
After being able to leave Earth in his TARDIS, the Doctor became more open to violent acts, (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001)., Mad Dogs and Englishmen [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and would have brief periodic spells of frailty. (PROSE: Grimm Reality [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Kelly Hale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) He felt he no longer had the right to interfere in the affairs of the universe due to him no longer having the authority of a Time Lord. Seeing it as the only way for him to continue righting wrongs, the Doctor decided to become "Earth's Champion" and planned to marry Juliette Vierge in a symbolic ceremony in which he would root himself on Earth, until Juliette was lured away by Sabbath Dei. (PROSE: The Adventuress of Henrietta Street [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).)
After the loss of his second heart to Sabbath, the Doctor became an even darker, though more humane, person. (PROSE: Hope [+]Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., Anachrophobia [+]Jonathan Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., History 101 [+]Mags L. Halliday, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., Camera Obscura [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) He felt weaker on his feet, worried about his lifespan shortening, (PROSE: Hope [+]Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) felt greater frailty, (PROSE: Anachrophobia [+]Jonathan Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) had chest pains when in close proximity to his severed heart, (PROSE: Anachrophobia [+]Jonathan Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., History 101 [+]Mags L. Halliday, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and panic attacks brought on by the single pulse in his body, but felt that the "hollow absence" was the worst of the side effects. (PROSE: Camera Obscura [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) He thought that losing his heart to Sabbath was his "biggest regret". (PROSE: Anachrophobia [+]Jonathan Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) Though he eventually regrew a second heart after Sabbath removed the original from himself, (PROSE: Camera Obscura [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., Time Zero [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) Fitz noticed that its long absence had left a change in the Doctor. (PROSE: Reckless Engineering [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2003).)
After Miranda's death, (PROSE: Sometime Never... [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) the Doctor became angry at anything that reminded him of her, (PROSE: Halflife [+]Mark Michalowski, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) but ultimately chose to move on for the sake of his adopted granddaughter, Zezanne. (PROSE: The Gallifrey Chronicles [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).)
Though he vowed that he would never travel alone again as he did not want to forget how precious life was after his predecessor's manipulative nature isolated him, (AUDIO: The Resurrection of Mars [+]Jonathan Morris, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).) after the deaths of his great-grandson, Alex Campbell, and his companions, Tamsin Drew and Lucie Miller, at the hands of the Daleks, the Doctor decided to travel on his own to limit the deaths that came in his wake. (AUDIO: To the Death [+]Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2011).) Lucie's death left the Doctor in such a state that he went to the end of the universe just to see what would happen. However, he started having hope again after meeting Molly O'Sullivan, (AUDIO: The Great War [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).) not wanting her killing herself to stop the Daleks' plan because he didn't want to lose anyone else to the Daleks, (AUDIO: X and the Daleks [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).) though he did get annoyed when he found Molly squatting in his house. (AUDIO: The White Room [+]Alan Barnes, Dark Eyes 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2014).) Even after Liv Chenka joined him in his travels, (AUDIO: Time's Horizon [+]Matt Fitton, Dark Eyes 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2014).) the Doctor greatly missed Molly when Narvin forced them apart. (AUDIO: A Life in the Day [+]John Dorney, Dark Eyes 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2015).)
The Doctor fights his jailers during the Last Great Time War. (COMIC: The Forgotten [+]Tony Lee, IDW mini-series and one-shots (IDW Publishing, 2008-2009).)
Towards the end of his life, the Doctor began to reminisce about his adventures with previous companions. (PROSE: The End [+]Alexander Leithes, Short Trips: Life Science (Short Trips short stories, 2004).; AUDIO: Mary's Story [+]Jonathan Morris, The Company of Friends (Main Range, Big Finish Productions, 2009).) He also developed an extreme distaste for war, (COMIC: Music of the Spherions [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) with River Song claiming that the outbreak of the Last Great Time War brought down his optimism and robbed him of the joy in his travels. (AUDIO: Lies in Ruins [+]James Goss, The Legacy of Time (Big Finish Productions, 2019).)
While disguised as the Clocksmith on the Crucible of Souls, the Doctor playfully embraced his ego by remarking that he was "a remarkably clever man, [as well as] a force to be reckoned with, [and] handsome, too." (AUDIO: The Crucible of Souls [+]John Dorney, Doom Coalition 3 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2016).)
The Eighth Doctor remembered his first incarnation as a "fierce old man", his second incarnation as a "gentle little fellow who had sacrificed his own freedom so that others might be free", his third incarnation as an "elegant dandy struggling bitterly against the chains of his exile but unable to resist defending the planet that had become his prison", and his fourth incarnation as a "casual bohemian" who "dared to take on the evil that stalk[ed] the dark". (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).)
The Eighth Doctor had no love for the Third Doctor, describing him to Josie Day as having "no appreciation of art," and that he "spent all his time taking things apart and leaving bits lying about," concluding that Josie wouldn't like him. (COMIC: The Pictures of Josephine Day [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) However, he had a fondness for the Fourth Doctor, sharing a lot of his tastes in common, and the two got along easily, (AUDIO: The Light at the End [+]Nicholas Briggs, Big Finish Doctor Who Special Releases (Big Finish Productions, 2013).) though he did not enjoy the idea of seeing his fourth incarnation when George Litefoot brought it up. (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) Also, while he found the Sixth Doctor obnoxious and embarrassing, he had a great deal of respect for him. (AUDIO: The Light at the End [+]Nicholas Briggs, Big Finish Doctor Who Special Releases (Big Finish Productions, 2013).)
He viewed his seventh incarnation as a "terrible old duffer who wouldn't tell [anyone] what was going on, would shout [at someone] as soon as look at [them], would expect [his companions] to be quiet and do what [he] said, and be there to untie [him] in cellars and scream out when [they] saw danger heading [their] way", (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and also bemoaned him for his hubris and his arrogant certainty of his prowess and intellect. (AUDIO: Ship in a Bottle [+]John Dorney, Doom Coalition 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2017).) He distastefully looked at the Seventh Doctor as being "a man with the master plan" working for the "greater good" under the belief of the ends justifying the means, unfavourably comparing him to the Monk in that regard, (AUDIO: The Resurrection of Mars [+]Jonathan Morris, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).) but believed he could "barely win a game of snakes and ladders". (AUDIO: Ship in a Bottle [+]John Dorney, Doom Coalition 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2017).) His resentment was such that, when the Curator explained the seeds of the solution to Robin Bright-Thompson's evil were contained within the problem, the Doctor mockingly compared him to their seventh incarnation for being "meddlesome and cryptic". (AUDIO: The Keys of Baker Street [+]Roy Gill, Stranded 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2022).)
When meeting his ninth, tenth and twelfth incarnations, the Eighth Doctor was pleased to see them acting "as childish as ever." (COMIC: The Lost Dimension [+]George Mann, et al., Titan summer events (Titan Comics, 2017).)
The Doctor had "intrinsic faith" in his friends, (PROSE: The Blue Angel [+]Paul Magrs and Jeremy Hoad, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and took their well-being as his primary concern, (COMIC: Perceptions [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996-1997).) almost giving the TARDIS to the Cybermen to protect Stacy Townsend, (COMIC: Dreadnought [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (BBC Magazines, 1996).) helping Izzy adjust to Destrii's body, (COMIC: Beautiful Freak [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001).) giving up the power of the Time Vortex the second he noticed Destrii needed his help to escape an exploding Cyber-ship, (COMIC: The Flood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2004-2005).) and stealing the Master's TARDIS to save Liv Chenka and Molly O'Sullivan from the Dalek Time Controller at a Dalek retreat on the Eye of Orion. (AUDIO: Eye of Darkness [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) Not wanting to repeat the mistakes of the Seventh Doctor, the Eighth Doctor did not order his companions around. (PROSE: Interference: The Hour of the Geek [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).)
The Doctor still felt regret for giving Katarina hope after taking her away from her home, only for her to be killed shortly afterwards. (AUDIO: The Last [+]Gary Hopkins, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) He also regretted his fourth incarnation's hesitation to avert the creation of the Daleks, and was adamant not to repeat the mistake with Martez's Mutant Daleks. (AUDIO: Blood of the Daleks [+]Steve Lyons, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2006).)
The Eighth Doctor showcased his love for humanity by admiring how they "always [saw] patterns in things that [weren't] there", (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) and how they were "one of the most adaptable, versatile, [and] adventurous species in the galaxy", (PROSE: Halflife [+]Mark Michalowski, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) but also was aware that some were "barbarians" (PROSE: Dreamstone Moon [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) who "never lost their inability to learn from their mistakes", (PROSE: Halflife [+]Mark Michalowski, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) degrading them for "heading towards [an Ice Warrior] ship like moths to the flame", (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) and found a police officer's refusal to believe him as "typical". (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Nightmare Game [+]Gareth Roberts, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).)
The Doctor kisses Grace goodbye. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).)
Due to his regeneration "[shaking] up his molecules so comprehensively that certain aspects of his character had come to the fore that had previously been buried so deeply within him they had seemed virtually nonexistent", (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) the Eighth Doctor was a romantic at heart, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) though he thought it an "unpleasant problem" to fall in love with humans. (PROSE: Legacy of the Daleks [+]John Peel, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) It was during his eighth incarnation that the Doctor began feeling a desire for romance — "the excitement of being close to someone, the need to exchange ideas on a more personal level, to be able to tell someone what you really believe". While he told I.M. Foreman it would be unfair to get sexually involved with his companions, (PROSE: Interference: The Hour of the Geek [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) the Doctor shared an experience with Bernice Summerfield, (AUDIO: Benny's Story [+]Lance Parkin, The Company of Friends (Main Range, Big Finish Productions, 2009).) and also proclaimed his love for Charley Pollard, (AUDIO: Neverland [+]Alan Barnes, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) but when she tried to broach the subject, he claimed that it was merely an urge brought on by his belief that she was about to die. Although uncomfortable with Charley's "yearning" for him, the Doctor did later admit to loving her, but then told her that they couldn't pursue a romantic relationship, opting to remain friends instead. (AUDIO: Scherzo [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2003).) For a time, Sam Jones had a crush on the Doctor, (PROSE: Longest Day [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Dreamstone Moon [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) something that he was aware of. (PROSE: Placebo Effect [+]Gary Russell, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) Alan Turing likewise developed feelings for the Doctor, (PROSE: The Turing Test [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) who would later recall being "more than friends" with Turing. (PROSE: The Domino Effect [+]David Bishop, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2003).) During his time in 1951, the Doctor became to desire of Penny, a waitress at the Café des Artistes, with spy Guy Burgess also eyeing him up. (PROSE: Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) On one occasion, he was described by Daqar Keep as someone who used flattery to deceive. (AUDIO: The Next Life [+]Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).)
The Doctor had a rocky relationship with Robin Bright-Thompson, one of his tenants in the 107 Baker Street of 2020. Pleasant moments, such as him fixing Robin's games console (AUDIO: Lost Property [+]Matt Fitton, Stranded 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2020).) and telling a story from his past to comfort Robin, (AUDIO: Must-See TV [+]Lisa McMullin, Stranded 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2020).) gave way to scorn when he learned of Robin's evils as the leader of Divine Intervention. It took an imprisonment with Robin orchestrated by the Curator, inside the kitchen of the attic flat as it floated through the Void, for the Doctor to realise Robin had grown villainous for all too human reasons. He extended an olive branch by offering the attic flat to Robin, (AUDIO: The Keys of Baker Street [+]Roy Gill, Stranded 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2022).) Robin reciprocating with a genuine attempt to make amends. (AUDIO: Best Year Ever [+]John Dorney, Stranded 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2022).)
Viewing them as "the worst thing [one] [could] possibly imagine," the Doctor saw the Daleks as "cold, ruthless killers", (COMIC: Fire and Brimstone [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997).) believing that they "[had] no interest in anything but conquest and war," with "art, decoration, poetry, music all [being] irrelevant to them." He also had no qualms with killing Daleks with high frequency shock waves. (PROSE: War of the Daleks [+]John Peel, adapted from War of the Daleks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) His hatred of the Daleks escalated after they started to pursue him and Molly through time, (AUDIO: Fugitives [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).) though he considered a war between the Daleks and the Time Lords to be a ridiculous thought. (AUDIO: Tangled Web [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).) However, when he thought that the Eminence was a greater threat to the universe, he decided to ally himself with the Dalek Time Controller. (AUDIO: Eyes of the Master [+]Matt Fitton, Dark Eyes 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2014).) After their alliance ended, (AUDIO: Time's Horizon [+]Matt Fitton, Dark Eyes 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2014).) they resumed their animosity to each other, with the Doctor being particularly angry with the Time Controller's plans to make a New Dalek Paradigm from the artists of Montmartre. (AUDIO: The Monster of Montmartre [+]Matt Fitton, Dark Eyes 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2015).)
He also saw the Cybermen as "evil, rapacious creatures." (COMIC: Dreadnought [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (BBC Magazines, 1996).) During his extended time on Baker Street, the Doctor came to think that a Time Lord was "a puffed-up name invented by puffed-up people who think, just because they've found a way to cheat death, that the universe owes them something." (AUDIO: Crossed Lines [+]Matt Fitton, Stranded 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2022).)
Sam Jones described the Eighth Doctor as a "hero" who "never does anything wrong", (PROSE: Revolution Man [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and Charley Pollard referred to him as "an unbelievable, impossible, marvellous man." (AUDIO: The Fall of the House of Pollard [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) While Lucie Miller originally took against the Doctor, describing him as a "patronising git," and a "spineless fish", (AUDIO: Blood of the Daleks [+]Steve Lyons, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2006)., The Skull of Sobek [+]Marc Platt, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2008).) she claimed that he was "the best bloke [she'd] ever met" just before her death. (AUDIO: To the Death [+]Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2011).) The Doctor's first TARDIS described the Eighth Doctor as "the idealist". (AUDIO: Prisoners of Fate [+]Jonathan Morris, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2013).) While the "Katy Manning" Iris called the Doctor a "dilettante fop", Jo Grant thought the Doctor was "very dashing". (AUDIO: The Elixir of Doom [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) Destrii described the Doctor as "quite the package" due to him possessing "brains, buns and barrel-loads of bravado". (COMIC: Ophidius [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001).) Helen Sinclair considered the Doctor to be "the best man [she'd] ever known," (AUDIO: Ship in a Bottle [+]John Dorney, Doom Coalition 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2017).) refusing to believe he had committed the atrocities claimed of him by Gemma Houlbrooke. (AUDIO: The Long Way Round [+]John Dorney, Stranded 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2021).)
Jacob Hynes believed that, "despite his weird nineteenth-century costume, [the Doctor] had the air of a man from the Golden Age". (PROSE: Genocide [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) Upon staring into the Doctor's eyes, Daniel O'Ryan saw "the alienness of [the] so often warm and human-seeming [Doctor]." (PROSE: Dreamstone Moon [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) A Kulan assumed the Doctor to be "some sort of congenital idiot". (PROSE: Escape Velocity [+]Colin Brake, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) The Monk called the Doctor a "Gallifreyan flunky" and expressed relief at him not being a "hypocrite". (AUDIO: The Resurrection of Mars [+]Jonathan Morris, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).) Caleera criticised the Doctor for being "a rogue, a renegade" who had shirked the responsibilities she believed were inherent to all Time Lords. (AUDIO: The Sonomancer [+]Matt Fitton, Doom Coalition 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2016).) When he had a tarot card reading, the Eighth Doctor was identified as "the Magician". (PROSE: The City of the Dead [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).)
By his own admittance, the Doctor "mustn't" think about death, (PROSE: Longest Day [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and wished to die alone. (AUDIO: Scherzo [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2003).) Unafraid to die due to having "died many times before", the Doctor could think of no better epitaph than to have inspired others to hold back death and go forward in all their beliefs. (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) When faced with execution, the Doctor confided in Izzy that one of his few regrets was being unable to show her more of the universe's wonders. (COMIC: By Hook or By Crook [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997).) When he though he felt a regeneration coming, he likened the feeling to "a caterpillar wrapping itself in a chrysalis". (PROSE: Fear Itself [+]Nick Wallace, BBC Past Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).)
The Eighth Doctor explodes with anger as he prepares to regenerate into the antithesis of his moral code. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).)
When the Eighth Doctor met his demise, he had been thoroughly broken by the breakout of the Time War, to the point that he decided to remain onboard a crashing spaceship, pleading with Cass Fermazzi to put aside her hatred of the Time Lords for him to save her. When it ended in failure, the Doctor died in the crash, having lost the will to regenerate until the Sisterhood of Karn temporarily restored him to life. Though he continued to refuse joining the Time War, seeing Cass's lifeless body caused the Doctor to finally lose all hope, claim the deceased Cass's bandolier and abandon the title of "Doctor" with extreme disparity after being coaxed by Ohila to embrace his regeneration into a warrior, expressing bitter delight when informed the change would hurt him. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) Thinking back to times he was not alone to comfort himself, (PROSE: The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, adapted from The Day of the Doctor (Steven Moffat), Target novelisations (Target Books, 2018). the Doctor saluted his past companions, and apologised to Cass, before drinking the Elixir. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).)
In an account where he fought to the very end of the Time War, the Doctor was driven to destroy the Time Lords and the Daleks with the Moment, and feared he had "fixed" his existence by using the Moment, though was content to permanently die. As he found comfort in being in his "home" in the TARDIS, the Doctor found that the Restoration had reset his life-cycle, enabling him to regenerate. While he first thought that "last words [were] useless", as he began to regenerate, the Doctor spoke his final words aloud. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Time War [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who: Lockdown! (2020).)
Habits and quirks[]
The Eighth Doctor made a habit of randomly kissing or getting kissed by others, such as Grace Holloway, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) Bernice Summerfield, (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) Sam Jones, (PROSE: Longest Day [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) Fitz Kreiner, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) Destrii, (COMIC: Uroboros [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2002)., Sins of the Fathers [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2004).) the Master-Maid, (PROSE: Grimm Reality [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Kelly Hale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and Charley Pollard. (AUDIO: Scherzo [+]Robert Shearman, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2003).) He also kissed Anji Kapoor when she and him were possessed by the spirits of Hanstrum and Elizabethan. (PROSE: EarthWorld [+]Jacqueline Rayner, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) Much to Charley's annoyance, the Doctor himself had a penchant for platonically kissing people on the lips when excited. (AUDIO: Enemy Aliens [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
Because he was a Time Lord, (PROSE: The Queen of Eros [+]Trevor Baxendale, Short Trips and Side Steps (Short Trips short stories, 2000).) the Doctor occasional had "flashes" of people's future, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., The Shadows of Avalon [+]Paul Cornell, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) and made a habit of giving people hints about their future, while not expressing outright the nature of that future, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).; PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Option Lock [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Placebo Effect [+]Gary Russell, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Timeless [+]Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2003).; AUDIO: The Stones of Venice [+]Paul Magrs, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2001).) though he dropped this habit after Grace called him out on being cryptic about her future. (COMIC: The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999).) He could also see into someone's past, at least in the case of Guy Adams. (PROSE: Timeless [+]Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2003).)
Often repeating himself due to his enthusiasms, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) the Eighth Doctor was unafraid to raise his voice when he needed to heard or was unable to contain his emotions, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996)., The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) though his voice would turn "icy" when he was taking authority over someone. (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) He would often lean towards making a sarcastic quip, especially when in the company of Lucie Miller, leading her to nickname him "Sarcasmo". (AUDIO: The Vengeance of Morbius [+]Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2008).)
He would often utter, "blazes", when annoyed or surprised, (COMIC: The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999)., The Company of Thieves [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (1999)., The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000)., Ophidius [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001)., Beautiful Freak [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001)., The Land of Happy Endings [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2003).) and was known to say also "good grief". (PROSE: War of the Daleks [+]John Peel, adapted from War of the Daleks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Interference: Shock Tactic) [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., The Adventuress of Henrietta Street [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).; COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000)., The Way of All Flesh [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2001)., Uroboros [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2002).)
He would sing or hum to himself when travelling to a location, or to simply relax himself. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).; PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Longest Day [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., The Janus Conjunction [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., The Fall of Yquatine [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000)., Coldheart [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).; AUDIO: The Great War [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).)
Like many of his predecessors, the Doctor would often flick the long tails of his frock coat back and stand with his hands in his pockets, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).; COMIC: Ascendance [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996)., Perceptions [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996-1997)., Endgame [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1996)., Fire and Brimstone [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997)., By Hook or By Crook [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997)., Tooth and Claw [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997)., The Final Chapter [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1998)., The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999)., The Road to Hell [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1999)., TV Action! [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics, 1999)., The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000)., The Autonomy Bug [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2000)., Ophidius [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001)., Beautiful Freak [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001)., Uroboros [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2002)., Where Nobody Knows Your Name [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003)., Bad Blood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003-2004)., Sins of the Fathers [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2004)., The Flood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2004-2005)., The Body Politic [+]Scott & David Tipton, Prisoners of Time (IDW Publishing, 2013).; AUDIO: Seasons of Fear [+]Paul Cornell and Caroline Symcox, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).) or stand with his arms crossed behind his back. (COMIC: Endgame [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1996)., The Keep [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997)., Tooth and Claw [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1997)., The Road to Hell [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1999)., The Company of Thieves [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (1999).) Like his first incarnation, the Eight Doctor was known to grasp the lapels of his frock coats. (COMIC: Ascendance [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996)., Coda [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (BBC Magazines, 1997)., Endgame [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1996)., Wormwood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1998)., The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999)., The Body Politic [+]Scott & David Tipton, Prisoners of Time (IDW Publishing, 2013).; PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997)., Beltempest [+]Jim Mortimore, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Interference: Shock Tactic [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).)
Like his fourth incarnation, the Eighth Doctor could be pedantic at times, focusing on a minor annoyance when under a greater threat, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).; PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., The Taking of Planet 5 [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).; COMIC: TV Action! [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics, 1999)., Doctor Who and the Nightmare Game [+]Gareth Roberts, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003)., The Power of Thoueris! [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003)., Briarwood [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) making a quip in the face of danger, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).; PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).; COMIC: Endgame [+]Alan Barnes, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1996).) or cracking jokes that unnerved those around him. (PROSE: Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Parallel 59 [+]Natalie Dallaire and Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) Also like the Fourth Doctor, the Eighth Doctor was known to clutter his pockets with random objects. (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997)., Alien Bodies [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Kursaal [+]Peter Anghelides, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., The Janus Conjunction [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Coldheart [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000)., Dark Progeny [+]Steve Emmerson, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001)., The City of the Dead [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001)., Hope [+]Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., The Tomorrow Windows [+]Jonathan Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).; AUDIO: Something Inside [+]Trevor Baxendale, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2006)., The Girl Who Never Was [+]Alan Barnes, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2007).)
He could be literal minded, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) and would often explain or answer a rhetorical question asked to him. (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997)., The Taint [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).
The Eighth Doctor regularly suffered with bouts of memory loss, either brought on by trauma, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).; AUDIO: Minuet in Hell [+]Alan W. Lear and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2001)., Zagreus [+]Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2003)., The Girl Who Never Was [+]Alan Barnes, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2007)., Orbis [+]Alan Barnes and Nicholas Briggs, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2009).) forced on him by another, (PROSE: The Eight Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).; AUDIO: Terror Firma [+]Joseph Lidster, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2005)., Something Inside [+]Trevor Baxendale, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2006)., Master of the Daleks [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW., One Life [+]John Dorney, The Eighth Doctor: Time War: Volume One (The Eighth Doctor: Time War, Big Finish Productions, 2017)., In the Garden of Death [+]Guy Adams, The Eighth Doctor: Time War: Volume Two (The Eighth Doctor: Time War, Big Finish Productions, 2018)., Darkness and Light [+]David Llewellyn, Rage of the Time Lords (The War Master, Big Finish Productions, 2019).) self-inflicted, (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell [+]Peter Anghelides and Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000)., The Gallifrey Chronicles [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).) or brought on by natural circumstances. (AUDIO: Lost Property [+]Matt Fitton, Stranded 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2020)., Dreadshade [+]Lisa McMullin, The Eighth Doctor: Time War: Volume Four (The Eighth Doctor: Time War, Big Finish Productions, 2020).)
Skills[]
The Eighth Doctor had a talent in pick-pocketing, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).; PROSE: Legacy of the Daleks [+]John Peel, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).; COMIC: The Company of Thieves [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (1999)., The Way of All Flesh [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2001)., The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).; AUDIO: Other Lives [+]Gary Hopkins, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2005)., The Monster of Montmartre [+]Matt Fitton, Dark Eyes 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2015).) and claimed his skills were "well-honed" enough for him to know a fake jostle on contact. (COMIC: The Flood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2004-2005).) He was also skilled at transmigration, (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Demontage [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., Frontier Worlds [+]Peter Anghelides, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., EarthWorld [+]Jacqueline Rayner, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) lock picking, (PROSE: Unnatural History [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., The Crooked World [+]Steve Lyons, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and hacking and code-breaking. (PROSE: Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).; AUDIO: Wild Animals [+]John Dorney, Stranded 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2020).)
Like his predecessor's manipulative streak, the Eighth Doctor could convince others to follow his train of thought, such as convincing the Celestis that the Relic was a temporal paradox, (PROSE: Alien Bodies [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) haggling for a lower price of a dying begonia, (PROSE: The Taint [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999). and tricking the Eminence into destroying itself. (AUDIO: Rule of the Eminence [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) He was also still skilled at chess, (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) but substituted his seventh incarnation's planning and foreword thinking with his great improvisation skills, (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Legacy of the Daleks [+]John Peel, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).; COMIC: Doctor Who and the Nightmare Game [+]Gareth Roberts, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).) being able to assess a situation and calculate a way around it with relative ease. (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).)
While he had mostly abandoned his predecessor's manipulative tendencies, (PROSE: The Threshold [+]Scott Gray, adapted from Ground Zero (Scott Gray), Endgame short stories (Panini Books, 2005).) telling Mr Bird he had sworn off stratagems because they "never end[ed] well", (AUDIO: Crossed Lines [+]Matt Fitton, Stranded 4 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2022).) the Eighth Doctor possessed the cunning to lead his foes into a battlefield of his choosing, tricking the Threshold into lowering their guard by letting them think he had regenerated by switching places with Shayde, (COMIC: Wormwood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 1998).) turning Andrelina Hastoff's minions against each other with a few choice words, (COMIC: The Autonomy Bug [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2000).) and stalling his execution by the Ophidians so a servicer drone he had left in the anti-gravity regulator could disable their ship and allow him to escape. (COMIC: Ophidius [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001).)
While fighting wasn't his "forte", (AUDIO: Worldwide Web [+]Eddie Robson, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2009).) the Eighth Doctor was both a highly proficient swordsman and skilled in the art of Venusian aikido, (COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000).) even using it on instinct when an amnesiac. (PROSE: The Burning [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000)., Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000)., Grimm Reality [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Kelly Hale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001)., Mad Dogs and Englishmen [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., The Book of the Still [+]Paul Ebbs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002)., The Gallifrey Chronicles [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).) He was also able to restrain Homunculette with his finger, (PROSE: Alien Bodies [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) jump-kick an armoured guard through a broken window, (PROSE: Parallel 59 [+]Natalie Dallaire and Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) sword-fight the Master across the omniverse at equal strength, (COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000).) quickly overpower Destrii with Venusian aikido, (COMIC: Oblivion [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Marvel Comics UK, 2002-2003).) and knock out North with a single jab to the face. (COMIC: The Flood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2004-2005).) However, when he used Venusian aikido on C'rizz, he injured himself due to being "out of practice." (AUDIO: Faith Stealer [+]Graham Duff, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).)
He was also stronger than the average human, (PROSE: Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) being able to punch his way out of a morgue, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) knock out two Zygons barehanded with ease, (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) throwing Axel out of a vehicle, (PROSE: Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) and lift a heavy lectern with ease. (PROSE: Sometime Never... [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) He once boasted the ability to "break a human in two". (PROSE: Demontage [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) He could also dress himself in record time. (PROSE: The Janus Conjunction [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998)., Unnatural History [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).)
While initially he couldn't dance, (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) the Doctor was fast and strong enough to break a man's ribs before he could react with a few punches, (PROSE: Endgame [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) and could use a gun to shoot his opponents' bullets out of the air. (PROSE: Grimm Reality [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Kelly Hale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001)., Trading Futures [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) He later learnt to dance. (PROSE: The Book of the Still [+]Paul Ebbs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).)
He could read minds if he wanted to, (PROSE: The Book of the Still [+]Paul Ebbs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) being able to use post-hypnotic suggestion to calm Carolyn McConnell into sleeping, (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) render Rifaat unconscious with a touch, (PROSE: Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) make telepathic contact with the Proximan group mind, (PROSE: The Face-Eater [+]Simon Messingham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and put Johann in a hypnotic trance, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) but preferred to read expressions and body language to save time. (PROSE: The Book of the Still [+]Paul Ebbs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) Under "exceptional circumstances", the Doctor's brain could communicate via reduced-frequency alpha waves, (PROSE: The Janus Conjunction [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) and he could perform hypnosis, (AUDIO: Faith Stealer [+]Graham Duff, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) being able to use a Red Indian hypnosis trick to stop Fitz feeling the pain of a broken wrist. (PROSE: The Deadstone Memorial [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) When subjected to a mind probe, the Doctor could use the procedure to read his interrogator's thoughts and memories. (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Nightmare Game [+]Gareth Roberts, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003)., The Curious Tale of Spring-Heeled Jack [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).) The Doctor also had the ability to enter another being's mind, but his morality prevented him from doing so, (AUDIO: Caerdroia [+]Lloyd Rose, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) and his psionic potential was significant enough to exceed System's parameters. (AUDIO: World of Damnation [+]Matt Fitton, Ravenous 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous, Big Finish Productions, 2018).)
The Doctor was able to build a device that neutralised the camouflage of the Heliyon ship in a matter of hours, with Winston Churchill admiring his ability to construct such "clever machines". (AUDIO: Their Finest Hour [+]John Dorney, Ravenous 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous, Big Finish Productions, 2018).')
The Doctor was able to devise a cure for radiation sickness by studying the biology of a dead spider, (PROSE: The Janus Conjunction [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) perform an autopsy, (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) knew the Heimlich manoeuvre, and could perform dentistry. (PROSE: Grimm Reality [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Kelly Hale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).)
The Doctor could see in the dark better than humans, (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) tell the difference between human and Gallifreyan blood by smell, (PROSE: Legacy of the Daleks [+]John Peel, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) detect subtle toxins, (PROSE: Vanderdeken's Children [+]Christopher Bulis, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) smell pollutants in Earth's atmosphere, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) see a force shield that was invisible to human eyes, (PROSE: The Year of Intelligent Tigers [+]Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and identify human blood types by taste. (AUDIO: Absolution [+]Scott Alan Woodard, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2007).)
The Eighth Doctor could play the piano, (PROSE: Casualties of War [+]Steve Emmerson, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) the violin, harpsichord, flute, transverse cello, harp, banjo, theremin, and wobbleboard. He could play anything composed by somebody else, but was unable to improvise his own music. (PROSE: The Year of Intelligent Tigers [+]Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) He could also sing opera. (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).)
Possessing a liking for travel machines of all kinds, (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) the Doctor showed great proficiency at commandeering transport, being able to drive a police motorcycle (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) and a regular motorcycle, (PROSE: Revolution Man [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) singlehandedly pilot a Lockheed F-40 Stealth helicopter, (COMIC: The Fallen [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 1998-1999).) drive a jeep, pilot an L5 and a B.E.2c plane, (PROSE: Autumn Mist [+]David A. McIntee, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).; AUDIO: Fugitives [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).) steal a space shuttle, (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) drive a motorbike with a sidecar, (PROSE: EarthWorld [+]Jacqueline Rayner, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) drive a tractor, (PROSE: Eater of Wasps [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) fly a Mobox flyer, (COMIC: Lua error in Module:Cite_source at line 420: attempt to index a nil value.) pilot a lifeboat, (PROSE: Rip Tide [+]Louise Cooper, Telos Doctor Who novellas (Telos Publishing, 2003).) commandeer a bus, (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Nightmare Game [+]Gareth Roberts, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003).) and pilot and land an Overseer craft with no prior experience. (COMIC: The Body Politic [+]Scott & David Tipton, Prisoners of Time (IDW Publishing, 2013).) He could also ride a horse and a dragon unaided. (PROSE: The Shadows of Avalon [+]Paul Cornell, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).; COMIC: Bad Blood [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003-2004).)
The Doctor was also an accomplished chef, making cocoa for Benny and the Brigadier, (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) cooking an English breakfast on board Iris Wildthyme' bus, (PROSE: The Scarlet Empress [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) stress-baking a Lady Baltimore cake with "very complicated icing", (PROSE: Camera Obscura [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) making a massive picnic for his friends, holding several dinner parties in his flat on Hitchemus, (PROSE: The Year of Intelligent Tigers [+]Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and cooked baked salmon with a classic English parsley sauce for the McKeown family. (PROSE: The Deadstone Memorial [+]Trevor Baxendale, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2004).) However, his attampt to make ratatouille once threatened to cause a devastating fire. (AUDIO: Wild Animals [+]John Dorney, Stranded 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2020).)
The Doctor could sing in Italian, and sing the Venusian lullaby, (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Longest Day [+]Michael Collier, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) speak Esperanto, (PROSE: Legacy of the Daleks [+]John Peel, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) Martian, (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and Russian, (AUDIO: The Natural History of Fear [+]Jim Mortimore, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) and sign in the language of the Delphon. (PROSE: Beltempest [+]Jim Mortimore, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).) He also claimed to be skilled in speaking the "local patter." (AUDIO: Invaders from Mars [+]Mark Gatiss, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).)
The Doctor could deduce his location by studying his surroundings, (AUDIO: Mary's Story [+]Jonathan Morris, The Company of Friends (Main Range, Big Finish Productions, 2009).) and how fast a spaceship was travelling by feeling its vibrations. (AUDIO: Sword of Orion [+]Nicholas Briggs, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2001).) He noticed that his body healed faster than his previous one. (AUDIO: Scaredy Cat [+]Will Shindler, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2005).)
Being a Time Lord, the Doctor could will his respiration, heartbeat, brain activity, lindal gland, and reflex response systems to shut down, though he would require a few days to fully recover to full strength afterwards. (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) He could also sense fissures in time, (AUDIO: Benny's Story [+]Lance Parkin, The Company of Friends (Main Range, Big Finish Productions, 2009).) and will his hearts (AUDIO: Death in Blackpool [+]Alan Barnes, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2009).) and even half of his body to shut down. (AUDIO: Nevermore [+]Alan Barnes, Eighth Doctor Adventures (Big Finish Productions, 2010).)
He could imitate others' voices, (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999)., Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) juggle, (PROSE: EarthWorld [+]Jacqueline Rayner, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) escape handcuffs with ease, (PROSE: Trading Futures [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and stitch up his clothing. (PROSE: Fallen Gods [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, Telos Doctor Who novellas (Telos Publishing, 2003).) He also admitted to being an "inveterate doodler". (AUDIO: World of Damnation [+]Matt Fitton, Ravenous 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Ravenous, Big Finish Productions, 2018).) However, he was not very good at video games, finding them easy at the beginning, then increasingly difficult as the consequences of one's errors piled up. (AUDIO: What Just Happened? [+]John Dorney, Stranded 3 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Stranded, Big Finish Productions, 2021).)
The Doctor had an eidetic memory, (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) and was able to remember all the Liverpool F.C. strikers and goals from 1964-1965 and 2013-2014, (AUDIO: The Next Life [+]Alan Barnes and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) as well as the inspirational fifth victory of European Cup by Liverpool's football club in 2005. (AUDIO: Something Inside [+]Trevor Baxendale, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2006).)
Appearance[]
The Doctor shortly after his regeneration. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).)
According to Grace Holloway, the Eighth Doctor looked like a man in his mid-thirties. (PROSE: The Novel of the Film [+]Gary Russell, adapted from Doctor Who (Matthew Jacobs), BBC Books novelisations (BBC Books, 1996).) Bernice Summerfield thought "his long face was angular, with a jutting chin and aristocratic nose, but it was softened by a mass of dark brown hair that swept back down all the way from his high forehead to his broad shoulders". (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997).) He weighed approximately 180 pounds, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) and was ambidextrous. (PROSE: The Turing Test [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) It was claimed that he smelled of "sandalwood", (PROSE: Dominion [+]Nick Walters, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) "old exitronic circuitry", (PROSE: The Taking of Planet 5 [+]Simon Bucher-Jones and Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) and honey. (AUDIO: Seasons of Fear [+]Paul Cornell and Caroline Symcox, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2002).)
The Doctor had blue eyes after he regenerated. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) However, due to Faction Paradox interfering with the Doctor's biodata, his eye colour was changed to green, (PROSE: Alien Bodies [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) before reverting to blue after the majority of Faction Paradox was erased from the timeline. (PROSE: The Ancestor Cell [+]Peter Anghelides and Stephen Cole, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).) During his travels with Mary Shelley, his eyes were ice blue, the left eye being slightly darker than the right. (AUDIO: The Silver Turk [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) When asked about where he came from, the Doctor's eye colour would change between grey and blue, (PROSE: Mad Dogs and Englishmen [+]Paul Magrs, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).) and they sometimes appeared as brown. (COMIC: A Matter of Life and Death [+]George Mann, Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor (Titan Comics, 2016).) When discussing it, Adrienne Kramer and Carolyn McConnell were unable to agree on what colour the Doctor's eye were. (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).)
He once wore blue eye-shadow, (PROSE: Growing Higher [+]Paul Leonard, Short Trips: Zodiac (Short Trips, 2002).) and had a tattoo of a man transforming into a jaguar. (PROSE: The City of the Dead [+]Lloyd Rose, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).)
The Doctor during the Time War. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).)
As the Time War reached its height, the Doctor's face showed prominent crow's feet and some wrinkling as a result of his fatigue. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).)
Carolyn McConnell described the Eighth Doctor as "tall, dark, [and] handsome". (PROSE: Vampire Science [+]Kate Orman and Jonathan Blum, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) Coldicott, in comparisons to his other incarnations, described the Eighth Doctor as "the Young Edwardian version". (PROSE: Interference: Shock Tactic [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1999).) Constance Clarke thought the Eighth Doctor was attractive. (AUDIO: The End of the Beginning [+]Robert Valentine, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2021).)
The First Doctor described his eighth incarnation as the "younger, handsome one, with hair dangling to his shoulders". (PROSE: Five Card Draw [+]Todd Green, Short Trips: Zodiac (Short Trips, 2002).)
Grooming and hair[]
The Doctor's shorter hair. (AUDIO: The Great War [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).)
The Doctor had long, wavy hair after his regeneration, (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) but, after falling in the ocean at Dunkirk, he had his wavy hair cut short. (AUDIO: Fugitives [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).) He grew it out so that he again had curls. (AUDIO: The Eleven [+]Matt Fitton, Doom Coalition 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2015)., The Gift [+]Marc Platt, Doom Coalition 2 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2016).)
Towards the end of his life, the Doctor's hair started to go grey, (PROSE: Father Time [+]Lance Parkin, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001)., Not in My Back Yard [+]Eddie Robson, Short Trips: The History of Christmas (Short Trips short stories, 2005)., DS Al Fine [+]Simon Guerrier, Short Trips: Time Signature (Short Trips short stories, 2006).) and, after cutting his hair again, (PROSE: Natural Regression [+]Justin Richards, The Scientific Secrets of Doctor Who (2015).) he had regained enough length to form messy curls drooping over his forehead. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).)
He grew a beard shortly before his wedding to Scarlette, (PROSE: The Adventuress of Henrietta Street [+]Lawrence Miles, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2001).) but later shaved it. (PROSE: Hope [+]Mark Clapham, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2002).)
Clothing[]
Main attires[]
The Doctor's original jacket. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).)
After walking around with a white sheet following his regeneration, the Doctor stole a Wild Bill Hickok costume from Ted Kriechel's locker at Walker General Hospital. Though he discarded the cap and gunbelt, he kept the double-breasted frock coat made from forest green velvet with peaked lapels, double breasted waistcoat of silver grey paisley with 10 gold buttons and a shawl collar, golden fob watch, white dress shirt with a high collar, battleship grey cravat with a bronze pin, and moss green trousers. After walking around the hospital barefoot, he was given a pair of black ankle boots by Grace Holloway that originally belonged to her ex-boyfriend, Brian. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996).) He also took to wearing question mark-fashioned boxer shorts, (PROSE: Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).; COMIC: The Glorious Dead [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2000).) and would occasionally discard the cravat and leave his top buttons undone. (COMIC: Uroboros [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2002)., Doctor Who and the Nightmare Game [+]Gareth Roberts, DWM Comics (Panini Comics, 2003)., The Land of Happy Endings [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2003).) The Doctor had replacement jackets, (PROSE: The Bodysnatchers [+]Mark Morris, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).) made for him by a tailor on Savile Row in 1892. (PROSE: Genocide [+]Paul Leonard, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997)., Seeing I [+]Jonathan Blum and Kate Orman, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).)
The Doctor varied the colour scheme of his costume, such as wearing a navy blue frock coat, a violet purple waistcoat, an indigo cravat, mauve trousers, (COMIC: Dreadnought [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (BBC Magazines, 1996).) a plum purple cravat, (COMIC: Descendance [+]Gary Russell, Radio Times comic stories (Radio Times, 1996).) an amber cravat, a hunter green frock coat, (AUDIO: Storm Warning [+]Alan Barnes, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2001).) an olive green frock coat, a cream waistcoat (COMIC: Ophidius [+]Scott Gray, DWM Comics (2001).) a gold cravat, an ochre waistcoat, (AUDIO: The Stones of Venice [+]Paul Magrs, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2001).) a lime green waistcoat, (AUDIO: Caerdroia [+]Lloyd Rose, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2004).) sapphire blue trousers, (AUDIO: Time Works [+]Steve Lyons, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2006).) fern green trousers, (AUDIO: Absolution [+]Scott Alan Woodard, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2007).) a jade green waistcoat, (AUDIO: The Battle of Giant's Causeway [+]Lizzie Hopley, Sontarans vs Rutans (Big Finish Productions, 2024).) a burnt orange waistcoat, (AUDIO: Audacity [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) a burgundy cravat, and a maroon waistcoat. (AUDIO: Twenty-Four Doors in December [+]John Dorney, In the Bleak Midwinter (Big Finish Productions, 2023).)
Immediately following the War in Heaven, the Doctor began to wear a shirt and trousers, but felt that they did not suit him, and soon changed back into his Wild Bill Hickok clothes. (PROSE: The Burning [+]Justin Richards, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2000).)
The Doctor makes his presence known to Josie. (COMIC: The Pictures of Josephine Day [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
During his travels with Fitz and Trix, (PROSE: We Can't Stop What's Coming [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) the Doctor took on another outfit that was more rugged and unkempt than his Wild Bill outfit, (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) which the War Doctor described as being "swashbuckling". (PROSE: The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, adapted from The Day of the Doctor (Steven Moffat), Target novelisations (Target Books, 2018). The look consisted of a double-breasted overcoat of moleskin with peaked lapels coloured in either bottle green (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) or Prussian blue; (AUDIO: He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) with a single-breasted waistcoat done in mustard yellow velvet, (COMIC: The Pictures of Josephine Day [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) wine brocade, (AUDIO: He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) vermillion brocade, (AUDIO: Meanwhile, Elsewhere [+]Tim Foley, Cass (The Eighth Doctor: Time War, Big Finish Productions, 2023).) or bronze brown brocade with a gold fob watch. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) In place of a cravat, he wore an ascot tie of dupioni done in flaxen yellow, (COMIC: The Pictures of Josephine Day [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) eggplant purple, (COMIC: A Matter of Life and Death [+]George Mann, Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor (Titan Comics, 2016).) dark teal, (COMIC: The Lost Dimension [+]George Mann, et al., Titan summer events (Titan Comics, 2017).) azure blue, (AUDIO: Cass [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) ebony black (AUDIO: Meanwhile, Elsewhere [+]Tim Foley, Cass (The Eighth Doctor: Time War, Big Finish Productions, 2023).) or midnight blue. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) He left the points of the shirt's collar drooped across his shoulders as he left it open-necked and wore the ascot crookedly on his own naked neck. He also sported wrinkled tan trousers haphazardly secured by a slouching belt only buckled by an S-link chain, with a pair of caramel brown British Army Calvary boots with a set of matching gaiters of gingerbread leather strapped across his shins, all of which were loosely laced and knotted improperly. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).) After a period of wearing his Wild Bill Hickok costume, (PROSE: Ghost of Christmas Past [+]Scott Handcock, Twelve Doctors of Christmas (2016).) the Doctor continued to wear his swashbuckling outfit throughout the Time War and to the end of his life, the clothes growing battered and frayed from action and abuse. (TV: The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC One, 2013).)
After ruining his clothes during World War I, the Doctor began wearing an alabaster t-shirt under a double-breasted peacoat of navy blue leather with anchor symbols three golden buttons, with dark blue jeans and sandy-brown trainers. He also took to carrying a mahogany brown satchel, wearing the single strap over his left (AUDIO: Fugitives [+]Nicholas Briggs, Dark Eyes (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Dark Eyes, Big Finish Productions, 2012).) or right shoulder. (AUDIO: The Eleven [+]Matt Fitton, Doom Coalition 1 (The Eighth Doctor Adventures: Doom Coalition, Big Finish Productions, 2015).)
Other clothes[]
When bathing, the Doctor would wear a baggy, all-in-one, stripy outfit. (PROSE: Kursaal [+]Peter Anghelides, BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1998).)
During his holidays, the Doctor wore long shorts and a straw cap in Egypt, (COMIC: <