Segun Akinola is the current composer for Doctor Who . He has composed incidental music for Series 11, 12, and 13.
As part of his work, he has created leitmotifs for characters, ideas and situations. Some of these are episode-specific; others recur between episodes and seasons.
This page aims to document all known leitmotifs in order of their appearance.
NB: The majority of leitmotifs have not been officially recognised by Segun himself, but their associations with particular characters/scenarios etc. can be assumed from the timing of their appearances.
List of currently known leitmotifs [ ]
Recurring motifs [ ]
Episode-specific motifs [ ]
There is also a leitmotif in Ascension of the Cybermen and The Timeless Children for which the association is not yet distinctly identified. It has been provisionally referred to on this page as the danger theme.
Series 11 - leitmotif appearances [ ]
All of the below listed official soundtrack appearances are on the Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack: Series 11 .
Notes to be added here regarding:
Difference between Thirteenth Doctor's theme A variation, B variation and "ambience". Also needs note for minor variation.
Difference between Fam theme A variation and B variation.
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Yasmin Khan
04:01–04:26
Not officially released
First instance of Yaz's theme.
04:33–04:56
Doctor Who theme
09:19–09:25
First instance of the Doctor Who theme in the Thirteenth Doctor era. This also marks the first time that the theme has been introduced in an era by a piece that is not the opening title music.
The Thirteenth Doctor
09:26–09:36
"Long Story" (Disc 1 Track 3)
Main melody (A). First instance of the Thirteenth Doctor's theme.
10:46–11:04
Not officially released
A
The Fam
18:36–20:02
"This New Nose Is So Unreliable" (Disc 1 Track 4)
Main melody (A). First instance of the Fam theme - used collectively for the Series 11/12 TARDIS team.
Tzim Sha/The Stenza
22:40–23:52
"The Warrior" (Disc 1 Track 5)
First instance of the Stenza theme.
24:42–24:51
The Thirteenth Doctor
29:35–30:38
"Sonic Screwdriver" (Disc 1 Track 6)
A
Tzim-Sha/The Stenza
33:31–34:23
Not officially released
The Thirteenth Doctor
34:24–34:32
Tzim-Sha/The Stenza
35:44–35:55
The Thirteenth Doctor
36:03–36:08
A
Tzim-Sha/The Stenza
36:19–36:48
38:41–39:06
The Thirteenth Doctor
39:08–39:18
A
Tzim-Sha/The Stenza
40:26–40:38
40:51–41:05
42:47–43:02
43:12–43:27
43:49–44:20
46:46-47:24
The Thirteenth Doctor
47:25–47:42
A
50:31–51:11
"The Doctor" (Disc 1 Track 7)
A
Tzim-Sha/The Stenza
51:11–51:18
The Thirteenth Doctor
51:21–51:52
A
Grace O'Brien
52:51–53:18
First instance of Grace's theme. Note to be added re. the musical grace note
54:54–55:13
Not officially released
The Thirteenth Doctor
57:46–58:40
A
58:57–59:28
"You Really Need To Get Out Of Those Clothes" (Disc 1 Track 8)
A
59:36–59:42
A
The Fam
1:00:17–1:00:31
A
Doctor Who theme
1:01:27-1:03:04
Not officially released
First instance of the Doctor Who theme being played in the Thirteenth Doctor era in full. This variation features the middle-8 and is the longest end credits by Akinola.
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
First instance of the "Opening Titles" variation of the Doctor Who theme in this era.
Ryan Sinclair
01:25–01:54
Not officially released
Desolation
05:14–05:51
"Three Suns" (Disc 1 Track 9)
07:47–08:05
Not officially released
08:49–09:00
09:17–09:32
Ilin
10:41–10:50
Desolation
12:33–13:11
The Thirteenth Doctor
15:17–15:46
Ambience
The TARDIS
15:31–15:39
16:18–16:40
The Thirteenth Doctor
16:40–17:01
A
17:10–17:38
Angstrom
18:38–18:49
Grace O'Brien
19:14–20:00
Angstrom
20:36–20:57
23:23–23:52
Yasmin Khan
23:52–24:14
Desolation
25:04–25:28
"Make It Through Those Ruins" (Disc 1 Track 10)
The Stenza
26:15–27:14
The Fam
27:14–27:31
B
28:14–28:19
The Thirteenth Doctor
28:23–28:30
Ryan Sinclair
28:46–28:54
Not officially released
The Thirteenth Doctor
29:25–29:38
A
Desolation
30:41–31:04
The Thirteenth Doctor
32:45–33:06
A
The Stenza
35:26–35:44
Grace O'Brien
35:53–36:07
Ryan Sinclair
38:01–38:34
The Thirteenth Doctor
39:51–40:01
A
The Fam
40:44–40:56
A
40:56–41:19
B
The Thirteenth Doctor
41:20–41:28
A
Desolation
42:30–43:16
The Thirteenth Doctor
44:33–44:50
"My Beautiful Ghost Monument" (Disc 1 Track 11)
A
44:58–45:48
45:49–46:22
Ambience
46:26–48:03
The TARDIS
46:46–46:53
The Thirteenth Doctor
47:21–47:33
A
The TARDIS
47:36–48:03
Not officially released
Doctor Who theme
48:00–48:48
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
First instance of the "Closing Credits" variation of the Doctor Who theme in this era.
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Rosa Parks
00:55–01:11
"Get Out That Door" (Disc 2 Track 2)
First instance of Rosa's theme.
01:32–01:41
01:50–01:57
02:25–02:35
The Thirteenth Doctor
03:03–03:12
Not officially released
Ambience
Historicals
04:18–04:35
"Parks, Rosa Parks" (Disc 2 Track 3)
Rosa Parks
05:01–05:05
06:05–06:20
06:33–06:38
Krasko
06:50–07:28
"Artron Energy" (Disc 2 Track 4)
First instance of Krasko's theme
The Fam
09:26–09:30
Not officially released
A
09:30–09:40
B
Rosa Parks
09:55–10:14
"This Is Very Bad News" (Disc 2 Track 5)
Krasko
10:04–10:28
The Fam
10:40–10:50
B
Krasko
12:21–12:37
13:29–13:39
13:58–14:01
Fam
14:58–15:02
Not officially released
B
15:13-15:17
15:21-15:26
15:30-15:34
15:45-16:10
Yasmin Khan
19:40-20:10
The Fam
20:23–20:54
B
Grace O'Brien
21:02–21:14
The Fam
21:14–21:56
A
Ryan Sinclair
22:27-22:37
Yasmin Khan
22:38-22:55
Rosa Parks
24:14-24:37
25:34–25:40
25:50–25:56
Krasko
26:13-26:25
29:39-29:53
The Fam
31:00-31:16
B
Rosa Parks
32:16-32:55
The Fam
32:55-34:07
B
34:25–35:14
B
Krasko
39:20-39:32
Rosa Parks
39:48-40:24
Krasko
41:49-42:01
Rosa Parks
43:49–44:02
"Stand Up Now" (Disc 2 Track 7)
The Fam
44:44-45:53
Rosa Parks
45:38–45:48
48:03–48:18
"A Living Icon for Freedom" (Disc 2 Track 8)
48:39–48:56
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Mutant Spiders
00:47–00:54
Not officially released
First instance of the Spider theme.
Jack Robertson
01:40-02:01
First instance of Robertson's theme.
The TARDIS
02:40–03:01
The Thirteenth Doctor
03:19–03:38
A
The Fam
03:39–04:04
A
The Thirteenth Doctor
04:08–04:38
Ambience
Yasmin Khan
04:38–04:58
Grace O'Brien
05:10-05:34
Mutant Spiders
05:47–05:51
07:12–07:15
07:47–07:50
Graham O'Brien
08:45-09:08
"Missing You" (Disc 1 Track 12)
Mutant Spiders
10:30–10:34
Not officially released
10:51–10:54
11:22–11:26
11:37–11:41
12:44–12:47
13:35–14:04
15:55–15:58
Yasmin Khan
16:35-17:06
"Insurance Policy" (Disc 1 Track 13)
Mutant Spiders
19:57–20:08
Not officially released
22:16–22:20
26:06–26:10
28:46–28:50
29:00–29:04
37:53–38:03
Jack Robertson
38:55–39:08
39:52–40:05
Mutant Spiders
42:51–43:11
Jack Robertson
43:19–43:26
43:44-44:05
Grace O'Brien
44:37-44:53
The TARDIS
46:12–46:26
"My Fam" (Disc 1 Track 14)
The Fam
46:56–47:33
A
47:59–48:39
Doctor Who theme
48:38–49:22
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Ryan Sinclair
22:17-23:38
Not officially released
Ryan Sinclair
45:00-45:07
Not officially released
Doctor Who theme
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Yasmin Khan
06:58-07:21
Not officially released
Yasmin Khan
12:29-12:49
Not officially released
Yasmin Khan
21:28-22:10
Not officially released
Yasmin Khan
24:44-25:06
Not officially released
Doctor Who theme
"Yaz And Nani End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 12)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Doctor Who theme
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Yasmin Khan
17:44-17:51
Not officially released
Doctor Who theme
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Ryan Sinclair
19:17-19:40
Not officially released
Grace O'Brien
34:03-34:27
"Reverse the Polarity" (Disc 2 Track 16)
Graham O'Brien
34:27-34:32
Grace O'Brien
38:57-39:23
Graham O'Brien
39:28-39:35
Grace O'Brien
39:35-39:54
Graham O'Brien
48:13-48:25
"Made A New Friend" (Disc 2 Track 17)
Doctor Who theme
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:35
"Series 11 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Grace O'Brien
12:19-12:50
Graham O'Brien
16:03-16:11
Ryan Sinclair
18:10-18:28
Grace O'Brien
28:31-28:47
Yasmin Khan
37:28-37:37
Grace O'Brien
41:25-41:37
Grace O'Brien
43:32-43:44
Graham O'Brien
44:02-44:07
"Keep Your Faith" (Disc 1 Track 21)
Grace O'Brien
45:42-46:06
Doctor Who theme
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
The Daleks
00:00–00:XX
Graham O'Brien
11:39-11:49
Ryan Sinclair
23:07-24:25
Grace O'Brien
36:12-37:00
The Daleks
41:57-42:04
The Daleks
50:08-50:32
Ryan Sinclair
56:17-57:24
Ryan Sinclair
57:37-57:49
Layered in with elements of the Fam leitmotif.
Ryan Sinclair
58:23-58:44
Doctor Who theme
"Doctor Who Series 11 End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Series 12 - leitmotif appearances [ ]
All of the below listed official soundtrack appearances from Spyfall to The Timeless Children are on the Doctor Who - Series 12 (Original Television Soundtrack) . All listed appearances for Revolution of the Daleks are on the Doctor Who - Series 12 - Revolution of the Daleks (Original Television Soundtrack) .
Part One [ ]
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:34
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Ryan Sinclair
03:21-04:07
Yasmin Khan
05:02-05:19
Graham O'Brien
05:31-05:38
Grace O'Brien
05:38-05:54
Yasmin Khan
39:55-40:36
Yasmin Khan
48:34-48:53
Part Two [ ]
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:00–00:34
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Yasmin Khan
04:41-05:08
Grace O'Brien
25:23-26:05
Yasmin Khan
45:56-46:11
Graham O'Brien
46:14-46:25
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
02:51–03:25
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Claire Clairmont
08:51–09:02
Not officially released
09:32–09:46
Percy Shelley
09:52–10:01
Grace O'Brien
11.07–11.32
Percy Shelley
16:34–16:43
The Cybermen
26:33–26:44
"A Traveller Moving Through Time" (Disc 2 Track 9)
Beat
26:58–27:27
The Thirteenth Doctor
27:52–28:05
Not officially released
Minor
The Cybermen
32:04–32:36
Beat
Percy Shelley
33:26–34:00
34:16–34:29
Mary Shelley
35:03–35:17
35:52–36:04
The Cybermen
36:18–36:34
"Quicksilver" (Disc 2 Track 10)
Beat
Mary Shelley
36:48–36:59
Percy Shelley
37:00–37:29
37:40–38:00
Not officially released
The Cybermen
38:27–38:38
Beat
Percy Shelley
38:38–38:56
39:35–40:25
The Thirteenth Doctor
40:41–40:56
Minor
The Cybermen
41:01–41:27
Beat
Mary Shelley
42:16–42:41
The Cybermen
42:41–43:15
"Quicksilver" (Disc 2 Track 10)
Beat
Percy Shelley
43:03–43:15
The Thirteenth Doctor
43:39–43:51
"She Was The Universe" (Disc 2 Track 11)
A
The Cybermen
44:06–44:58
Beat
The Thirteenth Doctor
45:41–45:53
Not officially released
Minor
Claire Clairmont
46:12–46:47
Percy Shelley
46:47–47:03
The Thirteenth Doctor
48:07–48:55
"She Was The Universe" (Disc 2 Track 11)
Minor
Doctor Who theme
48:55–49:41
Not officially released
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
Doctor Who theme
00:39–01:12
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
Brendan
01:12–01:22
"Brendan" (Disc 2 Track 12)
02:58–03:38
Human survivors
04:36–05:02
Not officially released
The Thirteenth Doctor
11:28–11:43
Minor
The Cybermen
11:43–12:22
Beat
Ryan Sinclair
12:29–12:37
Cybermen
12:29–12:37
Danger theme (?)
12:51–13:06
The Cybermen
13:44–13:59
Beat
14:24–14:38
Human survivors
15:29–16:13
"Be Afraid" (Disc 2 Track 13)
The Cybermen
15:59–16:13
Beat
Danger theme (?)
16:36–16:43
16:51–17:05
The Cybermen
17:27–17:37
Brendan
17:40–18:12
Not officially released
18:43–19:00
Human survivors
21:11–21:33
The Cybermen
21:33–21:37
Beat
23:07–23:31
24:01–24:12
Brendan
25:01–25:09
"The Fall" (Disc 2 Track 14)
Human survivors
27:01–27:15
Not officially released
The Cybermen
27:55–28:03
Beat
31:13–31:48
Human survivors
31:52–32:53
The Cybermen
36:33–37:30
Beat
37:06–37:30
Melody
Human survivors
37:34–39:23
The Cybermen
39:33–40:12
Beat
39:47–40:12
Melody
Yasmin Khan
41:14–41:25
The Cybermen
41:45–42:33
Beat
Human survivors
42:33–43:42
"The Ascension Shall Begin" (Disc 2 Track 15)
Brendan
43:42–44:15
The Cybermen
45:38–47:32
"Everything Is About To Change" Disc 2 Track 16)
Beat
47:08–47:32
Melody
Human survivors
47:37–48:03
The Thirteenth Doctor
47:38–48:03
Minor
The Cybermen
47:51–48:03
Beat
The Master
48:10–48:22
Doctor Who theme
48:18–49:24
"Ascension of the Cybermen End Credits" (Disc 2 Track 23)
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
The Cybermen
00:00–00:34
Not officially released
Beat
Doctor Who theme
04:41-05:08
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
The Master
01:05–01:36
Not officially released
The Cybermen
01:42–02:27
Beat
02:05–02:27
Melody
The Thirteenth Doctor
02:35–03:04
Minor
The Master
03:12–03:41
The Thirteenth Doctor
05:57–06:27
Minor
The Cybermen
07:56–08:38
Beat
The Master
07:58–08:24
The Thirteenth Doctor
08:26–08:56
Minor
The Cybermen
09:05–09:59
Beat
Yasmin Khan
11:23–11:50
The Cybermen
12:17–12:42
Beat
The Master
14:45–14:57
16:50–17:03
"Tecteun" (Disc 2 Track 17)
Regeneration
18:54–18:29
19:41–19:51
The Cybermen
20:01–21:04
Not officially released
Beat
20:53–21:04
Melody
21:29–21:44
Beat
24:36–25:16
Melody
The Master
25:16–25:35
The Time Lords
25:39–26:53
"Time Lords" (Disc 2 Track 18)
Regeneration
26:54–27:10
The Time Lords
27:20–28:20
The Thirteenth Doctor
29:12–29:23
Not officially released
Minor
The Cybermen
29:29–29:32
Beat
30:08–30:36
Melody
31:15–31:21
Beat
The Master
33:42–34:36
The Division
37:15–38:21
"The Division" (Disc 2 Track 19)
The Cybermen
41:26–42:07
"CyberMasters" (Disc 2 Track 20)
Beat
The Time Lords
41:45–42:00
The Cybermen
42:16–42:52
Beat
Regeneration
42:19–42:52
The Master
42:54–43:21
The Cybermen
42:54–43:32
Beat
The Thirteenth Doctor
44:04–44:33
Minor
Human survivors
44:35–45:04
The Fugitive Doctor
45:05–46:05
The Thirteenth Doctor
46:25–46:41
Not officially released
Minor
46:51–47:06
47:08–47:41
47:41–48:15
"CyberMasters" (Disc 2 Track 20)
B
Doctor Who theme
48:15–48:33
Not officially released
The Thirteenth Doctor
48:37–48:51
Minor
The Fam
49:14–49:53
A
The Cybermen
52:30–52:46
Melody
The Master
52:53–53:05
53:12–53:27
The Cybermen
53:41–54:10
Beat
53:55–54:10
Melody
Danger theme (?)
54:16–54:28
"My Penance" (Disc 2 Track 21)
The Thirteenth Doctor
54:52–55:05
Minor
55:14–55:27
56:13–56:45
57:12-57:39
The Master
57:42–58:58
Not officially released
The Thirteenth Doctor
58:59–59:27
B
The Master
59:48–01:00:22
"My Penance" (Disc 2 Track 21)
Human survivors
01:01:53–01:02:20
The Thirteenth Doctor
01:02:20–01:02:35
B
Human survivors
01:02:35–01:02:54
Cyberman theme (beat)
01:02:35–01:02:54
Human survivors
01:03:03–01:03:35
"Home Sweet Home" (Disc 2 Track 22)
The Thirteenth Doctor
01:03:39–01:04:10
The TARDIS
01:03:51–01:04:06
A
The Judoon
01:04:33–01:04:46
Not officially released
Doctor Who theme
01:04:59–01:05:54
Character
Episode Timestamp
Official Soundtrack Appearance
Notes
The Daleks
00:00–00:10
"367 Minutes" (Track 1)
Directly repeated from "Me And My Mates" (Series 11 OST Disc 2 Track 19).
00:10-00:21
The Fam
00:33-00:46
The Daleks
00:47–00:49
01:44-01:51
03:30-03:37
"A Cuppa" (Track 2)
Doctor Who theme
03:37–04:10
"Series 12 Opening Titles" (Disc 1 Track 1)
The Daleks
05:43-06:12
"Something Revolutionary" (Track 3)
100% badass
The Pting
10:03-10:09
The Fam
11:14-12:54
"Breakout Ball" (Track 4)
The Daleks
13:05-13:16
Jack Robertson
13:16-13:34
Melody
15:14-15:29
Melody
Captain Jack
17:50-17:59
The Daleks
22:30-22:34
"The Clone" (Track 5)
The Thirteenth Doctor
22:46-23:29
23:30-23:55
23:57-24:18
Overlap
The TARDIS
23:57-24:18
Overlap
The Fam
24:20-24:40
"The Production Line" (Track 6)
25:02-25:13
25:38-26:03
The Daleks
27:09-27:14
The Fam
27:58-28:10
The Daleks
28:52-29:12
29:13-30:00
Yasmin Khan
31:48-32:30
The Daleks
33:34-33:40
Jo Patterson
???
"Stability and Security" (Track 7)
The Daleks
34:49-35:06
Jo Patterson
???
The Daleks
35:32-35:40
36:31-36:47
36:56-37:21
Ryan Sinclair
39:18-39:28
"Thank You for Being My Friend" (Track 8)
The Thirteenth Doctor
39:33-39:41
40:05-40:55
Ryan Sinclair
41:26-41:56
The Daleks
45:41-46:12
"Activate" (Track 9)
46:35-46:48
47:12-47:19
The Thirteenth Doctor
47:38-47:47
The Daleks
49:07-49:17
"The Death Squad" (Track 10)
49:19-49:49
49:54-50:23
50:41-51:00
51:38-51:57
Jack Robertson
52:12-52:23
Melody
53:25-53:39
The Fam
54:19-54:40
"Bad Boys" (Track 11)
Jack Robertson
56:11-56:24
Melody
The Daleks
57:18-57:22
Yasmin Khan
58:12-58:22
The Fam
58:29-58:39
The Daleks
58:49-59:12
59:12-59:22
59:42-59:58
01:00:06-01:00:30
The Thirteenth Doctor
01:01:00-01:01:25
Jack Robertson
01:01:35-01:01:44
Beat
Ryan Sinclair
01:02:28-01:02:44
"Bye Fam" (Track 12)
01:03:23-01:03:43
01:03:53-01:04:35
The Fam
01:04:47-01:05:07
Graham O'Brien
01:05:37-01:06:08
The Fam
01:06:15-01:06:45
01:06:59-01:07:08
Ryan Sinclair
01:09:12-01:09:42
01:09:48-01:10:35
Doctor Who theme
01:10:35-01:11:21
Not officially released