Doctor Who: TARDIS Exteriors RANKED

[@georgeb9955]

You should do Dalek and Cybermen designs, also sonic screwdrivers too

[@Robyn_iz_Here]

I think the 9th and 10th TARDIS design makes sense from a story telling point of view of it being through the timewar. Its a living thing its bigness from the point of view from the TARDIS being massive and chunky would make sense to be more sturdy and "intimidating" for lack of a better term.

[@caerdroia7530]

You should rank ALL the themes, I mean all of them. Every single one used on TV and maybe even big finish ones

[@Alexander-is1ps]

I know my exteriors really well with every single change! My favourite is probably the Brachacki prop. I even like it after The Smugglers with the shortened roof! I loved it in all Hartnell stories, and I love it in Season 13! It looks battered and weathered. It works really well. It looks the best in Terror of the Zygons, An Unearthly Child, The Power of the Daleks and The Highlanders, Spearhead from Space and Colony in Space! Plus once they changed the sign to white on black in The Seeds of Death onwards, it looks finishes off the box so nicely! And I also love the Tom-Yardley Jones prop with the dark grey-ish blue in Season 20.

[@corvetteanddrwhorule]

Aw come on lets not fat shame the Davies box 😢

[@zichya]

Conor O'Hagan when I first saw the 13th Doctor TARDIS exterior I used to think of the exterior of Series 1 began and I absolutely fell in love with it, my favourite is the 13th Doctor’s one as I love the colour, shape and other elements

[@fattestboyslimmer2403]

@@zichya you just copied Mr emperor's comment!

[@venangoproductions]

I’ve grown to like the Whitaker interior

[@Darren79]

Love these videos.:) My own favourite is the 80's as it was the one I grew up with. Of course the Cushing box is perfection👌👌👌 Fact check: Regarding the two 80's boxes. It has since been discovered that the second box wasn't made for Trial of a Time Lord, it was actually built for Planet of Fire (since the constantly renovated Leisure Hive box was in a bad state - it got fixed up for Trial itself first appearing in the sea for Mindwarp - or deleted Mysterious Planet location scene). What happened in Trial was they made new doors and signs. The Leisure Hive prop got the Planet of Fire doors. The Planet of Fire/Trial box was on display in The Doctor Who Experience and the season 18 box owned by Andrew Beech had a recent appearance in the documentaries for the season 19 Blu-Ray.:)

[@rhy5d3ll]

I must admit, as much as I love the TV Movie box, my favourite is the Cushing box.

[@vengeance1701]

Poor Lis Sladen... the last use of the original box saw the top fall in on her head!

[@benni3148]

vengeance1701 when was that, I must know!!!

[@fattestboyslimmer2403]

@@benni3148 seeds of doom! That was the last use of the 1st dr tardis.

[@andrewdeakin906]

My favourite exterior would probably be the Matt Smith/Peter Capaldi box with the white windows.

[@tardisnet9487]

I love the Whitaker exterior but all the other modern designs look too chunky and big. The Tom Baker one is actually one of the best.

[@rickardprime]

I know I’m coming at it from the perspective of someone who grew up with New Who rather than having nostalgia for the classic series, but I really love the RTD era TARDIS, it feels sturdy and that it could withstand anything, whereas I think many of the classic exteriors would be knocked over by a strong breeze.

[@AnubisX1]

My favourite is the McCoy one, first Tardis i saw. You should do a Cybermen video as there has been so many designs over the years.

[@royalewithcheese9291]

My favourite TARDIS exterior is the police box 😃😃😃 I know bad joke but couldn't resist and surprising no one has said it yet but in all seriousness the McGann box would be my favourite (where's that set CO?). My ultimate box would have the dimensions of Hartnell's, the colour scheme of Whittaker's (sign included). the frosted windows of McGann's, the signage of Pertwee's, the roof of Eccleston/Tennant's and the lantern of Smith/Capaldi's.

[@britanimations2002]

Did you forget the War Doctor's interior?

[@travispickle6993]

Love these videos. Keep up the good work!

[@TheSpectacularSpiderPunk]

The best design will always be the real-world Mackenzie-Trench Metropolitan Mk2 police telephone box which the TARDIS is based on. It its _criminal_ that we're *still* yet to see it in the series after all these years. Only the Cushing movies got close, and even there, the box is slightly out (window glass). As for the rest (haha), my Top 5 list goes thusly: *2. TV Movie Box (1996)* - Everything about this box is perfect aside from the window glass configuration (it's so wrong - the frosted panes are in random positions for each window!), and the incorrect squareness of the panels. I easily overlook the lack of a St. John's Ambulance logo and the blue telephone panel with white text, however, and I LOVE the backlit sign lintels. Also, the telephone panel opening left-to-right doesn't matter to me, because some real police boxes had this instead of the usual right-to-left direction (as viewed from the front of the box). *3. Barry Newbery's ACTUAL designs for the 4th Doctor's TARDIS (Season 14 - 17)* - This link will take you to an accurate schematic of Barry Newbery's final design (with an artistic render to boot) made by TARDIS guru and _Sarah Jane Adventures_ writer Clayton Hickman. This is a *brilliant* and beautiful design, and it's such a shame that we never saw it on screen and were left with a rushed mess of a prop. *4. 4th/5th/6th Doctors' TARDIS (Various individual episodes)* - It's a bit tricky to tell _exactly_ where and when this prop shows up, but it's certainly seen in _Logopolis_ . This is basically the same Yardley-Jones prop from the 80s as any other, except that the lantern is raised above the sloped roof on a box-shaped base. This matches the fact that the real police boxes _always_ had their lanterns mounted on a similar base, which is why I like it much more than the 80s props that lack said base - it looks _complete_ somehow. *5. Every iteration of the Brachacki prop (Season 1 - 13)* - This is a great prop, although it's so different to the real world design. It represents a lot of fun and inventive creative solutions that were integrated in response to the prop's age and damage, and the aesthetic variations thereupon really keep the prop visually interesting - and cool! There's my own Top 5 TARDIS designs. Note that, just like Matt and Jonathan's, they're all classic versions!

[@joesomers3949]

The boxes are getting so big that in a couple years time it'll be smaller on the inside.

[@bradleywillard2361]

I think my favourite Police box design would have to be the one used for Tom in Seasons 12 and 13. I love the battered texture to it, the dimensions are pretty much perfect and the windows themselves look lovely, especially in episodes like Part 4 of ‘Pyramids of Mars’ when you can see the yellow light from the inside of the prop through the windows. Another great video, Matt. I’ve been watching your videos for years. In terms of future videos, can you please do a ranking of all of the Doctors, from best to worst or vice versa?

[@UltimateKyuubiFox]

As someone who grew up with and loves the Eccleston TARDIS, I’m glad we can at least agree that the Tom Baker TARDIS with the squat roof looks really weird and awkward. I remember seeing it for the first time and thinking “Yikes”. The Eccleston TARDIS might have thicker proportions, but at least its component parts are still IN proportion. The Eccleston prop looks like a sturdy powerhouse and I like that, the original police box looks idiosyncratically unassuming and I really respect that, but that short-roofed Baker prop just looks sad. Weirdly enough, I think the actual Metropolitan Police Box looks the best of all. And it’s never been on screen.

[@rigsby1454]

Be good to do one on favourite Doctor costumes

[@susiebaker9321]

I actually like the eccleston box. Especially the weathering and the lamp.

[@James_Ravenscroft]

Susie Baker same

[@spacemcguffin]

Shame we couldn't have kept the TARDIS prop they built for David Bradley in Twice Upon A Time.

[@NemesisHero123]

I wouldn't mind seeing what your perfect exterior would look like, with all the elements from what you like most about previous ones.

[@carwynstv5040]

The TYJ is the one I think of when some one says TARDIS but my fav is the Original.

[@AndrewChapman]

My favourite TARDIS exterior... the one at the Crich Tramway Museum in the Peak District as I've seen it in person lol. Anyway, joking aside, here's how I rank each TARDIS exterior: 9) 1976-1980 TARDIS (even though Tom Baker is my favourite Doctor) 8) Dalek movies TARDIS 7) 2005-2010 TARDIS 6) War Doctor TARDIS 5) 1980-1989 TARDIS 4) 1996 TV Movie TARDIS 3) 2018-Present TARDIS 2) 2010-2017 TARDIS 1) 1963-1976 TARDIS (the roof was cut down to size by the time Hartnell left the show and the prop continued to be used up until "The Seeds of Doom")

[@Jamestopboy]

If I remember rightly, I'm sure I read somewhere that the "doors" of the TARDIS had to be a head and a half in height taller than the tallest cast member, as you can see in the image with Ecclestone. He is 1.83m tall to Billie's 1.65 tall. David is 1.85 to her 1.65 and the same applies there - he's the tallest cast member and it's a head and a half taller than he is. There are, as you note, some exceptions - like Tom's being teeny-weeny, but it seems to apply for every other Doctor and there may be a reason for Tom's because, originally, they wanted an older Doctor, so presumably he'd be tinier, like Hartnell or Troughton... then they cast Tom, who's massively tall. It's the same reason they changed the Daleks in Matt's era - the gold ones were fine for Rose and Martha and Donna, but then Amy came along and she was massively tall, so they had to make the Daleks taller, so they were at her eye height. Also, can the next one of these be: "the best materialisations/dematerialisations"?

[@lapelcelery42]

That might have been true of one or two props, but it didn't change often enough for that to make sense most of the time. The same box was used for the first four Doctors until Tom got the first "new" box mid way through his series, and then the new one he got in Logopolis lasted for the next three Doctors as well (plus the same plans were used as the basis for the tv movie box). Similarly, I believe the height of all of the new series Tardises is basically the same (not sure about Jodie's). I'd also be surprised if that's true of the new Dalek design - just about every Doctor and companion in the show's history have been way taller than the Daleks, and Karen is only a few inches taller than most of the other companions (at 5'11", about six inches taller than average for a woman).

[@Jamestopboy]

@@lapelcelery42 the stuff about the Daleks is certainly true - Moffatt confirmed it in a DW magazine. It’s why the Paradigm Daleks were created.

[@Flyingscotsman218]

Another great one! Screwdrivers next?

[@rnw2739]

Colin Bakers Police box (also Davison season 21) is the only TARDIS exterior.

[@ListerDavid]

I love the lamp on the current prop as it’s proto typical to same metcarf boxes from the 60s

[@theoriginalbeing133]

Coming back with another comment involving the virgin new adventures - The Seventh Doctor used a TARDIS escape pod known as The Jade Pagoda, it’s exterior was based on a Japanese Pavilion and is meant to be made out of jade marble. It still retains some similarities to the police box but for its usage in the novels it serves as a way for The Doctor to flee from near death while in flight. It was only used in two novels - the David Banks penned Cybermen story “Iceberg” from ‘93 and the pure historical (sorta remake of The Crusade) “Sanctuary” from ‘95.

[@richardoliver6823]

Hartnell box all the way! Although I wish it had a handle...

[@doctorwhom8294]

brilliant video.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@SusannaEmily]

Been watching you for years, great work

[@90stardislocator2]

Hope you liked our 'box' / TARDIS that was approved and licensed by the BBC for our 1997 - 1998 Art Prints & postcards showing the TARDIS in 12 different dramatic locations (if you've ever had a chance to see them)? As there was no new (visual) Doctor Who in the 1990's after the TV Movie, we took the original met police box plans and also measured and referenced the Crich Tram Museum police box - then added more classic DW details - creating a wooden box. Our police box went on to be the master for the mounds used by The Once Upon Away Trading Company for their 1999 full size fibre glass replica Police Boxes, licensed by the Metropolitan Police - one of which can still be seen outside Wetherby Police Station. We really liked the 1996 TV movie / McGann box, but contacted the BBC with our concerns in 2004 / 2005 when we first saw early location photo's of the filming of the new series showing the Eccleston box, suggesting that it looked awful & akin to perhaps something like a low budget theatre / stage production might make & use - but hoped this wouldn't be the standard over-all of the new TV production (which thankfully history has probably now shown it wasn't). Our opinion of course was based on a knowledge of actual police boxes (which varied in styles themselves) and early Doctor Who - perhaps anyone coming new to the programme wouldn't have these visual prejudices / preferences and could enjoy the TARDIS as it shown. It is great that within the new Who narrative they have included the fact that the TARDIS changes its police box styling at times and doesn't achieve a 100% police box accuracy. Really great video - thanks.

[@batmanmarch]

I know those prints very well! As a young fan in the 90s I remember seeing them in the shop at Longleat! Were they also available as postcards? I think we may have had one! They were lovely, always sparked my imagination seeing the TARDIS in new locations. Very interesting that you contacted the BBC with concerns about the '05 prop. Shame they didn't listen! Thank you for the comment!

[@90stardislocator2]

Yes, postcards as well - it was a great project to do. Longleat really liked them. Thanks for your reply. Look forward to your next ranking list - perhaps Daleks, but may be too long a list to fit in your clever side of screen graphics(?)

[@jjstar4038]

I was discussing this video with my dad and talking about my opinions on TARDIS exteriors and how the differences between each weren't things I had payed much attention to before discovering this channel, My father response to them being different was "well yeah, the first one was black and white."

[@anamewithaperson8636]

I don't mind a big box ;)

[@owenoastler101]

the only thing i don’t like about TARDIS: 1996 edition is how big the ‘police box’ writing is. just a personal preference i guess...

[@thomasleongeorgerobertglad7560]

Loved the Matt Smith/Capaldi era TARDIS exterior, my only downside is the windows (I loved the T shaped darker 4 window panes and the 2 lighter ones, I was not a fan however of how they changed it intermittently into the all white windows, did not suit that exterior at all in my opinion)

[@tinascousin]

Do a title sequence video! Don’t exclude any of the officially televised sequences, even the ones that seem the same, coz they’re all different and unique in their own way :)

[@lucasfranks6150]

What about War’s Tardis #NeverForgetWar

[@daryljoyce1211]

Was the Cushing box destroyed in the New Avengers episode 'Target'?

[@RabbiB0Y]

The funny thing is for how much they complain about the size of the new series boxes the smith/capaldi box is the closest to real police boxes

[@benignkrynoid5688]

Can you rank Zoe's outfits next, please?

[@DanDanDaaaan1]

Great video! Like Jonathan I really like the 80s box. Out of the modern ones I agree with Matt that I thin the Whittaker box is best, but the Smith / Capaldi one has grown on me in the last few years (used to hate it)

[@danielwoodward6106]

Hi there really enjoyed your videos they are great, I would suggest doing a tutorial series how you make the Tardis prop or a custom sonic screwdriver, like learning a new skill like prop designing😀

[@overexaggerationstudios9031]

You should do title sequences ranked.

[@paulrussell6930]

What I dislike about noo who is the obsessive prioritising of and constantly changing arguably more superficial elements like the tardis interior and exterior. All furniture coat and no knickers. A polished turd remains a turd.

[@Gamingdude1618]

Awesome 🤩 👍💙

[@rhyspalmer2623]

I got a 102 minute ad on this video

[@kirwanswhackyfoodadventure8235]

Rank McCoy episodes?

[@animateangus]

Great video guys! Do any of the classic Tardis props still exist?

[@danielcox3152]

My favourite exterior is the 1980's box

[@Icelandic_Sand]

Ok, maybe I'm wrong but I thought the eccleston, Smith and Whitaker tardis were the same amount of "chunkieness."

[@vishall8246]

Ikr I thought 11/12 doctors tardis was the same size as 10s

[@phantomsidious2934]

Great video, not an expert myself of the tardis exteriors

[@TheGargantuanAppleHMPBTS]

“I’m quite keen on a tatty tardis”

[@lapelcelery42]

Is it not the case that the Eccleston-through-Capaldi boxes all have exactly the same dimensions? Maybe even Jodie's as well?

[@EddJones25]

Where's Clayton Hickman when you need him....

[@Cake-zk9ei]

Personally, looking at the Davies prop from an nostalgia view, it's one of my favorite Police Boxes and I absolutely love it to death. But at an accurate view to a real Metropolitan Police Box, it's absolutely horrendous, stupid, ugly, and so unacceptably inaccurate.

[@James_Ravenscroft]

Louis agreed

[@James_Ravenscroft]

I totally disagree with the fact you despise the 9th box

[@themaypole]

I was 12 and fell in love with the 2005 TARDIS. Hard to hear the shit tht got flung at it >

[@NatetheConductor]

Bruh why r u so mean to David Tennants AWESOME box?

[@retrowings]

Now you can do soincs and daleks

[@oliverbennett8515]

You need a new mic mate

[@jcrossan1351]

I will never hate the Eccleston/Tennant Tardis just because it represents my childhood

[@supermarioewan0865]

UNLIMITED RRRRRICE PUDDING, ETC ECT!!!!

[@johngurnhill4633]

I prefer Jodie Tardis over Peters box nothing against Peter as the Doctor

[@bantabury]

13 has one of the nicest box props but the worst interior in my opinion.