Doctor Who: 10 Best Historical Figures Who Appeared In NuWho

Doctor Who does history lessons better than ANY other show.
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[@WhoCulture]

What’s your favourite historical character appearance in Doctor Who?

[@samhodder5589]

Vincent's was probably the saddest story but my favourite is Winston Churchill trying to steal the TARDIS key. All historical figures have been presented by amazing actors.

[@hermiona1147]

Vincent was the saddest but Hitler was probably the funniest when Rory puts him in the cupboard

[@jvblhc]

The Doctor and Rose meeting Charles Dickens was the episode that hooked me. I am a big Dickens fan.

[@ShovelingJedi]

Queen Elizabeth the Zygon

[@gohanbeast933]

Less aliens in doctor who tho

[@johnmatuszak3252]

The episode with Vincent van Gogh is one of the most wonderful endings in all of Who history. We can feel the pain and wonder and suffering within Vincent, and cry along with him in sorrow and joy at the same time. Easily a top 5 episode within the Doctor Who canon.

[@martinjames6838]

Agree, for some reason the scene towards the end when Vincent sees all his paintings in the museum makes me cry every time

[@y_fam_goeglyd]

I knew the story before I watched it for the first time. I still cried my eyes out!

[@addicted2anxiety559]

Anytime I need a cry I go watch it. It’s beautiful

[@brendashoun9859]

I have cried each time I see it. The actor who portrayed Van Gogh showed in his eye, the feeling of understanding.

[@gisela_oliveira]

I can't even think about the museum scene without crying

[@TheRealReTox]

Vincent and the Doctor is just great television, period. Tony Curran's brilliant performance as Vincent and Bill Nighy's ending monologue are perfection. It simply couldn't be done any better.

[@lemasander4932]

Perfectly said 💖

[@lorifintel9784]

And the heartbreak of amy when she realized she didn't save him. Anyone that has dealt with someone with mental illness feels the pain.

[@JulieAiken]

The moment in the museum with The Doctor, Amy, Bill Nighy (I can't remember his character name) and Vincent is one of the most astonishingly moving scenes in ALL of television history, and at 62 I've watched a lot of television! I go back to watch that scene every few months; it's so lovely. Thank you for another great list!

[@shodanki3736]

This Episode sparked the interest in Art and Vincent in my 15 year old daughter so yes the doctor can educate :)

[@wrennewman6868]

I still cry over that scene in the museum with Vincent and the Doctor. Just a great scene.

[@Charliefarley170287]

Vincent and The Doctor is my favourite episode. Partially cos I’m a bit of a Van Gogh nerd. But also because of the mental health theme in it. I’ve struggled to find a good doctor who believes the my chronic pain and mental health problems are real so when The Doctor and Amy actually tried to help Vincent it really hit me in the feels. The Doctor’s little speech to Amy at the end was lovely. The good stuff doesn’t stop the bad stuff from happening but the bad stuff doesn’t lessen the joys of the good stuff, things will go up and down but everyone is appreciated by someone and they make a difference to someone.

[@johnglielmi6428]

Tony Curran plays Vincent perfectly! no one that I've seen has ever captured the essence of a persona like Tony has playing Van Gogh. you truly feel and see the emotion in his performance. It's like Vincent actually possessed his body for the part. And by the way that just happens to be my favorite new era episode ever!

[@therestingrancor8259]

What adds to Vincent & the Doctor's beautiful museum scene, for me, is Bill Nighy's character clicking on to the emotional stranger's likeness🤔😯❤️

[@S.A.S.H.]

I might argue that Vincent and the Doctor is the best fictional television I've seen in my 64 years. Prior to watching this I had already determined it must be number 1. You did not disappoint. Tony Curran absolutely steals the episode with his powerful and compassionate portrayal of Van Gogh. Watching him as Nighy delivers his monologue is to watch great acting at some of its best.

[@erictroxell715]

Vincent always makes me cry.

[@jamaicangirl8933]

Every single time

[@alyzu4755]

Yup.

[@hollymatton474]

I remember watching The Unquiet Dead in 2005 and seeing Charles Dickens and thinking, wow, they've travelled back in time and there's snow! Thought it was really beautiful how the ninth doctor and rose really had a positive effect on him and made him reprioritise his life! 😊

[@angelaharris6577]

Hands down the episode with Vincent is rightly number 1 imo. Such a beautiful portrayal of his suffering, joy, and realisation of the great legacy he left for us. Also knowing he was loved❤

[@willadeefriesland5107]

Ellie... It's the TARDIS that "sniffs out trouble". Remember, she even told him that. She takes him where/when he NEEDS to be. In the case of Shakespeare, he could have visited him anytime (provided none of the other Doctors had at the time.) The Tardis saw the Carrionite's victory in the possibilities of Space/Time...

[@casm101]

The appearance of Vincent in Doctor Who are some of my absolute favourites, and I’m sooo glad he topped the list

[@lornasullivan4235]

Love Vincent Van Gogh episode. It always makes my whole family cry. We listen to The song Vincent after watching this episode and cry some more.

[@IreneWY]

I can't watch Vincent and the Doctor without crying. It's one of the best dr who episodes.

[@Limes_not_Lemons]

Vincent and the Doctor is phenomenal. Love absolutely everything about it

[@ronfehr7899]

One thing that made the Vincent van Gogh episode enjoyable for me was knowing that Bill Nighy and Tony Currie, who played Vincent, were both in the second Underworld movie. I especially enjoyed the part where Bill Nighy's character momentarily things he recognizes Vincent, then shrugs it off.

[@benmiller3252]

I'm hoping Big Finish gives Madame De Pompadour a spin off

[@ericgjovaag7958]

Okay, now it's time for a follow-up with the top historical figures from Classic Who. (Fun fact: Between "The Gunfighters" in season 3 and "The Mark of the Rani" in season 21, the Doctor was NEVER seen encountering a historical figure. Name dropping, yes, especially when Jon Pertwee was playing the Doctor, but no actual historical encounters over eighteen seasons!)

[@davidgregoryshair1456]

I wish had been Clara who met Victoria. Imagine two screen "Vics" at the same time. Gotta love Rose trying to taunt VR, though. It's priceless. Gotta love the jumper, too! Looks good on ya!

[@jessicastrike5640]

There was only one choice for the top spot! Excellent list though, would be interested in a similar one for the best historical eras/time periods we’ve seen in new who such as Victorian London, Revolutionary France, Pompeii/Vesuvius etc

[@FreihEitner]

Well you mentioned Elizabeth I (and by extension Liz X) but Elizabeth II also appeared in "Voyage of The Damned" ... somewhat.

[@jezebelmei195]

If anyone deserved to know how important their works would become, it was Vincent.

[@davidalan528]

Sadly, I think it was beautiful and important that that knowledge didn’t change his fate. It’s so true to the way severe depression works - hell, it could be that the knowledge would have made him *more* depressed instead of less. An important lesson for Amy which is why I think it’s so heartwarming that the Doctor took the time to play it all out for her instead of his usual “well, threat is ended, onto the next thing no matter how many questions you have left” thing.

[@Lordoftheapes79]

That shit eating grin on Tenant's face when he realizes he's just snogged Madams du Pompadore was priceless.

[@kancerman]

Daleks NEVER get the memo!

[@WhoCulture]

They’re rubbish at making tea too

[@Warbler-Productions]

Can you do one of these lists for the Historical people met by the classic Doctors? I can think of at least 3 straight off (Nero, Richard I the Lionheart, Marco Polo) and I’m very much aware that there were more that most of the classic series Doctors met over the 26 seasons.

[@WhoCulture]

No promises but we might do eventually! There are some fascinating figures to cover there.

[@roseyperkins1058]

I cry every time I watch Vincent and the doctor

[@WhoCulture]

You’re not the only one… 😥

[@Leenie]

Vincent should be both 1 and 2. I cry every time I even think about that scene

[@CaptRobertApril]

Not gonna lie, I started getting weepy the second Vincent Van Gogh's name came on screen.

[@roymclean3554]

the Vincent episode is my absolute fave who... I still get weepy just seeing the clip on KZbin. brilliant.

[@MightyFerg1]

I love how Shakespeare looks a bit like Kenneth Branagh!

[@galarchampion]

I would probably put Martin Luther king on a list because even tho he was not there for long I love Ryan’s reaction to meeting him.

[@johna5635]

How about a "10 Real People Who Appeared As Themselves in Dr Who" video... we saw Bill Turnbull in the Dickens clip... Richard Dawkins has appeared... and Paul O'Grady as well... and maybe a "10 TV Comedians who appeared in Dr Who" could be fun too!

[@deannastraw3844]

Most these episodes are favorites of mine! Thank you for reminding me of them!

[@mityace]

Another one not here was President Richard Nixon in one of the episodes with The Silence.

[@DBXander00]

I cry every time I watch the Van Gogh episode

[@0PhillMC0]

"Rosa" as an episode overall was hindered by the "villian." But Rosa's parts were perfect

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

should have been a pure historical

[@Tropicalow]

"I always took you where you needed to go" The tardis.

[@dannyayala3462]

Van Gogh is my favorite appearance btw Ellie is just so beautiful ❤️❤️❤️

[@Zek.e_0]

100% agree with this list. Love your videos :)

[@VirtualBattlefield.]

I mostly agree with the list, part of me is gutted that Henry Avery, Pirate Capitan ☠ didn't make the list though.

[@kimberleyfallon9661]

If you don't sob hysterically at the end of the Van Gogh episode... I feel bad for you and your shrivelled black heart!

[@gabrielaGBS]

SHAKESPEARE CODE IS THE BEST OF ALL HISTORICAL CHARAPITERS, THE MOST INTERESTING. As art historian, I always recommend that episode to get trapped into the whovian world. It's an outstanding historical reconstruction. (sorry, i'm spanish/ french speaker) You can believe in witches at that time, not in monsters dinosaur bird aliens in Vincent period. It's perfectly normal that the witches are in the mind of everybody at Shakespeare times. The complete description of a period is very very accurate, the detail of the smell of Shakespeare teeth it's incredible! And I can imagine that man, with that character, more profound, but in solitude, socially is just what I ever imagine. I wish another visit to Shakespeare, more mature, more philosophical. That's what I cannot find in the series since long time ago... chapiters to entertain, and chapiters to think. If you haven't one or the other, you haven't doctor who.

[@JoshSweetvale]

The bird alien is a metaphor for madness.

[@wifeoftim]

I'm distracted by that cute sweater that I'm trying to figure how to crochet it! Anyway, my fave historical in no particular order Vincent Van Gogh, Rosa Parks and Tesla.

[@brianturner5995]

Hands down, the Vincent Van Gogh episode...best of all time

[@Joemama55122]

Charles Dickens was done really well the one that sticks in my head the most

[@jarrodnewman0514]

The Twelfth Doctor meeting Robin Hood from "Robot of Sherwood" probably doesn't count since he was a creation of alien robots crash-landed on Earth in the late 12th century.

[@jasonmistretta4295]

Robin Hood probably shouldn't count because he is a FICTIONAL character from a book--hahaha.

[@julieeverett7442]

@@jasonmistretta4295 Robin of Locksley is actually real, Robin the legend, maybe not

[@jackreynolds1298]

Van Gogh at number 1. Well deserved

[@thenpc159]

I'm not sure Elizabeth I from The Day of Doctor should be on this list. The episode was great, but showed little about her.

[@davidalan528]

I think it’s earned because that particular appearance is the payoff for over half a decade’s worth of references to Ten and QE1.

[@willadeefriesland5107]

... And considering that the Torchwood institute lasted at least until the year 43K2., as the sponsor of the expedition to 'The Impossible Planet', the Queen Mum's word was not to be diminished...

[@angelacraw2907]

Brilliant list. I agree with most of it, but I would have liked the madam p one higher up the list though. I saw a documentary that said Agatha Christie did an interview with a newspaper where she explained she was having memory lapses after her mum died which became worse when her husband asked for a divorce. The documentary went on to suggest she had been in a fuge state.

[@charlesbrentner4611]

And Martha becomes the "Dark lady of the Sonnets."

[@thechillindude4478]

Vincent van goth episode was near perfect. I only say that as the monster kind of distracted from it but of course without the monster it wouldn't really have been doctor who

[@darkfilms2564]

Don't think monster think manifestation of a tortured mind/soul.

[@jonahellis]

Except in the Madame De Pompadour episode he could've smashed through the glass with Rose and Mickey in the TARDIS

[@davidrohde2636]

The Doctor never said that ww2 was a fixed point, but if he was to stop it from occurring, I think it would only postpone it until a future date where humans have worse technology and bigger army's. So it isn't a fixed point but has to happen when it did.

[@htim8997]

"Now, obviously, the real Nikola Tesla didn't fight aliens." You're sure about that?

[@frankharr9466]

That's a good list. There's also H.G. Wells.

[@williammitchell4417]

Didn't Colin Baker like calling him Herbert?¿

[@frankharr9466]

@@williammitchell4417 He did call him that. He didn't seem to ENJOY much regarding him though. ;)

[@williammitchell4417]

@@frankharr9466 I was just asking. But I do remember the episode vaguely

[@frankharr9466]

@@williammitchell4417 That's fair. And he did call him Herbert.

[@willadeefriesland5107]

The best previous interaction between the Doctor and Winston Churchill involved the Sixth Doctor in the BBC novel 'Players'...

[@theauthorii1751]

Rosa Parks really ran away with her episode for me

[@Alexandrashepiro]

I Can't believe you forgot to "Queen Elizabeth II" since He saved her in "Voyage of the Damned"!!!

[@WithScienceAsMySheperd]

ADA LOVELACE ! Partial invention of computing !!

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Vincent Van Gogh HEARS his legacy? That is perversely funny.... ;-P

[@TheGreatSeraphim]

I really don't think they'll ever be able to top Vincent Van Gogh's trip to the future.

[@Baby_Valentine]

Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North.

[@marionbaggins]

Fictional not Historical

[@Hawkeye1701]

Host says "With that in mind", DRINK!

[@private1177]

van Gogh and its ending is not the best ending in DW but the best and most wonderful endings in cinema history. There is rarely anything that hits that hard and moves the emotions like that. The actor did absolutely insanely good and the performance is exhilarating and just perfect.

[@gerrimilner9448]

i herd that origanaly (william hartnell) being the doctor was a history educational device, to explain hoping around in history. is this correct or was i miss informed??

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

that was why they travelled with Susan's science teacher and her history teacher

[@jayfredrickson8632]

That was the original concept of Dr who. It was to be educational for children. I'm so glad they dropped that concept...but an occasional historical episode is nice.

[@BOTHthosearetaken]

Did Rasputin count? I wasn't clear if the Mad Monk was replaced by him or had been him the whole time.

[@danthemeegs8751]

Good point. I took it as replaced… not sure honestly!

[@gohanbeast933]

Wait you trying to tell me this isnt how it went down in history? Im 100% sure this is what happened.

[@danthemeegs8751]

Yeah I thought Van Gogh fought an invisible chicken too!

[@gohanbeast933]

@@danthemeegs8751 well he was a little cuccoo not a big one

[@sothisishowusernameswork.2043]

Honestl without historic characters throughout doctor who it wouldn't make doctor who, doctor who, you have a freaking time machine, USE IT!

[@ryancoulter4797]

I have a story idea for DW set in Canada, that sort of actually happened, and has a famous worldwide recognizable Brit. Except the person still has an estate and ties to people who would probably sue me.

[@WhoCulture]

Ok, we’re intrigued…

[@ryancoulter4797]

@@WhoCulture I’d tell you here but the walls have ears.

[@TheAugury]

Madame de Pompadour épisode ( but I'm not fair, I'm French) Otherwise Vincent's episode is one the best of the show

[@andrewmurray1550]

kind of ironic that the Doctor and Torchwood end up as allies.

[@chrisbellon3739]

They need a classic dr who list fo rsame subject

[@MyNameIsOclock]

It's funny that "what the dickens?" has NOTHING to do with Charles Dickens as even Shakespeare used it in his works

[@judithstrachan9399]

That’s right, I believe it’s a euphemism for either the devil or hell.

[@kevinxxx8093]

Goran's last name is VISH-nich.

[@nordicson2835]

Ahh Ellie ... just a beautiful spot in an awful day ... thank you.

[@safiremorningstar]

There's some other things that have been left out first of all it is now known. Vincent van Gogh did not kill he in fact was murdered by kid with very good connections to the police Etc of the area this kid and his friends were known to gang up on people strangers that passed through their area and robbed them even though they had money and they came from money this has been documented along with a few other things that have shown that he was in fact murdered. But it was easy even at that point in time to accuse him of having committed suicide because of his previous mental condition. And when you consider who the parents of those kids were it stands to reason.

[@sherryrobinson3945]

Hey guys I know that they hadn't nobody ever brought this up but I was looking at the xiang Shi marvel fighting scene and when I seen that I think Doctor who he should get him the car graphs of a doctor who sing the show Doctor who know martial arts no box and they need to bring that back and they also need to bring back have the ship you know how the doctor always saving people on the ship and using the ship to save other people okay they need a short scene with the woman you know that became the tardis. That the image of the tartars you know the woman that was the part of the TARDIS ya hurt her image show up bad like a ghost and save the doctor's life cuz he was bowled out of the toilet even by his enemies or about somebody doing something to the tardis and the tallest count go back to where he's at snatch him up but they show the image of the woman that used to be the tardis as a cameo I know you guys want to say he do good writing and I'm down with that but just if you can just let him know about the idea and see what he like itthat Cameo would be unbelievable showing the tardis at that woman again and also showing the doctor no matter how many times he change his face or nationality or how you look with gender whatever it is he's still the doctor he knows how to fight he won't be killing them but you know he's the man. It'll be like Bruce Lee meet meet James Bond I think that would be totally incredible guys thank you for giving me the opportunity to give you my ideas thank you.. and please bring back River let her let them show that River can fight to.,,❤️👍❤️

[@25JAZZLLY2525]

You forget about Richard Nixon, but I don’t like him so I’m okay with it

[@davidalan528]

14:33 Not so much really important, just bemusing that you mentioned “Rosa” without acknowledging the presence of Dr. King at all….

[@B13.251]

Idc how many people say how much they love David Tennant! Nothing compares to the episode of Vincent van gogh

[@geoffroi-le-Hook]

but Jeanne-Antoinette Poisson was not called Reinette (little queen) during her youth ; she was about 24 when she became the official mistress (favourite) of Louis XV

[@100CupsColombia]

You haven't been Ellie-you are!

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

The Doctor inadvertently being a part of history is part of the potential of the show. When they have the Doctor deliberately trying to "correct" or set known history, is where it crosses the line as far as my belief that one can't go back and change history, one's actions only become part of it (no killing Hitler as a baby, and no saving JFK). So, giving Shakespeare the inspiration for "Hamlet" is fine. But knowingly making sure that Rosa Parks gets on that specific bus at that specific time turns the show into another "Quantum Leap" (is Scott Bakula going to guest?). Don't get me wrong, I loved "Quantum Leap", but that is NOT "Doctor Who". The "Rosa" episode was BS (with even an "Evil Leaper").

[@Sunprism]

Doctor Who began as a Mr Peabody and Sherman type educational program, before aliens became the bigger draw. The very first episode is basically The Doctor just explaining museum items

[@rhocat362]

How do you know that Nikola Tesla didn't fight aliens?

[@RodgerDodger196]

I PERSONALLY DO LIKE IT WHEN THEY WRITE IN -REAL HISTORICAL FIGURES -BECAUSE IT MAKES ME WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THAT PERSON AND TIME OERIOD AND POSSIBILITIES. ( I especially loved the VVG at the museum -I sent that to me Mum-she loves art too. (It's just so frustrating that history takes so long to appreciate the Artist vision! Having sold only ONE PAINTING WHEN HE WAS ALIVE. & NOW ORIGINALS SELL FOR 4 MILLION DOLLARS!! AT LEAST IN OUR TJOUGHTS HIS SPIRIT AT THE MUSEUM COULD SEE A FUTURE WHERE PEOPLE SAW HIS VISION OF BEAUTY!

[@Weeping-Angel]

Wow I’m early

[@eliothamilton2630]

Richard Nixon

[@CharlotteSunshine94]

I hate dr who's insistence on romanticising Churchill, he was a horrible racist tory, either face that or leave him in the past man. Van Gogh ep always gets me, that acting and writing

[@safiremorningstar]

Actually there is no mystery as far as what happened during the 10 days that Agatha Christie had disappeared... And if you've done the research that I have you would know that I got the Christy could be a very vicious and vindictive woman that's besides being an anti-semite, and a racist but then again most of the British were at that time.

[@Sunprism]

This is my problem with the beloved Vincent Van Gogh ending. Yeah, He learns his art is still beloved, cool. But outside of a storytelling note, you've got one of the most beautiful and creative viewpoints on earth. You have a machine that can take this artist ANYWHERE and ANYWHEN. You take him to the future....And show him the Only Thing he already knows about. I mean, If I got to time travel, and they just showed me a painting I made...Yeah, I'd feel ripped off

[@gwenever7286]

I always thought the Rosa parks episode left a bad taste, it felt too much like rewriting Black history, especially as she died less than 20 years ago and will have immediate family who could see the show. for me Madame Pompadour was a beautiful, poignant and funny story,

[@BlazeMiskulin]

I agree. The "future space Nazi" was just adding insult to injury. Around the time of airing, there were so many comments saying "It's written by a black woman!"--failing to mention that said writer is British, and has zero connection with the culture America during the Civil Rights movement. The entire episode came across as a scolding--coming from a nation whose imperial period was, arguably, just as bad (if not worse). The premise was good (excluding the "future space Nazi"), but should have been written by a black American--specifically one who focuses more on historical accuracy than on political advocacy--and could have been an amazing episode that slipped some education into a good story. It could also have pointed out that Rosa Parks was *not* a fixed point in time. The same events had happened previously (but the women weren't "politically acceptable" enough to put them in front of a court), and would have happened again. A better story would have been to follow one of the other incidents, implying it was "the one", and having it fail... and then have the Doctor and companions sitting on a bus onto which an unassuming woman takes a seat. The Doctor strikes up a conversation and asks her name. "Rosa. Parks." But... Nope. Future Space Nazi and "Rosa Parks is unique in the universe".

[@taliesinllanfair4338]

Awful episode.

[@laurakremer3335]

Rosa is actually not a great episode historically speaking. Saying all the civil rights moment happens because of one person is actually kind of insulting? Rosa was staged? She’s still important but the real person, Claudette Colvin, who is the one actually determined the case was deemed not marketable? (That’s a drunk history episode?) Rosa worked in the NAACP offices too? It wasn’t random. It was organized? To say that was the ONLY reason things happened was lame. And ill researched? It just had the wrong message. I would not have picked this as a good example of historical portrayals. Also Tesla was in love with a pigeon?

[@naterusty]

Don't forget henry avery the pirate who pulled off the biggest pirate heist