The War Doctor Regenerates | John Hurt to Christopher Eccleston | The Day Of The Doctor | Doctor Who

With Gallifrey saved (they hope), the War Doctor bids farewell to his later incarnations, and it would seem, himself. Subscribe: bbc.in/Subscri...
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[@Big_Bad_Gammon]

What I love about his regeneration is that there’s no huge explosion or destruction of any sort. He isn’t holding back or restricting it, he’s letting it calmly flow out. He’s perfectly at peace with himself and is happy to move on.

[@nathandrake5182]

well of course he knew he would become the doctor again and not a warrior, he enjoyed being the doctor and missed it so much so its his chance and after the war was over he could be the doctor again

[@vksasdgaming9472]

Warrior could finally rest. No shame letting it go if cause has been just.

[@buhe1]

Yeah, never regenerate inside the Tardis if you been holding it in for too long like the 10th and 12th Doctor.

[@rayman2902]

I think he was afraid of still having to live a while as the war doctor thinking, he had destroyed Gallifrey But he got to regenerate still remembering he’s the doctor

[@GuyMcPherson69]

Same thing goes to the 9th, right?

[@jacewillden27]

John Hurts last line: I hope the ears are a bit less conspicuous this time. Christopher's first line at seeing himself in the mirror: Could be worse, look at the ears.

[@shadyfruit]

+Jamie Blair could've, not could of. Could of/should of etc. are just plain wrong, every time.

[@shadyfruit]

+Jamie Blair Don't understand where people got it from

[@jacewillden27]

I didn't post this for people to fight.

[@Puyugiohpop]

+shadyfruit Are you honestly telling me that "could've" doesn't sound like "could of" to you? It's an honest mistake brought on by how the word is pronounced. Nobody is perfect.

[@alexisauld7781]

+Jace Willden I heard "years", which honestly makes more sense. Hurt's ears aren't obvious, while the Canonicalshittoctor appears aged and worn, and he regenerated into a much younger form.

[@zpirryz]

Rest in Peace, Sir John Hurt, 1940 - 2017..

[@renshisena3421]

Don't worry man he's gonna regenerate

[@r.c.thepenguingamer]

and yet he did , because guess what he did and now will travel though time and space . :)

[@stephenmurphy2212]

Dreijon He made a great doctor which sadly we'll never see again... 😰

[@d.anielb4661]

well he was wearing a bit thin sorry but i had to

[@izzymurdoch9167]

I wonder who the wizarding world will go to for wands...

[@TempusWare]

Rest in Peace John Hurt, the War Doctor.

[@CinemaBiohazard]

I would like to think his true final words as the War Doctor was 'oh no, not again.' Let us never forget that while John Hurt is a Doctor, he's also funny as hell in Spaceballs and a goddamn legend in Alien. Truly a master of his craft...and you should really see 'The Naked Civil Servant' when you can.

[@d.celestio1574]

can u kindly tell me , which season which episode this is?

[@mrcritical6751]

Day Of The Doctor (no season it was a 50th anniversary special)

[@thomasjones6216]

Adnan Sami Dinar what the guy above said :)

[@d.celestio1574]

I've already finished the series XD

[@chikowashere]

So he's not gonna remember meeting Rose Tyler. But the TARDIS does, and takes him straight to her immediately after he regenerates. She said that she'll always take him where he needs to go (in the Doctors Wife), maybe didn't want him to be alone

[@TheBotherHood2]

Chiko was here no because prior to that he has to leave his footprint all over the past

[@zoppie]

The BotherHood Why couldn't he have done that while travelling with Rose? Timey-wimey, remember?

[@TheBotherHood2]

because she was never there in the pictures plus there's almost 100 years between the regeneration and the episode Rose

[@zoppie]

You can't expect her to leave the TARDIS on every stop. Or maybe they each went separate ways on many a day. And it could be just sheer coincidence that when the pics were snapped, Rose wasn't close enough to be in the pic. Maybe she had been captured, and the Doctor was looking for her. If it really was 100 years (his time), in all that time he never got used to his new face? Cuz in that episode, he looks into a mirror and acts like it only just happened. Like I said, timey-wimey.

[@TheBotherHood2]

no because Hurt said that the 11th Doctor was 400 years younger than him, since the 11th doctor said he was about 1200 that would make Hurt about 800. now the 9th doctor told rose he was exactly 900, making him about 100 years older than when he last regenerated

[@Su1t3dBr0n3FiM]

I was so sad when Christopher Eccleston said on an interview that he didn't see himself as The Doctor.

[@Mr-Trox]

+SuitedBrony I was more sad when he refused, flat out refused to return for this. He's done nothing of real note since Doctor Who. It's rather disappointing. He threw away the high point of his career and his only high since then has been I think Thor 2.

[@JPKloess]

+Mr. Trox I don't think he sees Doctor Who as a high point - for him it's a low point (though of course not for me). He has done more than Doctor Who as well. He was on Heroes in the first season, he was in GI Joe, and he's played John Lennon.

[@miamiviceclips3867]

He was by far the best Doctor IMO

[@rockinrodney5000]

+SuitedBrony You know, in a sense it actually got me thinking... It's like Eccleston is feeling in real life like the War Doctor, it's like he's the real life equivalent of the War Doctor, saying that he didn't see himself as the Doctor. Ironic, considering his incarnation is the one who picked the title back up, whereas his predecessor who renounced the title, went on to continue as the War Doctor in Big Finish. They've sorta been in a sense, reversed.

[@Su1t3dBr0n3FiM]

rockinrodney5000 Wow, you're right. Jeez!

[@TARDISArchives]

None of us know for sure why Ecclestone didn't return. We know reasons why he left but he met up with Moffat and considered returning, he eventually decided not to. That's his professional decision and we should respect it and be thankful for the brilliant performance he did give us in Series 1. He's a very kind man and great to the fans!

[@zoppie]

***** Lots of planets have a north.

[@loungelizerd9171]

Man if chris doesnt care about the show I atleast wish he would have cared about his fans! 9 is one of my favourites.But he refused :(

[@notmyname3487]

Pretty sure he was busy filming Thor: the dark world, Malekith

[@Eric_1991]

TARDISArchives I agree. It did give us the late great John Hurt though, so that's something. However, if they hadn't give with him, I think they could've given the role to McGann, so it could've been the 8th, 10th, and 11th Doctor.

[@vmen5570]

Even if he didn't return for a full role, I would have liked a short cameo where he says "Everyone lives" when they freeze Gallifrey.

[@russellschwartz9687]

And as much as I would have liked to see nine bounce off the childlike insanity that is ten and eleven, we got to see John Hurt play the doctor and I think we should all be very grateful we got to see that.

[@tomnorton4277]

Agreed. I'm sad that Ecclestone didn't come back but we couldn't have asked for a better replacement except maybe Peter Capaldi, who seemed to be the most warlike Doctor (which is why I didn't like him at first but also why I think he would have been perfect for the Time War). But Capaldi had his time as the Doctor afterwards so it all worked out.

[@einezcrespo2107]

@@tomnorton4277 Eccleston already made up his mind not to return. Capaldi's Doctor wasn't warlike. He was just harder than his predecessors. Glad they softened him up after S8. He's my favorite modern Doctor.

[@variaxi935]

I don't quite get it. Got very little of the war doctor and he did nothing interesting or funny or amazing compared to any other doctor so I can't quite figure out what people like... not that I DISlike him, just haven't found a single scene he's in that stands out in any positive way

[@jinjo3100]

​@@variaxi935 It's like Star Wars, Boba Fett for example, his greatest adventures were left to the imagination, he was the toughest bounty hunter when kids played with the action figure...then we get an actual official adaption and what we end up with is a second rate softened up bantha riding loser. The greatest legends are left unseen. Also like the underwhelming kessel run scene. This Doctor saw it all, his people tormented and he killed countless numbers only to relive it over and over in the unending war, and if anybody wants, they can say anything about him to feed the legend.

[@dj12699]

You can actually see him morph into Eccleston slightly.

[@homanpanahi5576]

Yeah the eyes

[@chester-toontown8047]

dj12699 I thought I was the only one who noticed it...

[@mightthelight3480]

The eyes and the chin with no beard

[@magicamadeye]

I noticed that as well

[@JooJPC]

It's even more visible in the actual episode, the video is cut a little bit before the scene actually ends

[@LPTV84]

It is wonderful that at the end of his life, the Warrior finally became The Doctor again. There's a joy in how he says that.

[@nyotamwuaji6484]

I wonder if the TARDIS is talking to itself "Does he still push the door open?" "Yeah" "Yes"

[@asentientcactus]

Honestly I find that idea hilarious 😂

[@astrid_lovegood947]

LOL

[@FranciumBoron]

But the door on the left with the plaque has a wooden bar going through the middle that would prevent the other door from being pulled outwards. And if the sign refers to the left door to be pulled, I don't see a handle for the door, only for the plaque's miniature box. So that leads me to believe the "pull to open" refers to the plaque, not the doors themselves.

[@georgechampion1932]

Or 3 Suteks talking to each other 😂

[@jaymorin7131]

Imagine how different the 9th Doctor would have been if he remembered that he tried to save Gallifrey? This ties in brilliantly with the start of the Ecclestone time as the Doctor.

[@savagedarksider2147]

Or if the Time War never happen.

[@alexandertelson3713]

​@@savagedarksider2147that would be rowan atkinson

[@british35]

“Everybody lived…”

[@mjptrapster]

Anyone else notice when Hurt's Tardis starts to leave Tennant and Smith change their expressions from joy to something like introspective concern. I wondered whether as later incarnations they knew his regeneration was due - the Doctor never did like regenerating.

[@lockmelon3055]

Hold on, does this combined with 12 (I include the war doctor fight me) mentioning him when he's explaining to Clara he's outta restarts in time of the doctor mean he actually remembers this adventure?

[@aidan6998]

@@lockmelon3055 11 remembers all of this (except 12 also being there saving Gallifrey too probably) because the most recent Doctor always remembers. And yeah War counts, plus there's kinda two 10's! xD

[@TheAtomBat]

@@aidan6998 Many other Incarnations of the doctor showed up.

[@tomnorton4277]

John Hurt's Doctor is actually the only one who seemed totally fine with regenerating. All the other Doctor's reacted with anger, sadness, fear, concern for the companions who were with him as he died, or in David Tennant's case, a combination of all of those emotions (granted, he technically transformed without a companion but his regeneration started when he saved Wilfred and he was just holding it off for as long as possible). Hurt's Doctor was the only one who seemed truly content. His regeneration started before he forgot that he saved Gallifrey instead of destroying it so he died a happy man. There's a kind of poetry in the fact that the life the Doctor was most ashamed of was the one that ended the most happily.

[@JyujinPlus]

@@tomnorton4277 I can appreciate that as a plot thread, but it still makes sense for Smith and Tennant to wince at the memory. They don’t remember saving Gallifray, so they remember their regeneration from Hurt to Eccleston being filled with grief and malcontent.

[@NickPiers]

"I hope the ears are a bit less conspicuous this time." *looks at Eccelston* Welp, so much for that.

[@MirroredReality]

+Nick Piers In "Rose" when he sees himself in the mirror at Rose's flat: "Look at the ears."

[@NickPiers]

MirroredReality Heh, I know, eh? That was great. I think most Doctors make a funny little comment like that, post-regeneration. Like Matt Smith, "Nose...I've had worse. Chin...blimey!"

[@MirroredReality]

***** Yea, they're great little introductions for a new Doctor, having the new actor making a bit of fun of their own physical appearance.

[@catsadilla324]

+Nick Piers I think because he was so conscious of ears right then and there that he grew big ones.

[@lonelysith66]

At least he got a cool leather jacket out of it. LOL XD

[@Deathlygunn]

RIP John Hurt, definitely one of Britain's greatest actors, and though many will remember you for your more recognizable roles in films like The Elephant Man, Alien, and 1984, you'll always be The Doctor to me.

[@Mxtt_Hxll]

He didnt pass away, he simply regenerated. i'm told he looks exceptionally like Christopher Eccleston now!

[@MichaelTheGamer10]

WhelanProductions Hehe, nice thoughts :)

[@anthonyly1]

A very defining moment in the Doctor Who universe, as this was the regeneration we were waiting on since Eccleston became the Doctor.

[@Soraviel]

Very defining indeed.

[@Soraviel]

TheDutchOwner's Tech Channel lol true very true but i like eighth dr who mcgann, it is sad he only done a movie and tv mini movie as the eighth dr who.

[@RonaldEvenwood]

Herve Shango He is in more story's than any other Doctor. Only all but two of his stories are not in video format. But he lived for more than 600 years, and had travelled with many companions. He's got much, much more than Tennat for example. Only less famous :D

[@Soraviel]

Ronald Evenwood oh is it that is awesome

[@whotopia123]

Ronald Evenwood And what a great guy McGann is as well.

[@K8thebest_Gaming]

2:21 seeing Ecclestons face coming through made me tear up abit

[@GhostbustersFan77]

RIP John Hurt January 22, 1940 - January 27, 2017

[@ВашеВеличество-о2п]

GhostbustersFan77 😢😥

[@tyrstocry3493]

GhostbustersFan77 and you know what, he was absolutely FANTASTIC

[@RileyTheLongboarder]

He died on my birthday :(

[@dan_exists]

Remember that everybody dies ... all of us will die... Thats sad ;( (sorry for my English)

[@SherloxPro]

He did not die. He simply regenerated.

[@KieranIsWriting]

"For Now, For This Moment. I Am The Doctor Again" shivers

[@MastaMaori]

The reason why we never saw an Eccleston cameo is because Eccleston hated working for BBC so he wasnt willing to come back to the show to record more, i find it sad because he was an amazing doctor, tennant is still the best so far!

[@JohnSmith-sg6sz]

I would've atleast've liked a scene from Eccleston joining War, Tenth and Eleven going "Fantastic!" Eleven: Geronimo! Tenth: Allons-y! War: For god's sake! Ninth: Fantastic! Twelfth: SHUT UP!

[@JohnSmith-sg6sz]

Eleven: Geronimo! Tenth: Allons-y! War: For god's sake! Seven: Cross the boundaries 4: Gallifrey. 8: Aha! Ninth: Fantastic! Twelfth: SHUT UP!

[@Wazzok1]

***** ...7 and 8 do not have catchphrases. 7 has only said "Cross the boundaries" once.

[@Wazzok1]

Cryer24597 Pretty sure he's said it twice. On 4, that was my mistake, sorry.

[@JohnSmith-sg6sz]

Shut-tity up up up!

[@tbass94]

RIP to a man who managed to capture the essence of the doctor in one single episode. An absolute legend. We will miss you, Sir John Hurt

[@Alan1701b]

You may not have been the Doctor for very long, Sir John Hurt, but when you were you blazed across our screens and endeared yourself to 50+ years of Doctor Who fans across the world! You were such a welcome addition to the Doctor Who family and you will never be forgotten for your contributions to TV, film and audio! For that brief time in 2013 you were the Doctor. Thank you. REST IN PEACE SIR JOHN HURT 1940 - 2017

[@yoshitotem]

Couple of interesting facts here. The war doctors regeneration into the ninth doctor pretty much directly leads to the events of "Rose" the very first episode of the modern doctor who, in a way, closing the loop. Also the fact that the war doctor won't remember anything that he did with his future selves closes up any plotholes this whole thing may have opened in past episodes. Honestly, you people don't give Moffat enough credit. It's not that he doesn't ever explain himself, he does, he just doesn't do it in a super obvious way. After all, he is a story teller, and when you are writing a story, what fun is there in stating the obvious?

[@barple367]

​@@RandomNameLastName811 If a dalek asylum packed to the brim with insane, zombie-like daleks and dalek conversion isn't the slightest bit terrifying, i dunno what is. Moffat did pretty well with the daleks imo, he just did them differently.

[@jacobgiles8425]

It did leave a few plot holes, like when rose was researching the doctor, she found a bunch of photos of him in different time periods (as Eccleston) even though his regeneration led right to rose

[@user-pd9xj1bt4e]

@@jacobgiles8425 but couldn’t he have just done that off screen, and since it was set in the past it would still show up in photos before he has even went there

[@jacobgiles8425]

@@user-pd9xj1bt4e I don't remember where or if I'm on crack, but I thought I heard that after John hurts regeneration leads right into the episode "rose". Yet she found photos of the 9th specifically

[@The_Mighty_Fiction]

That can't be right. The War Doctor is 800. The Ninth Doctor specifically states that he's 900.

[@YourUncleBenis]

I love how triumphant this regeneration is. It really symbolizes the end of the Time War, and, in a way, the end of the Doctor's guilt over destroying Gallifrey, even if he won't remember it for a long time. I like it.

[@thefifthdoctor7466]

Wow... My future regenerations are weird...

[@zelt36]

Why is everybody suddenly refering to the first comment again?!?

[@polithefrozenbanana9638]

The Fifth Doctor So how about the 4th's regeneration? XD

[@pmillionpercent]

Yeah you're young too.....then old again

[@SaulOhio]

The Fifth Doctor Says the guy with a celery stick on his jacket.

[@wardoctor1304]

Yes.

[@JoeEnglandShow]

I really liked John Hurt's Doctor, and it's a shame we'll probably never get any more of him. Especially since the general consensus since then seems to be that he "doesn't count." I just find it kind of sad and ironic that everything in (and around) "Day of The Doctor" was devoted to promoting this guy as a legitimate Doctor... an onscreen credit in "The Name of The Doctor," dialog making it clear that he was still widely known as the Doctor by the Universe at large, the revelation that he personally thought of himself as the Doctor on a subconscious level, his alternate selves acknowledging him as "more the Doctor than any of them," finally announcing himself as such since successfully averting the terrible act which was the source of his guilt, standing shoulder to shoulder with all the other incarnations in a dream sequence, getting his face in the warp field per tradition during the closing credits, and his likeness added to promotional material after the fact, all designed to cement his standing. The entire point of his character arc was to drive home the idea that he was very much the Doctor, just like any of the others. And his legacy is that he's subsequently shrunken down to a footnote. The numbering is unchanged, books are printed which explicitly exclude him, fan art leaves him off the page... he doesn't even get a square in the collective picture on the Doctor's Wikipedia entry (he did have one, at first, but it's since been removed). No, as far as the production team and much of the audience is concerned, Capaldi is the Twelfth Doctor, there are twelve Doctors in all, end of story, let's move on. I don't really know why, but I get the feeling that it was largely because no one wanted to interfere with the numbering that had already been set down. In any case, he's largely now relegated to a "sub-Doctor" status, a regeneration which only vaguely exists as a curiosity, a speed bump in the history of the "real" Doctors. I don't care what anyone says, Peter Capaldi is the Thirteenth Doctor, even if we call him the Twelfth. I stuck with Paul McGann when all he had was a TV movie to his name, and now I'll stick with John Hurt. In my book, he's the Doctor too.

[@MirroredReality]

+Joe England And even then, Capaldi is the Fourteenth Doctor, what with Ten's regeneration through his hand, being able to keep his physical appearance.

[@JoeEnglandShow]

MirroredReality I personally don't think that the Tenth Doctor regenerating into himself makes him two Doctors. Way I see it, he didn't change, so he's just the same guy. Although, yeah, it could be argued that the Doctor/Donna clone formed from his hand could be counted, but... If it's up to me, I'll keep him out of the lineup of the Doctor's personal line of faces. If Ten changed into himself, he may have two lives but he's one Doctor. That's my take, anyhow. Though that trick with the hand actually creates another bothersome little plot hole... if regeneration heals a Time Lord first, then why do they even have to change their bodies at all? Does this mean that any Time Lord who thought to break off a finger or two immediately following regeneration could just funnel the excess energy into it and keep from changing? Makes the whole "new body" experience seem unnecessarily complicated.

[@MirroredReality]

***** I considered that regeneration a "new" Doctor because it used up a regeneration cycle, although Eleven needing to get a new cycle to keep living instead of Twelve could be explained by the War Doctor's regeneration cycle instead of Ten's hand-generation. I guess the whole regenerating a new body instead of breaking a finger off for later (that's a weird phrase, haha) was because it wasn't really thought of when the First Doctor regenerated into the Second, which was due to the First Doctor's actor being too ill to continue the work schedule. The regeneration was so the Doctor could still live on, but the actor didn't have to. Davies just wanted to bend the rules a bit with the hand-generation, I guess.

[@MirroredReality]

***** I guess people just say that Capaldi's the 12th Doctor, but the 13th regeneration. It'd be tough to change everyone's thoughts that Capaldi is the 13th Doctor. I'm pretty sure that the War Doctor wasn't even originally planned, but that the 50th anniversary episode would have 9, 10, and 11. The War Doctor was invented when Eccleston denied to take part in the anniversary. So I guess that's why some people don't consider the War Doctor a canon Doctor. But the anniversary episode did so much to convince the viewers that the War Doctor was and actual Doctor, which is why I think he should be included in the line up, and that Capaldi is the 13th, not 12th.

[@JoeEnglandShow]

Yeah, I've been over and over all that in my head and I've never found any other way to look at it. Thirteen Doctors in all, end of story. Though I do have a bit of "fanon" that I'm nursing, that Time Lord mathematics include an extra number between eight and nine. Spread the word, it'll solve everything.

[@lizziemcguire663]

Why did it go black for a few seconds at the end?....and why do I have two random tally marks on my hand?

[@darthlazurus4382]

SILENCE!

[@joshdobedoe2845]

ILLUMINATI CONFIRMED

[@Chubby_Bub]

Watch it again Maybe there will be four

[@junaoneil1202]

I know. Every time I watch these videos the same thing happens again

[@realderyn]

It's probably nothing

[@g.b569]

Of course there's nothing more British than after saving a whole planet, is to have a cup of tea with two other versions of yourself and talk about art

[@aprilr4418]

That ending tho. I'm the Silence and you're watching Disney Channel!

[@aboutme1260]

+Aj's Gameplay The Silence? What are you talking about? There was no special ending to that video? I would have remembered...

[@aprilr4418]

+about me I see what u did there 😉

[@MrMoltakfire]

+Aj's Gameplay Can you explain? I didn't see anything either :(

[@aprilr4418]

+Moltakfire look at your arms... You have exactly. 76 tally marks. Now look at your picture gallery in your phone. Magic? No. Science.

[@MrMoltakfire]

+Aj's Gameplay The marks are on my legs and face too, is that a bad sign?

[@AndrewChapman]

So sad to hear about the passing of John Hurt. I have just been watching "The Day of the Doctor" as a way of respect. I was planning to watch a Doctor Who and then I heard the sad news and therefore decided to put this one on. May he rest in peace.

[@arthursdl]

Farewell, John. And thank you so much for all your work.

[@OnlineFanBoy]

One of my favourite regenerations. RIP John. He was a good actor. Both in Doctor Who AND Harry Potter. Oh, and don’t forget Alien. P.S., I noticed a mistake in this scene. When the Tenth Doctor walks up to the Time War painting, the door of his Tardis is open, but then a couple of seconds later it appears closed, and I don’t recall any of them opening or closing it just then.

[@IamJigle]

I loved the part of this video where we get to see Christopher Eccleston.

[@SuperHandyman100]

He's now living with the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Doctor, along with Peter Cushing's Doctor Who, John Hurt, was and still is the Doctor.

[@bulman07]

Is there really a hint of Chris Eccleston at the end or do we just imagine it like a visual confirmation bias?

[@Toribot]

Yes. The eyes and chin in the last second are Eccleston"s.

[@AdiPad-]

+Andrew Bulman You can hear christopher shouting very quietly as he regenerates.

[@AshleyTMDW]

+AdiPad sorry I'm afraid, it's John Hurt yelling...

[@Drawing4Justice]

+Andrew Busman Did you ignore this is an official upload just to sound "smart" by using the word "confirmation bias?" That's Ocam's razor for you, lol.

[@bulman07]

***** I don't see what it being an official upload has to do with it, apart from making it legal. Nor do I see what Occam's Razor has to do with it...

[@ForgottenHonor0]

This scene is all the more poignant since I heard of John Hurt's sad departure. Farewell, Sir John. Your memory lives on in the immortal roles you've given us throughout the years.

[@andysim232]

at least an alien didnt burst out of his chest this time ;0

[@jokerhalo1]

yeah 3rd time is the charm

[@its-morbintime]

Well there was no biological reason for his regeneration so...you never know...

[@mrsonicblah1]

+Morbius Fitzgerald Timelords naturally regenerate when they're getting older, they don't necessarily need to be wounded or hurt in order to regenerate, old age is a factor for regeneration too.

[@JimmyTVu]

Exactly, just look at One and Eleven.

[@flames-worth]

I love how no one actually got the reference lol

[@jrs4753]

I love how everything about the war Doctor is a bridge from the classic series to New Who. His costume has elements from both 8 and 9. His screwdriver has the design of the Classic Series screwdriver but has a light-up emitter like New Who. Even his TARDIS has the classic look with the "round things" like 1-7 had but also has the coral columns and console similar to 9 and 10

[@DawnsonRPGs]

Is it just me or does the top half of his face turn into Christopher Eccleston's

[@DoctorDodge]

Yup, he does. It's for the very briefest of moments, but you do start to see the beginning of the change at least.

[@CinemaBiohazard]

That's so there's no question that he's part of the line: Eighth Doctor, War Doctor, and Ninth Doctor. And two Tenth Doctors. The first regenerative cycle is a tad weird. ;)

[@julieeverett7442]

well yeah! He was changing!

[@tomnorton4277]

Was that CGI or was that John Hurt just being fucking amazing? If it's the latter, how likely are you to find an actor who can move their face in such a way that it literally starts to look like someone elses face?

[@barple367]

@@tomnorton4277 There's no way Hurt could have done that, it was all CGI. The got an image of Eccleston and did a little morph technique to make it look like he was shifting his face.

[@sleeping885]

YOU CAN SEE CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTONS EYES THANK YOU BBC

[@leeleewright7687]

Oh John Hurt you blessed us with such a passionate acting ability and unmistakable voice. Take all the joy you gave us to the long sleep...

[@ankoku37]

"Wearing a bit thin." I never noticed before now that that's what the First Doctor said before his regeneration.

[@HulkVahkiin]

I like how we have shades of Eccleston at the end

[@TranscendentLion]

A thought occurred to me about this which may or may not have been intentional on Moffat's part: some people think that the reason the Twelfth Doctor is Scottish is because Eleven was thinking of Amy Pond in his last moments, and she was in fact one of the last people he spoke to. The same logic could apply here, and explain why the War Doctor would suddenly regenerate into a Mancunian: one of the last people he spoke to was Clara, a Lancashire girl, and so he aimed to imitate her accent, but got a little lost along the way, and ended up looking and sounding a lot like Christopher Eccleston.

[@IOmoon6221]

+TranscendentLion Well, that's just a fan theory. And 7th was Scottish too.

[@RichieTheTotodile]

+TranscendentLion It would also fit in with the idea that Ten's accent comes from Rose (which I think RTD supported)

[@Mr-Trox]

+TranscendentLion Now if he only had gotten Amelia's more affectionate personality as well. Not a fan of the stiffness of him in series 8.

[@Mr-Trox]

TheWizardRises Except a lot of people do. She's one of the most popular companions.

[@josephcarlisle1943]

But that doesn't explain why Sylvestor Mccoys doctor was scottish. Mel was obvs english. Why didn't the seventh doctor become a fitness geek and scream all the time :p. I would also like to point out that alot of doctors were stiff (Most notably his first third and sixth incarnations)

[@davidyoung5114]

The War Doctor has returned to Gallifrey for the last time. R.I.P. John Hurt. You will be missed. G A L L I F R E Y S T A N D S !!!

[@LesterLeapsIn1]

"Ah, could've been worse. Look at the ears."

[@andybrookes3519]

I love how this episode (along with night of the doctor) fills the gap between the 1996 doctor who film and the revival in 2005 that we all wanted all along!

[@ironicanimations]

I love that you can kinda see Eccleston’s face in him at the end, which is very nice and subtle

[@chris2thejmedia]

Even though it was a single episode, a special at that, John Hurt is still one of my favorite "Doctors." You can tell he is the doctor meant for war and the grizzled look reflects it; and the moment the war is won, he passes on. That was his purpose in that regeneration, and so he must move on once more

[@bobosstopshelf4217]

His joy to be the doctor again was just heart crushing

[@alextrill5829]

The fact that this regeneration is so brief and understated is in a way even more touching than the more tearjerking ones (like 10th or 11th). Consider, the Doctor always treats regeneration as sort of death, he grows attached to his personality even if it lasts a scant few years (like 10th's), he has even considered dying permanently as himself than living on as someone else... but War Doctor doesn't hold on to his personality AT ALL, he isn't even a slightest bit scared or sad, despite being himself for long enough to die of old age. It shows that being the Warrior is so alien to the Doctor, that he welcomes sort-of-death and pain just to be Doctor again.

[@Wazzok1]

They listened to our comments! :D

[@DoctorWho]

We try!

[@sonicundmario2674]

Doctor Who Nice :D You really don't ignore the fans like others :D

[@Mr.LaughingDuck]

Doctor Who Then one question, the first question, the question that you've been running from all your life: Will Susan Foreman return to Doctor Who?

[@bandit24k]

+G_Man What are you talking about? I can't remember.

[@RyanKarolak]

Susan Foreman is the name used by the Doctor's granddaughter. She is who ran away with the Doctor shortly before the very first episode of Doctor Who (the First Doctor) and is the Doctor's first companion. She is actually the focus of most of the Doctor Who pilot, where some of her teachers discover she is an alien runaway trying to pass as a student. She also recently had a cameo in the opening of "Name of the Doctor" where her and the Doctor first steal their TARDIS. Her current status is unknown, although it's implied that she is either dead or the Doctor doesn't know if she's alive. It could very well be the latter and that she is alive if the writers want her to be, considering the Doctor at the time thought all the other Time Lords and Gallifrains besides him died. It'd be nice if she returned for an episode. I've been wondering about her fate and if she will ever return for a very, very long time. It's probably my biggest wish in what I would like to see in a future Doctor Who episode.

[@peterdavies2960]

I’ll remember Sir John Hurt as Gilbert Kane, The Storyteller, Ollivander, the Elephant Man and the War Doctor 😢🙏

[@IndiBrony]

RIP, Sir John. It's been an honour and a privilege.

[@rasnac]

I'll never understand why Ecclestone have not returned for this 50th anniversary special. All the producers and showrunner got replaced since he left, so I don't buy his ( I don't get along with behind-the-camera people)excuse at all. Doctor Who is a huge deal in Britain and the whole world, and he has a historic part in its renewal. He could honor it by celebrating 50th anniversary of The Doctor with the rest of the world. What is the importance of something trivial as personal differences or even hatred, when you have the chance of being part of something as historic as the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. I'm afraid he will regret this decision. I am especially bitter about it because he is my most favourite Doctor.

[@ferns2frogs145]

Nine is also my favorite :3

[@Coldchill83]

rasnac Right there with you...I wish he would have bee there at least for the regeneration.

[@einezcrespo]

Coldchill83 He had his reasons. If he said no, its a no. Why force the issue when Eccleston made his choice not to participate?

[@Coldchill83]

Einez Crespo Because voicing your opinion is the only way to communicate a message. I respect Eccleston's right to make his own decision, but you can't expect his fans to stay silent on something as significant as this absense from the anniversary special.

[@einezcrespo]

Coldchill83 Nothing wrong with voicing an opinion and conveying a message but its been nearly two years since the 50th. I don't expect Eccleston's fans to stay quiet but what else is there to say except wishful thinking, anger and sadness? That's what I meant by forcing the issue. Look I too wished he had done it but he didn't. I respect his decision not to. I moved on. Apologies if you think I'm being offensive its not my intention. Peace.

[@TheScottishFox258]

It's sad that John Hurt is no longer with us. May he rest in peace.

[@thesnakeman8006]

2:21-2:22. I know it's a tad bit up for debate but looking back at it now, I STILL think they should have shown just a LITTLE BIT more of christopher eccelston's face to truly give fans a true war to ninth doctor regeneration

[@plantainsame2049]

You mean War doctor regeneration 9th doctor regeneration would end with David Tennant the Regeneration belongs to the outgoing doctor not the incoming

[@thesnakeman8006]

@@plantainsame2049 I'm sorry if this offends you,but I didn't understand a word you just said in your comment. But to put your mind at ease,all i was suggesting was that they put a little bit more of the ninth doctor's face (instead of just his eyes and the top half of his head) on to the war doctor to give it a full true regeneration similar to when doctor nine transformed into doctor ten

[@plantainsame2049]

@@thesnakeman8006 and I was saying simply that you phrased it wrong the 9th doctors regeneration was when nine became 10 This is the war doctor's regeneration the war becomes nine

[@chloeeatwill6139]

R.I.P John hurt watching this regeneration knowing is all the more heartbreaking to know that you are no longer with us. You will forever live on war doctor as it was your time to regenerate when the world lost you. a great man brilliant actor and a pleasure to have watched you sir

[@li-ion6228]

the time war is so fascinating that ive started to listen to the big finish audios the long long way round and then watching this again!

[@heavenlyderpfowl1180]

He remembered where he parked

[@newtonartemisfidoscamander6905]

Did someone else notice, that the eyes of John Hurt change into Christopher Ecclestones eyes?

[@orangefox1231]

Rest in peace my friend. Sorry about the ears. The perfect music for you to go out to!

[@lockmelon3055]

By the way, What was the music that plays as he regenerates? I frikkin love it as much as all the other regeneration themes, but I cant find it anywhere

[@godhathirumalaianandanpill3140]

@@lockmelon3055 Its called Sad Man with a Blue Box (I'm late tho)

[@KeizerHedorah]

John Hurt was crushing it in his final years, he gave us some amazing performances

[@yusufgazi7]

Crazy that Christopher Ecclestone starts after this

[@Turbo9987]

Ugh Clara is so pretty!

[@thepinebros.1873]

yup.

[@mikekean8344]

Aye, I'd love to go snogging with her for an evening or two. ❤

[@captainkster]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@DarknessXER]

She is also a bird lady in the first Xenoblade Chronicles.

[@androo6473]

Mike Kean JESUS CHRIST! 😆😆😆😆😆 hold your horses dude, u can admire her beauty, but how about u stick to the woman on your land dude!

[@currykingwurst6393]

RIP John Hurt. You'll always be The Doctor.

[@Bootmahoy88]

I think this may be the very first regeneration where I saw joy, even ecstasy in the transforming Doctor. It made me joyful actually.

[@jameswatts2003]

john hurt is simply an amazing actor. can you imagine the depth and warmth he would have brought to the character? chills sir, chills.

[@seanleonard5]

While I liked John Hurt's version of the Doctor, I still wish Christopher Eccletson had taken the original role in this episode. It would've shown why he's so dark and mysterious, and could've warmed him up to some people that forgot about him after season one. And it would've been great to see all three incarnations of the modern Doctor onscreen together! But, what can you do! :/

[@minecraftcoolman59]

+Captain Obvious they tried to get chris but he turned down the role

[@Kayriel]

+Captain Obvious It did show why he's so dark and mysterious. He even said it himself in season 1: "I'm a coward." He's the Doctor's Cowardice, the one who was afraid OF HIMSELF most of all. Who hated himself, and was scared of what he could do if he thought it was a good enough idea. That he could wipe out billions, or all of time and space, if he decided upon it. That he could break the oath that keeps him a good man. He was running from The Warrior, Hurt's Doctor. He was running from what he'd done and who he was, a man who could kill easily and without feeling. A general and a soldier. Everything he hated.

[@disenoimagen7173]

John Hurt becomes my favourite Doctor in just 1 episode, wow, such an amazing actor.

[@nicolasvansteenkiste44]

0:19 10th tardis door is open, 2 seconds later it's closed

[@russellschwartz9687]

I think this was a very classy way to include the ninth doctor in some form. Christopher Eccleston turned down the chance to reprise his role so they showed just enough to elaborate on the ninth doctor’s backstory and show his regeneration, while also respecting his wishes and making sure he got his moment in the sun, even if it was only through archival footage.

[@Bobrogers99]

Of all the Doctors, even with just this brief glimpse of him, John Hurt is one of my favorites.

[@ann6303]

Rest In Peace John Hurt. I will pray for you. I hope you are in a better place and you will be remembered.

[@smithsb]

Watching this today has taken a different meaning for me. Rest in peace John Hurt

[@DoctorWho]

A playlist with all thirteen (yes, thirteen) regenerations: kzbin.info/aero/PLKEzuOOEQvYPdlGwn1jbsVQeQdIrEo9oh

[@Dark_Alex_3049]

I have question: When how long time Regenerations not dead?

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

Alex Finucane Could you please rephrase that? I didn't quite understand...

[@Dark_Alex_3049]

RED Soldier okey

[@HunhowsShadowStalker]

***** Oh, well, in that case, Timelords have a maximum of 13 regenerations. The so-called 11th Doctor was actually his 13th incarnation (counting the War and second 10th Doctors) and was about to die in his regeneration episode if it wasn't for Clara convincing the other Timelords to give him an extra set of regenerations.

[@superfangran]

RED Soldier actually, it's 12 regenerations. A regeneration is when they use up the energy, the incarnation is after they use the energy. 13 incarnations, 12 regenerations maximum (unless you gain another set)

[@Sanguiluna]

What I really want to see... are the first five minutes after the regeneration, when he returns to his timeline and loses his memories of this event.

[@TysterTG]

R.I.P John Hurt He will not be forgotten. And will be remembered by many. ;-; farewell.

[@Sean_mag]

When the 12th doctor asked “I would prefer more round things I wonder where I put them” he put them on the wall of the gallery

[@affirmingtoe15]

RIP John Hurt, "Great men are forged in fire. It is the privilege of lesser men to light the flame."

[@arcanewarrior863]

Honestly, I don't think Eccleston would have suited the War Doctor at all. He was the sort of man who was living PTSD after the war. He was more of an avoidant guy who wanted a peaceful life, not the personality of a warrior

[@MrThorfan64]

RIP John Hurt. You were a great actor and played this role well, as always.

[@sherlockholmes213]

He was one of my favorite Doctors! RIP John Hurt, you will forever be the Doctor.

[@sansdelan9221]

I really wish Eccleston decided to do the post regeneration scene. It would of been great to see him return as 9 seeing as he’s one of the actors who helped bring the show back so we could have great stories like this and others.

[@sophisticatedchaosgb]

Rip john hurt, you were really an amazing man...

[@shitposterone]

1:44 as soon as he closes the door, 11 realises what is about to, or was about happen for him. I remembered.

[@Tailsxcosmo2122]

R.I.P John Hurt, one of the greatest actors to live and play a Dr role, what an honor for him. R.I.P

[@Mamulel]

0:15 The eleventh doctor is like: Oi, excuse me, that is my past self you're talking to.

[@tylerjoseph6018]

Look at his face in the end. To me it's pretty clear that he's turning into Eccleston.

[@mainstreamdiogenes1344]

Obviously..

[@arkham7727]

He does

[@hatstain7452]

Great deduction Sherlock.

[@harrisoncaine6711]

@@hatstain7452 no but he mean literally, if you slow the video down you can see eccleston's face ever so slightly. To see it clearly look at the eyes

[@mauricejessop97]

@@hatstain7452 8

[@SensiofRabbitude]

John Hurt can be an old Dragon in a modern retelling of the life of a young Merlin and an old Doctor in a modern Doctor Who. He was pretty damned good at what he did.

[@jrsiv4462]

1:06. I had wondered why John’s Doctor had asked this. The Doctor has met himself before and forgot due to “out of sync time-streams” as 11 put it. But now I’m thinking what if he asked because he dreaded living a life where he thought he destroyed his home. And he asked his question hoping desperately that the answer would change. That maybe, possibly he would remember his heroic act. To remember that he had redeemed himself from his actions in the Time War and remember that he re-earned the name “Doctor.”

[@---yn4np]

RIP John Hurt, you were one of the best Doctors, and truly made the Day of the Doctor special

[@JRJJ-pk4pd]

Main character dying in other shows: 💀 Main character dying in Dr Who: 🥲🥹👏

[@Hopper89]

I'm looking forward to seeing *INTO THE DALEK* today!

[@Soraviel]

same here

[@PompeiiProductionsTV]

joshua powell Really? I loved them in 'Asylum'

[@TheEleventhWheatley]

***** God no. The design is cool but as a replacement for the Dalek shape that's served us well for over 50 years now, what's the point?

[@TheEleventhWheatley]

I have to disagree, I thought they were brilliant in Asylum and to stick to the old adage, "If it isn't broken, don't fix it."

[@PompeiiProductionsTV]

joshua powell Oh, do forgive me for having an opinion.

[@violetscourge8793]

The War Doctor is 'No More'. R.I.P. Sir John Hurt, you shall be missed.

[@TheOfficialBusterowen]

1:29 No. Sir John Hurt (The War Doctor) Thank you for making The War Doctor amazing. RIP John Hurt

[@Momo-qo4wm]

It's a few months late, but I'm going through and making myself sad with all the Doctor's regeneration scenes. Rest in peace, War Doctor.

[@benjaminsidneykidd-bentley3966]

Oh... I so miss him so much. One of our best actors ever.

[@JamPotStudios]

Rest in peace, John Hurt. You will be missed.