First Doctor

Starting out as a grumpy old sod and gradually mellowing into a slightly less grumpy but even more old sod, the First Doctor has perhaps one of the most interesting arcs of any incarnation. At first, he seems like he's a genuinely amoral individual, but after an encounter with the Daleks in the creatively-titled story The Daleks, the First Doctor seems to show signs of becoming the heroic time-travelling adventurer we all know today. His early characterisation is defined by his affection for his granddaughter Susan, and his loving yet bickering relationship with early companions Ian and Barbara.

The First Doctor likes to project the air of authority of an uptight gentleman, but the mask slips when he gets angry and in the occasional comedic moment. One might assume that a black and white 1960s TV show designed for children would be dull as dishwater, but there is a reason why Doctor Who captured the hearts of millions, and that is due in part to the heart and warmth of the titular character, coupled with some surprisingly funny quips. The only real 'downside' to the First Doctor is that William Hartnell had an unfortunate tendency to fluff his lines, but in hindsight this only really adds to the charm of the era.