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Last Updated: Wednesday, 6 December 2006, 11:50 GMT
David Tennant named 'best Dr Who'
David Tennant
Tennant made his debut as the Doctor in 2005

Fans have named David Tennant the best ever Doctor Who in a poll, beating Tom Baker into second place.

The Scottish actor, who made his debut last Christmas, received 28% of votes cast in a survey of 4,000 readers of Doctor Who Magazine.

"This is a real honour, and I am totally gobsmacked," he said.

Baker, who played the character from 1974 to 1981, has topped every previous poll conducted by the magazine, except in 1990 - when Sylvester McCoy won.

TOP FIVE DOCTORS
1. David Tennant - 28.2%
2. Tom Baker - 26.5%
3. Christopher Eccleston - 11.4%
4. Jon Pertwee - 9.6%
5. Patrick Troughton - 8.8%
Source: Doctor Who Magazine

"This is an incredible result for David, and shows how quickly viewers have taken to him," said editor Clayton Hickman.

"The iconic image of Doctor Who has always been of Tom Baker in his floppy hat and long, multi-coloured scarf, but it looks like that's been replaced."

Fans voted Tennant's predecessor Christopher Eccleston into third place, while Paul McGann received the fewest votes of the 10 actors to play the Doctor on TV.

Favourite assistant named

Readers also voted Billie Piper as their favourite Doctor Who assistant, in the role of Rose Tyler.

In second place was 1970s companion Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen.

Sladen is due to return to the screen in the spin-off series, The Sarah Jane Adventures, over Christmas.

A new episode of Doctor Who will be shown on BBC One this Christmas, with a guest appearance from comedy performer Catherine Tate.

Actress Freema Agyeman, 27, will be introduced as the Doctor's new companion Martha Jones in 2007, following Billie Piper's departure this year.


VOTE RESULTS
Who's been the best Dr Who?
David Tennant
 38.62% 
Tom Baker
 35.81% 
Christopher Eccleston
 14.54% 
Jon Pertwee
 11.03% 
27940 Votes Cast
Results are indicative and may not reflect public opinion

SEE ALSO
Dr Who scores TV awards hat-trick
31 Oct 06 |  Entertainment
Cost 'keeps Doctor Who on earth'
19 Sep 06 |  Entertainment
Agyeman takes first Tardis trip
10 Aug 06 |  Entertainment
Date set for Doctor Who spin-off
24 Jul 06 |  Entertainment
Doctor Who's next assistant named
04 Jul 06 |  Entertainment

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