Summary
David Tennant shared the backstory behind hisDoctor Wholook. According to the actor, an Essex TV chef inspired his fashion in the sci-fi series.
Over a dozen actors have portrayed the Doctor in theDoctor Whoseries. Each of them has their own outfit that matches their personality. Tennant played the Tenth Doctor and Fourteenth Doctor in the show, and his character is known for wearing a suit, trench coat, and a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors that give him casual, youthful, and energetic vibes. In a recent interview, Tennant shared who inspired his fashion inDoctor Who.
Tennant appeared on Ed Gamble and James Acaster’sOff Menupodcast, where he talked about hisDoctor Whocostume. He named the personality behind his look. “I know where I got the suit idea from,” Tennant told the hosts. “Jamie Oliver was on Parkinson wearing a suit with trainers and looking really cool. It’s not that I copied that suit, but that’s where the idea came from.” Oliver is an English celebrity chef and restaurateur. He is also a cookbook author and appeared on the BBC Two seriesThe Naked Chef, which premiered in 1999.
When Tennant returned to the franchise to portraythe Fourteenth Doctor, they made some changes to his costume. However, he retained his signature Converse shoes. According toPam Downe, the costume designer, Tennant had four sets of trousers, jackets and coats when he played the Doctor for the second time. Tennant also requested some changes in his costume. According to showrunner Russell T. Davies, it was Tennant’s idea to do the top button up, and he didn’t know why the actor asked for it, but Davies loved it, adding, “Moments like that, you trust your lead actor.” For Tennant’s part, he said that his costume as the Fourteenth Doctor “very much had the same flavor and the same feel” as the Tenth Doctor, but it “also marked a sense that this is not quite the same story that we’re telling.” Overall, Davies approved Tennant’s look as the Fourteenth Doctor, saying it was a “nod to the old' but “with new little whizzy innovations.” Davies said:
Well, the look of him is very precise. It’s very Doctor-y but new. It’s not the old look reproduced. It’s a suit, it’s a tight suit, but it’s a different pattern.
Tennant’s look inDoctor Whois unconventional. The showrunners reportedly preferred he wore boots. However, he fought for his pair of Converse, which seemed to work in his favor. While some found his shoes weird, many loved them because they fit his dorky and pretty boy appearance. His pinstripe suit and trench coat add sophistication and give him that old-school professor and detective vibe. Meanwhile, the Converse sneakers added a casual, youthful and rebellious energy, making him look approachable but unpredictable. Tennant’sDoctor Wholook became iconic and made him one of the most stylish leads in the show. Also,Tennant’s Doctorwas easy to remember because the previous Doctors wore formal outfits with dress shoes or boots. Fans embraced Tennant’s suits and coats paired with Converse as a fun nod to his character, giving him a timeless and effortless cool appearance.
Doctor Whostreams on Disney Plus and Season 15 will premiere on Jul 17, 2025.
