Doctor Who: Jon Pertwee – Dandy Doctor

Our second look at Jon Pertwee’s Doctor focuses more on his sense of style, one that was very different to what came before or after in Doctor Who.

After looking at his more action focused side, we were suddenly reminded of another reason why Jon Pertwee continues to stand out in Doctor Who history as an iconic Doctor. Yes, he could handle himself in a fight and loved gadgets. But he also had a brilliant sense of style, too.

One word that has often been used to describe Pertwee’s Doctor (one that was even used by Hartnell himself in The Three Doctors) is “dandy”. And it’s hard to disagree with that assessment. Even as a kid watching Doctor Who for the first time, the Third Doctor’s sense of style was something that always leapt out to me.

First, there was his glorious sense of fashion. With his love for velvet jackets, frilled shirts and flowing capes, the Third Doctor’s style was a far cry from his previous incarnations. Particularly his immediate predecessor, where the words “cosmic hobo” would often be used.

A love of wine and fine things

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On top of this, unlike so many other incarnations, he had a clear love of wine. One of the best examples of this was in Day of the Daleks. While staying at a politician’s house – supposedly to check if any would-be assassins would try to attack again – he was more than happy to help himself to any bottles of wine the politician had. On top of that, he also made sure to help himself to the cheese, too!

In short, the Third Doctor was a man of refined taste. A man who had a strong sense of class and enjoyed showing off. Naturally, when things didn’t go quite his way, he could be stubborn, too. One moment that brilliantly highlights this is the following quote from Terror of the Autons:

"What’s wrong with being childish? I like being childish!"

Still, despite his (admittedly lovable) flaws, he usually maintained a strong sense of class and dignity. More than that, it meant that whenever he was kicking ass, he’d always look good! Because of these reasons – and so many more – Jon Pertwee is still a greatly loved Doctor, even today. And he’ll continue to be for a long time to come.

Did you enjoy the Third Doctor’s sense of style? Do you consider him to be one of the more stylish Doctors? Is Jon Pertwee one of your favorite Doctors? Let us know in the comments below.