10. The Macra - Well not the Macra as such, but I think that some of us (myself included) were a little nervous when the series returned that there would be no links to the classic series that spawned it. Sure we got some more reassurance when the TARDIS was a police box, was using the same sound effect and the title theme was the same, but still...and then the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Sontarans, the Master, Davros, the Autons and the Macra! The Macra!!! An obscure, B-grade villain from a single story in 1966 that is now missing from the BBC archives. No links with the classic series? RTD positively wallowed in them!9. Christmas - In Australia we don't quite get the big deal that is the Christmas Special, but in England, getting a Christmas Special is something important. You've made it if you've been asked to provide a Christmas Special, even more so if you get a prime slot on Christmas Day itself. Until 2005, Doctor Who never had a Christmas Special (OK, so an episode was broadcast on Christmas Day in 1965 and it was Christmas themed, but it wasn't deemed a "Christmas Special"). And the RTD Christmas Specials were huge romps, with big name stars (Kylie Minogue, David Morrissey, Timothy Dalton, Catherine Tate). Now we no longer look forward to them, we expect them. They were big, wild and fun - the perfect Christmas present.
8. Murray Gold - Ever bought a Doctor Who soundtrack? You should. The tracks on them are really good, and they immediately leap to mind the episodes from whence they came. Now, Murray's copped a bit of flack over the years for his music, often criticised as being a little bombastic, but frankly that's not Murray's fault - that's the Dubbing Mixer's fault (Tim Ricketts, I'm looking at you!). But Murray came out with some amazing themes during his time - his themes for Rose, the Doctor and the wonderful score for Silence In The Library immediately leap to mind. And then, of course, there's Murray's take on the theme. Sensibly sampling the original and backing it with an orchestra, Murray turned out one of the best versions of the theme ever. The 2005 verison is unbeatable, but I don't mind the 2008 version either. Murray Gold, what a find.
7. Torchwood & The Sarah Jane Adventures - Oh come on...tell me that no one out there didn't want a Doctor Who spinoff. I'm not talking Doctor Who: Los Angeles, but a proper Doctor Who spin off. Under RTD, we got two - Torchwood, which started a bit unsteady, found its feet in season two, and almost became a sci-fi programme to surpass the mothership with the astonishing Children Of Earth. And RTD did something daring - Doctor Who was for the family, but Torchwood was targetted at the adults, and The Sarah Jane Adventures was pointed towards the kids. And how good is that show? For four seasons, SJA has delivered clever, funny and well made stories that in some ways are more reminiscent of classic Doctor Who than nu Who is. A good sci-fi show is enhanced by its spin-offs, and let's be honest - did we all get just a little thrill when Torchwood and Sarah Jane Adventures crossed over into Doctor Who during Journey's End? You know you did...
6. Christopher Eccleston - He only did one season, but for that year, Eccelston was the Doctor. Breaking the tradition that had gone before him, Eccleston strolled into situations with a crew cut and a leather jacket, a balmy smile and a right temper, and he just brought the Doctor firmly into the new millenium. We've since learned that he didn't really like doing it, and he was a bit of a downer on set, but frankly we don't care. He kicked ass as the Doctor and part of me will always be disappointed that he didn't do any more than the one season. And, yeah, I cried when he regenerated.
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