The second actor to lead Doctor Who is behind one of the show’s silliest tropes, although the gag itself is often wrongly attributed to another Doctor. While every actor to play the Doctor has put their own spin on the character, the fact remains they’re all embodying the same persona. As such, there are quite a lot of traits that cross over between Doctors as well as differences that emerge. Earlier Doctors, like Patrick Troughton’s Second, helped build a solid foundation on which his successors could stand – even if he isn’t correctly credited for all his contributions to the character.
Troughton played the Doctor in some of the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time. His version of the Time Lord was known for being much more lighthearted than his predecessor, as well as his signature unkempt appearance. One of the harsh realities of Doctor Who‘s classic era is the fact that some of the details can blur together due to how long ago the episodes were made. What can’t be denied is the influence on the show’s modern era, regardless of whether said impact is conscious or otherwise.
The Second Doctor Began Doctor Who’s Obsession With British Snacks
Troughton kickstarted the Doctor’s Jelly Baby obsession
Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor is famously remembered for his love of not just eating Jelly Babies, but offering them to his companions as well. However, Four was simply channeling his inner Two during moments, as Troughton’s version of the Time Lord was the first to introduce the classic British candy to the show. The Second Doctor first offers a Jelly Baby to his companion in the Doctor Who season 6 serial, “The Dominators.” However, with Baker’s Doctor doing it far more frequently, it’s no surprise he’s falsely recalled as the trope’s originator.
Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor also offers a Jelly Baby to a police officer in the 1996
Doctor Who
movie.
Technically, the show’s aptitude for referencing British snacks began before “The Dominators.” Interestingly, Patrick Troughton still holds onto the title of the first Doctor to engage in the signature exchange. In the fifth and final (and partially lost) serial of Doctor Who season 5, “Wheel in Space,” Two offers Jamie a Sherbet Lemon. So, it’s not difficult to spot when Two’s sweet tooth started to become more apparent.
Doctor Who’s “Jelly Baby” Trope Created A Recurring Food Theme
Other Doctors have made their love of Britsh snack foods known
Even if Jelly Babies weren’t the first throwaway reference to a British snack in Doctor Who, Tom Baker’s repeated mentions brought them to the forefront of UK treats. From there, the show continued to name other snacks from Britain. For instance, Sylvester McCoy’s Seventh Doctor had a preference for Jammie Dodgers, and Matt Smith’s Eleven used one as a fake self-destruct button.
Eleven also introduced the unusual pairing of fish fingers (known as fish sticks in the US) and custard. While both are staples of throwback British cuisine, Eleven’s combination of the two foodstuffs isn’t commonly undertaken. Jodie Whittaker’s Thirteen Doctor proved the food trend was still alive when she proudly revealed the Custard Cream dispender in her TARDIS. It may only be a small Doctor Who trope, but it’s time-honored and doesn’t appear to be going anywhere.
