Abstract

The chapter focuses on the articulation and rearticulation of masculinity and British heroism through the use of ‘regeneration’ in the popular science fiction series Doctor Who.

The chapter briefly considers the function of the hero in television drama and discusses how the format of Doctor Who allows the title character to be ‘reborn’, thereby allowing masculinity to be rejuvenated, if not reinvented.

The chapter maps out significant changes in the portrayal of the character, encompassing both ‘classic’ and ‘new’ Doctor Who, offering a comparative study to the performance of Britishness and male heroism. The paper examines the way in which the series has sought not only to reshape the character to appeal to a new audience, but how, through the act of regeneration, the ‘new’ Doctors affirm or challenge dominant images of the British male hero.

The chapter will argue that the new series of Doctor Who has sought to reposition classic notions of heroism, moving away from the Doctor as lone hero, to the empowering of characters on the periphery.