Fugitive Doctor

The Fugitive Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. She is portrayed by Jo Martin, the first non-white actor to play the Doctor and additionally the first black woman to portray the role. The character first appeared in the twelfth series of the programme's revival in "Fugitive of the Judoon" (2020), where she was disguised as a woman named Ruth Clayton in 21st century Gloucester. Eventually, she restores her memories, and it is revealed that Ruth is an incarnation of the Doctor, though her placement in the chronology of the series is initially unclear.

Within the programme's narrative, the Doctor is a Time Lord, from the planet Gallifrey. The Doctor travels in a time-travelling space ship, the TARDIS. Possessing alien physiology, the Doctor, when critically injured, can regenerate into a new body, gaining a new physical appearance and personality. This plot device has allowed a number of actors, both male and female, to portray the Doctor through the decades. Each actor to play the Doctor offers a different take on the Doctor's essential personality. A fugitive, this incarnation of the Doctor is considered to be a more ruthless incarnation, and formerly worked for Time Lord black ops group "The Division", from whom she is now on the run.

This incarnation was conceived by showrunner Chris Chibnall and co-writer Vinay Patel, with the pair coming up with the incarnation late into writing the script of "Fugitive of the Judoon". The Fugitive Doctor was included not only to foreshadow the upcoming "Timeless Child" arc of series 12, but also to act as a surprise twist within "Fugitive of the Judoon". The incarnation would go on to reappear multiple times within the show following her debut.

The Fugitive Doctor received a mostly positive reception from critics, who praised the casting of a black woman as the Doctor and highlighted the performance of Martin. Many fans and critics expressed interest in seeing Martin reprise the role in a larger capacity. Some critics criticised the usage and execution of the character's concept within the series. Martin has expressed interest in continuing to portray the role, and has appeared in several Big Finish Productions audio dramas depicting stories starring the Fugitive Doctor. She has also stated that the role had helped her expand her career prospects, particularly in America.