CASANOVA, in pyjamas, fighting the Sycorax with a broadsword? What greater gift could womankind receive on Christmas Day? Of course, gay men always give the most exquisite and generous of gifts, so it was little wonder that Russell T. Davies, the head writer and fairy godfather of Doctor Who (BBC One), made the “Christmas Day special” not just a treat for those ovulating on the 25th — which, to be frank, would have been every female viewer at the point where David Tennant burst out of the Tardis for the first time — but a thrill for everyone.

Personally, I don’t know anyone who harboured a single doubt over Tennant making a totally splendid and, more importantly, very hot Doctor.

And this complacency has proved to be wholly correct.

He’s twinkly, he’s foppish, he’s clever, he’s taller than you’d expect, and he’s clearly going to roam across the galaxy, making anything with receptive genitalia stare into their drinks, sighing: “Gvenx attr! dopo”.

This Doctor revival works so well because everyone involved is a fan, and therefore knows what other fans want from their Doctor.

In many ways, it’s like multimillion-pound fanfic — stories written by fans, where decades of frustration with the plot not going the way they want is vented — and so Leia and Han end up shagging frenetically, through access-panels in their snow-suits, in an ice corridor on Hoth.

This sense of finally getting your hands on your idols, and making things go the way that you have always dreamt of, is why every episode of the new Doctor Who series has a moment that makes the Doctor fan simultaneously shivery and tearful.

Obviously you’d have to go a long way to beat the last episode of the last series, when the Doctor and Rose had to kiss out of both galactic and medical necessity (“You need a Doctor.” YES! YES! YES, I DO NEED A DOCTOR NOW!) — but Christmas Day came pretty close. Having seen off the evil leader of the Sycorax while dressed in his pyjamas (“Oooh, very Arthur Dent”), the Doctor turned to the Sycoraxian hordes on their spaceship.

“Go across the Universe, and tell whoever you meet that the Earth is DEFENDED!” the Doctor said.

Of course, what he meant was that the Earth “is defended by ME, Sexy Who, over another 12 episodes this year, and with a shooting schedule confirmed up until 2007”. And that, frankly, is something I would like to go across the Universe telling everyone I meet.

WHO'S WHO

Tom Baker (1974-81)
The quintessential Doctor, pictured below, for many with iconic multi-coloured scarf and robot K-9 assistant. Attained new popularity as wacky narrator of Little Britain.

SFX magazine poll rating: The best Doctor of all time

Peter Davison (1982-84)
All Creatures Great and Small star brought youthful gusto to renewed battles with Daleks. Remains popular screen actor, starring in At Home with the Braithwaites

Poll rating: 2nd

Jon Pertwee (1970-74)
Royal Navy officer enters the colour era as otherworldly James Bond battling the evil Master. Later became children’s favourite as Worzel Gummidge. Died in 1996 and cremated with an effigy of the bumbling scarecrow.

Poll rating: 3rd

Sylvester McCoy (1987-89)
Ambitious supernatural storylines for comedy actor but series running out of steam. He continues to perform in theatre and radio.

Poll rating: 4th

Patrick Troughton (1966-69)
Graduated from Hamlet to play the Doctor, above centre, as a “cosmic hobo” after shock regeneration. Died from heart attack in 1987.

Poll rating: 5th

William Hartnell (1963-66)
Silver-haired stage actor unlocked the Tardis with a trip to 100,000BC and became first to challenge the Daleks. Died 1975.

Poll rating: 6th

Colin Baker (1984-86)
Darker Doctor blamed by BBC for ratings decline. Refused to film final regeneration scene but remains popular figure at fan conventions.

Poll rating: 7th

Paul McGann (1996)
The Monocled Mutineer took the role for a US/UK television movie battling the Master. Poor US ratings scuppered further episodes. Leading role in ITV’s Hornblower

Not rated.

Christopher Eccleston (2004)
Intense Salford actor exceeds expectations in big-budget revival aided by Billie Piper. Quits to return to successful film and theatre career.

Not rated.

David Tennant (2005-)
Scottish Casanova brings “geek chic” to role. Set to renew hostilities with the Cybermen and promises to stay as long as viewers and the BBC want him.

Poll rating: Xmas special is the first test.

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