Denne inkarnations ledsagere inkluderer butiksassistenten fra arbejderklassen [[Rose Tyler]] ([[Billie Piper]]), den medicinstuderende [[Martha Jones]] ([[Freema Agyeman]]) og den fyrige [[vikar]] [[Donna Noble]] ([[Catherine Tate]]). Han ender med at skilles med dem alle i slutningen af 2008-sæsonens sidste afsnit, "[[Journey's End (Doctor Who)|Journey's End]]", hvorefter han forsøger at rejse alene i [[Doctor Who (2008–2010 specials)|2008–2010 specials]] før han igen får en ledsager i form af Donna Nobles bedstefar Wilfred Mott under sit sidste eventyr, ''[[The End of Time (Doctor Who)|The End of Time]]''.
Tennants protrættering var ekstremt populær blandt fans af serien,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/19/doctor-who-why-is-david-tennant-still-the-nations-favourite-doctor-3929038/ |title=Doctor Who: Why is David Tennant still the nation’s favourite Doctor? |date=19. Augustaugust 2013 |newspaper=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro]] |first=Dan |last=Wilson |accessdate=8. Julyjuli 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709051046/http://metro.co.uk/2013/08/19/doctor-who-why-is-david-tennant-still-the-nations-favourite-doctor-3929038/ |archivedate=9. Julyjuli 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref name="DigitalSpy2013">{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a512907/doctor-who-at-50-is-david-tennant-the-greatest-doctor-of-all.html |title='Doctor Who' at 50: Is David Tennant the greatest Doctor of all? |website=Digital Spy |date=6. Septemberseptember 2013 |first=Morgan |last=Jeffery |accessdate=8. Julyjuli 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709001832/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a512907/doctor-who-at-50-is-david-tennant-the-greatest-doctor-of-all.html |archivedate=9. Julyjuli 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-12-28/david-tennants-debut-voted-best-doctor-who-christmas-special |title=David Tennant’s debut voted best Doctor Who Christmas special |date=28. Decemberdecember 2014 |first=Huw |last=Fullerton |journal=Radio Times |accessdate=8. Julyjuli 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709124833/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-12-28/david-tennants-debut-voted-best-doctor-who-christmas-special |archivedate=9. Julyjuli 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> og BBC overvejede at stoppe serien i 2010, fordi man var bange for at serien ville blive en fiasko uden ham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/doctor-who-could-have-ended-with-tennant-63467.htm |title=Doctor Who Could Have Ended With Tennant |website=Doctor Who TV |date=27. Maymaj 2014 |accessdate=8. Julyjuli 2015 |deadurl=no |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725062226/http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/doctor-who-could-have-ended-with-tennant-63467.htm |archivedate=25. Julyjuli 2015 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> I november 2013 blev Tennants Doktor stemt ind som "[[Storbritannien]]s yndlings-Doctor" i en afstemning i ''[[Radio Times]]''.
