Originally Posted by
griffin
Maybe this might help visualise it better....
Original series of Doctor Who (1963-1989)
1st - William Hartnell (and Richard Hurndall in the 3 Doctors)
2nd - Patrick Troughton
3rd - Jon Pertwee
4th - Tom Baker
5th - Peter Davison
6th - Colin Baker
7th - Silvestor McCoy
Doctor Who movie (1996)
8th - Paul McGann (it was hoped the Movie would spawn a new series)
The Time War occurs after the Movie, but during this Doctor's incarnation.
(McGann re-appears in the 2013 mini-sode "Night of the Doctor", which showed the end of the Time War, and him regenerating into John Hurt)
9th - John Hurt (first revealed in early 2013 in "Name of the Doctor" and slotted in as the "real" 9th Doctor, based on the regeneration events of the "Night of the Doctor")
(Hurt is then shown to regenerate into Christopher Eccelston at the end of "Day of the Doctor"
New series of Doctor Who (2005-present)
10th - Christopher Eccelston (was 9th before the 2013 revelation that Hurt is the 9th)
11th - David Tennant (was 10th before the 2013 revelation that Hurt is the 9th)
12th - Matt Smith (was 11th before the 2013 revelation that Hurt is the 9th)
13th - Peter Capaldi (would have been 12th, if he was introduced before Hurt was revealed as the 9th)
Did that help at all, or just make it more confusing?
(how geeky am I for being able to list all the actors for the Doctor from memory and in order... :o)