Query: The End of Time is the Tenth Doctor's final adventure, terminating in his death.

Relevant passages:
The End of Time (Doctor Who) <=SEP=> The End of Time is a two-part story from the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who . It was originally broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom on 25 December 2009 and 1 January 2010 , and is the fifth Doctor Who Christmas special . This is the last story for lead actor David Tennant , who hands over the role of alien time traveller the Doctor to Matt Smith . It is also the last Doctor Who story written and produced by Russell T Davies , who shepherded the series ' return to British television in 2005 and served as the series ' executive producer and chief writer . Davies was succeeded as executive producer and showrunner by Steven Moffat .   Bernard Cribbins , who appeared in the story `` Voyage of the Damned '' and throughout Series 4 as Wilfred Mott , grandfather of Donna Noble , acts as the companion to the Doctor in this two-part story . The special also features the return of many other actors to the show , including Catherine Tate , John Simm , Jacqueline King , Alexandra Moen , Billie Piper , Camille Coduri , Freema Agyeman , Noel Clarke , John Barrowman , Elisabeth Sladen , Tommy Knight , Jessica Hynes and Russell Tovey .   The story features the Tenth Doctor ( Tennant ) , who has been running from a prophecy of his impending demise , as he is drawn into a scheme by his old nemesis , the Master ( Simm ) . The Master brings the human race under his control as part of an elaborate plan to restore the world of his and the Doctor 's own people , the Time Lords , from their demise in the Time War referred to in the series . The Doctor is able to avert this , but incurs fatal injuries . In the episode 's conclusion , as has happened before , the Doctor regenerates and becomes a new man -- with a new personality and physical traits -- setting up the show 's following series with Matt Smith as the star and Steven Moffat as executive producer .

Tenth Doctor <=SEP=> The Tenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor , the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television programme Doctor Who , who is played by David Tennant in three series as well as nine specials . As with previous incarnations of the Doctor , the character has also appeared in other Doctor Who spin-offs . In the programme 's narrative , the Doctor is a centuries-old Time Lord alien from the planet Gallifrey who travels in time in his TARDIS , frequently with companions . When the Doctor is critically injured beyond medical repair , he can regenerate his body ; in doing so , his physical appearance and personality change , and a new actor assumes the role . Tennant 's portrayal of the Doctor is of an outwardly charismatic and charming adventurer whose likable and easygoing attitude can quickly turn to righteous fury when provoked .   This incarnation 's companions include working class shop assistant Rose Tyler ( Billie Piper ) , medical student Martha Jones ( Freema Agyeman ) , and fiery temp worker Donna Noble ( Catherine Tate ) . He eventually parts ways with them all by the end of the 2008 series finale , `` Journey 's End '' , after which he attempts to travel alone for the duration of the 2008 -- 2010 specials before being accompanied by Donna Noble 's grandfather Wilfred Mott on his final adventure in The End of Time .   In November 2013 , Tennant 's Doctor was voted `` The UK 's favourite Doctor '' in a survey held by the Radio Times magazine .