The Fifteenth Doctor’s Hero Sonic Screwdrivers
A pair of screen used, light-up hero props wielded by Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor. The first appeared in “Lux” (Series 15, Episode 2) in classic silver and gold. The second, from the 2024 Christmas special “Joy to the World”, has an iridescent metallic red and green finish that feels very on-brand for a holiday episode. Same resin construction, same signature disc-like design, same rotating parts, working lights, textured panels and Gallifreyan script engravings. Just two very different looks for the same beloved tool. Seeing them side by side is something else.
#DoctorWho #SonicScrewdriver #NcutiGatwa #FifteenthDoctor #ScreenUsed
The Tenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Stunt Prop
As the two hero prop sonic screwdrivers underwent multiple refreshes throughout the Eccleston/Tennant era, updated stunt props were necessarily created alongside them for continuity purposes. This piece is believed to have been modified from one of three original “white crackle” stunts built by Mark Cordory — its existence unknown to the Archive until its rediscovery last year.
Refinished to more closely resemble the Series 3–4 hero props, it features distinctive tan crackle paintwork, revised channel detailing, and an activation plate reflecting the updated sliding mechanism.
This exact prop can be seen on screen in “Turn Left” (Series 4), falling from the Doctor’s hand as he’s wheeled away on a gurney. Ultimately this piece would have been phased out from use as new stunt props were created from a mould of a Character Options prototype for use in the Series 4 Specials and Series 5 opener, “The Eleventh Hour.”
After disappearing into a private collection for nearly two decades, this unique prop is now reunited with some of its screen used stunt and hero siblings in the Sonic Screwdriver Archive.
#sonicscrewdriver #doctorwho #doctorwhoprop #davidtennant #screenusedprops
Reunited! Both of The Tenth Doctor’s “burnt out” sonic screwdriver props created for the Doctor Who Series 3, episode 1, “Smith And Jones”. These two unique lightweight resin props were built by Mark Cordory from the original Series 1 stunt prop mould based on the Aztec Modelmakers hero prop build. #doctorwho #doctorwhoprop #tenthdoctor #davidtennant #screenused #screenusedprop #sonicscrewdriver #sonicscrewdriverarchive #smithandjones
New Arrival in the Sonic Screwdriver Archive! Say hello to the light-up, hero prop “Sonic Modulator”—as seen on screen in Torchwood (2008), Season 2, Episode 12, “Fragments.” This exquisitely detailed, one-of-a-kind piece was crafted in-universe by Tosh, making it an ultra-rare example of a human-made sonic device in the Doctor Who universe. #doctorwho #sonicscrewdriver #torchwood #sonicscrewdriverarchive #heroprop #doctorwhoprops #screenused #torchwoodprops #sonicmodulator #jackharkness #toshikosato
Off to the framers! Thrilled to add this 1983 “Spirit of Light” Art Nouveau–inspired poster of the Fourth Doctor to the Archive—alongside the original mixed-media painting that brought it to life. #sonicscrewdriver #sonicscrewdriverarchive #tombaker #fourthdoctor #spiritoflight #artnouveau #doctorwho #doctorwhoart #doctorwhooriginalart #posterart
Two new incredible Doctor Who props have been recovered and are on their way to join the Sonic Screwdriver Archive. Any guesses?
#sonicscrewdriver #sonicscrewdriverarchive #bbc #doctorwho #doctorwhoprops #screenused #screenusedprop #heroprop
The Ninth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver Wooden Prototype — Constructed from wood and painted black and silver, this piece is believed to be one of two physical prototypes—one in the extended position and one closed—created from Dan Walker’s concept art and likely used by Aztec Modelmakers as reference when fabricating the hero props for the 2005 relaunch of Doctor Who.
This prototype represents the earliest phase in the development of the modern-era Sonic Screwdriver, as wielded by Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor—a design that reintroduced the iconic device to audiences for the first time since the 1996 TV movie.
A pivotal artifact from the rebirth of Doctor Who, its importance in the show’s production history cannot be overstated.
#DoctorWho #SonicScrewdriver #ChristopherEccleston #BBC #PropHistory #NinthDoctor #TimeLordTech #DanWalker #PropPrototype #SonicScrewdriverArchive #DoctorWhoProps
Love it or hate it, the 13th Doctor’s sonic screwdriver was a truly unique design and build. This sampling of concept art printouts, mechanical drawings and notes, and physical parts masters and moulds showcases the thought and artistry that went into bringing these complex, original hero props to life. #doctorwho #doctorwhoprops #sonicscrewdriver #sonicscrewdriverarchive #screenused #heroprop #thirteenthdoctor #jodiewhittaker #conceptart
Character Options Ninth Doctor Sonic Screwdriver Licensed Replica Prototypes - While not props created during the production of Doctor Who, these early prototypes for the Ninth Doctor’s sonic licensed replica were created using hands on reference with the original Aztec Modelmakers filming props. The smaller of the four prototypes is scaled to the actual size of the prop and in an interesting twist of life imitating art, moulds of this prototype were given to the propmakers on Doctor Who during Series 2 and ultimately utilized to make resin stunt props screen used during Series 4, the Specials, and Ep.1 of Series 5. #sonicscrewdriver #sonicscrewdriverarchive #doctorwho #doctorwhoprops #NinthDoctor #CharacterOptions #Prototype #replicaprop #replicaprototype
Thrilled to welcome these two incredible pieces into the Archive! While not screen-used, these handmade Tenth and Eleventh Doctor sonic screwdrivers are a fascinating part of Doctor Who history.
Crafted as prototypes for a planned line of licensed replicas by QMX, these sonics never made it to market—but they represent an ambitious effort to recreate the originals with stunning accuracy. In 2010, QMX was granted rare, hands-on access to the actual filming props, resulting in just two of each prototype being made.
These pieces were later displayed at San Diego Comic Con 2010 as part of the official promotion for the unreleased QMX line. A unique chapter in the sonic legacy, now preserved in the Archive.
#doctorwho #doctorwhoprops #sonicscrewdriver #sonicscrewdriverarchive #tenthdoctor #eleventhdoctor #qmx #sonicscrewdriverreplica #screenused #productionmade #sdcc2010 #sdcc
“That ship up there is scanning for non-terrestrial tech… and nothing says non-terrestrial like a sonic screwdriver!”
15 years ago today, The Eleventh Hour introduced Matt Smith’s Eleventh Doctor—and marked the end of the first modern sonic screwdriver.
To film its dramatic destruction during an encounter with Prisoner Zero and the Atraxi, three props were used:
• The original No.1 hero prop (used by Nine and Ten)
• A stunt version rigged with pyrotechnics
• A one-off hero “destroyed” version built from resin, metal, and wire
All these years later, all three have been reunited.
#DoctorWho #DoctorWhoProps #SonicScrewdriverArchive #SonicScrewdriver #MattSmith #DavidTennant #ChristopherEccelston #TheEleventhDoctor #TheNinthDoctor #TheTenthDoctor #TheEleventhHour #heroprop #screenused #stuntprop
The iconic No.1 hero prop sonic screwdriver from Doctor Who Series 1–5! Originally designed by Dan Walker for Christopher Eccleston’s Ninth Doctor, this prop was one of two originally made by Aztec Modelmakers and later rebuilt by Nick Robatto. It featured a crackled porcelain-inspired handle and was used by both Eccleston and David Tennant throughout the modern era’s early years.
When Tennant wrapped The End of Time, he was gifted the No.2 sonic, making the No.1 the only hero prop available for The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith and Matt Smith’s debut, The Eleventh Hour, where it was ultimately destroyed on-screen.
Still in its original production-used condition, this is the longest-serving sonic screwdriver prop of Doctor Who’s modern era—wielded by Eccleston, Tennant, and Smith!
#DoctorWho #SonicScrewdriver #DavidTennant #TARDIS #SonicScrewdriverArchive #ChristoperEccelston #MattSmith #DoctorWhoProps #ScreenUsed #HeroProp
