John Hurt played "The War Doctor" in a special 50th anniversary episode. The origin of the "War Doctor" is explained in the mini-episode "The Night of the Doctor". "Doctor Who" wants to regenerate as a warrior and not a doctor and so he regenerates as John Hurt, whose very first words are, "Doctor no more." He joins forces with the tenth and eleventh "Doctor Whos" to try to stop war breaking out on "Gallifrey".