Because mainly that's how he's been throughout all the other interpretations throughout the show's history. Maybe not always cold, but certainly very calculating and at a lot of the times, even if he was bit insane, he was a composed insane, if that makes sense.

And anyone, imo, a cold and calculating villain is more effective. That's why Jacobi triumphs in every way for me over Simm. But I like John Simm, he's a good actor, superb in Life On Mars, I think if he'd played it a different way he could have been a very good Master as well.

Think I'm slightly biased towards Peter Pratt's interpretation because of Deadly Assassin.

But the way it cuts away from the action during the story to a very dark setting involving a whispering figure in a cloak telling a decayed husk what's been going on just worked particularly well. You could add that to any story and it would be intense.

He could have been overshadowed by that costume but his maniacal voice and his speeches about 'hate keeping him alive' and 'making sure The Doctor dies in shame and dishonour' have stayed in my mind since I first saw the story when I barely knew what Doctor Who was.

Yes, Peter Pratt played the decayed Master the best without a doubt, genuinely menacing his maniacal voice was perfect.

I voted for Delgado but Beevers does an excellent Master for Big Finish and deserves a mention here for a voice that is as good as any seen on BBC.

Yes, I think Peter Pratt does deserve some recognition for that story, it's where The Master went a bit loopy because of whatever caused his condition. And again, putting everything at risk because of his own plan.

This yet another example of how you can be mad and insane in a composed fashion without acting like a big kid and it really works. The look and the voice come together and if it wasn't for the fact Geoffrey Beevers done an equally good vocal in The Keeper Of Traken that I'd like him back for that.

The only problem with Beevers Master is though he sounded good, when we eventually saw him, he didn't look quite as creepy as before, which was a shame.

Agree. Apparently Ainley loved the part so much he use to answer his home phone with: "This is the Master" in character & then laughing.

One of the best things under JNT's reign was to reintroduce the Master & choose Ainley for the part, quite ingenious in the way they did it too.

I'm torn on which Master to pick as they are all different so need to think on it but really enjoying all the comments on here

Delgado got my vote but almost went for Derek.
Simms was the worst by a huge mile

That would be hilarious to phone up Ainley in his Master's voice.

I agree. I think he loved playing the part.

I loved it that he rang Colin Baker whilst on Saturday Superstore and as 'The Master' challenged him to a final duel!!!!

Great stuff|

Im going to vote for anthony ainley. I was too young to remember delgado's master & only becoming familiar with him in later years when dr who was repeated on gold. Though i do like his version of the master, ainley gets my vote as he was the master i grew up with.

john simm disappointed me because whilst being a good actor in his own right, as has been mentioned before on this thread, he was way too manic for the role. I would have loved derek jacobi to have been given more time in the role IMO.

Quite liked John Simm as The Master up against Tennant! They matched each other.
Anthony Ainley was a good Master (in respect to the 'original'), but more panto-style.
I wasn't keen on the Pratt & Beevers versions - I preferred him as human-like!
Eric Roberts - errrm.....too American? Leave it at that.

I voted Delgado! The original one! He made the part his own, and tied in wonderfully with Jon Pertwee. I hated him being in ALL the stories at first.......but when he was cut back to the odd story now and again, I warmed to him! Charming villain!!

i think the actor who plays the best is kind of dependant on the Doctor of that particular era
like Delgado was perfect against Pertwee, the same with Simm vs Tennant.

you need a actor who can match the actor playing the Doctor.
i still personally think that Steve John Shepperd from Eastenders would go perfect with Peter Capaldi, it would be a pick between Steve and Charles dance (even though its said hes defiantly not the new master, if the rumors of return from the master are true)

And if does return i would love for Simm to return for a short while and regenerate into the new guy instead of the new one just popping up without an explanation.

Roger Delgado gets my vote as he was the first master I remember and he was in two of my all time favourite Who stories - The Daemons and The Sea Devils.

No contest - Roger Delgado for me. He was the dark side of the Doctor; the evil alter ego. I must admit I liked Anthony Ainley, even if he was always just one thigh-slap away from a panto villain.

Roger Delgado clearly in the lead on the poll and I have to admit there was something unique about his portrayal, he did make the role his own and the role was made for him, he was pretty much the perfect charming sophisticated villain.

Having just posted in a thread praising Colin baker and finding myself the odd man out I feel the same with Delgado.

I liked him but at the same time he would never be a draw for a story for me. I can't really pin-point why other than to say I feel he may have been too gentlemanly. I don't know if there was enough bite to him.

Although I voted for ainley on further consideration I actually think Jacobi may have been the best. Everything was balanced perfectly on his performance: calculation; menace; slight derrangent. In all the other masters one element or the other was over-emphasised. Only Jacobi got them all right.

To this day I cannot believe how stupid rtd was in letting Jacobi go despite the latter's apparent willingness to continue in the role.

What the hell was Davis on????

It's nice to see Classic Who win a poll for once and not only that, it's a rarity that a Poll without my first choice topping it is something I can agree with.

Love Delgado's Master, it's just that Ainley was the one I grew up with so he had to have my vote.

While I wouldn't go that far - I don't think Simm was bad in the role, and I can see what Russell was aiming for - I've bored enough people here by saying I don't agree that the Master has to be a parallel to the Doctor, i.e. similar age, similar energy.

I think Jacobi, in switching away from the meek scientist persona, would have really hit the right Shakespearean notes to be taken seriously as a political manipulator and a figure of authority.

Rodger Delgado is the classic Master. I also like the ancient Master, Derek Jacobi, but couldn't stand John Simm. Yes, he's a really good actor whose work I;ve enjoyed in several other series. But no actor can handle every single role, and for me he just wasn't right as the Master.

Agree (as with quite a few of us here), Simm just wasn't right for the part & played it far too OTT/ manic, for my liking.

It's interesting that there have been 11 Doctors (yes, 12 if you include the War Doctor), and although they were played differently with different personas, there was always something integral to the portrayal where you knew that what you were watching was "the Doctor" (even Sylvester McCoy -I think ). I just didn't see that with Simm. I just couldn't relate to him as The Master, & yet with Jacobi, even though he was only in the role briefly, I did!

Possibly people who like Simm's portrayal had only seen Jacobi in the part to compare against -?

So which actor would you give the part to now for the new series? Let's assume it will be a male, he will be British, he won't be Simm (NME says it's unlikely he will returnhttp://www.nme.com/filmandtv/news/doctor-whos-real-name-is-mildred-claims-steven-mo/342048 ) or Jacobi & he won't be an A list movie actor. His Vicious co star, Ian McKellen might be a good choice, but I'm picking someone younger who could play the part for a long period of time is what they will be vying for.
Maybe this guy: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/d...-actor-3224001