Coulrophobia

The cause of Sarah Jane Smith's coulrophobia, illuminated by lightning. (TV: The Day of the Clown)

Coulrophobia was the irrational fear of clowns. Luke Smith noted this psychological disorder by its proper name when a clown began appearing to the students at his school. Sarah Jane Smith was a known sufferer from an early age. She began suffering from the phobia in reaction to a toy clown that used to hang near her bed. She claimed that its unnatural gaze terrified her at night. As an adult, she discovered that the toy had, in fact, been manipulated by the Pied Piper to instil this fear in her. She later overcame it because of the concern for her son, Luke, was stronger than her fear.

Luke alleged that Johnny Depp also suffered from the phobia, according to Heat magazine. (TV: The Day of the Clown)

Ace was scared of clowns, as she found out on Segonax. (TV: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy)

Toshiko Sato also had coulrophobia. She channelled this fear to create a monster clown to fight against the creations of Gareth Portland. (PROSE: Pack Animals)

Darius Pike had coulrophobia as well. On his sixth birthday, his father hired a clown called Mr Floppy Fun Pants to come to his party. The young Darius was terrified by his antics. He later said it was the worst birthday party he ever had in his life. This fear was exploited by the Bodach, who gave him a dream in which he was locked in Mariah, his antique car, with clowns. (TV: Dream-Eaters)

When Alex claimed George was afraid of clowns, the Eleventh Doctor found this understandable. (TV: Night Terrors)

One person abducted by the Minotaur's prison ship was afraid of clowns. (TV: The God Complex)

Behind the scenes

• David Tennant has admitted to suffering from the phobia, citing a sequence in The Deadly Assassin as a moment when he was "proper scared" by Doctor Who as a young viewer.