Antigonus
Antigonus was a character in William Shakespeare's play The Winter's Tale. In an alternative draft, he was clearly based upon the Doctor, meriting the draft's inclusion in the Shakespeare Notebooks.
In Act III Scene III, Antigonus left the baby Perdita to fend for herself. As published in 1623, the scene included the stage direction "Exit, pursued by a bear" which made it clear Antigonus had been removed from the action of the play and would not return.
In the alternative draft, the reason for Antigonus's departure was rather different but nevertheless it was clear he would not be seen again. He claimed he "must haste return to Gallifrey" as "too long have I on Earthly shores been homed". A strange "wheezing and groaning" sound was then heard followed by the appearance of a blue box, which Antigonus identified as his. He entered the box, which then "vanishe[d] amid great clamour". The Shakespeare Notebooks noted it was "amusing to think" that Shakespeare may have replaced this version with "Exit, pursued by a bear" as he believed the audience would find it more plausible. (PROSE: Exit, by Another Means)
