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Doctor Who

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Doctor Who
Doctor Who-title11.jpg
Premiere November 23, 1963
Airs On hiatus
Creator Sydney Newman,
C.E. Webber,
Donald Wilson
Network/Provider BBC One (UK)
BBC America (USA seasons 27-39)
CTV Sci-Fi (Canada linear seasons 27-39)
Crave (Canada on-demand seasons 27-39)
ABC (Australia seasons 27-39)
TVNZ (New Zealand seasons 27-39)
Disney+ (international seasons 40-)
Style sci-fi drama
25-minute (seasons 1-26)
45-minute (seasons 27-)
B&W (seasons 1-6),
Color (seasons 7-)
Company BBC
Seasons 40
Episodes 719 + 1 TV movie (season 1-26)
161 + 29 specials + 2 animated specials + several shorts for TV, DVD and Internet (season 27-40)
(List of episodes)
Status Renewed through season 41 (2025)
Origin UK
Official Site Doctor Who
Official Twitter @bbcdoctorwho feed on X
Official Facebook Doctor Who on Facebook

Doctor Who, the longest-running science fiction show in the history of television, is a UK sci-fi show involving a time-traveling alien. The show ran for twenty-six seasons between 1963 and 1989. Following a sixteen year hiatus broken only by a American-made television movie, the show resumed production in 2005, on its 27th season, billed as series 1.

Contents

Premise

The title character, known only as "The Doctor", is a Time Lord, originating from the planet Gallifrey. Once a high-ranking member of his society, the Doctor has at various times been fugitive from his own people, the savior of them, and, as of the 2005 revival, the sole surviving member of the Time Lord species. Prior the the series, the Doctor, disenchanted with the other Time Lords, stole an aging type 40 TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) time machine from a repair bay on Gallifrey and packed his granddaughter Susan off to Earth. Susan and the Doctor eventually parted ways, and her place was filled with other "companions" - essentially people he picks up to join him on his travels.

The Doctor spends his time interfering with various cultures and fighting injustice, while occasionally encountering and doing battle with enemies such as the robotic space mutant Daleks and the evil cybernetic Cybermen.

A significant element of the series, enabling it to continue as long as it has, is the concept of "regeneration". Time Lords are capable of regenerating their bodies upon death, taking a new face and personality every time while still remaining essentially the same person. This allowed the BBC to continue the show, even when the starring actor decide to leave. After the first few seasons, the First Doctor (played by actor William Hartnell) was killed off and regenerated into the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton). As of 2018, the role is held by Jodie Whittaker, portraying the Thirteenth Doctor.

After being put on "indefinite hiatus" at the conclusion of its 26th season, starring Sylvester McCoy as thr Seventh Doctor, a made-for-TV movie was produced in 1996 as a co-production of American network Fox, the BBC and Universal Television, then the show was resurrected in 2005 with some development funding provided by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The Sci Fi Channel aired the first season of the new format of Doctor Who a year later.

Two theatrical movies with Peter Cushing were made for British theatrical release in the 1960s--Dr. Who and The Daleks and Dalek Invasion Of Earth--but these movies are not considered canon to the TV series.

Season 10 of the revival was delayed until April 2017. Accounts vary as to why; either the cast and crew needed a breather after the efforts put in during the past three seasons, they didn't want to conflict with the 2016 Summer Olympics, or Peter Moffat's decision to leave the show as writer and producer. David Bradley portrayed the First Doctor in the 2017 Christmas special, which was also Peter Capaldi's final episode as the Twelfth; in that same episode, Jodie Whittaker took over the role as the Thirteenth Doctor, and became the first woman to be cast as the character in the series. Whittaker is leaving the show after 2022 and filling in as the fourteenth Doctor is Ncuti Gatwa, who will be the first black Doctor.

Cast

Original

Actor Character Duration
The Doctor 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 TVM
William Hartnell The First Doctor * * * * o
Richard Hurndall o
Patrick Troughton The Second Doctor * * * o o o
Jon Pertwee The Third Doctor * * * * * o
Tom Baker The Fourth Doctor o * * * * * * *
Peter Davison The Fifth Doctor o * * *
Colin Baker Commander Maxil o
The Sixth Doctor * * *
Sylvester McCoy The Seventh Doctor * * * o
Paul McGann The Eighth Doctor *
Orange/Red/o indicates a recurring or guest role during that season.
Dark Green indicates top billing during that season.
Regular Cast ("Companions") 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 TVM
William Russell Ian Chesterton * *
Jacqueline Hill Barbara Wright * *
Lexa o
Carole Ann Ford Susan Foreman * * o
Maureen O'Brien Vicki Pallister * *
Peter Purves Steven Taylor * *
Adrienne Hill Katarina *
Jackie Lane Dorothea "Dodo" Chaplet *
Michael Craze Benjamin "Ben" Jackson * *
Anneke Wills Polly Wright * *
Frazer Hines James "Jamie" McCrimmon * * * o o
Deborah Watling Victoria Waterfield * *
Wendy Padbury Zoe Heriot * * o
Caroline John Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw * o
Nicholas Courtney Bret Vyon o
Alastair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart o o * * o o o o o o o
Katy Manning Josephine "Jo" Grant * * *
Elisabeth Sladen Sarah Jane Smith * * * * o
Ian Marter John Andrews o
Harry Sullivan * *
Louise Jameson Leela * *
John Leeson K-9 (voice) * * *
David Brierly *
Mary Tamm Romana I *
Lalla Ward Astra of Atrios o
Romana II * *
Matthew Waterhouse Adric * * o
Sarah Sutton Nyssa * * * o
Janet Fielding Tegan Jovanka * * * *
Mark Strickson Vislor Turlough * *
Nicola Bryant Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown * * *
Bonnie Langford Melanie "Mel" Bush * *
Sophie Aldred Dorothy "Ace" McShane * * *
Daphne Ashbrook Grace Holloway *
Orange/Red/o indicates a recurring or guest role during that season.
Dark Green indicates top billing during that season.
Supporting/Recurring Cast 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 TVM
Peter Hawkins Various vocal roles * * * * *
Gerald Taylor Daleks * * * *
Robert Jewell * * * *
Kevin Manser * * * *
Murphy Grumbar * * * * * *
John Scott Martin * * * * * * * * * * *
Cy Town * * * * * * *
Gerald Taylor Various roles * * * * *
Robert Jewell * * *
Kevin Manser *
David Graham * * * *
Murphy Grumbar * *
John Scott Martin * * * * * * *
Roy Skelton * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Pat Gorman * * * * * * * * *
Dave Carter * * * * *
Michael Wisher * * * * * *
Terry Walsh * * * * * * *
Stuart Fell * * * * * * *
John Levene * *
John Benton * * * * * * * *
Richard Franklin Michael "Mike" Yates * * * *
Roger Delgado The Master * * *
Anthony Ainley * * * * * * *
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 TVM

Revival

Actor Character Duration
Main Cast 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
David Bradley The First Doctor o
Christopher Eccleston The Ninth Doctor *
David Tennant The Tenth Doctor o * * * o
Matt Smith The Eleventh Doctor o * * * o
Peter Capaldi Lobus Caecilius o
The Twelfth Doctor o * * *
Jodie Whittaker The Thirteenth Doctor * * *
Ncuti Gatwa The Fifteenth Doctor * *
Billie Piper Rose Tyler * * o o
Freema Agyeman Adeola Oshodi o
Martha Jones * o
Catherine Tate Donna Noble o o *
Karen Gillan Soothsayer o
Amy Pond * * *
Arthur Darvill Rory Williams o * *
Jenna Coleman Clara Oswald * * *
Pearl Mackie Bill Potts *
Matt Lucas Nardole o *
Bradley Walsh Graham O'Brien * *
Tosin Cole Ryan Sinclair * *
Mandip Gill Yasmin Khan * * *
John Bishop Dan Lewis *
Millie Gibson Ruby Sunday * *
Varada Sethu TBA *
Orange/Red/o indicates a recurring or guest role during that season.
Dark Green indicates top billing during that season.
Supporting/Recurring Cast 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41
Nicholas Briggs Various voices * * * * * * * * *
Paul Kasey Various roles * * * * * * * *
Alan Ruscoe Various roles * *
Ruari Mears Various roles * * * * *
Dan Starkey Various roles * * *
Strax * * *
Barnaby Edwards Daleks * * * * * * * *
Nicholas Pegg * * * * * * *
David Hankinson * * * *
Lachele Carl Trinity Wells * * * *
Noel Clarke Mickey Smith * * *
Camille Coduri Jackie Tyler * * *
John Barrowman Jack Harkness * * *
Adjoa Andoh Sister Jatt *
Francine Jones * *
Jacqueline King Sylvia Noble * *
Alex Kingston River Song * * * * *
Bernard Cribbins Wilfred Mott *
Michelle Gomez Missy * * *
Samuel Anderson Danny Pink *
27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41

Seasons

Season  Premiere Finale #
BBC
Season One: Stories 1–8 November 23, 1963 September 12, 1964 42
Season Two: Stories 9–17 October 31, 1964 July 24, 1965 39
Season Three: Stories 18–27 September 11, 1965 July 16, 1966 45
Season Four: Stories 28–36 September 10, 1966 July 1, 1967 43
Season Five: Stories 37–43 September 2, 1967 June 1, 1968 40
Season Six: Stories 44–50 August 10, 1968 June 21, 1969 44
Season Seven: Stories 51–54 January 3, 1970 June 20, 1970 25
Season Eight: Stories 55–59 January 2, 1971 June 19, 1971 25
Season Nine: Stories 60–64 January 1, 1972 June 24, 1972 26
Season Ten: Stories 65–69 December 30, 1972 June 23, 1973 26
Season Eleven: Stories 70–74 December 15, 1973 June 8, 1974 26
Season Twelve: Stories 75–79 December 28, 1974 May 10, 1975 20
Season Thirteen: Stories 80–85 August 30, 1975 March 6, 1976 26
Season Fourteen: Stories 86–91 September 4, 1976 April 2, 1977 26
Season Fifteen: Stories 92–97 September 3, 1977 March 11, 1978 26
Season Sixteen: Stories 98–103 September 2, 1978 February 24, 1979 26
Season Seventeen: Stories 104–109 September 1, 1979 January 12, 1980 26
Season Eighteen: Stories 110–116 August 30, 1980 March 21, 1981 28
Season Nineteen: Stories 117–123 January 4, 1982 March 30, 1982 26
Season Twenty: Stories 124–130 January 3, 1983 March 16, 1983 26
Season Twenty-One: Stories 131–137 January 5, 1984 March 30, 1984 26
Season Twenty-Two: Stories 138–143 January 5, 1985 March 30, 1985 26
Season Twenty-Three: Stories 144–147 September 6, 1986 December 6, 1986 14
Season Twenty-Four: Stories 148–151 September 7, 1987 December 7, 1987 14
Season Twenty-Five: Stories 152–155 October 5, 1988 January 4, 1989 14
Season Twenty-Six: Stories 156–159 September 6, 1989 December 6, 1989 14
The TV Movie June 25, 1996  
Season Twenty-Seven: Series One March 26, 2005 June 18, 2005 13
Season Twenty-Eight: Series Two April 15, 2006 July 8, 2006 13 + 1
Season Twenty-Nine: Series Three March 21, 2007 June 30, 2007 13 + 1
Season Thirty: Series Four April 5, 2008 July 5, 2008 13 + 6
Season Thirty-One: Series Five April 3, 2010 June 26, 2010 13 + 1
Season Thirty-Two: Series Six April 23, 2011 October 1, 2011 13 + 1
Season Thirty-Three: Series Seven September 1, 2012 May 18, 2013 13 + 3
Season Thirty-Four: Series Eight August 23, 2014 November 8, 2014 12 + 1
Season Thirty-Five: Series Nine September 19, 2015 December 5, 2015 12 + 1
Season Thirty-Six: Series Ten April 15, 2017 July 1, 2017 12 + 1
Season Thirty-Seven: Series Eleven October 7, 2018 December 9, 2018 10 + 2
Season Thirty-Eight: Series Twelve January 1, 2020 March 1, 2020 10 + 1
Season Thirty-Nine: Series Thirteen: Flux October 31, 2021 December 5, 2021 6 + 3
Season Forty: Series Fourteen May 11, 2024 June 22, 2024 8 + 5
Season Forty-One: Series Fifteen 2025 — —

Animated specials

Title Airdate
CBBC
The Infinite Quest June 30, 2007
BBC2
Dreamland December 5, 2009

Shorts

TV shorts

Title Airdate
BBC1
Children in Need Special November 18, 2005
Time Crash November 16, 2007
Music of the Spheres January 1, 2009
Space & Time March 18, 2011
BBC3
Death is the Only Answer October 1, 2011
CBBC
Good as Gold May 24, 2012
BBC1
The Great Detective November 16, 2012

Webisodes

Season  Premiere Finale #
Scream of the Shalka November 13, 2003 December 18, 2003 6
Tardisodes April 1, 2006 July 1, 2006 13
Captain Jack's Monster Files April 5, 2008 December 24, 2009 16
River Song's Monster Files May 1, 2010 May 29, 2010 3
Series Six Prequels March 25, 2011 December 6, 2011 6
Pond Life August 27, 2012 August 31, 2012 5
Series Seven Prequels September 1, 2012 May 11, 2013 6 + 2
P.S. October 12, 2012  

DVD shorts

Season  Premiere Finale #
Meanwhile in the TARDIS November 8, 2010 2
Night and the Doctor November 21, 2011 5
Series Seven DVD minisodes May 27, 2013 September 24, 2013 4

Related Programs

Other media

In Depth

DVD and Blu-ray Releases

External Sites

The Doctor Who Franchise
TV Shows
Doctor Who original • Doctor Who revival • Doctor Who animated • Class
TV Movies
Doctor Who - FOX
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