Doctor Who
Doctor Who
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Doctor Who

7.9
Yr 1963
Rt 25m
Status Ended
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, The Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help ordinary people, and right many wrongs.

Status

Latest

  • Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper team up July 1, 2026
Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 78 /100

Critical reception for the original run of Doctor Who highlights its status as a foundational piece of science fiction television. While reviewers acknowledge that the show can feel outdated and occasionally suffers from slow pacing or repetitive storytelling, it remains widely celebrated for its imaginative scope, memorable serials, and iconic imagery.

Many critics point to the show's unique blend of fantasy, sci-fi adventure, and humor as key reasons for its enduring popularity. The serial format, defined by its 25-minute episodes and signature cliffhangers, is frequently cited as a successful strategy for building tension, and the series is widely respected for its role as the longest-running science fiction program in history.

“The best stories here have excellent atmosphere and imagery.”

“Millions of fans continue to enjoy this series on many levels, from the fantasy and sci-fi to the tongue in cheek humor.”

“The stories took place in serial form – with each episode lasting about 25 minutes, ending with a cliffhanger that would bring the audience back.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

BritBox
US • CA
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Why fans love it

Doctor Who thrives on a strange friction between the intimate and the infinite. Since 1963, the show has functioned as a vehicle for both scathing social commentary and earnest adventure, maintaining a specific tone that feels simultaneously comforting and restless. The premise relies on a simple, enduring hook: a Time Lord wanders through space and history in a vessel shaped like a mid-century British police box.

The series prioritizes curiosity over rigid continuity. Whether the era features Tom Baker or any other lead, the storytelling shifts between high-stakes heroics and smaller, character-driven moments. It remains one of the few long-running genre projects that manages to keep its sense of wonder intact. By balancing alien threats with a genuine admiration for humanity, the show avoids becoming a rote exercise in science fiction tropes. It is less about the mechanics of time travel and more about the recurring choice to intervene when something is wrong.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 7
Longest run 172 eps
Show 67 more
Colin Baker as The Doctor 32 episodes Caroline John as Liz Shaw 25 episodes Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith 98 episodes Nicola Bryant as Perpugilliam "Peri" Brown 51 episodes Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush 28 episodes Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka 76 episodes Louise Jameson as Leela 52 episodes Richard Franklin as Captain Mike Yates 47 episodes Mary Tamm as Romana 26 episodes Mark Strickson as Vislor Turlough 48 episodes David Brierly as K9 (voice) 20 episodes Sarah Sutton as Nyssa 29 episodes Wendy Padbury as Zoe Heriot 50 episodes Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet 19 episodes Matthew Waterhouse as Adric 44 episodes Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman 51 episodes William Russell as Ian Chesterton 77 episodes Sophie Aldred as Ace 31 episodes Michael Jayston as The Valeyard 14 episodes Lynda Bellingham as The Inquisitor 14 episodes Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright 77 episodes John Leeson as K9 (voice) 84 episodes Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan 31 episodes John Levene as Sergeant Benton 81 episodes Nicholas Courtney as The Brigadier 111 episodes Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon 91 episodes Maureen O'Brien as Vicki 38 episodes Lalla Ward as Romana II 54 episodes Milton Johns as Guy Crayford 14 episodes Peter Purves as Steven Taylor 46 episodes Ysanne Churchman as Alpha Centauri (voice) 15 episodes Peter Hawkins as Dalek (voice) 38 episodes Stuart Fell as Alpha Centauri 20 episodes Prentis Hancock as Vaber 14 episodes Michael Craze as Ben 37 episodes Anneke Wills as Polly 36 episodes Christopher Benjamin as Jago 12 episodes Rex Robinson as Gebek 12 episodes Michael Sheard as Dr. Summers 17 episodes Dave Carter as Prison Officer 14 episodes Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen 22 episodes Norman Jones as Khrisong 15 episodes Michael Wisher as Daleks (voice) 36 episodes Pat Gorman as Monk (uncredited) 40 episodes Bernard Horsfall as Taron 15 episodes Ronald Allen as Ralph Cornish 12 episodes Max Faulkner as Nesbin 20 episodes Roy Skelton as Dalek (voice) 40 episodes Sonny Caldinez as Kemel 18 episodes Terence Lodge as Moss 13 episodes Alan Rowe as Edward of Wessex 15 episodes John Abineri as General Carrington 17 episodes Bernard Kay as Carl Tyler 14 episodes John Scott Martin as Dalek Operator 75 episodes Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdom 13 episodes Valentine Dyall as Black Guardian 13 episodes Terry Walsh as Guard Captain 49 episodes John Ringham as Ashe 13 episodes Anthony Ainley as The Master 29 episodes Peter Halliday as Packer 22 episodes Cy Town as Dalek Operator 36 episodes David Graham as Daleks (voice) 38 episodes Peter Miles as Nyder 17 episodes Murphy Grumbar as Dalek Operator 30 episodes Gerald Taylor as Dalek 25 episodes Robert Jewell as Dalek 25 episodes Kevin Manser as Dalek 22 episodes
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Doctor Who overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

time travel space alien admiring comforting excited scathing space travel reincarnation psychotronic space adventure regeneration humanoid parallel universe historical revisionism serial phone booth soft fantasy nonlinear narrative sci-fi & fantasy
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
November 23, 1963
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
25 minutes
Origin
GB
TMDB Votes
705