Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Now Showing

Doctor Who

7.9
Yr 1963
Rt 25m
Status Ended
Your Verdict
Unrated

Rate this show to unlock picks like it. Create a free account.

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

  • BBC confirms future plans for Doctor Who — September 17, 2026
  • 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 While reviewers acknowledge that the show can feel outdated and occasionally suffers from slow pacing or repetitive storytelling, it remains widely celebrated for its imaginative scope, memorable serials, and iconic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

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 Commander Maxil 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 Richard Franklin as Captain Mike Yates 47 episodes Louise Jameson as Leela 52 episodes Mary Tamm as Romana 26 episodes Mark Strickson as Turlough 46 episodes David Brierly as K9 (voice) 20 episodes Wendy Padbury as Zoe Heriot 50 episodes Sarah Sutton as Nyssa 28 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 Lexa 77 episodes John Levene as Sergeant Benton 78 episodes Ian Marter as Harry Sullivan 31 episodes Nicholas Courtney as The Brigadier 111 episodes Frazer Hines as Jamie 91 episodes Maureen O'Brien as Vicki 38 episodes Lalla Ward as Princess Astra 54 episodes Milton Johns as Guy Crayford 14 episodes Peter Purves as Steven Taylor 46 episodes John Leeson as K9 (voice) 82 episodes Ysanne Churchman as Alpha Centauri (voice) 15 episodes Peter Hawkins as Cybermen (voice) 38 episodes Stuart Fell as Roga 20 episodes Prentis Hancock as 2nd Reporter 14 episodes Anneke Wills as Polly Wright 36 episodes Michael Craze as Ben Jackson 37 episodes Christopher Benjamin as Jago 12 episodes Dave Carter as Prison Officer 14 episodes Rex Robinson as Dr. Tyler 12 episodes Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen 22 episodes Bernard Horsfall as Gulliver 15 episodes Norman Jones as Hieronymous 15 episodes Michael Sheard as Laurence Scarman 16 episodes Pat Gorman as Silurian 40 episodes Michael Wisher as Kalik 36 episodes Bernard Kay as Caldwell 14 episodes Max Faulkner as Thal Guard 20 episodes Alan Rowe as Skinsale 15 episodes Roy Skelton as Norton 41 episodes Sonny Caldinez as Ssorg 18 episodes Terence Lodge as Orum 13 episodes John Scott Martin as Zarbi 75 episodes John Abineri as Ranquin 17 episodes Jean Marsh as Sara Kingdom 13 episodes Valentine Dyall as Black Guardian 13 episodes John Ringham as Josiah Blake 13 episodes David Graham as Dalek (voice) 38 episodes Terry Walsh as Burning Exxilon (uncredited) 49 episodes Anthony Ainley as Tremas 29 episodes Cy Town as Extra (uncredited) 36 episodes Peter Halliday as Silurians (voice) 22 episodes Peter Miles as Professor Whitaker 17 episodes Murphy Grumbar as Dalek (operator) 30 episodes Robert Jewell as Zarbi 25 episodes Gerald Taylor as Vega Nexos 25 episodes Kevin Manser as Dalek Operator 22 episodes Gary Dean as Lunar Guard (uncredited) 18 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
725