Doctor Who (1963)

Watch Doctor Who (1963)

  • TV-PG
  • 1963
  • 26 Seasons
  • 8.4  (38,094)

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television show that first appeared on BBC One in 1963. The show centers around the character of the Doctor, an extraterrestrial entity from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in a spacecraft known as the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) with his companions. The show's original run on BBC One spanned from 1963 to 1989, with a total of 26 seasons and 709 episodes. It starred William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the Doctor, followed by Patrick Troughton as the second Doctor and Jon Pertwee as the third Doctor. Each regeneration brought a new dynamic to the show and a new actor to portray the lead character. The premise of the show revolves around the concept of regeneration, which allows the Doctor to "die" and then regenerate into a new body with a new personality and appearance, while still retaining the memories and experiences of his previous incarnations. This allowed the show to continue for decades, as new actors assumed the role of the Doctor and brought their own unique interpretations to the character. The Doctor is often accompanied by one or more human companions, who provide a relatable perspective for the audience and help to ground the fantastical sci-fi elements of the show. The companions often come from diverse backgrounds and time periods, allowing the show to explore different social issues and historical eras. One of the defining features of Doctor Who is its use of time travel as a central narrative device. The Doctor and his companions frequently travel to different time periods, encountering historical figures and exploring significant events. This allows the show to blend science fiction with historical fiction, creating a unique blend of genres that has become synonymous with the show. The Doctor and his companions often find themselves facing formidable villains and monsters that threaten the safety of the universe. These villains include the Daleks, robotic beings bent on universal domination, and the Cybermen, cyborgs whose aim is to convert all life into their own kind. These villains and monsters have become iconic in their own right, and are often featured in Doctor Who merchandise and spin-off media. One of the most notable aspects of the show is its use of low-budget special effects, particularly in the early seasons. The use of primitive special effects, such as cardboard cutouts and wobbly sets, has become part of the show's charm and is often cited as one of the reasons for its longevity. Doctor Who has become a cultural phenomenon, with fans around the world known as Whovians. The show's popularity has spawned numerous spin-offs, including Torchwood, a more mature spin-off aimed at adult viewers, and The Sarah Jane Adventures, a children's spin-off featuring one of the Doctor's former companions. Overall, Doctor Who is a unique and groundbreaking television show that has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences for over 50 years. Its use of time travel, memorable characters, and iconic villains has made it a cult classic and an enduring part of British pop culture.

Doctor Who (1963)
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Seasons
Survival (3)
14. Survival (3)
December 6, 1989
As the alien world dies around them, the Doctor and the Master fight like animals before escaping to Earth, where their war ends. And somewhere else, the tea is getting cold...
Survival (2)
13. Survival (2)
November 29, 1989
The Doctor and a number of people from Perivale follow Ace to the Cheetah-People's world, where the Master lies in wait. He cannot leave without the Doctor's assistance.
Survival (1)
12. Survival (1)
November 22, 1989
Perivale, England, the late 1980s. People are vanishing into thin air under the baleful stare of a very strange cat. The Doctor and Ace learn that, in the battle for survival, success can carry a terrible price...
The Curse of Fenric (4)
11. The Curse of Fenric (4)
November 15, 1989
Fenric is loose and planning to use the Ancient Haemovore to poison the Earth with chemicals, unless the Doctor can defeat him in their centuries old game.
The Curse of Fenric (3)
10. The Curse of Fenric (3)
November 8, 1989
The Doctor and his friends come under attack from the Haemavores, allowing Millington to retrieve the flask containing Fenric's essence.
The Curse of Fenric (2)
9. The Curse of Fenric (2)
November 1, 1989
The Doctor and Ace manage to convince Sorin to release them while Millington and Judson attempt to translate the Viking runes.
The Curse of Fenric (1)
8. The Curse of Fenric (1)
October 25, 1989
England, the 1940s. The TARDIS brings the Doctor and Ace to a secret naval base during WWII. There, the time-travellers battle vampiric Haemovores and an ancient Viking curse!
Ghost Light (3)
7. Ghost Light (3)
October 18, 1989
The Doctor attempts to convince Light to put an end to Smith's schemes but instead Light aims to put an end to Earth's evolution.
Ghost Light (2)
6. Ghost Light (2)
October 11, 1989
The Doctor manages to rescue Ace from the husks and then tries to uncover the truth about the goings on in Josiah's house.
Ghost Light (1)
5. Ghost Light (1)
October 4, 1989
England, 1883. The Doctor brings Ace to a house called Gabriel Chase in her home town of Perivale. The Gothic mansion is presided over by one Josiah Samuel Smith--an evolved alien brought to Earth in a stone spaceship that is now in the basement beneath the house, and which still holds an ancient evil capable of wiping out the world.
Battlefield (4)
4. Battlefield (4)
September 27, 1989
Morgaine forces Ace and Shou Yuing to hand over Excalibur by threatening to release the Destroyer, so the Doctor and the Brigadier enter a dimensional portal to stop her.
Battlefield (3)
3. Battlefield (3)
September 20, 1989
The Brigadier rescues the Doctor from the stone spaceship before they set out to locate Morgaine before she gains Excalibur.
Battlefield (2)
2. Battlefield (2)
September 13, 1989
The Doctor and Ace discover a stone spaceship underneath Warmsley's archaeological dig while Mordred summons Morgaine to Earth's dimension.
Battlefield (1)
1. Battlefield (1)
September 6, 1989
The village of Carbury, England, in the late 1990s, where a nuclear missile convoy overseen by UNIT has run into difficulties. Lying on the bed of the nearby Lake Vortigern is a spaceship from another dimension containing the body of King Arthur and his sword Excalibur.
The Five Doctors
101. The Five Doctors
November 22, 2013
Plans are afoot for a special episode to commemorate the show's 50th Anniversary. What can the actors who formerly played the Doctor do to ensure their involvement?
The Doctors Revisited: The First Doctor
201. The Doctors Revisited: The First Doctor
January 27, 2013
The First Doctor, played by William Hartnell, introduced viewers to an incredible show that is still popular 50 years later.
The Doctors Revisited: The Second Doctor
202. The Doctors Revisited: The Second Doctor
February 24, 2013
The Second Doctor, played by Patrick Troughton, brought a new energy to the series, with his impish charm and boundless enthusiasm.
The Doctors Revisited: The Third Doctor
203. The Doctors Revisited: The Third Doctor
March 31, 2013
Along with the introduction of colour, the Third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee, brought with him action, stunts and car chases to the Doctor Who series.
The Doctors Revisited: The Fourth Doctor
204. The Doctors Revisited: The Fourth Doctor
April 28, 2013
As the Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker, donned his scarf, left planet Earth and returned to space, he created an ever-lasting iconic image of the wandering time traveller.
The Doctors Revisited: The Fifth Doctor
205. The Doctors Revisited: The Fifth Doctor
May 26, 2013
The Fifth Doctor, played by Peter Davison, introduced viewers to a character who was fresh faced, youthful and more vulnerable than we had seen before.
The Doctors Revisited: The Sixth Doctor
206. The Doctors Revisited: The Sixth Doctor
June 29, 2013
As the Sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker, generated onto our screens in a patchwork blast of color, he brought with him his own sense of style and character.
The Doctors Revisited: The Seventh Doctor
207. The Doctors Revisited: The Seventh Doctor
July 27, 2013
The Seventh Doctor, played by Sylvester McCoy, clowned around in a question marked tank top and juggled his way around foes.
Description

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television show that first appeared on BBC One in 1963. The show centers around the character of the Doctor, an extraterrestrial entity from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in a spacecraft known as the TARDIS (Time and Relative Dimension in Space) with his companions.

The show's original run on BBC One spanned from 1963 to 1989, with a total of 26 seasons and 709 episodes. It starred William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the Doctor, followed by Patrick Troughton as the second Doctor and Jon Pertwee as the third Doctor. Each regeneration brought a new dynamic to the show and a new actor to portray the lead character.

The premise of the show revolves around the concept of regeneration, which allows the Doctor to "die" and then regenerate into a new body with a new personality and appearance, while still retaining the memories and experiences of his previous incarnations. This allowed the show to continue for decades, as new actors assumed the role of the Doctor and brought their own unique interpretations to the character.

The Doctor is often accompanied by one or more human companions, who provide a relatable perspective for the audience and help to ground the fantastical sci-fi elements of the show. The companions often come from diverse backgrounds and time periods, allowing the show to explore different social issues and historical eras.

One of the defining features of Doctor Who is its use of time travel as a central narrative device. The Doctor and his companions frequently travel to different time periods, encountering historical figures and exploring significant events. This allows the show to blend science fiction with historical fiction, creating a unique blend of genres that has become synonymous with the show.

The Doctor and his companions often find themselves facing formidable villains and monsters that threaten the safety of the universe. These villains include the Daleks, robotic beings bent on universal domination, and the Cybermen, cyborgs whose aim is to convert all life into their own kind. These villains and monsters have become iconic in their own right, and are often featured in Doctor Who merchandise and spin-off media.

One of the most notable aspects of the show is its use of low-budget special effects, particularly in the early seasons. The use of primitive special effects, such as cardboard cutouts and wobbly sets, has become part of the show's charm and is often cited as one of the reasons for its longevity.

Doctor Who has become a cultural phenomenon, with fans around the world known as Whovians. The show's popularity has spawned numerous spin-offs, including Torchwood, a more mature spin-off aimed at adult viewers, and The Sarah Jane Adventures, a children's spin-off featuring one of the Doctor's former companions.

Overall, Doctor Who is a unique and groundbreaking television show that has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences for over 50 years. Its use of time travel, memorable characters, and iconic villains has made it a cult classic and an enduring part of British pop culture.

Doctor Who (1963) is a series that is currently running and has 26 seasons (735 episodes). The series first aired on November 23, 1963.

Where to Watch Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who (1963) is available for streaming on the BBC One website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Doctor Who (1963) on demand at Google Play and Apple TV.

  • Premiere Date
    November 23, 1963
  • IMDB Rating
    8.4  (38,094)