History of Doctor Who in Timeline
Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction series about the Doctor, a Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in a time-traveling spaceship called the TARDIS, disguised as a British police box. The Doctor, often accompanied by human companions, combats various enemies and rights wrongs, saving civilizations and helping those in need. The series has been broadcast by the BBC since 1963 and was created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson.
July 1963: Terry Nation commissioned to write The Mutants
On July 31, 1963, Terry Nation was commissioned to write a story under the title 'The Mutants', which later became 'The Daleks'. This serial, introducing the Daleks, was a significant success and led to "Dalekmania" and the BBC's first merchandising boom.
November 1963: Delayed Transmission and Rebroadcast
In November 1963, the first episode of Doctor Who was delayed by eighty seconds due to extended news coverage of John F. Kennedy's assassination. Believing many viewers missed the initial broadcast, the BBC rebroadcast the episode on November 30, 1963.
November 1963: First Appearance on BBC
On November 23, 1963, Doctor Who first appeared on the BBC Television Service, intended as a regular weekly educational program for a family audience. The broadcast was slightly delayed due to announcements concerning John F. Kennedy's assassination.
November 1963: Doctor Who premieres on BBC One
On November 23, 1963, Doctor Who premiered on BBC One, marking the beginning of its original 26-season run.
1963: Classic series start date
From 1963 to 1996, over 600 episodes of the classic Doctor Who series (the first 8 Doctors) were produced.
1963: Series Broadcast
In 1963, Doctor Who, a British science fiction television series created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber and Donald Wilson, began broadcasting on the BBC. The series follows the Doctor, an extraterrestrial Time Lord, as they travel through time and space in the TARDIS, combating foes and saving lives.
1963: The introduction of companions
In 1963, since the programme's inception, the companion figure – generally a human – has been a constant feature in Doctor Who. The Doctor's first companions seen on-screen were his granddaughter Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford) and her teachers Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) and Ian Chesterton (William Russell).
1963: The Daleks' first appearance
In 1963, the Daleks first appeared in the show's second serial, becoming Doctor Who's oldest villains.
1963: Murray Gold arrangement
In 2005, for the return of the series, Murray Gold provided a new arrangement of the Doctor Who theme, which featured samples from the 1963 original with further elements added in the 2005 Christmas episode "The Christmas Invasion".
1963: Doctor Who premiers
Since 1963, 890 Doctor Who installments have been televised.
1963: The Daleks (1963-1964)
The Daleks début in the programme’s second serial, The Daleks (1963–1964), made both the Daleks and Doctor Who very popular.
September 1964: New Zealand screens Doctor Who
In September 1964, New Zealand was the first country outside the United Kingdom to screen Doctor Who.
1964: Marco Polo is entirely missing.
As of now, short clips from every Doctor Who story with the exception of Marco Polo (1964), "Mission to the Unknown" (1965) and The Massacre (1966) exist.
1964: International broadcast begins
Doctor Who has been broadcast internationally outside of the United Kingdom since 1964, a year after the show first aired.
1964: Dudley Simpson's first score
In 1964, Dudley Simpson's first Doctor Who score was for "Planet of Giants".
1964: Political cartoon depicted Charles de Gaulle as a Dalek
In 1964, a political cartoon in the Daily Mail depicted Charles de Gaulle as a Dalek, referencing Doctor Who.
1964: Start of Dalekmania
In 1964, the Dalekmania period began, with the popularity of the Daleks regularly bringing Doctor Who ratings of between 9 and 14 million.
1964: Theme Music Release
In 1964, the Doctor Who theme music, composed by Ron Grainer and realised by Delia Derbyshire, was released as a single on Decca F 11837.
1964: The Daleks (1963-1964)
The Daleks début in the programme’s second serial, The Daleks (1963–1964), made both the Daleks and Doctor Who very popular.
January 1965: Australian Broadcast Corporation (ABC) broadcasts first run
In January 1965, Doctor Who began being exclusively first run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Australia.
1965: Mission to the Unknown is entirely missing.
As of now, short clips from every Doctor Who story with the exception of Marco Polo (1964), "Mission to the Unknown" (1965) and The Massacre (1966) exist.
1965: Doctor Who books published
From 1965, Doctor Who books were published, primarily novelised adaptations of broadcast episodes.
1965: Dalekmania peaks
In 1965, the Dalekmania period continued, maintaining high ratings for Doctor Who, ranging between 9 and 14 million viewers.
1965: Dr. Who and the Daleks released
In 1965, the Dr. Who feature film, Dr. Who and the Daleks, a retelling of 'The Daleks' serial, was released.
1965: Part 3 of Galaxy 4 was recovered
In 1965, the third part of Galaxy 4 was initially released, and later recovered in December 2011.
1966: The Massacre is entirely missing.
As of now, short clips from every Doctor Who story with the exception of Marco Polo (1964), "Mission to the Unknown" (1965) and The Massacre (1966) exist.
1966: Serials given individual titles and episode numbers after The Gunfighters
Following The Gunfighters in 1966, each Doctor Who serial was given its own title, and the individual parts were assigned episode numbers.
1966: Patrick Troughton Succeeds William Hartnell
In 1966, William Hartnell, the first actor to play the Doctor, was succeeded by Patrick Troughton due to Hartnell's declining health.
1966: Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. released
In 1966, the Dr. Who feature film, Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D., a retelling of 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth' serial, was released.
1966: First Doctor Who-related audio release
In 1966, the earliest Doctor Who–related audio release was a 21-minute narrated abridgement of the First Doctor television story The Chase.
1966: Part four of The Tenth Planet is a lost episode
One of the most sought-after lost Doctor Who episodes is part four of the last William Hartnell serial, The Tenth Planet, from 1966, which ends with the First Doctor transforming into the Second. The only portion of this in existence, barring a few poor-quality silent 8 mm clips, is the few seconds of the regeneration scene shown on Blue Peter.
1967: Destruction or wiping of older Doctor Who material begins
Between 1967 and 1978, large amounts of older Doctor Who material stored in the BBC's video tape and film libraries was either destroyed or wiped, including many early episodes.
1967: The Ice Warriors and The Moonbase were originally released.
In 1967, The Ice Warriors and The Moonbase were originally released and later parts of them went missing and were animated in 2013.
1967: History-oriented episodes dropped after The Highlanders
In 1967, history-oriented episodes of Doctor Who, not popular with the production team, were dropped after The Highlanders.
1967: Part 2 of The Underwater Menace was recovered
In 1967, the second part of The Underwater Menace was initially released, and later recovered in December 2011.
1968: The Invasion was originally released
In 1968, The Invasion was originally released and later parts of it went missing and were reconstructed for a DVD release in 2006.
1968: Six-part serials The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear were originally released
In 1968, the six-part serials The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear were originally released and later some parts were discovered in October 2013.
1970: Jon Pertwee Becomes the Doctor
In 1970, Jon Pertwee replaced Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, and the series began production in colour.
1970: Spearhead from Space and the Silurians
In 1970, the Autons with the Nestene Consciousness first appeared in Spearhead from Space and the Silurians also first appeared.
1971: Terror of the Autons
During Jon Pertwee's second season as the Doctor, in 1971, the serial Terror of the Autons featured images of murderous plastic dolls, daffodils killing unsuspecting victims, and blank-featured policemen, marking the apex of the series' ability to frighten children.
1971: The Master's first appearance
In 1971, the Master, the Doctor's archenemy, first appeared in the series.
1971: Wilson claimed to have named the series
In a 1971 interview Donald Wilson claimed to have named the series, and when this claim was put to Newman he did not dispute it.
1972: Violence Survey
In 1972, a BBC audience research survey found that Doctor Who was considered the most violent of the corporation's drama programs at the time, based on their definition of violence. 3% of the surveyed audience believed the series was "very unsuitable" for family viewing.
1972: Almost all episodes known to exist at BBC
In 1972, almost all episodes of Doctor Who then made were known to exist at the BBC before some were later lost due to wiping and destruction.
1973: Roger Delgado's death
In 1973, Roger Delgado, the first actor who played The Master, continued in the role until his death.
1973: The Three Doctors
In 1973, William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton returned alongside Jon Pertwee in "The Three Doctors".
1974: Tom Baker Cast as the Doctor
In 1974, Tom Baker was cast as the Doctor, becoming hugely popular and boosting viewing figures.
1975: Writers' Guild of Great Britain award
In 1975, Season 11 of Doctor Who won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for Best Writing in a Children's Serial.
1975: William Hartnell's death
In 1975, William Hartnell, the actor who played the First Doctor, passed away. As a result, Richard Hurndall was chosen to play the First Doctor in "The Five Doctors".
1976: TVOntario picks up the show
In 1976, TVOntario (TVO) picked up Doctor Who in Canada, beginning with The Three Doctors.
1976: The Deadly Assassin
In 1976, the only story from the original series in which the Doctor travels alone is "The Deadly Assassin".
1976: Controversy over violence depicted in The Deadly Assassin
In 1976, the serial The Deadly Assassin featured a disembodied brain falling to the floor and the Doctor apparently being drowned by a villain. Mary Whitehouse's complaint about the latter incident prompted a change in BBC policy towards the series.
1976: The Deadly Assassin established the limit of 12 regenerations for Time Lords
The serial The Deadly Assassin, from 1976, established that a Time Lord can only regenerate 12 times, for a total of 13 incarnations.
1978: Wiping tapes and destroying "spare" film copies of Doctor Who stories stops
By 1978, the practice of wiping tapes and destroying "spare" film copies of Doctor Who stories had been brought to a stop at the BBC.
1978: Disco version of the theme by Mankind
In 1978, a disco version of the Doctor Who theme was released in the UK, Denmark, and Australia by the group Mankind, reaching number 24 in the UK charts.
1979: Viewership peaks during ITV strike
During the ITV network strike of 1979, Doctor Who viewership peaked at 16 million.
1979: Derbyshire arrangement
From 1979 to 1980, the Derbyshire arrangement served, with minor edits, as the theme tune.
1979: TVO airings bookended by Judith Merril
From 1979 to 1981, TVO airings in Canada were bookended by science-fiction writer Judith Merril, who introduced the episode and placed it in an educational context.
1979: Simpson's last Doctor Who score
In 1979, Dudley Simpson's last Doctor Who score was for "The Horns of Nimon".
1979: Doctor Who Magazine published
Since 1979, a dedicated Doctor Who Magazine (DWM) with newsstand circulation has been published regularly.
1980: Derbyshire arrangement
From 1979 to 1980, the Derbyshire arrangement served, with minor edits, as the theme tune.
1980: Radiophonic Workshop takes over incidental music
In 1980, starting with the serial "The Leisure Hive", the task of creating incidental music for Doctor Who was assigned to the Radiophonic Workshop.
1981: TVO airings bookended by Judith Merril
From 1979 to 1981, TVO airings in Canada were bookended by science-fiction writer Judith Merril, who introduced the episode and placed it in an educational context.
1981: Pilot episode for K-9 and Company aired
In 1981, a pilot episode ('A Girl's Best Friend') for a potential spin-off series, K-9 and Company, aired, starring Elisabeth Sladen, but was not picked up as a regular series.
1981: Peter Davison Replaces Tom Baker
In 1981, after seven years in the role, Tom Baker was replaced by Peter Davison as the Doctor.
1981: First commercially available audiobook released
In 1981, the first commercially available audiobook was an abridged reading of the Fourth Doctor story State of Decay.
1982: Black Orchid set in 1920s England
In 1982, the episode Black Orchid, set in 1920s England, was an exception to the show's science fiction focus and served as a historical backdrop.
November 1983: "The Five Doctors" shown as part of Children in Need Appeal
In November 1983, coinciding with Doctor Who's 20th anniversary, "The Five Doctors" was shown as part of the annual BBC Children in Need Appeal. It was the programme's first co-production with Australian broadcaster ABC.
1983: The Five Doctors
In 1983, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee returned to star with Peter Davison in "The Five Doctors", and Tom Baker appeared in previously unseen footage from the uncompleted Shada serial. Richard Hurndall replaced William Hartnell in this episode.
1983: The Five Doctors feature-length production
In 1983, the feature-length production The Five Doctors aired.
1983: "The Five Doctors" debut on PBS
On 23 November 1983, the 20th-anniversary special "The Five Doctors" had its debut on a number of PBS stations two days before its BBC One broadcast.
1983: Mawdryn Undead reinforced the Time Lord regeneration limit of 12
The Mawdryn Undead serial, from 1983, reinforced the idea that a Time Lord can only regenerate 12 times, for a total of 13 incarnations.
1984: Colin Baker Replaces Peter Davison
In 1984, Colin Baker replaced Peter Davison as the Doctor.
1984: 45/50-minute episodes format begins with Resurrection of the Daleks
In 1984, the 45/50-minute episodes format began with the Resurrection of the Daleks series of Doctor Who.
1985: 23rd series postponed
In 1985, Doctor Who's 23rd series was postponed, and the show was off the air for 18 months.
1985: The Two Doctors
In 1985, Patrick Troughton returned in "The Two Doctors" with Colin Baker.
1985: A single season of 45/50-minute episodes.
In 1985, a single season of Doctor Who consisted of 45/50-minute episodes.
1985: Season 22 Criticized for Violence
In 1985, season 22 of Doctor Who was publicly criticised by controller Michael Grade and given as one of his reasons for suspending the series for 18 months due to the violence depicted.
1985: Series Cancelled and Put on Hiatus
In 1985, the channel controller Michael Grade cancelled the upcoming twenty-third season, forcing Doctor Who into an eighteen-month hiatus.
1986: Series Recommissioned with a Change in Doctor
In 1986, Doctor Who was recommissioned on the condition that Colin Baker left the role of the Doctor.
1986: Dominic Glynn arrangement
In 1986, Dominic Glynn's arrangement replaced Peter Howell's for the season-long serial The Trial of a Time Lord in season 23.
1986: Michael Jayston appears as the Valeyard
In 1986, Michael Jayston played the Valeyard in The Trial of a Time Lord, described as an amalgamation of the darker sides of the Doctor's nature, somewhere between the twelfth and final incarnation.
1986: Radiophonic Workshop dropped
In 1986, the Radiophonic Workshop was dropped after "The Trial of a Time Lord" series, and Keff McCulloch took over as the series' main composer.
1986: Idea of casting a woman as the Doctor suggested by Newman
In 1986, the idea of casting a woman as the Doctor was suggested by Newman, a writer for the show.
1987: Keff McCulloch arrangement
In 1987, Keff McCulloch provided the new arrangement for the Seventh Doctor's era, which lasted from season 24 until the series' suspension in 1989.
1987: Sylvester McCoy Cast as the Doctor
In 1987, Sylvester McCoy was cast as the Doctor, replacing Colin Baker.
1988: The Timelords release "Doctorin' the Tardis"
In 1988, The Timelords (formerly The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu/The KLF) released the single "Doctorin' the Tardis", which reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in Australia. This version incorporated several other songs, including "Rock and Roll Part 2" by Gary Glitter.
1988: First radio drama Slipback transmitted
In 1988, during a hiatus in the television show, Slipback, the first radio drama, was transmitted.
1988: Silver Nemesis broadcast in New Zealand
In November 1988, the story Silver Nemesis was broadcast with all three episodes airing back to back on TVNZ in New Zealand, after the first episode had been shown in the UK but before the final two instalments had aired there.
July 1989: Philip Segal approached BBC
In July 1989, Philip Segal approached the BBC to relaunch Doctor Who through an independent production company.
December 1989: Doctor Who's original run ends
On December 6, 1989, Doctor Who's original run ended on BBC One after 26 seasons.
1989: Doctor Who's hiatus
In 1989, Anthony Ainley continued to play the character The Master until Doctor Who's hiatus.
1989: Suspension of the Programme
In 1989, Doctor Who was suspended due to low viewership. Some fans believed this was disingenuous, as it was scheduled against Coronation Street.
1989: Series Suspension
In 1989, Keff McCulloch provided the new arrangement for the Seventh Doctor's era, which lasted from season 24 until the series' suspension.
1989: End of Production
In 1989, due to falling viewing numbers and a less prominent transmission slot, production of Doctor Who ended, although the BBC affirmed it would return.
1989: End of Original Series
In 1989, the original run of the Doctor Who series came to an end.
1991: TVOntario airs the show through series 24
In 1991, TVOntario (TVO) aired the show through series 24 in Canada.
1991: Original fiction launched
In 1991, an extensive line of original fiction was launched, including the Virgin New Adventures and Virgin Missing Adventures Doctor Who books.
1991: Behind the Sofa Exhibition
In 1991, the Museum of the Moving Image in London named its exhibition celebrating Doctor Who Behind the Sofa, referencing the phrase "hiding behind the sofa" which had become associated with the series.
1993: Dimensions in Time produced for Children in Need
In 1993, for Doctor Who's 30th anniversary, Dimensions in Time, a charity special, was produced for Children in Need, featuring surviving actors who played the Doctor and previous companions. It featured a crossover with EastEnders.
1993: Dimensions in Time was made
In 1993, the two-part story Dimensions in Time, was made in collaboration with the cast of the BBC soap-opera EastEnders and was filmed partly on the EastEnders set.
1996: Classic series end date
From 1963 to 1996, over 600 episodes of the classic Doctor Who series (the first 8 Doctors) were produced.
1996: John Debney arrangement
In 1996, American composer John Debney created a new arrangement of Grainer's original theme for Doctor Who.
1996: Doctor Who Television Film Broadcast
In 1996, a Doctor Who television film starring Paul McGann as the Doctor was broadcast on the Fox Network as a pilot for an American series. While successful in the UK, it did not lead to a series in the United States.
1996: Television Film Release
In 1996, an unsuccessful attempt was made to revive Doctor Who with a television film serving as a backdoor pilot.
1996: "Best Popular Drama" at Auntie Awards
In 1996, at the "Auntie Awards", Doctor Who was voted as the "Best Popular Drama" the BBC had ever produced, ahead of EastEnders and Casualty.
1996: BBC applies for TARDIS trademark
In 1996, the BBC applied for a trademark to use the TARDIS' blue police box design in merchandising associated with Doctor Who.
1996: The Master in the television movie
In 1996, the Master returned in the television movie of Doctor Who, and was played by American actor Eric Roberts.
1996: TV film released on Blu-ray
Prior to September 2016, only the series from 2005 onwards and the 1996 TV film Doctor Who were available on Blu-ray.
1998: Metropolitan Police Authority objects to TARDIS trademark claim
In 1998, the Metropolitan Police Authority filed an objection to the BBC's trademark claim for the TARDIS' blue police box design.
1999: Big Finish Productions releases Doctor Who audios on CD
In 1999, Big Finish Productions began releasing various series of Doctor Who audios on CD, featuring the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Doctors.
1999: Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death special
In 1999, Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death, a special parody of Doctor Who, was made for Comic Relief. The script was written by Steven Moffat.
1999: Dalek on postage stamp
In 1999, a Dalek appeared on a postage stamp celebrating British popular culture, photographed by Lord Snowdon.
2000: Ranked third in 100 Greatest British Television Programmes
In 2000, Doctor Who was ranked third in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century by the British Film Institute.
2000: Serials released on Video 2000
Leading up to 2000, every fully extant serial of Doctor Who had been released on VHS. Many serials have been released on Betamax tape and Video 2000 as well.
2001: Eighth Doctor joins Big Finish audios
In 2001, Paul McGann's Eighth Doctor joined the Big Finish Productions line of Doctor Who audio releases.
2001: Ninth greatest kids TV show
In Channel 4's 2001 list of the 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows, Doctor Who was placed at number nine.
2002: Patent Office rules in favor of the BBC in TARDIS trademark dispute
In 2002, the Patent Office ruled in favor of the BBC in their trademark dispute with the Metropolitan Police Authority over the TARDIS' blue police box design.
September 2003: BBC Announces New Series Production
In September 2003, BBC Television announced the in-house production of a new Doctor Who series after attempts to create a feature film version.
2003: Richard E. Grant voices the Shalka Doctor in the animated series Scream of the Shalka
In 2003, Richard E. Grant portrayed an alternate version of the Doctor known as the Shalka Doctor in the animated series Scream of the Shalka.
2003: Daily Screenings for 40th Anniversary
In 2003, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Australia began daily screenings of all available classic Doctor Who episodes for the show's 40th anniversary.
2003: Political cartoon referenced Tenth Doctor and African-American presidential candidate
In 2008, an edition of This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow featured the Tenth Doctor informing a character from 2003 that the Democratic Party would nominate an African-American as its presidential candidate.
2004: Number 18 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever
In 2004, Doctor Who was ranked number 18 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.
March 2005: Series Returns to BBC One
On March 26, 2005, Doctor Who returned to BBC One with the episode "Rose", starring Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, after a 16-year hiatus of in-house production.
November 2005: Mini-episode introduces David Tennant as Tenth Doctor
In November 2005, an untitled seven-minute mini-episode aired to support Children in Need, introducing David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.
2005: CBC began showing the series again
CBC began showing the Doctor Who series again in 2005 in Canada.
2005: Russell T Davies produced a series
Following the success of the 2005 series of Doctor Who produced by Russell T Davies, the BBC commissioned Davies to produce a 13-part spin-off series titled Torchwood.
2005: Murray Gold composes incidental music
From the 2005 revival, Murray Gold and Ben Foster composed all incidental music for the Doctor Who series.
2005: Greatest UK Science Fiction and Fantasy Television Series
In 2005, Doctor Who came first in a survey by SFX magazine of "The Greatest UK Science Fiction and Fantasy Television Series Ever".
2005: National Television Award
In 2005, Doctor Who won a National Television Award, the first of five consecutive wins during Russell T Davies' tenure.
2005: Gardner recommissioned the series
In 2005, Jane Tranter recommissioned the series.
2005: Series Revival
In 2005, following the series revival, Derek Jacobi provided the character's reintroduction in the 2007 episode "Utopia".
2005: Murray Gold arrangement
In 2005, for the return of the series, Murray Gold provided a new arrangement of the Doctor Who theme, which featured samples from the 1963 original with further elements added in the 2005 Christmas episode "The Christmas Invasion".
2005: Rose broadcast on BBC One
In 2005, the BBC One broadcast of "Rose", the first episode of the revival, drew an average audience of 10.81 million. The current revival also garners the highest audience Appreciation Index of any drama on television.
2005: Revival series airs in New Zealand
In 2005, the new revived series of Doctor Who aired on Prime Television in New Zealand.
2005: Eighth Doctor confirmed in revival series
In the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, flashback footage and a mini episode confirmed Paul McGann as the eighth incarnation of the Doctor, effectively linking the two series and the television movie.
2005: First soundtrack released
Since 2005, six soundtracks have been released, with the first featuring tracks from the first two series of Doctor Who.
2005: 45/50-minute episode format becomes common for the revival era
Since 2005, the 45/50-minute episode format has been the most common for the revival era of Doctor Who.
2005: The Daleks since the revival
Since 2005, the Daleks have appeared in every series of Doctor Who.
2005: Use of pop music excerpts in series
Since the 2005 Doctor Who series return, there has been occasional use of excerpts of pop music from the 1970s to the present day in the series.
2005: The revival of Doctor Who
Since the 2005 revival, the Doctor generally travels with a primary female companion, who occupies a larger narrative role.
2005: New range of novels published by BBC Books
Since the relaunch of the programme in 2005, a new range of Doctor Who novels has been published by BBC Books.
2005: 2005 series available on UMD
The 2005 series of Doctor Who became available in its entirety on UMD for the PlayStation Portable.
2005: Serial format changes for 2005 revival
The serial format changed for the 2005 Doctor Who revival, with a series usually consisting of thirteen 45-minute, self-contained episodes and an extended 60-minute episode broadcast on Christmas Day.
2005: Reintroduction of classic monsters
With the show's 2005 revival, executive producer Russell T Davies stated his intention to reintroduce the classic monsters of Doctor Who. The Autons with the Nestene Consciousness and Daleks returned in series 1.
April 2006: Blue Peter launches a challenge to find missing episodes
In April 2006, Blue Peter launched a challenge to find missing Doctor Who episodes, offering a full-scale Dalek model as a reward.
October 2006: Torchwood series debuted on BBC Three
On October 22, 2006, the Torchwood series, a 13-part spin-off from Doctor Who, debuted on BBC Three. The series is set in modern-day Cardiff and investigates alien activities and crime. John Barrowman reprised his role of Jack Harkness.
November 2006: DVD release of The Invasion with reconstructed episodes
In November 2006, the DVD release of The Invasion included reconstructed episodes 1 and 4, created by the BBC in conjunction with Cosgrove Hall, using remastered audio tracks and stage notes from the original filming.
November 2006: Concert to raise money for Children in Need
On 19 November 2006, a Doctor Who concert featuring music from the first two series took place to raise money for Children in Need. The concert aired on BBCi on Christmas Day 2006.
2006: Series 1 through 3 broadcast on NHK
From 2006, Series 1 through 3 of Doctor Who were broadcast on various NHK channels in Japan with Japanese subtitles.
2006: British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series
In 2006, Doctor Who won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series.
2006: Hugo Award for "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances"
In 2006, Doctor Who won the Short Form of the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for the episodes "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances".
2006: Torchwood premiere
In 2006, the character of Jack Harkness served to launch a spin-off, Torchwood, in which Martha Jones also appeared.
2006: Cybermen reintroduction
In the 2006 series, the Cybermen were reintroduced in the form of alternate universe aliens, with radically different back stories.
July 2007: The Sci Fi Channel began broadcasting
On 6 July 2007, the Sci Fi Channel began broadcasting Doctor Who in the US, starting with the second Christmas special at 8:00 pm E/P followed by the first episode.
September 2007: The Sarah Jane Adventures series began
On September 24, 2007, The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, began airing. A special aired on New Year's Day 2007.
November 2007: "Time Crash" mini-episode aired
In November 2007, "Time Crash", a 7-minute mini-episode, aired to support Children in Need. It featured the Tenth Doctor meeting the Fifth Doctor, Peter Davison.
2007: Doctor Who is "quintessential to being British"
In 2007, Caitlin Moran, television reviewer for The Times, wrote that Doctor Who is "quintessential to being British".
2007: Utopia
In 2007, Derek Jacobi provided the character's reintroduction in the episode "Utopia". During that story, the role was then assumed by John Simm.
2007: Number 22 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever
In 2007, Doctor Who was ranked number 22 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.
2007: Hugo Award for "The Girl in the Fireplace"
In 2007, Doctor Who won the Short Form of the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for the episode "The Girl in the Fireplace".
2007: The Sarah Jane Adventures premiere
In 2007, Sarah Jane Smith became the central character in The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007–2011) following a return to Doctor Who in 2006.
2007: The Infinite Quest aired alongside Doctor Who series
In 2007, The Infinite Quest, an animated serial, aired alongside the Doctor Who series as part of the children's television series Totally Doctor Who. However, it is not considered part of the 2007 series.
2007: New theme arrangement introduced
In 2007, a new arrangement of the Doctor Who theme by Murray Gold was introduced in the Christmas special episode, "Voyage of the Damned".
2007: Four mini-episodes were produced for Children in Need
In 2007, four mini-episodes were produced for Children in Need charity appeals.
April 2008: Series four aired in the United States
In April 2008, series four of Doctor Who began airing in the United States on the Sci Fi Channel (now known as Syfy).
July 2008: Doctor Who Prom celebrated
On 27 July 2008, a Doctor Who Prom was celebrated in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the annual BBC Proms, featuring the BBC Philharmonic, the London Philharmonic Choir and a mini-episode "Music of the Spheres".
September 2008: Series four aired on CBC
In September 2008, series four of Doctor Who began airing on CBC in Canada, although the "Voyage of the Damned" special was not aired.
2008: Series 3 and 4 soundtrack
A Doctor Who soundtrack featuring music from the third and fourth series was released in 2008.
2008: Nomination for "Favorite Sci-Fi Show" in People's Choice Awards
In 2008, Doctor Who received a nomination for "Favorite Sci-Fi Show" in the People's Choice Awards.
2008: Hugo Award for "Blink"
In 2008, Doctor Who won the Short Form of the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for the episode "Blink".
2008: Mini-episode produced for a Doctor Who-themed edition of The Proms
In 2008, a mini-episode was produced for a Doctor Who–themed edition of The Proms.
2008: Second series of The Sarah Jane Adventures
In 2008, a second series of The Sarah Jane Adventures aired, featuring the return of Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart.
2008: Political cartoon referenced Tenth Doctor and African-American presidential candidate
In 2008, an edition of This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow featured the Tenth Doctor informing a character from 2003 that the Democratic Party would nominate an African-American as its presidential candidate.
2008: Journey's End episode runtime exceeded 45 minutes
In 2008, the Doctor Who episode Journey's End exceeded the regular 45-minute runtime, lasting longer than an hour.
2008: Idea of casting a woman as the Doctor suggested by Davies
In 2008, the idea of casting a woman as the Doctor was suggested by Davies, a writer for the show.
2008: Second series of Torchwood aired
In 2008, the second series of Torchwood aired. Freema Agyeman reprised her Doctor Who role of Martha Jones for three episodes.
2008: Series 1 through 3 broadcast on NHK
Series 1 through 3 of Doctor Who were broadcast on various NHK channels from 2006 to 2008 with Japanese subtitles.
March 2009: "The Next Doctor" broadcast on Space
In March 2009, the Canadian cable network Space (now known as CTV Sci-Fi Channel) broadcast the special "The Next Doctor", followed by subsequent series and specials.
July 2009: Torchwood: Children of Earth broadcast
From July 6 to 10, 2009, Torchwood: Children of Earth, the third series of Torchwood, was broadcast. It consisted of a single five-part story set largely in London.
August 2009: Series broadcast with Japanese dubbing on Disney XD
Beginning on August 2, 2009, upon the launch of Disney XD in Japan, the Doctor Who series has been broadcast with Japanese dubbing.
2009: Doctor Who revival consistently receives high ratings
According to a 2009 Daily Telegraph article, the revival of Doctor Who had consistently received high ratings, both in the number of viewers and as measured by the Appreciation Index.
2009: Doctor Who awarded "most successful" sci-fi series
In 2009, Doctor Who was awarded the title of "most successful" science fiction series based on its broadcast viewership, book and DVD sales.
2009: Third greatest show of the 2000s
In 2009, Doctor Who was voted the 3rd greatest show of the 2000s by Channel 4, behind Top Gear and The Apprentice.
2009: Dreamland aired on BBC Red Button
In 2009, Dreamland, a second animated serial, aired in six parts on the BBC Red Button service and the official Doctor Who website.
2009: Davies Leaves Production Team
In 2009, Russell T Davies left the production team of Doctor Who. Steven Moffat was announced as his successor, along with Matt Smith as the new Doctor.
2009: The series moved to Space
In 2009, the Doctor Who series moved to the Canadian cable channel Space.
2009: K9 series release
In 2009, the first episode of the spin-off television series K9 was released.
2009: Tenth Doctor appearance in Sarah Jane Adventures
In 2009, the third series of The Sarah Jane Adventures featured a crossover appearance from David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor.
2009: Filming in 1080i for HDTV begins with Planet of the Dead
Starting with the 2009 Doctor Who special Planet of the Dead, the series was filmed in 1080i for HDTV and broadcast simultaneously on BBC One and BBC HD.
October 2010: Special edition soundtrack released
On 4 October 2010, a two-disc special edition of the Doctor Who soundtrack was released, containing music from the 2008–2010 specials (The Next Doctor to "End of Time Part 2").
November 2010: Soundtrack for Series 5 released
On 8 November 2010, the soundtrack for Series 5 of Doctor Who was released.
2010: Fifth Consecutive National Television Award
In 2010, Doctor Who won its fifth consecutive National Television Award during Russell T Davies' time as executive producer.
2010: Hugo Award for "The Waters of Mars"
In 2010, Doctor Who won the Short Form of the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for the episode "The Waters of Mars".
2010: Four additional Doctor Who specials were produced ranging from 60 to 75 minutes
In 2010, Four additional Doctor Who specials were produced ranging from 60 to 75 minutes.
2010: Gold returns as composer
In 2010, Murray Gold returned as composer and created a new version of the theme, which faced a hostile reception from some viewers.
2010: "Vincent and the Doctor" shortlisted for Mind Award
In 2010, the Doctor Who episode "Vincent and the Doctor" was shortlisted for a Mind Award at the Mind Mental Health Media Awards for its portrayal of Vincent van Gogh.
2010: The Eleventh Hour episode runtime exceeded 45 minutes
In 2010, the Doctor Who episode The Eleventh Hour exceeded the regular 45-minute runtime, lasting longer than an hour.
2010: K9 series ends
In 2010, the final episode of the spin-off television series K9 was released, ending its run.
2010: Eleventh Doctor appearance in Sarah Jane Adventures
In 2010, the fourth season of The Sarah Jane Adventures featured Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor alongside former companion Katy Manning as Jo Grant.
January 2011: Mankind version released on Gallifrey And Beyond album
In January 2011, the Mankind version of the Doctor Who theme was released as a digital download on the album Gallifrey And Beyond.
February 2011: Soundtrack for A Christmas Carol released
In February 2011, a soundtrack was released for the 2010 Christmas special "A Christmas Carol" by Silva Screen Records.
December 2011: Soundtrack for Series 6 released
In December 2011, the soundtrack for Series 6 of Doctor Who was released by Silva Screen Records.
2011: Scariest TV Show of All Time
A 2011 online vote at Digital Spy deemed Doctor Who the "scariest TV show of all time".
2011: "Space" and "Time" mini-episodes aired for Comic Relief
During Comic Relief 2011, the two mini-episodes, titled "Space" and "Time", were produced to support Comic Relief. Also during Children in Need 2011, an exclusively filmed segment showed the Doctor attempting to persuade viewers to purchase items of his clothing, which were going up for auction for Children in Need.
2011: David Yates announces Doctor Who film project
In 2011, David Yates announced that he had started work with the BBC on a Doctor Who film, a project that would take three or more years to complete.
2011: Hugo Award for "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang"
In 2011, Doctor Who won the Short Form of the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for the episodes "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang".
2011: Matt Smith nominated for BAFTA Television Award
In 2011, Matt Smith became the first Doctor to be nominated for a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor.
2011: Smith wins Best Science Fiction Actor at Spike Scream Awards
In 2011, Matt Smith won Best Science Fiction Actor at the Spike Scream Awards.
2011: Two-part mini-episode produced for Comic Relief
In 2011, a two-part mini-episode was produced for the Comic Relief edition of Doctor Who.
2011: Theme tune charts in Classic FM's Hall of Fame
In 2011, the Doctor Who theme tune charted at number 228 in radio station Classic FM's Hall of Fame, a survey of classical music tastes.
2011: Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures series ends
In 2011, the final episodes of the spin-off television series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures were released, ending their runs.
2011: Final series of The Sarah Jane Adventures
In autumn 2011, a final, three-story fifth series of The Sarah Jane Adventures was transmitted, but was uncompleted due to Elisabeth Sladen's death earlier in 2011.
2011: The Sarah Jane Adventures ended
The Sarah Jane Adventures ended in 2011.
2012: Fear and Thrill Juxtaposition
A 2012 article placed this childhood juxtaposition of fear and thrill "at the center of many people's relationship with the series".
2012: "The Great Detective" mini-episode featured
Children in Need 2012 featured the mini-episode "The Great Detective".
2012: Hugo Award for "The Doctor's Wife"
In 2012, Doctor Who won the Short Form of the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for the episode "The Doctor's Wife".
2012: Fourth Doctor appears for Big Finish
In 2012, Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor began appearing in Big Finish Productions' Doctor Who audio series.
2012: Revised version of Gold's arrangement debuts
In 2012, a revised version of Murray Gold's 2010 arrangement debuted over the opening titles of the Christmas special "The Snowmen".
March 2013: Tennant and Piper return for the 50th anniversary special
In March 2013, it was announced that David Tennant and Billie Piper would be returning for the Doctor Who 50th-anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor", and that the episode would have a limited cinematic release worldwide.
May 2013: Missing episodes of The Reign of Terror animated
In May 2013, the missing episodes of The Reign of Terror were animated by Theta-Sigma in collaboration with Big Finish and became available for purchase through Amazon.com.
August 2013: Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor broadcast
On August 4, 2013, a live program titled Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor was broadcast on BBC One, revealing the actor who would play the Twelfth Doctor. It was watched by an average of 6.27 million in the UK and simulcast in the United States, Canada, and Australia.
October 2013: Eleven missing episodes found in Nigeria
On October 10, 2013, the BBC announced that films of eleven episodes, including nine missing episodes of Doctor Who, had been found in a Nigerian television relay station in Jos.
November 2013: Doctor Who: Legacy game released
In November 2013, Doctor Who: Legacy, a match-3 game, was released for iOS, Android, Amazon App Store, and Facebook. It has been constantly updated and features all the Doctors as playable characters as well as over 100 companions.
November 2013: Further revision of theme arrangement for 50th-anniversary special
In November 2013, a further revision of the Doctor Who theme arrangement was made for the 50th-anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor".
November 2013: "The Day of the Doctor" broadcast internationally
As of November 2013, the modern series of Doctor Who had been broadcast in more than 50 countries. The 50th anniversary episode, "The Day of the Doctor", was broadcast in 94 countries and screened to more than half a million people in cinemas across Australia, Latin America, North America and Europe, achieving a world record.
2013: On-screen credit
In 2013, Delia Derbyshire received an on-screen credit for her arrangement of the Doctor Who theme music in the 50th-anniversary story "The Day of the Doctor".
2013: Institutional Peabody Award
In 2013, Doctor Who received an Institutional Peabody Award "for evolving with technology and the times like nothing else in the known television universe."
2013: Four additional Doctor Who specials were produced ranging from 60 to 75 minutes
In 2013, Four additional Doctor Who specials were produced ranging from 60 to 75 minutes.
2013: John Hurt appears as the War Doctor
In 2013, John Hurt guest-starred in Doctor Who as the War Doctor, a previously unknown incarnation, leading up to the show's 50th-anniversary special. His introduction was written so as not to disturb the established numerical naming of the Doctors.
2013: Smith leaves the role of the Doctor
In 2013, Matt Smith decided to leave the role of the Doctor, the 50th anniversary year. He was replaced by Peter Capaldi.
2013: Sixth-best sci-fi show
In 2013, TV Guide ranked Doctor Who as the sixth-best sci-fi show.
2013: 50th-anniversary boxed set released
In 2013, a 50th-anniversary boxed set of audio CDs was released featuring music and sound effects from Doctor Who's 50-year history.
2013: Destiny of the Doctor audiobooks
In 2013, as part of the series' 50th-anniversary celebrations, Big Finish produced the Destiny of the Doctor series, which marked the first time they created audiobooks featuring Doctors from the revived show.
2013: Weekly Screenings for 50th Anniversary
In 2013, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Australia began weekly screenings of all available revived Doctor Who episodes for the show's 50th anniversary.
2013: Dalek on postage stamp
In 2013, the Daleks received another stamp as part of the 50th anniversary.
2013: The Name of the Doctor
In 2013, the Eleventh Doctor meets a previously unseen incarnation of himself, subsequently revealed to be the War Doctor in "The Name of the Doctor".
2013: The Doctor acquires a new regeneration cycle in The Time of the Doctor
The 2013 Doctor Who episode "The Time of the Doctor" depicted the Doctor acquiring a new cycle of regenerations, starting from the Twelfth Doctor, due to the Eleventh Doctor being the product of the Doctor's twelfth regeneration from his original set.
2014: Dark Water
In 2014, it was revealed that the Master had become a female incarnation or "Time Lady", going by the name of "Missy" (short for Mistress, the feminine equivalent of "Master") in the episode "Dark Water".
2014: Doctor Who-themed Paddington Bear statue auctioned
In 2014, the Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi designed a Doctor Who-themed Paddington Bear statue, located at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, which was auctioned to raise funds for the NSPCC.
November 2015: Lego Dimensions Doctor Who Level Pack released
In November 2015, the Lego Dimensions game and the Doctor Who "Level Pack" were released. The pack contains the Twelfth Doctor (who can reincarnate into the others), K9, the TARDIS and a Victorian London adventure level area.
January 2016: Moffat Announces Departure
In January 2016, Steven Moffat announced that he would step down as showrunner after the 2017 finale, to be replaced by Chris Chibnall in 2018.
January 2016: Class picked up by BBC America
On January 8, 2016, Class was picked up by BBC America and by BBC One a day later. Peter Capaldi as the Twelfth Doctor appears in the show's first episode.
May 2016: Tenth Doctor and Catherine Tate Big Finish audios
In May 2016, the Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, appeared alongside Catherine Tate in a collection of three audio adventures from Big Finish Productions, before receiving his own range.
September 2016: 1996 TV film released on Blu-ray
In September 2016, the 1996 TV film Doctor Who was released on Blu-ray.
October 2016: Class first aired on BBC Three
On October 22, 2016, Class, a series featuring students of Coal Hill School, was first aired online on BBC Three as a series of eight 45 minute episodes.
2016: 50th Anniversary Collection Four LP Box Set released
In 2016, Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection Four LP Box Set was released by New York City-based Spacelab9, pressing 1,000 copies on "Metallic Silver" vinyl, dubbed the "Cyberman Edition".
2016: Matt Smith wins National Television Award
In 2016, Matt Smith won Best Actor in the National Television awards, and Karen Gillan won Best Actress.
2016: Michelle Gomez nominated for BAFTA
In 2016, Michelle Gomez became the first woman to receive a BAFTA nomination for Doctor Who, getting a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work as Missy.
2016: Class series release
In 2016, the first episode of the spin-off television series Class was released.
June 2017: Deal grants SMG Pictures first right of refusal for future series in China
In June 2017, it was announced that a deal between BBC Worldwide and SMG Pictures in China granted the company the first right of refusal on the purchase for the Chinese market of future series of Doctor Who up to and including Series 15.
September 2017: Class cancelled by BBC Three
On September 7, 2017, BBC Three controller Damian Kavanagh confirmed that the series Class had officially been cancelled.
2017: Jodie Whittaker cast as the Thirteenth Doctor
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker was cast as the Thirteenth Doctor, making her the first woman to play the role.
2017: First Female Doctor
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker was cast as the first woman to play the lead role of the Doctor in Doctor Who, marking a significant moment in the series' history.
2017: Jodie Whittaker's Debut
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker, the first female Doctor, began her tenure in the series.
2017: Gold's final score
In 2017, the Christmas episode "Twice Upon a Time" featured Murray Gold's final incidental music for the series.
2017: "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" finalist for Hugo Award
In 2017, the Doctor Who Christmas special "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" was a finalist for the Hugo Awards.
2017: The Doctor Falls and Twice Upon a Time
In 2017, the First Doctor (portrayed by David Bradley) returned alongside Peter Capaldi in "The Doctor Falls" and "Twice Upon a Time".
2017: Doctor Who named longest running sci-fi programme
On 29 April, 2017, Guinness World Records named Doctor Who the longest running sci-fi programme with the airing of its 819th episode.
2017: Prime Television airs the series until 2017
Prime Television continued to screen the new revived Doctor Who series from 2005 until 2017.
2017: Classic series available to stream on BritBox and Pluto TV
Starting in 2017, over 600 episodes of the classic Doctor Who series became available to stream on BritBox and Pluto TV.
May 2018: Doctor Who: Battle of Time soft-launched
On 30 May 2018, Doctor Who: Battle of Time, a digital collectible card game developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment, was soft-launched in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Thailand.
June 2018: Segun Akinola announced as new composer
On 26 June 2018, Chris Chibnall announced that Royal Birmingham Conservatoire alumnus Segun Akinola would provide the musical score for series 11.
August 2018: Doctor Who Infinity released on Steam
On 7 August 2018, Doctor Who Infinity was released on Steam.
2018: Chris Chibnall became showrunner
In 2018, Chris Chibnall replaced Steven Moffat as showrunner.
2018: Doctor Who on TVNZ 2
In 2018, Doctor Who aired on Fridays on TVNZ 2 and on TVNZ On Demand in New Zealand.
October 2019: Doctor Who Magazine celebrates 40 years of publication
On 11 October 2019, Doctor Who Magazine celebrated 40 years of continuous publication and is recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest running TV tie-in magazine.
2019: Doctor Who inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame
In 2019, Doctor Who was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame based in Seattle, Washington.
August 2020: Ninth Doctor Big Finish audio series announced
In August 2020, Big Finish announced a new series of Doctor Who audios featuring Christopher Eccleston reprising his role as the Ninth Doctor, with releases scheduled to begin in May 2021.
2020: Revival series available for streaming on HBO Max
From 2020, the revival series of Doctor Who became available for streaming on HBO Max, along with the spin-offs Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood.
2020: The Monthly Adventures to end
In 2020, Big Finish revealed that Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures would come to an end in favor of individual box sets.
2020: Jo Martin appears as the Fugitive Doctor
In 2020, Jo Martin began recurring as the Fugitive Doctor, another previously unknown past Doctor, starting with the episode "Fugitive of the Judoon".
2020: Fugitive of the Judoon and The Timeless Children
In 2020, Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor meets Jo Martin's incarnation of the Doctor, subsequently known as the Fugitive Doctor in "Fugitive of the Judoon"; they interact again in "The Timeless Children" later that year.
2020: The Master returns in series 12
In 2020, the Master returned for the twelfth series with Sacha Dhawan in the role. This incarnation dubbed himself the "Spy Master" referencing a role he had taken with MI6.
2020: Cybermen and The Master
In the 2020 series, the Cybermen aligned themselves with The Master and were given the ability to regenerate.
March 2021: Classic run to be released on Blu-ray
In March 2021, it was announced that the classic run of Doctor Who would be released on Blu-ray, starting with seasons 12 and 19.
May 2021: Big Finish's new series of audios featuring Christopher Eccleston begins release
In May 2021, Big Finish began releasing their new series of Doctor Who audios featuring Christopher Eccleston as the Ninth Doctor.
2021: Once, Upon Time
In 2021, Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor interacts with Jo Martin's incarnation of the Doctor in the episode "Once, Upon Time".
2021: The series moved to TVNZ 1
In 2021, the Doctor Who series moved to TVNZ 1 in New Zealand.
October 2022: David Tennant returns as the Fourteenth Doctor
On October 23, 2022, Jodie Whittaker regenerated into David Tennant, who became the Fourteenth Doctor and the first actor to play two incarnations. Ncuti Gatwa was also revealed as the Fifteenth Doctor, the first black actor to headline the series.
2022: BBC Sounds airs Doctor Who: Redacted podcast
In 2022, BBC Sounds began airing Doctor Who: Redacted, a podcast written by Juno Dawson and starring Charlie Craggs and Jodie Whittaker, focusing on a trio of friends who host a paranormal conspiracy podcast and get involved in more than they expected.
2022: TVNZ loses rights to the show
In 2022, TVNZ lost the rights to Doctor Who altogether in New Zealand.
2022: Whittaker and Chibnall Depart
In 2022, both Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall departed from Doctor Who after a series of specials.
2022: The Power of the Doctor
In 2022, in her final episode, "The Power of the Doctor", Jodie Whittaker interacts with the Guardians of the Edge, manifestations of the Doctor's First (Bradley), Fifth (Davison), Sixth (Colin Baker), Seventh (McCoy), and Eighth (McGann) incarnations.
January 2023: Future spin-offs confirmed
On January 27, 2023, Russell T Davies confirmed that future Doctor Who spin-offs were in development.
2023: Gold rehired for 60th anniversary
In 2023, Russell T Davies rehired Murray Gold to work on Doctor Who for the 60th anniversary episodes and continuing into the Fifteenth Doctor's tenure.
2023: The Giggle
In 2023, in "The Giggle", following the unusual bi-generation of the Fourteenth Doctor which saw the Fifteenth Doctor split out from him, the two Doctors shared a scene together as they defeated the episode's villain, the Toymaker.
2023: Return of Donna Noble
In 2023, when David Tennant returned as the Fourteenth Doctor, former co-star Catherine Tate joined him to reprise her role of Donna Noble for the 2023 specials.
2023: Doctor Who released on Disney+
Starting with the 60th-anniversary specials in 2023, Doctor Who has been released on Disney+ outside the United Kingdom and Ireland.
July 2024: New spin-off series confirmed
At San Diego Comic-Con in July 2024, Russell T Davies confirmed a new Doctor Who spin-off series, The War Between the Land and the Sea, was in development.
2024: Gold makes a cameo in The Devil's Chord
In 2024, Murray Gold made a cameo in the episode "The Devil's Chord".
2024: First Black Doctor
In 2024, Ncuti Gatwa became the first black actor to headline Doctor Who, representing another progressive milestone for the series.
2024: Richard E. Grant appears as a hologram of a past Doctor
In 2024, Richard E. Grant appeared as a hologram of a past Doctor in the episode "Rogue".
2024: Tales of the TARDIS series ends
In 2024, the final episode of the spin-off television series Tales of the TARDIS was released, ending its run.
2024: Previous 13 series available at +SBT
Starting from 2024, the previous 13 series of Doctor Who will be available on the upcoming streaming service +SBT in Brazil.
2025: Ncuti Gatwa leads Doctor Who
As of 2025, Ncuti Gatwa leads the series as the Fifteenth Doctor.
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