History of Doctor Who in Timeline
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television series created in 1963. It follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord, who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a spaceship disguised as a British police box. The Doctor, usually accompanied by companions, combats various enemies to save lives and liberate the oppressed throughout the universe.
July 1963: Terry Nation Commissioned to Write The Mutants
In July 1963, specifically on July 31, 1963, Terry Nation was commissioned by Whitaker to write a story titled The Mutants, which later became The Daleks.
November 1963: Doctor Who First Appeared on BBC
In November 1963, specifically on November 23, 1963, Doctor Who first appeared on the BBC Television Service. The program was intended to be an educational program for a family audience, exploring scientific ideas and historical events.
November 1963: Delayed Transmission and Re-broadcast of First Episode
In November 1963, the transmission of the first Doctor Who episode was delayed by eighty seconds. The BBC re-broadcast the episode on November 30, 1963.
November 1963: Doctor Who premiere on BBC One
On 23 November 1963, Doctor Who originally ran for 26 seasons on BBC One.
1963: The Daleks Debut
From 1963 to 1964, The Daleks' debut in the programme's second serial, The Daleks, made both the Daleks and Doctor Who very popular.
1963: Doctor Who Series Broadcast by BBC
In 1963, Doctor Who, a British science fiction television series, began broadcasting on the BBC. Created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber, and Donald Wilson, the series follows the adventures of the Doctor, an extraterrestrial Time Lord.
1963: First Appearance of the Daleks
In 1963, The Daleks made their first appearance in The Daleks.
1963: Doctor Who Revival
In 1963, the Doctor Who series was the original series which lasted from 1963 to 1989 and the 1996 television film.
1963: Original Run of Doctor Who Begins
In 1963, the original run of the Doctor Who series began.
1963: The companion figure introduced in Doctor Who
In 1963, with the inception of Doctor Who, the companion figure was introduced. The Doctor's first on-screen companions were Susan Foreman, Barbara Wright, and Ian Chesterton.
1963: Start of Doctor Who instalments
Since 1963, 892 Doctor Who instalments have been televised.
1964: "Dalekmania" period
Around 1964–1965, the "Dalekmania" period began, regularly bringing Doctor Who ratings of between 9 and 14 million viewers.
1964: The Daleks Debut
From 1963 to 1964, The Daleks' debut in the programme's second serial, The Daleks, made both the Daleks and Doctor Who very popular.
1964: International broadcasts begin
In 1964, Doctor Who began to be broadcast internationally outside of the United Kingdom.
1964: Publication of Doctor Who Books Begins
In 1964, Doctor Who books began to be published, initially consisting of novelized adaptations of broadcast episodes.
1964: Dudley Simpson's first Doctor Who score
In 1964, Dudley Simpson's first Doctor Who score was for Planet of Giants.
1964: Political Cartoon in the Daily Mail
In 1964, a political cartoon in the Daily Mail depicted Charles de Gaulle as a Dalek, marking an early instance of Doctor Who's influence on political commentary.
1964: Release of Doctor Who theme music as a single
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: Marco Polo episodes lost
Short clips from every story with the exception of Marco Polo (1964) exist.
1965: "Dalekmania" period
Around 1964–1965, the "Dalekmania" period reached Doctor Who ratings of between 9 and 14 million viewers.
1965: Mission to the Unknown episodes lost
Short clips from every story with the exception of "Mission to the Unknown" (1965) exist.
1966: Serials given individual titles
Following The Gunfighters in 1966, each serial was given its own title, and the individual parts were assigned episode numbers.
1966: Patrick Troughton Replaces William Hartnell
In 1966, Patrick Troughton succeeded William Hartnell as the Doctor due to Hartnell's poor health.
1966: Missing part four of The Tenth Planet
In 1966, one of the most sought-after lost episodes is part four of the last William Hartnell serial, The Tenth Planet, which ends with the First Doctor transforming into the Second.
1966: First Doctor Who 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: The Massacre episodes lost
Short clips from every story with the exception of The Massacre (1966) exist.
1967: Destruction of early episodes
Between 1967 and 1978, large amounts of older material stored in the BBC's video tape and film libraries was either destroyed or wiped, including many early episodes of Doctor Who.
1967: part 2 of The Underwater Menace
In 1967, part 2 of The Underwater Menace was a missing episode returned to the BBC
1967: Subsequent animations
In 1967, subsequent animations include The Tenth Planet, The Ice Warriors and The Moonbase.
1967: End of History-Oriented Episodes
In 1967, the history-oriented episodes were dropped after The Highlanders, as science fiction stories came to dominate the programme.
1968: Films of eleven episodes found in Nigeria
In 1968, films of eleven episodes, including nine missing episodes, had been found in a Nigerian television relay station in Jos.
1968: Missing episodes 1 and 4 of The Invasion
In 1968, the BBC, in conjunction with animation studio Cosgrove Hall, reconstructed the missing episodes 1 and 4 of The Invasion, using remastered audio tracks and the comprehensive stage notes for the original filming, for the serial's DVD release in November 2006.
1970: Jon Pertwee Replaces Patrick Troughton
In 1970, Jon Pertwee replaced Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, and the series began production in colour.
1970: First Appearance of Autons and Silurians
In 1970, the Autons were first seen in 'Spearhead from Space', and the Silurians also made their debut.
1971: Terror of the Autons
During Jon Pertwee's second season as the Doctor, in 1971, the serial Terror of the Autons was released.
1971: Wilson Claims to Have Named the Series
In 1971, Wilson claimed to have named the series, and when this claim was put to Newman he did not dispute it.
1971: The Master first appeared
In 1971, the Master, the Doctor's archenemy, first appeared.
1972: The Three Doctors
In 1972, William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton returned alongside Jon Pertwee in 'The Three Doctors'.
1972: Doctor Who Most Violent Drama Programme
In 1972, a BBC audience research survey found that Doctor Who was the most violent of the drama programmes the corporation produced at the time.
1972: Most episodes known to exist
In 1972, almost all episodes then made were known to exist at the BBC.
1973: Roger Delgado's death
In 1973, Roger Delgado, who played The Master, died.
1974: Tom Baker Cast as the Doctor
In 1974, Tom Baker was cast as the Doctor.
1975: Richard Hurndall played the First Doctor in 'The Five Doctors'
In 1975, Richard Hurndall played the First Doctor in "The Five Doctors" due to William Hartnell's death.
1975: Writers' Guild Award for Season 11
In 1975, Season 11 of the series won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for Best Writing in a Children's Serial.
1975: First Appearance of the Zygons
In 1975, the Zygons first appeared in the series.
1976: The Deadly Assassin
In 1976, "The Deadly Assassin" became the only story from the original series in which the Doctor travels alone.
1976: Regeneration limit established
In 1976, The Deadly Assassin established that a Time Lord can only regenerate 12 times, for a total of 13 incarnations.
1976: The Brain of Morbius and The Deadly Assassin
In 1976, notable moments in that decade include a disembodied brain falling to the floor in The Brain of Morbius and the Doctor apparently being drowned by a villain in The Deadly Assassin.
1978: Practice of wiping tapes stopped
By 1978 the practice of wiping tapes and destroying "spare" film copies had been brought to a stop.
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 peak during ITV network strike
During the ITV network strike of 1979, Doctor Who's viewership peaked at 16 million.
1979: Derbyshire arrangement served up to end of season 17
From 1979 to 1980, the Derbyshire arrangement served, with minor edits, as the theme tune up to the end of season 17.
1979: Simpson's final score for Doctor Who
In 1979, Dudley Simpson's final Doctor Who score was for The Horns of Nimon.
1979: Doctor Who Magazine (DWM) Launched
In 1979, the dedicated Doctor Who Magazine (DWM) with newsstand circulation was first published regularly.
1980: Derbyshire arrangement served up to end of season 17
From 1979 to 1980, the Derbyshire arrangement served, with minor edits, as the theme tune up to the end of season 17.
1980: Peter Howell arrangement for season 18
In 1980, Peter Howell recorded a different arrangement for season 18 of Doctor Who.
1980: Radiophonic Workshop assigned incidental music task
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: Peter Davison Replaces Tom Baker
In 1981, Peter Davison replaced Tom Baker as the Doctor.
1981: First Commercially Available Audiobook
In 1981, the first commercially available audiobook was released: an abridged reading of the Fourth Doctor story State of Decay.
1981: Season 18 with Peter Howell arrangement
Season 18 (1980-1981) featured the arrangement recorded by Peter Howell.
1982: Black Orchid set in 1920s England
In 1982, the show continued to use historical settings, with one exception: Black Orchid, set in 1920s England, generally used as a backdrop for science fiction tales.
1983: The Five Doctors
In 1983, for "The Five Doctors", Troughton and Pertwee returned to star with Peter Davison, and Tom Baker appeared in previously unseen footage from the uncompleted Shada serial.
1983: "The Five Doctors" debut on PBS stations
In 1983, the 20th-anniversary special "The Five Doctors" debuted on PBS stations two days before its BBC One broadcast.
1983: "The Five Doctors" feature-length production
In 1983, there was a feature-length production of "The Five Doctors".
1984: Colin Baker Replaces Peter Davison
In 1984, Colin Baker replaced Peter Davison as the Doctor.
1984: 45/50-minute episodes format
In 1984, Resurrection of the Daleks series started 45/50-minute episodes format.
1985: 23rd series postponed
In 1985, Doctor Who's 23rd series was postponed, leading to a decline in viewership.
1985: The Two Doctors
In 1985, Patrick Troughton returned in The Two Doctors with Colin Baker.
1985: 45/50-minute episodes format
In 1985, a single season started 45/50-minute episodes format.
1985: Season 23 Cancelled
In 1985, channel controller Michael Grade cancelled the upcoming twenty-third season, leading to an eighteen-month hiatus for the series.
1985: First Radio Drama
In 1985, during a hiatus in the television show, Slipback, the first radio drama, was transmitted.
1985: Public Criticism
In 1985, season 22 of the series was publicly criticised by controller Michael Grade which was given as one of his reasons for suspending the series for 18 months.
1986: Suggestion of a female Doctor
Although the idea of casting a woman as the Doctor had been suggested by the show's writers several times, including by Newman in 1986.
1986: Dominic Glynn arrangement for The Trial of a Time Lord
In 1986, Dominic Glynn's arrangement replaced Peter Howell's for 'The Trial of a Time Lord' in season 23.
1986: Radiophonic Workshop dropped
In 1986, after The Trial of a Time Lord series, the Radiophonic Workshop was dropped from creating incidental music for Doctor Who.
1986: Introduction of the Valeyard
In 1986, in The Trial of a Time Lord, Michael Jayston's character, the Valeyard, was introduced and described as an amalgamation of the darker sides of the Doctor's nature.
1986: Series Recommissioned with New Doctor
In 1986, the series was recommissioned under the condition that Colin Baker left the role, leading to a new Doctor.
1987: Keff McCulloch arrangement for the Seventh Doctor
In 1987, Keff McCulloch provided a new arrangement for the Seventh Doctor's era.
1987: Sylvester McCoy Cast as the Doctor
In 1987, Sylvester McCoy was cast as the Doctor.
1988: Silver Nemesis broadcast in New Zealand
In 1988, Silver Nemesis was broadcast with all three episodes airing back to back on TVNZ in New Zealand.
1988: "Doctorin' the Tardis" released by The Timelords
In 1988, The Timelords (The Justified Ancients of Mu Mu, later known as The KLF) released the single "Doctorin' the Tardis", which reached No. 1 in the UK and No. 2 in Australia.
July 1989: Philip Segal Approached BBC
In July 1989, Philip Segal, working for Columbia Pictures, approached the BBC about relaunching the series.
December 1989: Original run ends
On 6 December 1989, Doctor Who's original run came to an end on BBC One.
1989: Series suspension
In 1989, Doctor Who was suspended by the BBC Board of Control, partially due to poor viewership.
1989: Doctor Who's hiatus
In 1989, Doctor Who went on hiatus, with Anthony Ainley as the Master until that time.
1989: Production Ended
In 1989, production of the series was ended due to falling viewing numbers and a decline in public perception.
1989: Original Run of Doctor Who Ends
In 1989, the original run of the Doctor Who series concluded.
1990: Big Finish Productions audio plays
Since the late 1990's, Big Finish Productions have produced audio plays based on Doctor Who and its spinoffs, featuring numerous actors reprising their roles.
1991: Launch of Original Fiction Line
In 1991, an extensive line of original Doctor Who fiction was launched with the Virgin New Adventures and Virgin Missing Adventures series.
1993: Mini-episodes for Children in Need
In 1993, a mini-episode, running from four to eight minutes each, were produced for the Children in Need charity appeals, while further mini-episodes were produced in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2024 for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
1994: Original run by Target Books ended
In 1994, original run by Target Books ended.
1996: John Debney arrangement for Doctor Who film
In 1996, John Debney created a new arrangement of Grainer's original theme for the Doctor Who film.
1996: The Master returned in the 1996 television movie of Doctor Who
In 1996, The Master returned in the television movie of Doctor Who, played by Eric Roberts.
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.
1996: "Auntie Awards" - Best Popular Drama
In 1996, at the BBC's "Auntie Awards", Doctor Who was voted as the "Best Popular Drama" the corporation had ever produced.
1996: BBC trademark application for TARDIS design
In 1996, the BBC applied for a trademark to use the TARDIS' blue police box design in merchandising associated with Doctor Who.
1996: Doctor Who Revival
In 1996, the Doctor Who series was the original series which lasted from 1963 to 1989 and the 1996 television film.
1996: Television film production
In 1996, there was a Doctor Who television film production.
1998: Metropolitan Police Authority objection
In 1998, the Metropolitan Police Authority filed an objection to the BBC's trademark claim for the TARDIS design.
1999: Dalek on a Postage Stamp
In 1999, a Dalek appeared on a postage stamp celebrating British popular culture, photographed by Lord Snowdon.
2000: Top 100 British Television Programmes List
In 2000, Doctor Who was ranked third in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes of the 20th century, produced by the British Film Institute.
2001: Top Kids' TV Shows
In Channel 4's 2001 list of the 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows, Doctor Who was placed at number nine.
2002: Patent Office ruling in favour of the BBC
In 2002, the Patent Office ruled in favour of the BBC in their trademark claim regarding the TARDIS design.
September 2003: BBC Announces New Series Production
In September 2003, BBC Television announced the in-house production of a new Doctor Who series.
2003: Introduction of the Shalka Doctor
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: Reference point for future prediction
In 2008, a character from 2003 was being informed about the future.
2004: John Smith, BBC Worldwide CEO
From 2004 until 2012, John Smith served as BBC Worldwide CEO.
2004: Top Cult Shows Ever
In 2004, Doctor Who was ranked number 18 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.
March 2005: Doctor Who Returns to BBC One
In March 2005, specifically on March 26, 2005, Doctor Who returned to BBC One with Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor in the episode "Rose".
2005: Murray Gold composes incidental music
From the 2005 revival, Murray Gold composed all incidental music for the Doctor Who series.
2005: Tennant's first run
In 2005, David Tennant started his first run as the Doctor, marking a period of consistently high viewership for Doctor Who.
2005: First National Television Award
In 2005, Doctor Who received the first of five consecutive awards at the National Television Awards during Russell T Davies' tenure as executive producer.
2005: "Rose" broadcast on BBC One
In 2005, the BBC One broadcast of "Rose", the first episode of the Doctor Who revival, drew an average audience of 10.81 million.
2005: Doctor Who Relaunched
In 2005, the Doctor Who series was relaunched and produced in-house by BBC Wales in Cardiff.
2005: Serial format change for the revival
In 2005, the serial format changed for the revival, with a series usually consisting of 45-minute, self-contained episodes and an extended 60-minute episode broadcast on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.
2005: Greatest UK Science Fiction and Fantasy Television Series Ever
In 2005, the series came first in a survey by SFX magazine of "The Greatest UK Science Fiction and Fantasy Television Series Ever".
2005: Revival of Doctor Who
In 2005, with the revival of Doctor Who, the Doctor generally began traveling with a primary female companion, who occupied a larger narrative role. Rose Tyler was a primary companion of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors.
2005: Reintroduction of classic monsters
In 2005, with the show's revival, classic monsters of Doctor Who were reintroduced, including the Autons and Daleks in series 1.
2005: Soundtracks released by Silva Screen Records
Since 2005, 30 Doctor Who soundtracks have been released physically by Silva Screen Records.
2005: Murray Gold provides arrangements of the theme
Since 2005, Murray Gold has provided various arrangements of the Doctor Who theme.
2005: 45/50-minute episodes format
Since 2005, a single season started 45/50-minute episodes format for the revival era.
2005: Use of pop music excerpts
Since its 2005 return, the Doctor Who series has occasionally used excerpts of pop music from the 1950s to the early 21st century.
2005: Daleks reappeared in every series since the 2005 revival.
Since the 2005 revival of Doctor Who, the Daleks have appeared in every series.
2005: New Range of Novels by BBC Books
Since the relaunch of the programme in 2005, a new range of novels has been published by BBC Books.
April 2006: Blue Peter challenge to find missing episodes
In April 2006, Blue Peter launched a challenge to find missing Doctor Who episodes with the promise of a full-scale Dalek model as a reward.
November 2006: DVD release of The Invasion with reconstructed episodes
In November 2006, the BBC, in conjunction with animation studio Cosgrove Hall, reconstructed the missing episodes 1 and 4 of The Invasion, using remastered audio tracks and the comprehensive stage notes for the original filming, for the serial's DVD release.
2006: Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation
In 2006, "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances" won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
2006: Doctor Who Adventures Magazine Launched
In 2006, Doctor Who Adventures, a magazine targeted at younger fans, was launched by BBC Magazines.
2006: BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series
In 2006, Doctor Who won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series.
2006: Torchwood premiere
In 2006, Jack Harkness launched a spin-off series, Torchwood.
2006: Cybermen reintroduced
In 2006, the Cybermen were reintroduced in the series in the form of humans from a parallel universe Earth, with different back stories.
2006: First soundtrack released
In 2006, the first soundtrack featuring tracks from series 1 and 2 was released.
2007: Highest audience Appreciation Index
By late 2007, the Doctor Who revival had garnered the highest audience Appreciation Index of any drama on television.
2007: Hugo Award for "The Girl in the Fireplace"
In 2007, "The Girl in the Fireplace" won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
2007: Doctor Who as quintessentially British
In 2007, Caitlin Moran, television reviewer for The Times, wrote that Doctor Who is "quintessential to being British".
2007: The Master reintroduced in 'Utopia'
In 2007, Derek Jacobi reintroduced The Master in the episode "Utopia".
2007: Top Cult Shows Ever
In 2007, Doctor Who was ranked number 22 on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.
2007: Peter Davison returns in Time Crash
In 2007, Peter Davison returned in the Children in Need short "Time Crash" alongside David Tennant.
2007: The Sarah Jane Adventures premiere
In 2007, Sarah Jane Smith became the central character in The Sarah Jane Adventures.
2007: Mini-episodes for Children in Need
In 2007, a mini-episode, running from four to eight minutes each, were produced for the Children in Need charity appeals, while further mini-episodes were produced in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2024 for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2007: Series 3 soundtrack released
In 2007, the soundtrack for Doctor Who series 3 was released.
July 2008: Doctor Who Prom
On July 27, 2008, a Doctor Who Prom was celebrated in the Royal Albert Hall, featuring Murray Gold's compositions performed by the BBC Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic Choir.
2008: Suggestion of a female Doctor
Although the idea of casting a woman as the Doctor had been suggested by the show's writers several times, including by Davies in 2008.
2008: "Journey's End" episode length
In 2008, "Journey's End" episode was longer than an hour.
2008: People's Choice Awards Nomination
In 2008, Doctor Who received a nomination for "Favorite Sci-Fi Show" in the People's Choice Awards.
2008: Top-grossing title for BBC Worldwide
In 2008, Doctor Who was one of the five top-grossing titles for BBC Worldwide.
2008: This Modern World Cartoon
In 2008, an edition of This Modern World by Tom Tomorrow featured the Tenth Doctor informing a character from 2003 about the Democratic Party nominating an African-American as its presidential candidate.
2008: Mini-episodes for The Proms
In 2008, further mini-episodes were produced for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2008: Hugo Award for "Blink"
In 2008, the episode "Blink" received the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
2008: Series 4 soundtrack released
In 2008, the soundtrack for Doctor Who series 4 was released.
2009: High ratings for Doctor Who revival
By 2009, the revival of Doctor Who had consistently received high ratings, both in number of viewers and as measured by the Appreciation Index.
2009: Most successful science fiction series award
In 2009, Doctor Who was awarded the title of "most successful" science fiction series by Guinness World Records based on broadcast viewership, as well as 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: Steven Moffat Announced as Successor
In 2009, Steven Moffat was announced as the successor to Davies as the writer of Doctor Who, with Matt Smith as the new Doctor.
2009: Album of Dr. Who and the Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. released
In 2009, an album featuring music from 'Dr. Who and the Daleks' and 'Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 A.D.' was released.
2009: K9 Television Series
In 2009, the television series K9 was released as part of the Whoniverse.
2009: Series filmed in 1080i for HDTV
Starting with the 2009 special "Planet of the Dead", the series was filmed in 1080i for HDTV and broadcast simultaneously on BBC One and BBC HD.
2010: "The Eleventh Hour" episode length
In 2010, "The Eleventh Hour" episode was longer than an hour.
2010: End of Tennant's first run
In 2010, David Tennant's first run as the Doctor ended, concluding a period of high viewership.
2010: Fifth Consecutive National Television Award
In 2010, Doctor Who won its fifth consecutive award at the National Television Awards during Russell T Davies' tenure as executive producer.
2010: Doctor Who Prom
In 2010, another Doctor Who Prom was held at the Albert Hall, presented by Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill.
2010: Mini-episodes for The Proms
In 2010, further mini-episodes were produced for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2010: 2008-2010 specials and Series 5 soundtrack released
In 2010, soundtracks for the 2008-2010 specials and series 5 of Doctor Who were released.
2010: Hugo Award for "The Waters of Mars"
In 2010, the episode "The Waters of Mars" won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
2010: Mind Award Shortlisting
In 2010, the episode "Vincent and the Doctor" was shortlisted for a Mind Award at the 2010 Mind Mental Health Media Awards for its "touching" portrayal of Vincent van Gogh.
2010: K9 Television Series
In 2010, the television series K9 was part of the Whoniverse.
January 2011: Mankind version released as a digital download
In January 2011, the Mankind version of the Doctor Who theme was released as a digital download on the album Gallifrey And Beyond.
2011: Hugo Award for "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang"
In 2011, "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang" won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
2011: BBC Worldwide's biggest selling show
In 2011, Doctor Who was BBC Worldwide's biggest selling show.
2011: Matt Smith's BAFTA Nomination
In 2011, Matt Smith became the first Doctor to be nominated for a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor.
2011: Spike Scream Award for Best Science Fiction Actor
In 2011, Matt Smith won Best Science Fiction Actor at the Spike Scream Awards.
2011: End of The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood
In 2011, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood both ended.
2011: Comic Relief mini-episode
In 2011, a two-part mini-episode was produced for the Comic Relief edition.
2011: Scariest TV Show of All Time
In 2011, an online vote at Digital Spy deemed the series the "scariest TV show of all time".
2011: Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures End
In 2011, both Torchwood (2006–2011) and The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007–2011) television series ended.
2011: Soundtrack albums of "A Christmas Carol" and Series 6 released
In 2011, soundtrack albums of "A Christmas Carol" and series 6 of Doctor Who were released.
2011: Comic Relief and Children in Need Events
In 2011, two mini-episodes, "Space" and "Time", were produced for Comic Relief and aired during the Comic Relief 2011 event. Additionally, during Children in Need 2011, an exclusive segment featured the Doctor persuading viewers to purchase his clothing items, auctioned for Children in Need.
2012: John Smith, BBC Worldwide CEO
From 2004 until 2012, John Smith served as BBC Worldwide CEO.
2012: Hugo Award for "The Doctor's Wife"
In 2012, "The Doctor's Wife" won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
2012: Mini-episodes for Children in Need
In 2012, a mini-episode, running from four to eight minutes each, were produced for the Children in Need charity appeals, while further mini-episodes were produced in 2008, 2010, 2013, and 2024 for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2012: io9 Article Discusses Fear and Thrill
In 2012, an article by io9 placed this childhood juxtaposition of fear and thrill "at the center of many people's relationship with the series".
March 2013: Tennant and Piper Return
In March 2013, it was announced that Tennant and Piper would be returning to Doctor Who and that the episode would have a limited cinematic release worldwide.
May 2013: Animated episodes of The Reign of Terror available for purchase
In May 2013, the missing episodes of The Reign of Terror were animated by animation company 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 4 August 2013, a live programme titled Doctor Who Live: The Next Doctor was broadcast on BBC One, during which the actor who was going to play the Twelfth Doctor was revealed. The live show was watched by an average of 6.27 million in the UK, and was also simulcast in the United States, Canada and Australia.
October 2013: Eleven episodes found in Nigeria
On 10 October 2013, the BBC announced that films of eleven episodes, including nine missing episodes, had been found in a Nigerian television relay station in Jos.
November 2013: Release of Doctor Who: Legacy Game
In November 2013, the match-3 game Doctor Who: Legacy was released for iOS, Android, Amazon App Store and Facebook. The game has been constantly updated and features all the Doctors and over 100 companions.
November 2013: "The Day of the Doctor" broadcast in 94 countries
As of November 2013, the modern series has 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.
2013: Delia Derbyshire received an on-screen credit
In 2013, Delia Derbyshire received an on-screen credit for her work on the Doctor Who theme music in the 50th-anniversary story "The Day of the Doctor".
2013: John Hurt guest-starred as the War Doctor
In 2013, John Hurt guest-starred as a previously unknown incarnation of the Doctor, known as the War Doctor, in the lead-up to the show's 50th-anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor".
2013: Matt Smith Leaves Doctor Who
In 2013, Matt Smith decided to leave the role of the Doctor. He was replaced by Peter Capaldi.
2013: Top Sci-Fi Show
In 2013, TV Guide ranked Doctor Who as the sixth-best sci-fi show.
2013: Soundtracks released
In 2013, The Krotons, The Caves of Androzani, Ghost Light, and series 7 (with "The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe" and "The Snowmen" on a separate album) were released.
2013: 50th-anniversary boxed set of audio CDs 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: Cybermen redesign in 'Nightmare in Silver'
In 2013, a Cybermen redesign considered as a mixture of Mondasian and parallel universe technology was introduced in "Nightmare in Silver".
2013: Additional special episodes
In 2013, eight additional special episodes were created, ranging from 48 to 90 minutes.
2013: The Eleventh Doctor meets the War Doctor
In 2013, in "The Name of the Doctor", the Eleventh Doctor meets the War Doctor. In the following episode, "The Day of the Doctor", David Tennant's Tenth Doctor appeared alongside Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and John Hurt as the War Doctor.
2013: Dalek on a 50th anniversary stamp
In 2013, the Daleks received another stamp as part of the 50th anniversary.
2013: Institutional Peabody Award
In 2013, the Peabody Awards honoured Doctor Who with an Institutional Peabody "for evolving with technology and the times like nothing else in the known television universe."
2013: Doctor acquires new regeneration cycle
In 2013, the episode "The Time of the Doctor" depicted the Doctor acquiring a new cycle of regenerations, starting from the Twelfth Doctor.
2014: Album of both "The Day of the Doctor" and "The Time of the Doctor" released
In 2014, an album of both "The Day of the Doctor" and "The Time of the Doctor" was released.
2014: Twelfth Doctor's Paddington Bear Statue
In 2014, the Twelfth Doctor, Peter Capaldi, designed a Doctor Who-themed Paddington Bear statue, one of 50 placed around London at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, which was then auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC).
November 2015: Release of Lego Dimensions Doctor Who Level Pack
In November 2015, the Lego Dimensions game released with a Doctor Who Level Pack containing the Twelfth Doctor, K9, the TARDIS, and a Victorian London adventure level area.
2015: Series 8 soundtrack released
In 2015, the soundtrack for Doctor Who series 8 was released.
January 2016: Moffat to Step Down
In January 2016, Moffat announced that he would step down after the 2017 finale.
2016: Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection Four LP Box Set released
In 2016, Doctor Who: The 50th Anniversary Collection Four LP Box Set was released by Spacelab9.
2016: Michelle Gomez's BAFTA Nomination
In 2016, Michelle Gomez became the first woman to receive a BAFTA nomination for the series, getting a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her work as Missy.
2016: "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" Finalist for Hugo Award
In 2016, the Christmas special "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" was a finalist for the 2017 Hugo Awards.
2016: Class Television Series
In 2016, the television series Class was released as part of the Whoniverse.
April 2017: Doctor Who named longest running sci-fi programme
On April 29, 2017, Guinness World Records named Doctor Who the longest running sci-fi programme with the airing of its 819th episode.
2017: "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" Finalist for Hugo Award
In 2016, the Christmas special "The Return of Doctor Mysterio" was a finalist for the 2017 Hugo Awards.
2017: Jodie Whittaker Cast as First Female Doctor
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker became the first woman cast in the lead role of the Doctor.
2017: Moffat to Step Down
In 2017, Moffat to step down after the 2017 finale.
2017: The First Doctor returns alongside Peter Capaldi
In 2017, the First Doctor, portrayed by David Bradley, returned alongside Peter Capaldi in "The Doctor Falls" and "Twice Upon a Time".
2017: The Daleks and Survival soundtrack released
In 2017, the soundtrack for The Daleks and Survival was released.
2017: Murray Gold composes all incidental music until 'Twice Upon a Time'
Until the 2017 Christmas episode 'Twice Upon a Time,' all incidental music for Doctor Who was composed by Murray Gold.
May 2018: Soft Launch of Doctor Who: Battle of Time
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 to provide the musical score for series 11
On June 26, 2018, it was announced that Segun Akinola would provide the musical score for series 11 of Doctor Who.
August 2018: Release of Doctor Who Infinity on Steam
On 7 August 2018, Doctor Who Infinity was released on Steam and was later nominated for "Best Start-up" at The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards 2018.
2018: Chris Chibnall to Replace Moffat
In 2018, Chris Chibnall replaced Moffat after the 2017 finale.
2018: Segun Akinola arranges theme music
In 2018, Segun Akinola arranged the theme music for series 11-13 and the 2022 specials, including a Punjabi-style closing theme for "Demons of the Punjab".
2018: Further Novelisations from Target Books
In 2018, further novelisations from Target Books were published after the original run ended in 1994.
2018: The Invasion, The Five Doctors, and Series 9 soundtrack released
In 2018, the soundtracks for The Invasion, The Five Doctors, and series 9 were released.
October 2019: DWM celebrates 40 years of publication
On 11 October 2019, Doctor Who Magazine was recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest running TV tie-in magazine, celebrating 40 years of continuous publication.
2019: Induction into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame
In 2019, Doctor Who was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame based in Seattle, Washington.
2019: Series 11 soundtrack released
In 2019, the soundtrack for Doctor Who series 11 was released.
2020: Doctor's origin revealed
In 2020 it was revealed the Doctor came from another world entirely, as Gallifrey was thought to have been the home planet of the Doctor as it was for the other Time Lords.
2020: End of The Monthly Adventures
In 2020, Big Finish revealed that The Monthly Adventures would come to an end in favor of individual box sets.
2020: Sacha Dhawan in the role of Master
In 2020, The Master returned for the twelfth series with Sacha Dhawan in the role.
2020: Introduction of the Fugitive Doctor
In 2020, in "Fugitive of the Judoon", Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor meets Jo Martin's incarnation of the Doctor, subsequently known as the Fugitive Doctor. They interact again in "The Timeless Children" later that year.
2020: Cybermen regenerate
In 2020, the Cybermen aligned themselves with The Master and were given the ability to regenerate.
2020: The Sun Makers, The Visitation, and Series 12 soundtrack released
In 2020, the soundtracks for The Sun Makers, The Visitation, and series 12 were released.
2020: COVID-19 pandemic
In March 2020, the start of COVID-19 pandemic changed viewership.
2021: Fugitive Doctor Interaction
In 2021, Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor met Jo Martin's incarnation of the Doctor known as the Fugitive Doctor in "Once, Upon Time".
2021: Segun Akinola arranges theme music for series 11-13
In 2021, Segun Akinola arranged the theme music for series 11-13 of Doctor Who.
2021: "Revolution of the Daleks" on BBC iPlayer in 4K
In 2021, the festive special "Revolution of the Daleks" was available on BBC iPlayer in 4K.
October 2022: Whittaker regenerates into Tennant
Upon Whittaker's final appearance as the character in "The Power of the Doctor" on 23 October 2022, she regenerated into a form portrayed by David Tennant, who was confirmed to be the Fourteenth Doctor and the first actor to play two incarnations, having previously played the Tenth Doctor.
2022: Doctor Who: Redacted Podcast Airs
In 2022, BBC Sounds began airing Doctor Who: Redacted, a podcast written by Juno Dawson and starring Charlie Craggs and Jodie Whittaker. It focuses on friends hosting "The Blue Box Files" podcast.
2022: Segun Akinola arranges theme music for 2022 specials
In 2022, Segun Akinola arranged the theme music for Doctor Who specials.
2022: Whittaker and Chibnall Depart After Specials
In 2022, both Whittaker and Chibnall announced that they would depart the series after a series of specials.
2022: Additional special episodes
In 2022, eight additional special episodes were created, ranging from 48 to 90 minutes.
2022: Thirteenth Doctor interacts with past incarnations
In 2022, in "The Power of the Doctor", Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor interacts with the Guardians of the Edge, manifestations of the Doctor's First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth incarnations.
2022: Series 13 soundtrack released
In 2022, the soundtrack for Doctor Who series 13 (with "Revolution of the Daleks" as a bonus disc) was released.
2023: Shift towards fantasy elements
Beginning with the 2023 Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road", the show started gearing more towards fantasy elements.
2023: Tennant's specials viewership
In 2023, David Tennant's specials all had over 7 million viewers and ranked in the top ten.
2023: Davies rehired Gold
In 2023, Davies rehired Murray Gold to work on the series for the 60th anniversary episodes.
2023: Ncuti Gatwa Portrays the Fifteenth Doctor
In 2023, Ncuti Gatwa became the first black actor to lead the series as the Fifteenth Doctor. Also in 2023, Doctor Who can change ethnic appearance or gender.
2023: Additional special episodes
In 2023, eight additional special episodes were created, ranging from 48 to 90 minutes.
2023: Bi-generation of the Fourteenth Doctor
In 2023, following the bi-generation of the Fourteenth Doctor in "The Giggle", the Fifteenth Doctor split out from him, and the two Doctors shared a scene as they defeated the Toymaker.
2023: Revenge of the Cybermen, Time and the Rani, and the 2022 specials released
In 2023, soundtracks for Revenge of the Cybermen, Time and the Rani, and the 2022 specials were released.
2023: Fourteenth Doctor's Reunion
In 2023, when David Tennant returned as the Fourteenth Doctor, Catherine Tate joined him to reprise her role as Donna Noble for the 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.
2024: Continuing with harder science fiction format
In 2024 the show kept a harder science fiction format in episodes like "Boom".
2024: Tennant as well as Gatwa specials surpass Coronation Street in ratings.
In 2024, David Tennant as well as Gatwa's specials, including "Joy to the World", surpassed Coronation Street in the ratings.
2024: Gold makes cameo in "The Devil's Chord"
In 2024, Murray Gold made a cameo in the Doctor Who episode "The Devil's Chord".
2024: Richard E. Grant's Hologram Appearance
In 2024, Richard E. Grant, who previously portrayed the Shalka Doctor, appeared as a hologram of a past Doctor in the episode "Rogue".
2024: Doctor Who Prom
In 2024, another Doctor Who Prom was held, presented by Catherine Tate and conducted and orchestrated by Alastair King.
2024: Mini-episodes for The Proms
In 2024, further mini-episodes were produced for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2024: Daleks absent in Series 14.
In 2024, the Daleks did not appear in the series 14.
2024: The Daleks in Colour released
In 2024, the soundtrack The Daleks in Colour was released.
2024: Tales of the TARDIS Television Series
In 2024, the television series Tales of the TARDIS was part of the Whoniverse.
2025: Series format exception
As of 2025, the only exception has been the serialised storyline of series 13, also known as its subtitle Flux.
2025: UK ratings after seven days
By 2025, UK ratings after seven days had fallen to an average of 3.2 million viewers.
2025: Ncuti Gatwa Portrays the Fifteenth Doctor
In 2025, Ncuti Gatwa continues to portray the Fifteenth Doctor.
2025: Fifteenth Doctor briefly interacts with the Thirteenth Doctor
In 2025, The Fifteenth Doctor briefly interacts with the Thirteenth Doctor in his final episode in the lead role, "The Reality War".
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