History of Doctor Who in Timeline
Doctor Who, a British science fiction series by the BBC since 1963, follows the adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord, who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, disguised as a British police box. Created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber, and Donald Wilson, the Doctor combats foes to save lives and liberate oppressed peoples, often accompanied by companions. The series spans decades and features the Doctor's ability to regenerate into new forms, allowing for different actors to portray the character over time.
July 1963: Commissioning of "The Mutants" story
On 31 July 1963, Terry Nation was commissioned by David Whitaker to write a story titled "The Mutants", which later became "The Daleks", introducing the series' most popular monsters and sparking "Dalekmania".
November 1963: Delayed Transmission and Rebroadcast
In November 1963, the first episode of Doctor Who was broadcast after a short delay and rebroadcast on November 30th due to coverage of John F. Kennedy's assassination and power blackouts.
November 1963: First Broadcast of Doctor Who
On 23 November 1963, Doctor Who first appeared on the BBC Television Service, intended as an educational family program exploring scientific ideas and historical moments through time travel. The broadcast was delayed by eighty seconds due to announcements regarding the assassination of John F. Kennedy.
November 1963: Doctor Who originally ran for 26 seasons on BBC One
On November 1963, Doctor Who originally ran for 26 seasons on BBC One.
1963: Doctor Who 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 adventures of the Doctor, a Time Lord, who travels through time and space in the TARDIS.
1963: Daleks' Début
In 1963, the Daleks debuted in the programme's second serial, The Daleks (1963–1964), making both the Daleks and Doctor Who very popular.
1963: First Appearance of the Daleks
In 1963, the Daleks first appeared in the show's second serial and are Doctor Who's oldest villains.
1963: Introduction of the Daleks
In 1963, the Daleks were first seen in the serial The Daleks.
1963: Introduction of the Companion Figure
In 1963, the companion figure, generally a human, was introduced as a constant feature in Doctor Who, intended to act as audience surrogates.
1963: Original Series Run Begins
In 1963, the original Doctor Who series began its run on the BBC.
1963: 892 Doctor Who instalments have been televised since 1963
Since 1963, 892 Doctor Who instalments have been televised since 1963.
1964: Marco Polo
As of 1964, short clips from every story with the exception of Marco Polo (1964) exist.
1964: First Doctor Who books published
In 1964, Doctor Who books started being published, primarily as novelised adaptations of broadcast episodes.
1964: Political Cartoon Depicting 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: Doctor Who Theme Music Release
In 1964, the Doctor Who theme music, composed by Ron Grainer and realised by Delia Derbyshire of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, was released as a single on Decca F 11837.
1965: Mission to the Unknown
As of 1965, short clips from every story with the exception of "Mission to the Unknown" (1965) exist.
1966: The Massacre
As of 1966, short clips from every story with the exception of The Massacre (1966) exist.
1966: Each serial was given its own title
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, due to William Hartnell's poor health, Patrick Troughton succeeded him as the Doctor.
1966: First Doctor Audio Release
In 1966, the first Doctor Who-related audio release occurred, featuring a 21-minute narrated abridgment of the First Doctor television story "The Chase".
1967: Large amounts of older material stored was destroyed or wiped
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: History-oriented episodes were dropped after The Highlanders
In 1967, history-oriented episodes were dropped after the episode titled 'The Highlanders'.
1967: Part 2 of The Underwater Menace
In 1967, part 2 of The Underwater Menace (1967) had been returned to the BBC by a film collector who did not realise the films' value.
1967: The Ice Warriors and The Moonbase
In 1967, subsequent animations made in 2013–4 include The Tenth Planet, The Ice Warriors (1967) and The Moonbase (1967).
1968: The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear
In 1968, film copies of nine missing episodes were found in a television relay station in Jos, Nigeria, including the complete serial The Enemy of the World (1968) and all but episode 3 of The Web of Fear (1968).
1968: The Invasion
In 1968, the BBC reconstructed the missing episodes 1 and 4 of The Invasion (1968).
1970: Jon Pertwee becomes the Doctor; Series in colour
In 1970, Jon Pertwee replaced Troughton, and the series began production in colour.
1970: Introduction of the Autons and Silurians
In 1970, the Autons with the Nestene Consciousness were first seen in Spearhead from Space, and the Silurians were also first seen.
1971: Donald Wilson claims naming the series
In 1971, Donald Wilson claimed to have named the series, and when this claim was put to Sydney Newman he did not dispute it.
1971: The Master's First Appearance
In 1971, The Master, conceived as "Professor Moriarty to the Doctor's Sherlock Holmes", first appeared.
1971: Terror of the Autons and Frightening Images
In 1971, during Jon Pertwee's second season, the serial Terror of the Autons featured frightening images, marking the apex of the series' ability to frighten children.
1972: The Three Doctors
In 1972, William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton returned alongside Jon Pertwee in The Three Doctors.
1972: Violence Survey Findings
In 1972, a BBC audience research survey found Doctor Who to be the most violent of the corporation's drama programmes, with some viewers finding it unsuitable for family viewing.
1972: Almost all episodes then made were known to exist at the BBC
In 1972, almost all episodes then made were known to exist at the BBC
1973: Roger Delgado's Death
In 1973, Roger Delgado, the first actor to portray the Master, died.
1974: Tom Baker cast as the Doctor
In 1974, Tom Baker was cast as the Doctor, leading to a resurgence in popularity.
1975: Richard Hurndall as the First Doctor in "The Five Doctors"
In 1975, Richard Hurndall played the First Doctor in "The Five Doctors" following William Hartnell's death.
1975: Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for Best Writing
In 1975, Season 11 of the series won a Writers' Guild of Great Britain award for Best Writing in a Children's Serial.
1975: Introduction of the Zygons
In 1975, the Zygons were first seen in the series.
1976: "The Deadly Assassin" - Doctor travels alone
In 1976, "The Deadly Assassin" was the only story from the original series in which the Doctor travels alone.
1976: Controversial Scenes in The Brain of Morbius and The Deadly Assassin
In 1976, The Brain of Morbius and The Deadly Assassin featured controversial scenes. Mary Whitehouse's complaint about The Deadly Assassin prompted tighter controls on the production team.
1976: Time Lord can only regenerate 12 times
The 1976 serial The Deadly Assassin established that a Time Lord can only regenerate 12 times, for a total of 13 incarnations.
1978: Practice of wiping tapes and destroying spare film copies had been brought to a stop
By 1978 the practice of wiping tapes and destroying "spare" film copies had been brought to a stop.
1979: Theme Tune Remains Unchanged
From 1979 to 1980, the Derbyshire arrangement served as the theme tune up to the end of season 17, with minor edits.
1979: Publication of Doctor Who Magazine (DWM)
In 1979, the dedicated Doctor Who Magazine (DWM) started regular newsstand circulation.
1980: Theme Tune Remains Unchanged
From 1979 to 1980, the Derbyshire arrangement served as the theme tune up to the end of season 17, with minor edits.
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; it was an abridged reading of the Fourth Doctor story State of Decay.
1982: Black Orchid
In 1982, the show produced "Black Orchid", an exception to the science fiction trend, set in 1920s England.
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.
1984: Colin Baker replaces Peter Davison
In 1984, Colin Baker replaced Peter Davison as the Doctor.
1984: Resurrection of the Daleks
In 1984, for Resurrection of the Daleks in the 1984 series, the common format was 45/50-minute episodes.
1985: Season 23 Cancelled; Hiatus
In 1985, Michael Grade cancelled the upcoming twenty-third season, forcing the series into an eighteen-month hiatus.
1985: Grade Criticises Violence
In 1985, Michael Grade publicly criticised the violence depicted in season 22, contributing to the series' suspension.
1985: The Two Doctors
In 1985, Patrick Troughton returned in "The Two Doctors" with Colin Baker.
1985: A single season in 1985
In 1985, a single season was in the format of 45/50-minute episodes.
1985: First Radio Drama
In 1985, during a hiatus of the television show, Slipback, the first radio drama, was transmitted.
1986: Introduction of the Valeyard
In 1986, during The Trial of a Time Lord serial, Michael Jayston's character, the Valeyard, was introduced as an amalgamation of the darker aspects of the Doctor's nature.
1986: Idea of casting a woman as the Doctor had been suggested by the show's writers
In 1986, the idea of casting a woman as the Doctor had been suggested by the show's writers.
1986: Series Recommissioned; Baker Recast
In 1986, the series was recommissioned on the condition that Colin Baker left the role of the Doctor.
1987: Sylvester McCoy replaces Colin Baker
In 1987, Sylvester McCoy was cast as the Doctor.
July 1989: Philip Segal Approaches BBC
In July 1989, Philip Segal approached the BBC to relaunch the series.
December 1989: End of original run of Doctor Who
On December 1989, Doctor Who's original run of 26 seasons on BBC One concluded.
1989: Hiatus of Doctor Who
In 1989, Doctor Who went on hiatus, with Anthony Ainley being the last actor to play the Master before the hiatus.
1989: Production Ended
In 1989, due to declining viewing numbers, the BBC ended production of Doctor Who.
1989: Original Series Ends
In 1989, the original Doctor Who series concluded its initial run.
1991: Launch of original fiction line
In 1991, an extensive line of original fiction was launched, the Virgin New Adventures and Virgin Missing Adventures.
1993: Dimensions in Time
The 1993 two-part story, entitled Dimensions in Time, was made in collaboration with the cast of the BBC soap-opera EastEnders and was filmed partly on the EastEnders set.
1994: End of original run by Target Books
In 1994, the original run by Target Books ended.
1996: Master returns in TV movie
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 as a pilot for an American series, but it did not lead to a series.
1996: "Auntie Awards" - Best Popular Drama
In 1996, during the "Auntie Awards" held as part of BBC's "TV60" series, Doctor Who was voted as the "Best Popular Drama" the corporation had ever produced.
1996: BBC applied for a trademark to use the TARDIS' blue police box design
In 1996, the BBC applied for a trademark to use the blue police box design of the TARDIS in merchandising associated with Doctor Who.
1996: television film
In 1996, there was a feature-length production called a television film.
1998: Metropolitan Police Authority filed an objection to the trademark claim
In 1998, the Metropolitan Police Authority objected to the BBC's trademark claim on the TARDIS' blue police box 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: 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, produced by the British Film Institute.
2001: Ninth on Channel 4's list of 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows
In 2001, Doctor Who was placed at number nine on Channel 4's list of the 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows.
2002: Patent Office ruled in favour of the BBC.
In 2002, the Patent Office ruled in favor of the BBC in their trademark claim dispute with the Metropolitan Police Authority over the TARDIS' blue police box design.
September 2003: Announcement of new series
In September 2003, BBC Television announced the in-house production of a new Doctor Who series.
2003: Richard E. Grant as 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 political cartoon
In 2008, Tom Tomorrow created a political cartoon referencing the year 2003, where the Tenth Doctor appeared to inform a character from the year 2003 about the future.
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: Return of Doctor Who with "Rose"
On 26 March 2005, Doctor Who returned with the episode "Rose" starring Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor, after a 16-year hiatus.
2005: Series Revival
Following the series revival in 2005, the Master was reintroduced later.
2005: First National Television Award
In 2005, Doctor Who won the first of five consecutive awards at the National Television Awards during Russell T Davies' tenure.
2005: Gardner and Tranter Recommission Series
In 2005, Jane Tranter recommissioned the series.
2005: Most common format for the revival era since 2005
In 2005, the most common format for the revival era has been 45/50-minute episodes.
2005: Serial format changed for the 2005 revival
In 2005, the serial format changed for the revival, now called a series, usually consisting of 45-minute, self-contained episodes and an extended 60-minute episode.
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: Daleks Return in Every Series
Since 2005, the Daleks have appeared in every series of Doctor Who.
2005: Revival of Doctor Who and Companion Roles
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 novels has been published by BBC Books.
2005: Return 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.
April 2006: Blue Peter launched a challenge to find missing Doctor Who 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
In November 2006, the BBC reconstructed the missing episodes 1 and 4 of The Invasion (1968) with Cosgrove Hall for the serial's DVD release.
2006: Launch of Doctor Who Adventures magazine
In 2006, BBC Magazines launched Doctor Who Adventures, a magazine targeted at younger fans.
2006: BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series
In 2006, Doctor Who won the British Academy Television Award for Best Drama Series.
2006: Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation
In 2006, Doctor Who won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation for the episode "The Empty Child"/"The Doctor Dances".
2006: Launch of Torchwood
In 2006, Jack Harkness served to launch a spin-off, Torchwood, in which Martha Jones also appeared.
2006: Torchwood Spin-off Series
In 2006, Torchwood, a Doctor Who spin-off television series, was released.
2006: Cybermen Reintroduction
In the 2006 series, the Cybermen were reintroduced as humans from a parallel universe Earth with different back stories.
2007: Doctor Who quintessential to being British
In 2007, Caitlin Moran of The Times, wrote that Doctor Who is "quintessential to being British".
2007: Reintroduction of the Master with Derek Jacobi
In 2007, Derek Jacobi provided the character's reintroduction in the episode "Utopia", before John Simm took over the role.
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 Hugo Award for the episode "The Girl in the Fireplace".
2007: Peter Davison returns in "Time Crash"
In 2007, Peter Davison returned in the Children in Need short "Time Crash" alongside David Tennant.
2007: Six mini-episodes
In 2007, Six mini-episodes, running from four to eight minutes each, were also produced for Children in Need charity appeals.
2007: The Sarah Jane Adventures Spin-off Series
In 2007, The Sarah Jane Adventures, a Doctor Who spin-off television series, was released.
2007: The Sarah Jane Adventures Launch
In 2007, the spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures, starring Sarah Jane Smith, was launched following her return to Doctor Who in 2006.
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: Hugo Award for "Blink"
In 2008, Doctor Who won the Hugo Award for the episode "Blink".
2008: Tenth Doctor informs character of future Democratic 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 will nominate an African-American as its presidential candidate.
2008: further mini-episodes were produced in 2008
In 2008, further mini-episodes were produced for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2008: Journey's End
In 2008, the episodes "Journey's End" was longer than an hour.
2008: Idea of casting a woman as the Doctor had been suggested by the show's writers
In 2008, the idea of casting a woman as the Doctor had been suggested by the show's writers.
2009: High ratings for Doctor Who
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: Third greatest show of the 2000s by Channel 4
In 2009, Doctor Who was voted the 3rd greatest show of the 2000s by Channel 4, behind Top Gear and The Apprentice.
2009: K9 Spin-off Series
In 2009, K9, a Doctor Who spin-off television series, was released.
2009: Davies Leaves Production Team
In 2009, Russell T Davies left the Doctor Who production team and was succeeded by Steven Moffat.
2009: Planet of the Dead
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: Fifth Consecutive National Television Award
In 2010, Doctor Who won its fifth consecutive award at the National Television Awards during Russell T Davies' tenure.
2010: Hugo Award for "The Waters of Mars"
In 2010, Doctor Who won the Hugo Award for the episode "The Waters of Mars".
2010: End of K9 Spin-off Series
In 2010, K9, a Doctor Who spin-off television series, concluded.
2010: further mini-episodes were produced in 2010
In 2010, further mini-episodes were produced for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2010: "Vincent and the Doctor" Shortlisted for Mind Award
In 2010, the episode "Vincent and the Doctor" was shortlisted for a Mind Award at the Mind Mental Health Media Awards.
2010: The Eleventh Hour
In 2010, the episodes "The Eleventh Hour" was longer than an hour.
2011: Series Named Scariest TV Show
In 2011, Digital Spy's online vote deemed Doctor Who the "scariest TV show of all time", contributing to the series' cultural impact.
2011: Hugo Award for "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang"
In 2011, Doctor Who won the Hugo Award for the episode "The Pandorica Opens"/"The Big Bang".
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: Matt Smith wins Best Science Fiction Actor in Spike Scream Awards
In 2011, Matt Smith won Best Science Fiction Actor in the Spike Scream Awards.
2011: A two-part mini-episode was also produced for the 2011 edition of Comic Relief
In 2011, a two-part mini-episode was also produced for Comic Relief.
2011: End of The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood
In 2011, both The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood, Doctor Who spin-off series, ended.
2011: End of Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures
In 2011, both Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, Doctor Who spin-offs, concluded.
2011: Comic Relief and Children in Need
In 2011, the program produced two mini-episodes, "Space" and "Time", for Comic Relief, which aired during the Comic Relief 2011 event. During Children in Need 2011, an exclusive segment showed the Doctor attempting to persuade viewers to purchase his clothing items for auction.
2012: Hugo Award for "The Doctor's Wife"
In 2012, Doctor Who won the Hugo Award for the episode "The Doctor's Wife". In the same year Matt Smith won Best Actor in the National Television Awards alongside Karen Gillan, who won Best Actress.
2012: Six mini-episodes
In 2012, Six mini-episodes, running from four to eight minutes each, were also produced for Children in Need charity appeals.
2012: io9 Article on Fear and Thrill
In 2012, an io9 article emphasized the juxtaposition of fear and thrill as central to many people's relationship with the series.
March 2013: Tennant and Piper returning for 50th anniversary special
In March 2013, it was announced that David Tennant and Billie Piper would be returning for "The Day of the Doctor", the 50th anniversary special episode, which would also have a limited cinematic release worldwide.
May 2013: The missing episodes of The Reign of Terror
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.
November 2013: Release of Doctor Who: Legacy game
In November 2013, Doctor Who: Legacy, a match-3 game, was released for iOS, Android, Amazon App Store, and Facebook. The game features all the Doctors as playable characters and over 100 companions.
2013: Delia Derbyshire Receives On-Screen Credit
In 2013, Delia Derbyshire finally 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: Peabody Award and Guinness World Records
In 2013, Doctor Who was honored with an Institutional Peabody Award. It was also listed in Guinness World Records as the longest-running science-fiction television show, the "most successful" science-fiction series, and for the largest simulcast of a TV drama with its 50th-anniversary special.
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 the Role
In 2013, Matt Smith left the role of the Doctor and 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: Cybermen Redesign in "Nightmare in Silver"
In 2013, a redesign of the Cybermen, considered a mixture of Mondasian and parallel universe technology, appeared in "Nightmare in Silver".
2013: The Eleventh Doctor meets the War Doctor
In 2013, in "The Name of the Doctor", the Eleventh Doctor meets a previously unseen incarnation of himself, the War Doctor. David Tennant's Tenth Doctor appeared alongside Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and John Hurt as the War Doctor in the following episode, "The Day of the Doctor".
2013: Dalek on a 50th Anniversary Stamp
In 2013, the Daleks received another stamp as part of the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.
2013: The Time of the Doctor
In 2013, the episode "The Time of the Doctor" depicted the Doctor acquiring a new cycle of regenerations.
2013: additional specials ranging from 48 to 90 minutes in 2013
In 2013, there were additional specials ranging from 48 to 90 minutes.
2014: Twelfth Doctor's Paddington Bear Statue
In 2014, the Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi designed a Doctor Who-themed Paddington Bear statue, which was located at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, one of 50 placed around London, which was auctioned to raise funds for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
November 2015: Release of Lego Dimensions Doctor Who Level Pack
In November 2015, the Lego Dimensions game and its Doctor Who Level Pack were released. The pack contains the Twelfth Doctor, K9, the TARDIS and a Victorian London adventure level.
January 2016: Moffat Steps Down
In January 2016, Steven Moffat announced he would step down after the 2017 finale.
2016: Class Spin-off Series
In 2016, Class, a Doctor Who spin-off television series, was released.
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.
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 as the First Female Doctor
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker became the first woman cast in the lead role of the Doctor, marking a significant milestone for the series.
2017: Jodie Whittaker cast as the Thirteenth Doctor
In 2017, Jodie Whittaker took over the role as the Thirteenth Doctor and is the first woman to be cast as the character.
2017: Moffat Finale
In 2017, it was Steven Moffat's final year as showrunner.
2017: The First Doctor Returns with Peter Capaldi
In 2017, the First Doctor (portrayed by David Bradley) returned alongside Peter Capaldi in "The Doctor Falls" and "Twice Upon a Time".
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.
August 2018: Release of Doctor Who Infinity on Steam
On 7 August 2018, Doctor Who Infinity was released on Steam.
2018: Chibnall Takes Over
In 2018, Chris Chibnall took over as showrunner.
2018: Further novelizations published by BBC Books
In 2018, further novelizations were published by BBC Books, following the end of the original run by Target Books in 1994.
October 2019: DWM Celebrates 40 Years
On 11 October 2019, Doctor Who Magazine celebrated 40 years of continuous publication.
2019: Induction into Science Fiction Hall of Fame
In 2019, Doctor Who was inducted into the Science Fiction Hall of Fame based in Seattle, Washington.
2020: Doctor came from another world entirely
In 2020 it was revealed the Doctor came from another world entirely.
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: Introduction of Jo Martin as the Fugitive Doctor
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".
2020: Sacha Dhawan as the Master
In 2020, the Master returned for the twelfth series with Sacha Dhawan in the role.
2020: Introduction of the Fugitive Doctor
In 2020, the show introduced another previously unknown past Doctor with Jo Martin's recurring portrayal of the Fugitive Doctor, beginning with the episode "Fugitive of the Judoon".
2020: Cybermen Align with the Master and Gain Regeneration Ability
In the 2020 series, the Cybermen aligned themselves with The Master and were given the ability to regenerate.
2021: Thirteenth and Fugitive Doctor Interact Again
In 2021, Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor interacts with Jo Martin's incarnation of the Doctor, the Fugitive Doctor, again in the episode "Once, Upon Time".
2021: Revolution of the Daleks
The 2021 festive special "Revolution of the Daleks" was available on BBC iPlayer in 4K.
October 2022: The Power of the Doctor
Upon Whittaker's final appearance as the character in "The Power of the Doctor" on October 2022, she regenerated into a form portrayed by David Tennant, who was confirmed to be the Fourteenth Doctor.
2022: Release of 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. The podcast focuses on a trio of friends who host a paranormal conspiracy podcast, "The Blue Box Files", and end up getting involved in much more than they expected.
2022: Whittaker and Chibnall Depart
In 2022, both Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall departed the series after a series of specials.
2022: Guardians of the Edge in "The Power of the Doctor"
In 2022, in her final episode as the lead role, "The Power of the Doctor", Jodie Whittaker interacts with the Guardians of the Edge, manifestations of the Doctor's First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth incarnations.
2022: additional specials ranging from 48 to 90 minutes in 2022
In 2022, there were additional specials ranging from 48 to 90 minutes.
2023: The Church on Ruby Road
Beginning with the 2023 Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road", the show started gearing more towards fantasy elements.
2023: Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor
In 2023, Ncuti Gatwa began portraying the Fifteenth Doctor, marking a new era for the series.
2023: Bi-generation of the Fourteenth Doctor
In 2023, in "The Giggle", following the 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: additional specials ranging from 48 to 90 minutes in 2023
In 2023, there were additional specials ranging from 48 to 90 minutes.
2023: Catherine Tate Returns as Donna Noble
In 2023, when David Tennant returned as the Fourteenth Doctor, Catherine Tate joined him to reprise her role of Donna Noble for the specials.
2024: Richard E. Grant Appears as Hologram of Past Doctor
In 2024, Richard E. Grant, who previously portrayed an alternate version of the Doctor in the animated series Scream of the Shalka, appeared as a hologram of a past Doctor in "Rogue".
2024: End of Tales of the TARDIS
In 2024, Tales of the TARDIS, a Doctor Who spin-off television series, concluded.
2024: further mini-episodes were produced in 2024
In 2024, further mini-episodes were produced for Doctor Who–themed editions of The Proms.
2024: Daleks Absence in Series 14
In 2024, the Daleks did not appear in series 14.
2024: Boom
In 2024, the show still kept a harder science fiction format in episodes like "Boom".
2025: The serialised storyline of series 13, also known as its subtitle Flux
As of 2025, the only exception to this has been the serialised storyline of series 13, also known as its subtitle Flux.
2025: End of Ncuti Gatwa's run as the Doctor
In 2025, Ncuti Gatwa's portrayal as the Fifteenth Doctor will conclude.
2025: Fifteenth Doctor Interacts with 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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