Doctor Who

All 26 classic seasons and everything since 2005, plus Torchwood, Sarah Jane and the specials.

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Where to start with Doctor Who

Do not start at the beginning. The 1963 run is 26 seasons long and the BBC wiped much of its own 1960s archive, so a straight chronological watch is not merely daunting — it is impossible, because episodes are missing. Start with the 2005 revival, which was built to be a jumping-on point.

  1. 1
    Series 1 (2005) — all 13 episodes Doctor Who (Modern)

    Written from scratch to explain the Doctor, the TARDIS and the whole premise to someone who knows nothing, through a shop girl who also knows nothing. Thirteen episodes, one complete arc, a proper ending.

  2. 2
    Series 3, episode 10 — “Blink” Doctor Who (Modern)

    Watched out of order on purpose. It is the single most-recommended standalone in the show's history, it needs no context at all, and it is the one people mean when they say Doctor Who can be frightening.

  3. 3
    Series 5 (2010) Doctor Who (Modern)

    A total soft reset — new Doctor, new companion, new showrunner — and widely called the best introduction to a Doctor the show has ever done. A second, equally valid place to have started.

Then what? From here go forward into Series 2 for the Tennant era, or sideways into the 2024 relaunch, which the BBC deliberately renumbered as Season 1 to signal a clean start. The classic era is something to dip into later, never a place to begin.

A suggested way in, not an official one. The full list is below — tick anything off in either place.

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