What is Doctor Who?
Quick answer
Doctor Who is a British science fiction TV series made by the BBC, first broadcast on November 23, 1963. It follows the Doctor, an alien Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a ship that looks like a blue British police box.
Key ideas
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| The Doctor | A centuries-old Time Lord who uses wit and science, rarely weapons, to help others |
| TARDIS | “Time And Relative Dimension In Space”; it’s bigger on the inside |
| Regeneration | When near death, the Doctor transforms into a new body and personality, which lets new actors take over |
| Companions | Usually humans who travel with the Doctor and see the universe through fresh eyes |
| Daleks and Cybermen | The Doctor’s most famous enemies |
| Sonic screwdriver | The Doctor’s multi-purpose tool |
The Doctors (main TV series)
| Doctor | Actor | Years |
|---|---|---|
| First | William Hartnell | 1963–1966 |
| Second | Patrick Troughton | 1966–1969 |
| Third | Jon Pertwee | 1970–1974 |
| Fourth | Tom Baker | 1974–1981 |
| Fifth | Peter Davison | 1981–1984 |
| Sixth | Colin Baker | 1984–1986 |
| Seventh | Sylvester McCoy | 1987–1989 |
| Eighth | Paul McGann | 1996 (TV film) |
| Ninth | Christopher Eccleston | 2005 |
| Tenth | David Tennant | 2005–2010 |
| Eleventh | Matt Smith | 2010–2013 |
| Twelfth | Peter Capaldi | 2014–2017 |
| Thirteenth | Jodie Whittaker | 2018–2022 |
| Fourteenth | David Tennant | 2023 |
| Fifteenth | Ncuti Gatwa | 2023–2025 |
John Hurt also played the “War Doctor” in a 2013 special. Jodie Whittaker was the first woman to play the role, and Ncuti Gatwa the first Black actor in the lead.
A short history
The original series ran from 1963 to 1989. After a 1996 TV movie, writer Russell T Davies revived it in 2005, bringing it a huge new audience worldwide. Davies returned as showrunner for the 60th anniversary in 2023. Spin-offs include Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures and The War Between the Land and the Sea.
Where to start
New viewers often start with the 2005 series (“Rose”) or the 2023–2024 relaunch, which was designed as a fresh jumping-on point.
Not to be confused with the band The Who. Another famous sci-fi story: The Man Who Fell to Earth.
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