- Guide
- Doctor Who
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- This guide covers the revived Doctor Who from 2005 through series 15 and the 2024 Christmas special, and the show is on hiatus: no new episodes are scheduled, and the BBC is seeking a production partner for its next phase.
Doctor Who Series Guide: Every Revived Series, Doctor and Special
Doctor Who returned to BBC One in 2005 and has run 15 series since, with seven Doctors and dozens of specials. This guide covers each series, each Doctor, the 2026 pause and where to start.
Doctor Who series guide: every series and Doctor explained
Doctor Who is a British science-fiction programme about a time-travelling alien known as the Doctor, who travels through space and time in the TARDIS, a ship that looks like a 1960s police box. The programme first aired in 1963. When a lead actor leaves, the story explains the change through regeneration, which is how one character comes to be played by a long list of actors. This Doctor Who series guide covers the revived programme only. It began on BBC One on March 26, 2005 and is the usual starting point for new viewers.
The first question is how many series there are. Wikipedia counts 15 series from 2005 to 2025, with seven actors in the main role across them: Christopher Eccleston (the Ninth Doctor), David Tennant (the Tenth, and the Fourteenth in 2023), Matt Smith (the Eleventh), Peter Capaldi (the Twelfth), Jodie Whittaker (the Thirteenth) and Ncuti Gatwa (the Fifteenth). Wikipedia's episode list totals 196 episodes for the revival, across 163 stories. Of those, 169 belong to the 15 regular series and 27 are specials, so the specials matter to a full count.
Three people have run the programme in the revival. Russell T Davies brought it back and ran it from 2005. Steven Moffat succeeded him and left after the 2017 finale. Chris Chibnall ran it from 2018 to 2022. Davies returned from the 2023 specials. The Doctor changes more often than the showrunner, but the two usually change together, so the show divides into four eras: Davies, Moffat, Chibnall and Davies again. The table below lists every series in one place, and the guide after it takes each Doctor in turn.
The 2020s added a streaming partner. From the 60th anniversary specials in 2023, Disney+ distributed the show outside the UK and Ireland, and Wikipedia describes a 26-episode agreement covering Doctor Who and the spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea. Bad Wolf co-produced with BBC Studios Productions. That partnership ended in October 2025, and in June 2026 the programme went onto an indefinite hiatus. Both facts are covered in their own section, because they decide what a reader can expect to see next.
Where to start depends on the reader. The standard entry is the 2005 pilot, "Rose", which introduces the Doctor from the point of view of a newcomer. Viewers who prefer a modern production can begin with the 2024 series, which Disney+ marketed as Season 1 to attract new viewers, according to Wikipedia. Because each Doctor is a fresh start, a reader can pick almost any era and follow from there. The list near the end of this page marks the episodes that work best on their own.
Series at a glance
| Series | Doctor | Episodes | Aired | Where it goes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Series 1 (2005) | Ninth (Eccleston) | 13 | Mar 26 to Jun 18, 2005 | The revival begins with "Rose" and runs through "Dalek" to "The Parting of the Ways" |
| Series 2 (2006) | Tenth (Tennant) | 13 | Apr 15 to Jul 8, 2006 | Includes "The Girl in the Fireplace" and ends with "Doomsday" |
| Series 3 (2007) | Tenth | 13 | Mar 31 to Jun 30, 2007 | Includes "Blink", the tenth episode |
| Series 4 (2008) | Tenth | 13 | Apr 5 to Jul 5, 2008 | The last regular series before the 2008 to 2010 specials |
| Series 5 (2010) | Eleventh (Smith) | 13 | Apr 3 to Jun 26, 2010 | The first series after Moffat succeeded Davies |
| Series 6 (2011) | Eleventh | 13 | Apr 23 to Oct 1, 2011 | Runs from April to October 2011, with a break between episodes |
| Series 7 (2012 to 2013) | Eleventh | 13 | Sep 1, 2012 to May 18, 2013 | Split across two years, ending with "The Name of the Doctor" |
| Series 8 (2014) | Twelfth (Capaldi) | 12 | Aug 23 to Nov 8, 2014 | A shorter series of twelve episodes |
| Series 9 (2015) | Twelfth | 12 | Sep 19 to Dec 5, 2015 | Includes "Heaven Sent" and "Hell Bent" |
| Series 10 (2017) | Twelfth | 12 | Apr 15 to Jul 1, 2017 | The last series of the Moffat era |
| Series 11 (2018) | Thirteenth (Whittaker) | 10 | Oct 7 to Dec 9, 2018 | The first series under Chibnall |
| Series 12 (2020) | Thirteenth | 10 | Jan 1 to Mar 1, 2020 | Includes "Fugitive of the Judoon" |
| Series 13 (2021) | Thirteenth | 6 | Oct 31 to Dec 5, 2021 | A six-episode series titled Flux |
| Series 14 (2024) | Fifteenth (Gatwa) | 8 | May 11 to Jun 22, 2024 | Counts the Christmas 2023 special as its opener; Disney+ released it as Season 1 |
| Series 15 (2025) | Fifteenth | 8 | Apr 12 to May 31, 2025 | The latest series, ending with "The Reality War" |
| Total | Seven Doctors | 169 | Mar 26, 2005 to May 31, 2025 | 196 episodes including 27 specials |
Episode counts, air dates and titles follow Wikipedia's episode list and series pages, checked October 24, 2026. The specials are listed separately in the guide below. Series 6 and 7 each ran across a break in the schedule.
The Doctor-by-Doctor guide
Each section covers one Doctor in order: the series they led, the companions who travelled with them and the specials around those years. None of them gives away how a story ends. Companion names and series ranges follow Wikipedia's companion list, and the descriptions stay at the level of premise.
The Ninth Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (series 1, 2005)
Eccleston led a single series of 13 episodes, from March 26 to June 18, 2005. Wikipedia lists the Ninth Doctor in series 1 only. The companions are Rose Tyler, played by Billie Piper, and Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman. The series opens with "Rose" and moves through "The End of the World", "The Unquiet Dead", "Aliens of London" and "World War Three", then "Dalek", "The Long Game", "Father's Day", the two-part "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances", "Boom Town" and the two-part finale of "Bad Wolf" and "The Parting of the Ways".
As the first series of the revival, it is built to be watched with no knowledge of the earlier programme. A viewer who wants the shortest route into the show can watch this one series and decide from there.
The Tenth Doctor: David Tennant (series 2 to 4 and specials, 2005 to 2010)
Tennant's first full episode is the Christmas special "The Christmas Invasion" on December 25, 2005. He then led series 2 (2006), series 3 (2007) and series 4 (2008), 13 episodes each, followed by the 2008 to 2010 specials. Rose Tyler continues in series 2 and 4, with Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke), Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman, series 3 and 4), Donna Noble (Catherine Tate, a 2006 special and series 4) and Captain Jack Harkness (series 3 and 4) joining.
The titles include "New Earth", "Tooth and Claw", "School Reunion", "The Girl in the Fireplace", "Rise of the Cybermen" and "The Age of Steel" in series 2, ending with "Army of Ghosts" and "Doomsday". The Christmas specials of 2006 and 2007 and the five specials from "The Next Doctor" on December 25, 2008 to "The End of Time" Part Two on January 1, 2010 close the era. "Blink", from series 3, aired on June 9, 2007.
Rough Cut Review points viewers here when variety matters most, since the standalone episodes in these series give the widest range of stories.
The Eleventh Doctor: Matt Smith (series 5 to 7 and specials, 2010 to 2013)
Smith led series 5, 6 and 7, 13 episodes each, from April 3, 2010 to May 18, 2013, plus the Christmas specials of 2010, 2011 and 2012. Steven Moffat took over as head writer with series 5. The companions are Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and Rory Williams (Arthur Darvill) from series 5 to 7, with River Song (Alex Kingston) in series 6, Craig Owens (James Corden) in series 6 and Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) from series 7.
"Vincent and the Doctor", the tenth episode of series 5, aired on June 5, 2010. Series 7 ran from September 1, 2012 to May 18, 2013, with a break between its two halves. The era also holds the 50th anniversary special "The Day of the Doctor" on November 23, 2013, in which John Hurt appears as the War Doctor, and the 2013 Christmas special "The Time of the Doctor".
Smith's era is a good fit for viewers who like a long arc built over several series, since the companions and the head writer stay constant for three series.
The Twelfth Doctor: Peter Capaldi (series 8 to 10 and specials, 2014 to 2017)
Capaldi led series 8 (2014), series 9 (2015) and series 10 (2017), with 12 episodes each, plus the Christmas specials of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Clara Oswald (Jenna Coleman) travels with him in series 8 and 9, and Bill Potts (Pearl Mackie) joins in series 10 and the 2017 special, with Nardole (Matt Lucas) from the 2016 special.
Series 9 includes "Heaven Sent" on November 28, 2015 (episode 11) and "Hell Bent" on December 5, 2015 (episode 12). Moffat left the programme after the 2017 finale, and the 2017 Christmas special, "Twice Upon a Time", ends with a regeneration.
The Thirteenth Doctor: Jodie Whittaker (series 11 to 13 and specials, 2018 to 2022)
The BBC announced on July 16, 2017 that Whittaker would be the Thirteenth Doctor, the first woman to take the lead role. She debuted at the end of "Twice Upon a Time" and led series 11 (October 7 to December 9, 2018, ten episodes), series 12 (January 1 to March 1, 2020, ten episodes) and series 13 (October 31 to December 5, 2021, six episodes), plus New Year specials in 2019 and 2021 and three specials in 2022.
Chris Chibnall was showrunner. Her companions are Graham O'Brien (Bradley Walsh), Ryan Sinclair (Tosin Cole) and Yasmin Khan (Mandip Gill), then Dan Lewis (John Bishop) from series 13. Series 12 introduces a past incarnation of the Doctor, the Fugitive Doctor played by Jo Martin, in "Fugitive of the Judoon". Series 13 is a six-episode series titled Flux, which ends with "Survivors of the Flux" on November 28, 2021 and "The Vanquishers" on December 5, 2021. The 2022 specials are "Eve of the Daleks" (January 1), "Legend of the Sea Devils" (April 17) and "The Power of the Doctor" (October 23), the last of which ends her time in the role.
The Fourteenth Doctor: David Tennant returns (2023 specials)
Tennant came back for three 60th anniversary specials, with Russell T Davies returning as showrunner. They are "The Star Beast" on November 25, 2023, "Wild Blue Yonder" on December 2 and "The Giggle" on December 9. Catherine Tate returns as Donna Noble. The final special introduces the next Doctor through what Wikipedia calls a bi-generation.
These three episodes are short enough to watch in an evening. They assume some knowledge of the Tenth Doctor's years, so a viewer who plans to watch both eras should see series 4 first.
The Fifteenth Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa (2023 to 2025)
Gatwa first appeared in "The Giggle" and led the programme from the Christmas special "The Church on Ruby Road" on December 25, 2023. Series 14 ran from May 11 to June 22, 2024 with eight episodes, counting the Christmas special as its opener. A second Christmas special, "Joy to the World", aired on December 25, 2024, and series 15 followed from April 12 to May 31, 2025, also with eight. In all, Wikipedia counts two series, 16 stories and 18 episodes.
Millie Gibson plays Ruby Sunday in series 14 and 15, and Varada Sethu plays Belinda Chandra in series 15. Series 14 includes "Space Babies", "The Devil's Chord", "Boom" (written by Steven Moffat), "73 Yards", "Dot and Bubble", "Rogue" and the two-part finale "The Legend of Ruby Sunday" and "Empire of Death". Series 15 runs from "The Robot Revolution" through "Lux", "The Well", "Lucky Day", "The Story & the Engine" and "The Interstellar Song Contest" to "Wish World" and "The Reality War". The finale ends with a regeneration, and Billie Piper is credited in the final moments. Gatwa said in July 2025 that he left after two series because of the mental and physical toll of the role.
Where Doctor Who stands in 2026
The programme is on hiatus, and no new episode is scheduled. In June 2026, as reported by Inverse on June 10, the planned 2026 Christmas special was cancelled, Russell T Davies stepped down as showrunner again, and the BBC said it would put the series out to competitive tender to find a new producing partner. Davies said that no script had been written and that no actor had been approached to play the next Doctor. The article describes the situation as an indefinite hiatus and states that the show is not officially cancelled.
The BBC's tender sets the timetable. The BBC issued an invitation to tender in September 2026, with a contract expected to be awarded in March 2027 and transmission anticipated in 2028 or 2029. Those dates are the BBC's plan as reported, and they can change. For the series that already exist, the table above remains the reference in this Doctor Who series guide. As of October 24, 2026, no new lead actor has been announced.
Disney+ is not part of the next phase. The Disney+ partnership ended in October 2025, and the episodes released under it, from the 2023 specials to series 15, remain on that service. Wikipedia also reports that since June 2026, the first thirteen series of the revival have been available to stream on AMC+. Availability differs by country and changes often, so a reader should check the service directly.
There are other projects in the meantime. The War Between the Land and the Sea, a spin-off, aired on BBC One in 2025 and is listed to air on Disney+ in 2026. An animated series, Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew, entered production in August 2026, according to Wikipedia, and Screen Rant reported on October 6, 2026 that it is a preschool series of 52 episodes of 11 minutes for CBeebies, scheduled for late 2027 or early 2028. Neither is a replacement for a new live-action series, but they keep the franchise in the schedule while the BBC chooses its partner.
The Doctor Who specials, explained
Specials are part of the story, and a viewer who skips them can miss a regeneration. The revival has 27 specials in Wikipedia's count. They include the Christmas specials of 2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2023 and 2024, plus the 2008 to 2010 specials (five episodes), the 2013 specials (two), New Year specials in 2019 and 2021, the 2022 specials (three) and the 2023 anniversary specials (three).
Several of them end an era. "The End of Time" (December 25, 2009 and January 1, 2010) closes the Tenth Doctor's run. "The Time of the Doctor" (December 25, 2013) closes the Eleventh's. "Twice Upon a Time" (December 25, 2017) closes the Twelfth's, and "The Power of the Doctor" (October 23, 2022) closes the Thirteenth's. Reading this Doctor Who series guide in order keeps those handovers in the right place.
The episodes that matter when time is short
These eight work for a viewer who wants a sample of the revival. Titles, series numbers and dates follow Wikipedia's episode list.
- Series 1, episode 1, "Rose" (March 26, 2005): the first episode of the revival and a self-contained introduction.
- Series 2, episode 4, "The Girl in the Fireplace" (May 6, 2006): a standalone story from the Tenth Doctor's first full series.
- Series 3, episode 10, "Blink" (June 9, 2007): an episode that works with almost no background.
- Series 5, episode 10, "Vincent and the Doctor" (June 5, 2010): a one-off from the Eleventh Doctor's first series.
- 2013 special, "The Day of the Doctor" (November 23, 2013): the 50th anniversary special, with John Hurt as the War Doctor.
- Series 9, episode 11, "Heaven Sent" (November 28, 2015): the Twelfth Doctor in a single-character story, followed by "Hell Bent".
- 2023 special, "The Giggle" (December 9, 2023): the last of the 60th anniversary specials and the Fifteenth Doctor's first appearance.
- Series 14, episode 5, "Dot and Bubble" (June 1, 2024): a Davies-written episode from the Fifteenth Doctor's first series.
Reading on Doctor Who
0 takesRough Cut Review's other pages on the series go deeper into single eras and episodes than this guide does.
Frequently asked questions about Doctor Who
How many series of Doctor Who are there?
There are 15 series in the revival, from 2005 to 2025, plus specials. Wikipedia counts 196 episodes for the revival, of which 169 belong to the regular series and 27 to the specials.
How many Doctors have there been in the revival?
Seven actors have played the lead: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant (twice, as the Tenth and Fourteenth), Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi, Jodie Whittaker and Ncuti Gatwa. John Hurt played the War Doctor in 2013, and Jo Martin played the Fugitive Doctor from series 12.
Who is the current Doctor?
The most recent Doctor is the Fifteenth, played by Ncuti Gatwa, who regenerated at the end of series 15 on May 31, 2025. No actor has been announced as the next Doctor as of October 24, 2026.
Is Doctor Who cancelled?
No. Inverse describes an indefinite hiatus and says the show is not officially cancelled, after the BBC and Russell T Davies dropped the planned 2026 Christmas special. The BBC says it will put the show out to tender for a new production partner.
When will Doctor Who come back?
No date is set. Wikipedia reports that the BBC issued an invitation to tender in September 2026, expects to award a contract in March 2027 and anticipates transmission in 2028 or 2029. Those dates can change.
Is Russell T Davies still the showrunner?
No. Davies returned as showrunner for the 2023 specials and ran the programme through series 15. In June 2026, he stepped down again, as Inverse reported.
Did Disney+ end its Doctor Who partnership?
Yes. Wikipedia says the partnership ended in October 2025. It covered a 26-episode agreement that included Doctor Who and the spin-off The War Between the Land and the Sea. The episodes made under it remain on Disney+.
Where should I start with Doctor Who?
Start with "Rose" from 2005, which introduces the show from a newcomer's point of view. The 2024 series, which Disney+ released as Season 1, is the other entry point. Either way, watch the series in broadcast order.
Do I need to watch the classic series first?
No. The revival begins with "Rose" and introduces the Doctor and the TARDIS from scratch. This guide covers 2005 onward only.
How long is a Doctor Who series?
It varies. Series 1 to 7 each have 13 episodes, series 8 to 10 have 12, series 11 and 12 have 10, series 13 has 6, and series 14 and 15 have 8 each. The Christmas special is counted with series 14 on Wikipedia.
Who was the first female Doctor?
Jodie Whittaker, who was announced as the Thirteenth Doctor on July 16, 2017. She debuted in the 2017 Christmas special "Twice Upon a Time" and led series 11 to 13.
What is the difference between series 14 and Season 1?
They are the same run of episodes. Production and the episode list call it series 14, the fourteenth since 2005. Disney+ and the home releases rebranded it Season 1, as Davies said, to attract new viewers.
What were the 60th anniversary specials?
Three specials in late 2023: "The Star Beast" (November 25), "Wild Blue Yonder" (December 2) and "The Giggle" (December 9). David Tennant returned as the Fourteenth Doctor, with Catherine Tate as Donna Noble.
What happened at the end of series 15?
The Fifteenth Doctor regenerates at the end of "The Reality War" into a figure played by Billie Piper, who was credited as an introduction. Wikipedia calls the regeneration unannounced. No details of the story are given here.
Is there a Doctor Who spin-off?
Yes. The War Between the Land and the Sea aired on BBC One in 2025, and Wikipedia lists a 2026 run on Disney+. An animated preschool series, Doctor Who: TARDIS Crew, is planned for CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in late 2027 or early 2028, according to Screen Rant.