Doctor Who (1963)
The legendary BBC science-fiction series that redefined television storytelling across 26 groundbreaking seasons and 694 unforgettable episodes.
Doctor Who - Series Information
- Original Title: Doctor Who
- First Air Year: 1963
- Last Air Year: 1989
- Created by: C. E. Webber, Donald Wilson et al.
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
- Content Rating (US): TV-PG
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode: 25 minutes
- Number of Seasons: 26
- Number of Episodes: 694
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: November 23, 1963 (United States - TV-PG), November 23, 1963 (Canada - PG), November 23, 1963 (United Kingdom - 12), November 23, 1963 (Germany - 12), November 23, 1963 (France - 12), November 23, 1963 (Australia - PG), November 23, 1963 (Brazil - 12), November 23, 1963 (Spain - 7)
- Networks: BBC One, BBC Television
- Alternative Titles: Doctor Who (1963) (UK), Doctor Who (1963) (DE), Doctor Who: A Série Clássica (BR), Classic Doctor Who (US), Docteur Who (FR), 异世奇人 (CN), Doctor Misterio (MX)
- Production Companies: BBC
- Production Countries: United Kingdom
Doctor Who - Plot
The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which was a common sight in Britain in 1963 when the series first aired. Along with a succession of companions, The Doctor faces a variety of foes while working to save civilizations, help ordinary people, and right many wrongs.
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Doctor Who - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- C. E. Webber
- Donald Wilson
- Verity Lambert
- Sydney Newman
Main Cast
- Tom Baker
- William Hartnell
- Patrick Troughton
- Jon Pertwee
- Nicholas Courtney
- Elisabeth Sladen
- Frazer Hines
- John Leeson
- John Levene
- Jacqueline Hill
Writers
- Terrance Dicks
- Robert Holmes
- Eric Saward
- David Whitaker
- Terry Nation
Executive Producers
- Barry Letts
Doctor Who - FAQs
Where can you stream classic Doctor Who?
Classic Doctor Who (1963) is available to stream on BritBox and BritBox via Amazon Channel. It can also be purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, and Fandango At Home. Select episodes are also available on Pluto TV with ads.
How many actors played The Doctor in the classic series?
The classic Doctor Who series (1963–1989) featured seven actors in the lead role: William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy. Tom Baker’s portrayal, spanning seven seasons, remains the longest and most celebrated run.
What is classic Doctor Who about?
Classic Doctor Who follows The Doctor, a humanoid alien Time Lord who travels through time and space in the TARDIS — a blue British police box. Accompanied by various companions, The Doctor battles iconic villains like the Daleks and Cybermen while defending civilizations across the universe.
When did Doctor Who first air on television?
Doctor Who first aired on November 23, 1963, on BBC One in the United Kingdom. The premiere episode, “An Unearthly Child,” introduced William Hartnell as the First Doctor. The series ran continuously until 1989, spanning 26 seasons and 694 episodes.
How many seasons does classic Doctor Who have?
The classic Doctor Who series ran for 26 seasons from 1963 to 1989, comprising 694 episodes in total. Notable seasons include Season 16 (The Key to Time) and Season 23 (The Trial of a Time Lord). A special season of bonus content is also catalogued separately.
Is Doctor Who (1963) based on a true story?
No, Doctor Who is entirely fictional. The series was conceived by BBC Head of Drama Sydney Newman and producer Verity Lambert as a science-fiction adventure designed to educate and entertain. Its premise — a time-traveling alien exploring history and the cosmos — is wholly original and imaginative.
What is the content rating for Doctor Who (1963)?
Doctor Who (1963) carries a TV-PG rating in the United States, making it suitable for general audiences with parental guidance suggested for younger viewers. The series features mild science-fiction action, some frightening creatures, and occasional peril, but remains broadly family-friendly throughout its run.
Did classic Doctor Who win any notable awards?
Classic Doctor Who earned significant cultural recognition, receiving BAFTA nominations and winning a special BAFTA award for its contribution to British television. The series is widely credited with establishing science fiction as a mainstream genre on British television and has been inducted into the BAFTA Hall of Fame.
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