List of Doctor Who episodes (1963–1989)#Fourth Doctor

{{About|the 1963–1989 episodes and 1996 film|the episodes starting from 2005|List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present){{!}}List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)}}

Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. Doctor Who ceased production in 1989 after 695 episodes. A one-off TV movie was produced in the United States in 1996, before the series resumed in 2005. The original series (1963–1989), generally consists of multi-episode serials; in the early seasons, and occasionally through its run, serials tend to link together, one story leading directly into the next. The 2005 revival trades the earlier serial format for a run of self-contained episodes, interspersed with occasional multi-part stories and structured into loose story arcs.

{{#lst:List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)|AiredEpisodes}} This includes one television movie and multiple specials, and encompasses {{DW episode count|story}} stories over 40 seasons, starting in 1963. Additionally, four charity specials and two animated serials have also been aired. The programme's high episode count has resulted in Doctor Who holding the world record for the highest number of episodes of a science-fiction programme.{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5390372.stm |title=Dr Who 'longest-running sci-fi' |date= 28 September 2006| access-date= 15 December 2007|publisher= BBC News}}

For the first two seasons of Doctor Who and most of the third (1963–1966), each episode carries its own title; the show displays no titles for overarching serials until The Savages, at which point the episodic titles cease. The titles below, for these early serials, are those in most common circulation, used for commercial releases and in resources such as the Doctor Who Reference Guide and the BBC's classic episode guide. With the show's revival in 2005, the programme returned to individual episode titles.

Due to the BBC's 1970s junking policy, 97 episodes of Doctor Who from the 1960s are no longer known to exist. As a result, 26 serials are currently incomplete, with one or more episodes represented only by audio, which in many cases is in addition to clips or still frames. For commercial release, some episodes have been reconstructed using off-air audio recordings, paired to surviving visuals or newly commissioned animation.

The story numbers below are meant as a guide to placement in the overall context of the programme.{{cite web |url=https://www.doctorwho.tv/stories |title=Stories – Doctor Who |website=DoctorWho.TV |access-date=3 May 2025 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220128222649/https://www.doctorwho.tv/stories |archive-date=28 January 2022}} There is some dispute, for instance, about whether to count Season 23's The Trial of a Time Lord as one or as four serials,{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/trialtimelord1/detail.shtml|title=The Trial of a Time Lord: 1–4 : Details|access-date=27 October 2007|last1=Howe|first1=David J.|author1-link=David J. Howe|last2=Walker|first2=Stephen James|author2-link=Stephen James Walker|orig-year=1998|year=2003|work=Doctor Who: The Television Companion|publisher=BBC|type=Doctor Who website|archive-date=13 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213190140/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/trialtimelord1/detail.shtml|url-status=live}} and whether the unfinished serial Shada should be included. The numbering scheme in this list follows the official website's episode guide. Other sources, such as the Region 1 classic Doctor Who DVD releases, use different numbering schemes, which diverge after the 108th story, The Horns of Nimon (1979–1980).

Series overview

{{transcluded section|List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)|Series overview}}

{{trim|{{#section-h:List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)|Series overview}}}}

Episodes

= First Doctor =

The first incarnation of the Doctor was portrayed by William Hartnell. During Hartnell's tenure, the episodes were a mixture of stories set on Earth of the future with extraterrestrial influence, on alien planets, and in historical events without extraterrestrial influence, such as Marco Polo, one of the lost serials. In his last story, The Tenth Planet, the Doctor gradually grew weaker to the point of collapsing at the end of the fourth episode, leading to his regeneration.

== Season 1 (1963–1964) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 1{{!}}Doctor Who season 1}}

== Season 2 (1964–1965) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 2{{!}}Doctor Who season 2}}

This season saw the departure of Carole Ann Ford as Susan Foreman in The Dalek Invasion of Earth, replaced by Maureen O'Brien as Vicki in The Rescue. William Russell and Jacqueline Hill also departed their roles as Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, respectively, in The Chase, replaced by Peter Purves as Steven Taylor.

== Season 3 (1965–1966) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 3{{!}}Doctor Who season 3}}

O'Brien departed the role of Vicki in The Myth Makers, replaced by Adrienne Hill as Katarina, and then later by Jackie Lane as Dodo Chaplet. The Savages marked the final appearance of Steven, and The War Machines introduced companions Ben and Polly. The practice of giving each individual episode a different title was abandoned after The Gunfighters, near the end of the season.

== Season 4 (1966–1967) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 4{{!}}Doctor Who season 4}}

The Smugglers and The Tenth Planet were the last serials to star the First Doctor, his regeneration to the Second occurring in the latter. It is also notable as the season with the most missing episodes, with not one serial existing in its entirety.

= Second Doctor =

The Second Doctor was portrayed by Patrick Troughton, whose serials were more action-oriented than those of his predecessor. Additionally, after The Highlanders, stories moved away from the purely historical ones that featured during Hartnell's tenure; instead, any historical tales also included a science fiction element. Troughton retained the role until the last episode of The War Games when members of the Doctor's race, the Time Lords, put him on trial for breaking the laws of time. The Doctor was forced to regenerate and thereafter exiled on Earth.

== Season 4 (1966–1967) continued ==

This season introduced companions Jamie McCrimmon (Frazer Hines) and Victoria Waterfield (Deborah Watling), in The Highlanders and The Evil of the Daleks, respectively. Ben and Polly departed in The Faceless Ones.

== Season 5 (1967–1968) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 5{{!}}Doctor Who season 5}}

This season saw the departure of Watling as Victoria, and the debut appearances of Wendy Padbury and Nicholas Courtney as Zoe and Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, respectively.

== Season 6 (1968–1969) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 6{{!}}Doctor Who season 6}}

Hines and Padbury both departed in The War Games, alongside Troughton. It was the show's last season to be filmed in black and white.

= Third Doctor =

The Third Doctor was portrayed by Jon Pertwee. Sentenced to exile on Earth and forcibly regenerated at the end of The War Games, the Doctor spent his time working for UNIT (United Nations Intelligence Taskforce). After The Three Doctors, the Time Lords repealed his exile; nevertheless, the Doctor still worked closely with UNIT from time to time. The Third Doctor regenerated into his fourth incarnation as a result of radiation poisoning in the last moments of Planet of the Spiders.

== Season 7 (1970) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 7{{!}}Doctor Who season 7}}

From this season onwards the programme was produced in colour. To accommodate the new production methods the number of episodes in a season was cut: season 6 has 44 episodes; season 7 has 25 episodes. The seasons continued to have between 20 and 28 episodes until season 22. This season featured companion Liz Shaw played by Caroline John.

== Season 8 (1971) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 8{{!}}Doctor Who season 8}}

This season forms a loose arc with the introduction of the Master, the villain in each of the season's storylines, and introduces the companion Jo Grant portrayed by Katy Manning.

== Season 9 (1972) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 9{{!}}Doctor Who season 9}}

== Season 10 (1972–1973) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 10{{!}}Doctor Who season 10}}

This season marked the final appearance of companion Jo Grant and the end of the Doctor's exile on Earth.

== Season 11 (1973–1974) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 11{{!}}Doctor Who season 11}}

This season introduces the companion Sarah Jane Smith portrayed by Elisabeth Sladen.

= Fourth Doctor =

The Fourth Doctor was portrayed by Tom Baker. He is, to date, the actor who has played the Doctor on television for the longest period of time,{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2004/08/12/13629.shtml | title = Tom Baker | date = 12 August 2004 | access-date =23 April 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229115133/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2004/08/12/13629.shtml | archive-date=29 December 2008 | publisher=BBC Doctor Who website}} having held the role for seven seasons.

== Season 12 (1974–1975) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 12{{!}}Doctor Who season 12}}

All serials in this season continue directly one after the other, tracing one single problematic voyage of the TARDIS crew. Despite the continuity, each serial is considered its own standalone story. This season also introduced the character of Harry Sullivan portrayed by Ian Marter as a companion; this character was intended to undertake action scenes, during the period prior to Tom Baker being cast, when it was unclear how old the actor playing the new Doctor would be.

== Season 13 (1975–1976) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 13{{!}}Doctor Who season 13}}

During this season, Ian Marter (Harry Sullivan) left after Terror of the Zygons, but returned for a guest appearance in The Android Invasion. Terror of the Zygons also saw the last semi-regular appearance of Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart) who did not return until Season 20 in Mawdryn Undead.

== Season 14 (1976–1977) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 14{{!}}Doctor Who season 14}}

Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith) left the series this season in The Hand of Fear and was replaced by Louise Jameson (Leela) in The Face of Evil . The season also saw the first story in which the Doctor did not have a companion, The Deadly Assassin.

== Season 15 (1977–1978) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 15{{!}}Doctor Who season 15}}

This season saw the final appearance of Leela and the first appearance of K9 as voiced by John Leeson.

== Season 16 (1978–1979) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 16{{!}}Doctor Who season 16}}

Season 16 consists of one long story arc encompassing six separate, linked stories. This season is referred to by the umbrella title The Key to Time and has been released on DVD under this title. This season introduced Mary Tamm as Romana I.

== Season 17 (1979–1980) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 17{{!}}Doctor Who season 17}}

During this season, the role of Romana was taken over by Lalla Ward.

== Season 18 (1980–1981) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 18{{!}}Doctor Who season 18}}

In a return to the format of early seasons, virtually all serials from Seasons 18 through 20 are linked together, often running directly into each other. Season 18 forms a loose story arc dealing with the theme of entropy. Full Circle, State of Decay, and Warriors' Gate trace the Doctor's adventures in E-Space; they were released in both VHS and DVD boxsets with the umbrella title The E-Space Trilogy. This season saw the departure of Romana and the introduction of companions Adric and Nyssa, and soon-to-be companion, Tegan Jovanka.

= Fifth Doctor =

The Fifth Doctor was portrayed by Peter Davison.

== Season 19 (1982) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 19{{!}}Doctor Who season 19}}

The show moved from its traditional once-weekly Saturday broadcast to being broadcast twice-weekly primarily on Monday and Tuesday,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/changingwho/10320.shtml|title=The Changing Face of Doctor Who – Audience Research Report on 'Doctor Who' for 1982|publisher=BBC|access-date=23 December 2019|archive-date=20 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520183858/http://www.bbc.co.uk/archive/changingwho/10320.shtml|url-status=live}} although there were regional variations to the schedule. Castrovalva, together with the previous two serials, The Keeper of Traken and Logopolis, form a trilogy involving the return of the Master. They were released on DVD under the banner title New Beginnings. The season marked the final appearance of Adric.

== Season 20 (1983) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 20{{!}}Doctor Who season 20}}

To commemorate the twentieth season, the stories in this season involve the return of previous villains: Omega, the Mara, the Black Guardian and the Master. Mawdryn Undead, Terminus and Enlightenment involve the Black Guardian's plot to force the Doctor's new companion Vislor Turlough to kill the Doctor; they were released individually on VHS and as a set on DVD as parts of The Black Guardian Trilogy. This season was broadcast twice weekly on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings on BBC1. This was the last season to feature Nyssa as a companion.

== Season 21 (1984) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 21{{!}}Doctor Who season 21}}

Episodes were broadcast twice weekly on Thursday and Friday evenings, with Resurrection of the Daleks broadcast on two consecutive Wednesday nights in 45-minute, rather than 25-minute, parts. The Caves of Androzani saw the regeneration of the Fifth Doctor, and the season finale The Twin Dilemma was the first story of the Sixth Doctor. The season marked the departure of Tegan Jovanka and Vislor Turlough, as well as the introduction of Nicola Bryant as Peri Brown.

= Sixth Doctor =

The Sixth Doctor was portrayed by Colin Baker.

== Season 21 (1984) continued ==

== Season 22 (1985) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 22{{!}}Doctor Who season 22}}

The series moved back to once-weekly Saturday broadcasts. All episodes were 45 minutes long, though 25-minute edits were produced for foreign markets. Although there were now only 13 episodes in the season, the total running time remained approximately the same as in previous seasons since the episodes were almost twice as long.

== Season 23 (1986) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 23{{!}}Doctor Who season 23}}

The whole season is titled as The Trial of a Time Lord, and is split into four segments. The segments are commonly referred to by their respective novelisation's titles{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_sixth.shtml |title=Doctor Who – Classic Series – Episode Guide – Sixth Doctor Index |publisher=BBC |access-date=18 May 2011 |archive-date=10 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510021800/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/index_sixth.shtml |url-status=live }} (listed below) but the season was broadcast as one fourteen-part story and these titles did not appear on screen. Episode length returned to 25 minutes, but with only fourteen episodes in the season, making the total running time of this season (and subsequent seasons) just over half of the previous seasons, going back to season 7. The season saw the departure of Peri and the introduction of Bonnie Langford as companion Mel Bush.

= Seventh Doctor =

The Seventh Doctor was portrayed by Sylvester McCoy.

== Season 24 (1987) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 24{{!}}Doctor Who season 24}}

This season was moved to a Monday schedule. Mel Bush left in Dragonfire with recurring character Sabalom Glitz (Tony Selby), and the companion role was taken over by Sophie Aldred as Ace.

== Season 25 (1988–1989) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 25{{!}}Doctor Who season 25}}

The series was moved to Wednesdays. The programme celebrated its 25th anniversary with the serial story Silver Nemesis.

== Season 26 (1989) ==

{{Main|Doctor Who season 26{{!}}Doctor Who season 26}}

The final season continued to push the series towards a darker approach, focusing this time more on Ace's personal life as well as The Doctor's past and manipulations. This season set the tone for the Virgin New Adventures novels that followed.

= Eighth Doctor =

The Eighth Doctor was portrayed by Paul McGann. The movie is the only television appearance of this Doctor during his tenure. The only production title held by this story was Doctor Who. The DVD release is titled Doctor Who: The Movie. In 2013, Paul McGann returned for the second television appearance of the Eighth Doctor in the minisode titled "The Night of the Doctor".{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who TV movie writer to return for new Paul McGann story |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-movie-writer-paul-mcgann-newsupdate/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title='Doctor Who': Every former Doctor return appearance, ranked |url=https://ew.com/gallery/doctor-who-returning-doctors/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=EW.com |language=en}} The production code is 50/LDX071Y/01X,{{cite book | last1 = Segal | first1 = Philip | author1-link = Philip Segal | last2=Russell | first2 = Gary |author2-link =Gary Russell | title = Doctor Who: Regeneration | year = 2000 | publisher= Harper Collins Entertainment | isbn = 0-00-710591-6}} though Doctor Who Magazine{{'}}s "Complete Eighth Doctor Special" gives the code as #83705{{Cite news | date= 3 September 2003 | title= The DWM Archive: Doctor Who (1996) – In Production | periodical= Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition | issue= 5 | page= 69 | issn = 0957-9818}} and the BBC's online episode guide as "TVM".{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070224025800/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/tvmovie/detail.shtml |archive-date=24 February 2007 | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/tvmovie/detail.shtml | title = The TV Movie: Details | access-date =26 July 2007 | last1 = Howe | first1 = David J. | author1-link = David J. Howe | last2=Walker | first2 = Stephen James |author2-link =Stephen James Walker | work= Doctor Who: The Television Companion |publisher=BBC | type = Doctor Who website}}

== Television film (1996) ==

References

=Notes=

=Citations=

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite book |last=Lofficier |first=Jean-Marc |title=The Doctor Who Programme Guide |publisher=Target Books |year=1989 |isbn=0-426-20342-9 |pages=11–16 }}

{{cite book |last1=Segal |first1=Philip |author-link1=Philip Segal |first2=Gary |last2=Russell |author-link2=Gary Russell |title=Doctor Who:Regeneration |year=2000 |publisher=HarperCollins |location=London |isbn=0-00-710591-6}}

{{cite journal |editor-last=Ainsworth |editor-first=John |year=2015 |title=100,000 BC and The Mutants (aka The Daleks) |journal=Doctor Who: The Complete History |publisher=Panini Comics, Hachette Partworks |location=London |volume=1 |issue=4 |issn=2057-6048 |pages=95, 159 }}

{{cite journal |editor-last=Ainsworth |editor-first=John |year=2016 |title=Inside the Spaceship, Marco Polo, The Keys of Marinus and The Aztecs |journal=Doctor Who: The Complete History |publisher=Panini Comics, Hachette Partworks |location=London |volume=2 |issue=32 |issn=2057-6048|pages=28, 78, 120, 150 }}

{{cite journal |editor-last=Wright |editor-first=Mark |year=2016 |title=The Sensorites, The Reign of Terror and Planet of Giants |journal=Doctor Who: The Complete History |publisher=Panini Comics, Hachette Partworks |location=London |volume=3 |issue=21 |issn=2057-6048 |pages=37, 79, 125}}

{{cite journal |editor-last=Wright |editor-first=Mark |year=2017 |title=The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Rescue, The Romans and The Web Planet |journal=Doctor Who: The Complete History |publisher=Panini Comics, Hachette Partworks |location=London |volume=4 |issue=61 |issn=2057-6048 |pages=44, 75, 103, 142 }}

{{cite journal |editor-last=Ainsworth |editor-first=John |year=2016 |title=The Crusade, The Space Museum, The Chase and The Time Meddler |journal=Doctor Who: The Complete History |publisher=Panini Comics, Hachette Partworks |location=London |volume=5 |issue=11 |issn=2057-6048 |pages=27, 57, 107, 143 }}

}}

=Sources=

{{Cite magazine |last1=Marson |first1=Richard |last2=Russell |first2=Gary |author-link2=Gary Russell |date=January 1985 |title=We Preview the 1985 Series of Britain's Top Fantasy Show |issue=96 |magazine=Doctor Who Magazine |publisher=Marvel UK}}

=General websites=

{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/|title=Episode Guide|work=Doctor Who Classic series|publisher=BBC|access-date=23 December 2019|archive-date=14 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014000912/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/|url-status=live}}
{{cite web |url=http://gallifreyone.com/guides-canon.php |title=The Canon Keeper's Guide to Doctor Who |author=Shaun Lyon, David Hancock |publisher=Outpost Gallifrey |display-authors=etal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708131447/http://gallifreyone.com/guides-canon.php |archive-date=8 July 2009 }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/epguide.php |title=Doctor Who episode guide |author=Shaun Lyon |publisher=Outpost Gallifrey |display-authors=etal |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708045441/http://www.gallifreyone.com/epguide.php |archive-date=8 July 2009 }}
{{cite web |url=http://www.drwhoguide.com/ |title=Doctor Who reference guide |first=Dominique |last=Boies |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205221954/http://drwhoguide.com/ |archive-date=5 February 2015 }}

External links

[https://web.archive.org/web/20141014000912/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/ BBC Episode Guide (1963–1996)] (archived)
[https://web.archive.org/web/20221129042542/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006q2x0/episodes/guide BBC Episode Guide (1963–2022)] (archived)
[https://www.doctorwho.tv/stories DoctorWho.TV story guide]
Doctor Who at IMDb: [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056751/ 1963], [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116118/ 1996], [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436992/ 2005], [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31433814/ 2023]

Category:Lists of British science fiction television series episodes

Category:Doctor Who serials

Category:Doctor Who series

1963-1996

Doctor Who, 1963-1996

List of Doctor Who episodes (1963–1989)#Fourth Doctor

Series overview

Episodes

= First Doctor =

== Season 1 (1963–1964) <span class="anchor" id="Season 1 (1963–64)"></span> ==

== Season 2 (1964–1965) <span class="anchor" id="Season 2 (1964–65)"></span> ==

== Season 3 (1965–1966) <span class="anchor" id="Season 3 (1965–66)"></span> ==

== Season 4 (1966–1967) <span class="anchor" id="Season 4 (1966–67)"></span> ==

= Second Doctor =

== Season 4 (1966–1967) continued<span class="anchor" id="Season 4 (1966–67) continued"></span> ==

== Season 5 (1967–1968) <span class="anchor" id="Season 5 (1967–68)"></span> ==

== Season 6 (1968–1969) <span class="anchor" id="Season 6 (1968–69)"></span> ==

= Third Doctor =

== Season 7 (1970) ==

== Season 8 (1971) ==

== Season 9 (1972) ==

== Season 10 (1972–1973) <span class="anchor" id="Season 10 (1972–73)"></span> ==

== Season 11 (1973–1974) <span class="anchor" id="Season 11 (1973–74)"></span> ==

= Fourth Doctor =

== Season 12 (1974–1975) <span class="anchor" id="Season 12 (1974–75)"></span> ==

== Season 13 (1975–1976) <span class="anchor" id="Season 13 (1975–76)"></span> ==

== Season 14 (1976–1977) <span class="anchor" id="Season 14 (1976–77)"></span> ==

== Season 15 (1977–1978) <span class="anchor" id="Season 15 (1977–78)"></span> ==

== Season 16 (1978–1979) <span class="anchor" id="Season 16 (1978–79)"></span> ==

== Season 17 (1979–1980) <span class="anchor" id="Season 17 (1979–80)"></span> ==

== Season 18 (1980–1981) <span class="anchor" id="Season 18 (1980–81)"></span> ==