How to watch Doctor Who online
Here's how to catch up with the legendary sci-fi series.
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As we get ever closer to Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary on 23rd November 2023, and the three specials which will follow it, a big new addition has been made to BBC iPlayer for the show’s fans.
In a huge move, the BBC has dramatically increased its library of Doctor Who content on iPlayer, adding most of the show’s classic stories. This means there are now over 800 episodes available to watch.
Not only that, but there are also a whole host of spin-off available on the platform, making up what Russell T Davies is now officially dubbing the Whoniverse.
In a statement, Davies previously said: “I’d like to thank the BBC for all the hard work to get this massive back catalogue under one roof, at long last.
“I’m so excited for new viewers – imagine being eight years old, spending winter afternoons exploring the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s and beyond. And we’re determined this won’t be a dusty museum – we have exciting plans to bring the back catalogue to life, with much more to be revealed!”
Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch Doctor Who online.
How can I watch Doctor Who on iPlayer?
While all 13 seasons of modern Doctor Who have been available on BBC iPlayer for some time, as of 1st November 2023 they have now been joined by a whole host of additional episodes from the classic series and the 1996 TV film.
While not quite every episode is available, there are more than 800 episodes of Doctor Who in total for fans to dive into – making for a substantial binge watch to celebrate the show’s 60th anniversary. You can find the full library here.
What new accessibility options are there?
All the episodes of Doctor Who that are available on BBC iPlayer now have the following accessibility options:
- Subtitles
- Audio Description
- Sign Language
Which other Whoniverse series are available on iPlayer?
As well as the classic and revival series of Doctor Who, there are also a host of spin-offs and additional material related to the show available on BBC iPlayer, under its new Whoniverse banner.
This includes Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Class and many more, including the newly released Tales of the Tardis.
Here’s a full list of the additional Whoniverse programmes available now:
- Tales of the Tardis
- K9 & Company: A Girl’s Best Friend
- Doctor Who: Dreamland
- Doctor Who: The Infinite Quest
- The Sarah Jane Adventures
- Torchwood
- Class
- Delia Derbyshire: The Myths and the Legendary Tapes
- The Science of Doctor Who
- Doctor Who at the Proms
- Whose Doctor Who
Where else can I watch Doctor Who?
As well as iPlayer, there are also other platforms online where viewers can watch Doctor Who. Fans can of course purchase both downloads and physical media of the episodes through sites such as Amazon Prime.
Meanwhile, Britbox also has episodes of classic Doctor Who in its archive of content – you can sign up for a 7-day free BritBox trial here.
Meanwhile viewers in the US can stream previous instalments of Doctor Who on Max, while upcoming episodes will stream exclusively on Disney Plus.
Where can I watch The Unearthly Child?
As was reported in October 2023, An Unearthly Child, the first Doctor Who serial, is not available to stream on BBC iPlayer due to a right issue.
You can find out more about how to watch An Unearthly Child right here.
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