Doctor Who celebrates 60 year anniversary by releasing 800 episodes online

Doctor Who
(Image credit: BBC)

Doctor Who is celebrating 60 years by releasing over 800 episodes on BBC iPlayer.

The sci-fi fantasy show first premiered in 1963 and has cemented itself as a permanent fixture in pop culture history. This fall, fans will be able to stream the entire 800-plus episode series along with spin-offs like Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood, and Class, and the behind-the-scenes series Doctor Who Confidential.

Each episode will be made accessible for all Whovians, with subtitles, audio description, and sign language options available for the very first time.

The BBC will also release an extensive online archive that includes cast interviews, written documents, unheard audio, and behind-the-scenes photos.

"I’d like to thank the BBC for all the hard work, to get this massive back catalogue under one roof, at long last," showrunner Russell T. Davies said in a statement. "I'm so excited for new viewers – imagine being 8 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!"

BBC iPlayer’s catalog and online archive will launch simultaneously on November 1 before David Tennant makes his triumphant return as the Fourteenth Doctor for three special 60th-anniversary episodes. Ncuti Gatwa will take over as the Fifteenth Doctor for what we hope is a multiple-season tenure. Tennant's episodes will take place during the 'festive period,' while season 14 will premiere in 2024.

For more, check out our list of the best new TV shows coming your way in 2023 and beyond.

Lauren Milici
Senior Writer, Tv & Film

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ currently based in the Midwest. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

Read more
Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor in Doctor Who
Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa reflects on the one year anniversary of his debut as the Doctor admitting "I didn't quite realize the magnitude of what I was taking on"
Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who
Doctor Who season 2 release date appears to have been announced via an online advert - and it’s sooner than expected
Doctor Who
Doctor Who season 2: Release date, cast, and everything we know about Ncuti Gatwa’s next season
Doctor Who season 2
Doctor Who season 2 reveals release date that's very soon after leak – and announces an X-Men guest star
Anita Dobson as Mrs. Flood in Doctor Who
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies teases season 2's "scariest episode" and a "big surprise" from the mysterious Mrs Flood
Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Nicola Coughlan as Joy in Doctor Who Christmas special Joy to the World
Doctor Who 2024 Christmas special review: "Ncuti Gatwa is as magnetic as ever in this delightful festive treat"
Latest in Sci-Fi Shows
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy calls Cassian “Star Wars Jesus” ahead of the show’s return on Disney Plus
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy breaks silence on the weird release schedule: "It's a Disney decision"
Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us
The Last of Us is "better" than 28 Days Later, says movie writer Alex Garland: "This is so much more sophisticated and moving"
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner talks the much-anticipated Star Wars moment that we haven't seen on screen before: "It's a very significant part of our show"
Fallout
Fallout season 2’s dazzling and dystopian New Vegas is coming to life in a new leaked video
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
The first three episodes of the best Star Wars show are now available to watch for free ahead of the Andor season 2 premiere
Latest in News
Rise of the Ronin's photo mode offers some wonderful shots
On the heels of Rise of the Ronin's PC launch, its director says there's a "significant" amount of Japanese Switch gamers: "I am closely watching how this will change with the release of Switch 2"
Stardew Valley Castle Village mod
Stardew Valley Expanded creator is building an "even more ambitious" mod with a whole new city and "dungeons inspired by The Legend of Zelda"
Dino Crisis 2 art showing a young woman and man back-to-back amid tall green grass, both with their weapons drawn
Dino Crisis gets a fresh trademark filing by Capcom, but it might not mean the 26-year-old survival horror franchise will get a new installment like fans expect
Cujo
Netflix is making a brand new adaptation of Cujo, the infamous Stephen King book about a killer dog
Dragon Age 2
Veteran Dragon Age dev says one big delay is better than several small ones: "You are laying band-aid on top of band-aid on top of band-aid"
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Dark Souls 2 fans remind Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima that he won’t be taking the DS2 acronym that easily