Tuesday, November 3, 2026
News Demo
Season 1

Doctor Who

Season 1

  • 1963

The season introduces William Hartnell as the First Doctor, an alien who travels through time and space in his TARDIS, which appears to be a British police box on the outside. Carole Ann Ford is also introduced as the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan Foreman, who acts as his companion alongside her schoolteachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, portrayed by William Russell and Jacqueline Hill, respectively. Throughout the season, the Doctor and his companions travel throughout history and into the future. Historical stories were intended to educate viewers about significant events in history, such as the Aztec civilisation and the French Revolution; futuristic episodes took a more subtle approach to educating viewers, such as the theme of pacifism with the Daleks.

  1. An Unearthly Child Episode 1 An Unearthly Child November 23, 1963, 23 min After discussing a strange pupil, Susan Foreman, teachers Ian and Barbara follow her to a junkyard. They meet her grandfather, the Doctor, and force their way inside a police box…
  2. The Cave of Skulls Episode 2 The Cave of Skulls November 30, 1963, 25 min The enigmatic Doctor, wary that Ian and Barbara will reveal his secrets to the people of 20th-century Earth, takes them and his granddaughter Susan back to the dawn of human…
  3. The Forest of Fear Episode 3 The Forest of Fear December 7, 1963, 24 min Prisoners of the earliest humans, the TARDIS crew are caught in a deadly power play for leadership of the tribe.
  4. The Firemaker Episode 4 The Firemaker December 14, 1963, 24 min The TARDIS crew must make fire for the early humans to stay alive. But once they do, they may not be allowed to leave!
  5. The Dead Planet Episode 5 The Dead Planet December 21, 1963, 25 min Time Unknown, Planet Unknown. The TARDIS lands in an eerie petrified forest overlooking a magnificent steel city. The Doctor wants to explore the city – but what's waiting there?
  6. The Survivors Episode 6 The Survivors December 28, 1963, 25 min The dead planet is not uninhabited after all. The Doctor is about to meet what will become his greatest enemies... And he and his crew are dying of radiation sickness.
  7. The Escape Episode 7 The Escape January 4, 1964, 26 min Imprisoned on Skaro by the scheming Daleks, the Doctor and his companions work to escape their clutches.
  8. The Ambush Episode 8 The Ambush January 11, 1964, 25 min The time travellers work desperately to both escape the Dalek city and prevent a bloody massacre.
  9. The Expedition Episode 9 The Expedition January 18, 1964, 25 min The time travellers have escaped from the Daleks, but left a vital piece of the TARDIS behind. Getting it back will mean pushing the Thals to mount a dangerous operation.
  10. The Ordeal Episode 10 The Ordeal January 25, 1964, 27 min Ian, Barbara and the Thals struggle through the caves to reach the Dalek city. Will they get there in time? Is there even a way through the treacherous caves? And…
  11. The Rescue Episode 11 The Rescue February 1, 1964, 23 min Time is running out as the Doctor and his companions try to defeat the Daleks before they wipe out all life on Skaro.
  12. The Edge of Destruction Episode 12 The Edge of Destruction February 8, 1964, 25 min A mysterious explosion has knocked the TARDIS into void. And in their confusion, the crew are turning on one another.
  13. The Brink of Disaster Episode 13 The Brink of Disaster February 15, 1964, 23 min The TARDIS is adrift, the crew turning on each other. Only by working together can they find their way out before they are destroyed.
  14. The Roof of the World Episode 14 The Roof of the World February 22, 1964, 24 min The TARDIS experiences a total power failure and is stranded in the Himalayas in the 13th century. The travellers are forced to join the caravan of the famous explorer, Marco…
  15. The Singing Sands Episode 15 The Singing Sands February 29, 1964, 27 min Tegana sabotages the party's water bags, leaving them in dire need of fresh supplies.
  16. Five Hundred Eyes Episode 16 Five Hundred Eyes March 7, 1964, 23 min The Doctor and Susan are able to supply Marco with condensation that has formed inside the TARDIS, saving the group from dying of thirst. When the group are reunited with…
  17. The Wall of Lies Episode 17 The Wall of Lies March 14, 1964, 25 min The Doctor's group manage to rescue Barbara from the Mongols but once more Marco remains unaware of Tegana's involvement.
  18. Rider from Shang Tu Episode 18 Rider from Shang Tu March 21, 1964, 23 min The Doctor and his friends elect to warn Marco of Acomat's attack even though it means losing their chance to gain access to the TARDIS.
  19. Mighty Kublai Khan Episode 19 Mighty Kublai Khan March 28, 1964, 25 min The Doctor, Ian and Barbara are forced to surrender to Tegana and Marco, leaving both of them the opportunity to gain possession of the TARDIS.
  20. Assassin at Peking Episode 20 Assassin at Peking April 4, 1964, 25 min Tegana finally makes his move to assassinate the Khan, giving the Doctor and his friends an opportunity to thwart his plans and regain the TARDIS.
  21. The Sea of Death Episode 21 The Sea of Death April 11, 1964, 24 min The alien world of Marinus. Perfect peace has reigned here for decades due to the mind-controlling influence of a machine known as the Conscience. But now a race known as…
  22. The Velvet Web Episode 22 The Velvet Web April 18, 1964, 26 min The Doctor and his friends arrive in the apparently idyllic city of Morphoton but Barbara soon begins to realise there is more to their hosts than meets the eye.
  23. The Screaming Jungle Episode 23 The Screaming Jungle April 25, 1964, 24 min The search for the second key takes the travellers to a jungle where Ian and Barbara come under threat from rapidly growing plants.
  24. The Snows of Terror Episode 24 The Snows of Terror May 2, 1964, 25 min Searching for the third key, Ian and Barbara meet with the sinister trapper Vasor before following Susan and the others into a cave system guarded by the mysterious Ice Soldiers.
  25. Sentence of Death Episode 25 Sentence of Death May 9, 1964, 26 min The group are reunited with the Doctor in the city of Millennius where Ian faces trial for murder after the fourth key is stolen.
  26. The Keys of Marinus Episode 26 The Keys of Marinus May 16, 1964, 26 min The Doctor and his friends must locate the real murderers and the fourth key before heading off for a final confrontation with the Voord
  27. The Temple of Evil Episode 27 The Temple of Evil May 23, 1964, 24 min The TARDIS arrives on Earth landing in 16th century Aztec society. Barbara goes off exploring - despite the Doctor's orders not to wander off - and is taken away by…
  28. The Warriors of Death Episode 28 The Warriors of Death May 30, 1964, 25 min Barbara tries to change the course of history - and Ian fights for his life.
  29. The Bride of Sacrifice Episode 29 The Bride of Sacrifice June 6, 1964, 26 min While the Doctor tries to find a way back to the TARDIS, Tlotoxl continues to plot Barbara's downfall and sees an opening when Susan questions Aztec custom.
  30. The Day of Darkness Episode 30 The Day of Darkness June 13, 1964, 26 min Tlotoxl's machinations result in both Susan and Ian being arrested. With the TARDIS once again trapped inside the tomb, the travellers' only hope for escape lies with Autloc and Cameca.
  31. Strangers in Space Episode 31 Strangers in Space June 20, 1964, 25 min The 28th century. The TARDIS materialises on a spaceship orbiting a planet known as the Sense-Sphere, whose natives, the Sensorites, have trapped the ship's human crew in a state of…
  32. The Unwilling Warriors Episode 32 The Unwilling Warriors June 27, 1964, 25 min The Doctor and his companions are on board an Earth ship trapped in orbit around the Sense-Sphere when it is boarded by the Sensorites, who steal the lock mechanism from…
  33. Hidden Danger Episode 33 Hidden Danger July 11, 1964, 25 min The Doctor and his companions are escorted to the Sense-Sphere where they attempt to negotiate with the Sensorites for the release of the TARDIS.
  34. A Race Against Death Episode 34 A Race Against Death July 18, 1964, 25 min With Ian having fallen victim to the Sensorites' plague, the Doctor is desperate to find a cure. But the City Administrator is still determined to rid his world of aliens.
  35. Kidnap Episode 35 Kidnap July 25, 1964, 26 min The City Administrator is determined to destroy the Doctor and his friends and his paranoia prevents the Doctor's cure from being distributed.
  36. A Desperate Venture Episode 36 A Desperate Venture August 1, 1964, 25 min While the City Administrator's schemes reach their climax, the Doctor and Ian venture into the tunnels under the city to discover the real cause of the Sensorite plague.
  37. A Land of Fear Episode 37 A Land of Fear August 8, 1964, 25 min The TARDIS lands during the French Revolution, where Ian, Barbara, and Susan become caught up in the politics of the day. When they are arrested and set to be executed,…
  38. Guests of Madame Guillotine Episode 38 Guests of Madame Guillotine August 15, 1964, 25 min Susan, Ian and Barbara are sentenced to be guillotined but an encounter with a dying English prisoner may offer Ian a chance of survival.
  39. A Change of Identity Episode 39 A Change of Identity August 22, 1964, 26 min Susan and Barbara are rescued by Jules and Jean, two members of the escape chain, while the Doctor gains access to the prison by posing as a revolution official.
  40. The Tyrant of France Episode 40 The Tyrant of France August 29, 1964, 25 min The Doctor is forced into a meeting with Robespierre while Barbara's attempts to find a physician for Susan result in them being betrayed.
  41. A Bargain of Necessity Episode 41 A Bargain of Necessity September 5, 1964, 24 min Ian finds himself held prisoner by the treacherous Leon while the Doctor attempts to engineer Susan and Barbara's escape.
  42. Prisoners of Conciergerie Episode 42 Prisoners of Conciergerie September 12, 1964, 26 min Ian finally delivers his message to James Stirling but in order to secure Susan's release he and Barbara are forced into a dangerous spying mission.