To mark the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who, the BBC is to make over 800 episodes of the series and its spin-offs available on iPlayer.

The episodes will be released on iPlayer from the start of next month, with each one having subtitles, audio description, and sign language available. It will be the biggest collection of Doctor Who ever available on the iPlayer with hundreds of episodes available with multiple accessibility features for the first time.

With the Anniversary Specials due to hit our screens, next month, viewers will have the opportunity to travel back in time with any of the Doctors through the show’s 60-year history with the classic series, as well as explore the vast world of Doctor Who with spin-offs like the Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood and Class, or step behind-the-scenes with every episode of Doctor Who Confidential – all available in one place - BBC iPlayer. 

With over 800 episodes of Doctor Who programming on iPlayer, Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

Dan McGolpin, Director of iPlayer and channels, said:

As the companion to the back catalogue, the BBC will simultaneously launch an extensive online archive from the show’s history at bbc.co.uk/doctorwho, with everything from interviews with cast to written documents, long unheard audio, and behind-the-scenes photos. Together, they tell the story of the ground-breaking series through 60 archive gems for the 60th anniversary.

The archive invites fans to delve even deeper into the show with curated journeys such as the genesis of Doctor Who, where audio from former Head of Drama, Sydney Newman alongside documents with his original handwritten notes guide you through the origins of Doctor Who. 

In its beginning stages, this new site will feature curated journeys through the archive to bring the show’s extensive history to life for fans – with items like interviews with cast members, news pieces, audio, imagery, and written documents.

Over time, more content will be added to the archive including a special collection of photos that have been scanned at 8k resolution from an estimated total of 25,000 prints, negatives, slides and digital images, which will give an unprecedented insight into the show with access to all areas throughout the years. 

The expanded archive will also feature additional gems from over 100,000 documents, including memos, correspondence, designs, and audience research, alongside orchestral scores of sheet music.

Also being added is a selection of audio clips about Doctor Who, including radio programmes, documentaries, interviews, and music.

BBC iPlayer’s back catalogue and the online archive will launch on 1st November before David Tennant returns as the Fourteenth Doctor for three special 60th-anniversary episodes.

The BBC has released a new trailer for the three 60th Anniversary Specials which will be broadcast later this year.

Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials | Doctor WhoDestiny isn’t done with them just yet… The Doctor and Donna return for three special episodes ❤️❤️➕🔷 

The brand new trailer features Neil Patrick-Harris waltzing onto the scene, as it is now revealed that he will play the Toymaker, an all-powerful enemy last seen in 1966 - but what is it that brings the Doctor face-to-face with this enemy from his past?

Also shown, UNIT is back with a bang! Jemma Redgrave reprises her iconic role as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart alongside David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner said:

Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary. Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will air over the festive period.

Doctor Who will premiere exclusively on the BBC for the UK and Ireland. Disney+ will be the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside of the UK and Ireland.

The limited edition box set of Season 20 is to be released on the 18th of September 2023.

The latest release in the Doctor Who Collection series was announced in July but the release date has only just been confirmed. It features the six stories from the Fifth Doctor's second season as well as the twentieth Anniversary story The Five Doctors. 

The box set is available for pre-order on Amazon 

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine, issue 594, is now available.

Highlights include:

• Designated ’Driver – Michael van Kesteren, Doctor Who’s art director for props, and Barry Jones, prop maker, give DWM the lowdown on the Fourteenth Doctor’s brand-new sonic screwdriver.

• Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies recalls his first ever encounter with the Doctor Who production team, way back in 1987.

• The DWM 60th Anniversary Poll – the analysis of the results continues, with this issue looking at the rankings of the Twelfth and Thirteenth Doctor’s adventures.

• Conjuring Patrick – family, friends, colleagues and admirers of Patrick Troughton turned out in force at the unveiling of a commemorative plaque to the Second Doctor actor.

• Memory Worm – Andrew Smith, the writer of 1980’s Full Circle and many acclaimed Big Finish audios, puts his knowledge of his Doctor Who career to the test.

• Production Diary – script editor Scott Handcock files his latest report, direct from Doctor Who’s HQ.

• All Decs on Hand – assistant set decorator Verity Scott and set decorator’s assistant Lois Drage describe working on the new series of Doctor Who.

• Liberation of the Daleks Part Eleven – the adventures of the Fourteenth Doctor continue in the epic comic-strip adventure written by Alan Barnes and illustrated by Lee Sullivan.

• 60 Objects, 60 Years – the latest instalment of the series that tells the story of one object from every year of Doctor Who’s history.

• Sweet Dreams are Made of This – a comprehensive preview and disc-by-disc breakdown of the forthcoming Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 20 Blu-ray box set.

• The Fact of Fiction unlocks the secrets of the Fifth Doctor story Arc of Infinity.

• Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

• Previews, reviews, prize-winning competitions, Time and Space Visualiser and more.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 594 is on sale Thursday 17 August from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK).

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.

Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace animated on DVD and Blu-Ray

BBC Studios has announced that the second Doctor story, The Underwater Menace will be released this autumn on DVD and Blu-Ray.

The two-disc box set contains the fourth season story, first broadcast in 1967, as well as special features.

This classic series stars the second Doctor Patrick Troughton and co-stars Anneke Wills as Polly, Michael Craze as Ben and Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon.

The original 1967 master recordings of The Underwater Menace were wiped soon after the programme's original transmission. Film recordings of Episodes Two and Three survive as well as audio-only recordings of episodes One and Four. These recordings have been used to create a brand-new fully animated presentation of this lost story.

This story sees these characters navigate through their adventures in the underwater city of Atlantis where they meet with Professor Zaroff, who plots to destroy the Earth by draining the oceans. All episodes have been animated in colour and black and white whilst including original film elements.  

Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace will be available for fans to buy from November 2023. It is available for pre-order on Amazon

The Underwater Menace Teaser | Doctor Who

BBC Books have announced the novelisation of the first story of Doctor Who's 2005 revival, Rose, is to be released in a special illustrated version.

The release will celebrate the return of showrunner Russell T Davies to Doctor Who, and mark the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who.

Novelised by Davies from his original script, Rose is the story that relaunched Doctor Who for the 21st century.

Originally published in 2018, this deluxe edition of ROSE features illustrations from acclaimed artist Robert Hack.

The book will be published on 23rd November 2023 and is available to preorder on Amazon

Demon Records have announced a special vinyl collection will be released celebrating the Fourth Doctor as played by Tom Baker. 

Limited to just 600 and each including a signed print from Tom Baker, the collection celebrates Tom Baker’s unique portrayal of the famous Time Lord, almost 50 years after he made his debut in the role.

This limited edition 4 LP vinyl box set mixes thrilling audio drama with interviews and readings by the man himself.

Genesis of the Daleks is the original 1979 album version of the TV serial, whilst Doctor Who and the Pescatonsis the made-for-vinyl audio drama first released in 1976.

Exploration Earth: The Time Machine is an adventure specially produced by BBC Schools Radio in 1976, and The State of Decay is a unique audiobook reading from 1982.

The collection is completed by a selection of BBC radio interviews with Tom Baker made in the 1970s and 1980s.

• LP1 Doctor Who: Genesis of the Daleks
• LP2 Doctor Who and the Pescatons
• LP3 Exploration Earth: The Time Machine + Selection of BBC radio interviews with Tom Baker made in the 1970s and 1980s
• LP4 Doctor Who: State of Decay

Presented inside an eye-catching Fourth Doctor O-ring sleeve, this Dalek-fronted quadpack design houses 4x 140g LPs in Orange, Green, Blue & Red vinyl, each with full cast & credits and its own brand-new graphic design.

Every copy of this release also includes an exclusive, frameable photograph of the Fourth Doctor, hand signed by Tom Baker himself.

The set co-stars Elisabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Bill Mitchell and John Westbrook,

The set will be released on 15th September 2023 and is available to preorder on Amazon

BBC Studios today revealed a first look at the Fourteenth Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver.

Doctor Who returns in November 2023 with three special episodes with David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor to coincide with the 60th anniversary.

Ncuti Gatwa’s first episode as the Fifteenth Doctor will then air over the festive period.

Doctor Who will premiere exclusively on the BBC for the UK and Ireland. Disney+ will be the exclusive home for new seasons of Doctor Who outside of the UK and Ireland.

The Fourteenth Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver
A new sonic has arrived 🔊🪛

BBC Books has announced that Target novelisations of the 2023 Doctor Who Specials will published early next year. 

The three specials will be broadcast in the upcoming Autumn season, marking 60 years of Doctor Who. They all feature David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and Catherine Tate returning to the series as Donna Noble.

The scripts have been written by returning showrunner Russell T Davies and each book will be written by a different author. 

• Special One: The Star Beast novelised by Gary Russell
• Special Two: Wild Blue Yonder novelised by Mark Morris
• Special Three: The Giggle novelised by James Goss

Each book will have specially commissioned cover artwork by Anthony Dry.

Launched in 1973, Target Books published novelisations of almost every Doctor Who serial aired between 1963 and 1989.

In 2012 BBC Books began reissuing these classic paperbacks and in 2018 expanded the Target range to include all-new novelisations of modern-era Doctor Who episodes. This year, Target Books celebrates its 50th year publishing Doctor Who.

All three books will be published on the 11th of January 2024 and are available to preorder. 

The BBC has confirmed that Season 20 of Doctor Who will be the next season released as a box set on Blu-ray.

The season, starring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, was originally broadcast in 1983. It will be released as a limited edition 9-disc box set, containing each story from season 20 as well as the 20th Anniversary story The Five Doctors. 

Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the programme, these stories feature the return of old friends, enemies, and even past Doctors! Over seven stories, the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Turlough (Mark Strickson) face off against the Black Guardian, Omega, the Mara, the Master, Cybermen and the Time Lords themselves!

All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources including original film elements for The Five Doctors – these classic adventures have never looked or sounded so good on home media.

The Collection: Season 20 Blu-ray box set also includes extensive Special Features including:​

THE FIVE DOCTORS – 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
A brand new version of the 90-minute anniversary special, with updated special effects, Dolby Atmos & surround sound, plus an exclusive new commentary with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson.

UPDATED 2023 SPECIAL EFFECTS
Exclusive to Blu-ray, on Snakedance and Enlightenment.

BEHIND THE SOFA
Seven new episodes with Peter Davison, Colin Baker (The Doctor), Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor), Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Katy Maning (Jo) and Sophie Aldred (Ace).

BLU-RAY TRAILER
A brand new episode of classic Doctor Who.

IN CONVERSATION
Interviewer Matthew Sweet chats to Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton.

LET’S GO DUTCH!
The TARDIS crew travel to Amsterdam to revisit locations and reminisce about Season 20 and their time on the programme.

LOOK WHO’S DRIVING
Join Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton on an hilarious European Road Trip.

WHEN JANET MET MARTIN
Janet Fielding chats to Martin Clunes, 40 years on from his appearance in Snakedance.

MAKING THE KING’S DEMONS
The regular cast return to the castle location and reminisce.

MAKING THE SEASON 20 TRAILER
A look behind the scenes

LONGLEAT CELEBRATION FOOTAGE
A previously-unreleased look at the iconic 1983 convention, plus panels featuring Peter Davison, Tom Baker, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and many more.

STUDIO FOOTAGE
Hours of material going behind-the-scenes on production of Arc Of Infinity, Snakedance and The Five Doctors.

LOCATION FILM RUSHES
From The Five Doctors.

RARE CONVENTION FOOTAGE
Including Australian interviews with Peter Davison and Janet Fielding shot during production of this season.

ONCE UPON A TIME LORD
A rare US documentary from the 1980s.

NEW 5.1 SURROUND  SOUND MIXES
On Snakedance and The Five Doctors. Plus Dolby Atmos mixes on The Five Doctors.

ARCHIVE TREATS
Hours of rare and previously unreleased material from the BBC Archives.

HD PHOTO GALLERIES
Including many previously unseen images.

INFO TEXT
Behind-the-scenes information and trivia on every episode.

PDF ARCHIVE
including scripts, exclusive unseen BBC production files, the Radio Times 20th Anniversary Special and other rarities.

This nine-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries, The Five Doctors Special Edition and more.

The box-set is available for pre-order on Amazon 

Tegan's Surprise Reunion! | The Collection: Season 20 Announcement Trailer
Tegan Jovanka's adventures continue... but not in the way she expected!