Doctor Who: Season 1

1963 · 42 episodes · ★ 6.4

What Season 1 of Doctor Who

The season kicks off when teachers Barbara Wright and Ian Chesterton start to suspect Susan Foreman, a strange student. Following her, they arrive at a junkyard, where they meet her grandfather, the Doctor, a Time Lord who travels in the TARDIS, a blue police box on the outside. Soon the ship takes them to the past and the future. The first stop is prehistory, where a tribe has lost the secret of fire and the group gets caught up in its power struggles. Then they arrive at the Daleks on Skaro, and later Marco Polo, Kublai Khan and the treacherous Tegana. Finally, the planet Marinus and its control keys.

42episodes

Nov 23, 1963Aired

Sep 12, 1964last episode

17.4 hrtotal runtime

Season 1 Episodes

1x01 An Unearthly Child
Nov 23, 1963 · 23 min · ★ 7.9
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 with frightening results.
Directed by: Waris Hussein · Written by: Anthony Coburn
1x02 The Cave of Skulls
Nov 30, 1963 · 25 min · ★ 5.8
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 history. There, the four travellers are dragged into the savage politics of a tribe of cavemen who have lost the secret of making fire...
Directing: Waris Hussein · Writer: Anthony Coburn · Cast: Derek Newark, Alethea Charlton, Jeremy Young, Howard Lang
1x03 The Forest of Fear
Dec 7, 1963 · 24 min · ★ 6.1
Prisoners of the earliest humans, the TARDIS crew are caught in a deadly power play for leadership of the tribe.
Directing: Waris Hussein · Writer: Anthony Coburn · Cast: Derek Newark, Alethea Charlton, Jeremy Young, Howard Lang
1x04 The Firemaker
Dec 14, 1963 · 24 min · ★ 6.4
The TARDIS crew must make fire for the early humans to stay alive. But once they do, they may not be allowed to leave!
Directing: Waris Hussein · Writer: Anthony Coburn · Cast: Derek Newark, Alethea Charlton, Jeremy Young, Howard Lang
1x05 The Dead Planet
Dec 21, 1963 · 25 min · ★ 7.1
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?
Directed by: Christopher Barry · Written by: Terry Nation
1x06 The Survivors
Dec 28, 1963 · 25 min · ★ 7.1
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.
Directed by: Christopher Barry · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Robert Jewell, David Graham, Peter Hawkins, Kevin Manser
1x07 The Escape
Jan 4, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 7.3
Imprisoned on Skaro by the scheming Daleks, the Doctor and his companions work to escape their clutches.
Directed by: Christopher Barry · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Robert Jewell, David Graham, Peter Hawkins, Kevin Manser
1x08 The Ambush
Jan 11, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 7.1
The time travellers work desperately to both escape the Dalek city and prevent a bloody massacre.
Directed by: Christopher Barry · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Robert Jewell, David Graham, Peter Hawkins, Kevin Manser
1x09 The Expedition
Jan 18, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.5
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.
Directed by: Christopher Barry · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Robert Jewell, David Graham, Peter Hawkins, Kevin Manser
1x10 The Ordeal
Jan 25, 1964 · 27 min · ★ 6.6
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 what are the Daleks planning?
Directed by: Christopher Barry · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Robert Jewell, David Graham, Peter Hawkins, Kevin Manser
1x11 The Rescue
Feb 1, 1964 · 23 min · ★ 7.0
Time is running out as the Doctor and his companions try to defeat the Daleks before they wipe out all life on Skaro.
Directed by: Christopher Barry · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Robert Jewell, David Graham, Peter Hawkins, Kevin Manser
1x12 The Edge of Destruction
Feb 8, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
A mysterious explosion has knocked the TARDIS into void. And in their confusion, the crew are turning on one another.
Directing: Richard Martin · Writer: David Whitaker
1x13 The Brink of Disaster
Feb 15, 1964 · 23 min · ★ 6.1
The TARDIS is adrift, the crew turning on each other. Only by working together can they find their way out before they are destroyed.
Directed by: Frank Cox · Written by: David Whitaker
1x14 The Roof of the World
Feb 22, 1964 · 24 min · ★ 6.8
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 Polo, in order to survive -- but Polo, fascinated by their claims that the TARDIS can fly through the air, seizes it on behalf of Kublai Khan in the hope that presenting the Khan with such a fabulous gift will convince him to let Polo return home to Venice. The travellers are forced to accompany Polo on his long trek across Asia to the Khan's court, but their many attempts to reclaim their property are foiled -- not just by Polo, but by the war lord Tegana, who is apparently on a mission of peace but has entirely different plans for dealing with Kublai Khan...
Directing: Waris Hussein · Writer: John Lucarotti · Cast: Mark Eden, Derren Nesbitt, Zienia Merton, Leslie Bates
1x15 The Singing Sands
Feb 29, 1964 · 27 min · ★ 6.3
Tegana sabotages the party's water bags, leaving them in dire need of fresh supplies.
Directed by: Waris Hussein · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Mark Eden, Derren Nesbitt, Zienia Merton
1x16 Five Hundred Eyes
Mar 7, 1964 · 23 min · ★ 6.3
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 Tegana, the travellers begin to suspect he is up to something.
Directed by: Waris Hussein · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Mark Eden, Derren Nesbitt, Zienia Merton, Jimmy Gardner
1x17 The Wall of Lies
Mar 14, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.4
The Doctor's group manage to rescue Barbara from the Mongols but once more Marco remains unaware of Tegana's involvement.
Directed by: John Crockett · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Mark Eden, Derren Nesbitt, Zienia Merton, Jimmy Gardner
1x18 Rider from Shang Tu
Mar 21, 1964 · 23 min · ★ 6.0
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.
Directed by: Waris Hussein · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Mark Eden, Derren Nesbitt, Zienia Merton, Philip Voss
1x19 Mighty Kublai Khan
Mar 28, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
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.
Directing: Waris Hussein · Writer: John Lucarotti · Cast: Mark Eden, Derren Nesbitt, Zienia Merton, Tutte Lemkow
1x20 Assassin at Peking
Apr 4, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.5
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.
Directing: Waris Hussein · Writer: John Lucarotti · Cast: Mark Eden, Derren Nesbitt, Zienia Merton, Tutte Lemkow
1x21 The Sea of Death
Apr 11, 1964 · 24 min · ★ 6.4
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 the Voord have developed an immunity and Arbitan, keeper of the machine, has been forced to scatter the vital control keys around the planet. Now he needs the help of the time travellers to get them back - it will be an extraordinary journey, with perils every step of the way...
Directed by: John Gorrie · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: George Coulouris, Martin Cort, Peter Stenson, Gordon Wales
1x22 The Velvet Web
Apr 18, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 6.2
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.
Directing: John Gorrie · Writer: Terry Nation · Cast: Katherine Schofield, Robin Phillips, Heron Carvic
1x23 The Screaming Jungle
Apr 25, 1964 · 24 min · ★ 6.4
The search for the second key takes the travellers to a jungle where Ian and Barbara come under threat from rapidly growing plants.
Directed by: John Gorrie · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Katherine Schofield, Robin Phillips, Martin Cort, Edmund Warwick
1x24 The Snows of Terror
May 2, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 5.6
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.
Directed by: John Gorrie · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Katherine Schofield, Robin Phillips, Francis de Wolff, Michael Allaby
1x25 Sentence of Death
May 9, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 6.4
The group are reunited with the Doctor in the city of Millennius where Ian faces trial for murder after the fourth key is stolen.
Directed by: John Gorrie · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Katherine Schofield, Robin Phillips, Henley Thomas, Michael Allaby
1x26 The Keys of Marinus
May 16, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 6.4
The Doctor and his friends must locate the real murderers and the fourth key before heading off for a final confrontation with the Voord
Directing: John Gorrie · Writer: Terry Nation · Cast: Katherine Schofield, Martin Cort, Peter Stenson, Robin Phillips
1x27 The Temple of Evil
May 23, 1964 · 24 min · ★ 6.9
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 the high priest Autloc who believes she is the reincarnation of the goddess Yetaxa. They believe it is a sign that the rains - which are late - will now come. The high priest of sacrifice Tlotoxl recruits Ian to lead their army but he finds he has a rival in Ixta. Ian is less than comfortable with his role when he learns that they are to deliver the human sacrifice to the high priest at the rain ceremony. The Doctor emphasizes that they must not interfere with Aztec rituals, something that does not sit well with Barbara.
Directed by: John Crockett · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Keith Pyott, Ian Cullen, John Ringham, Margot Van der Burgh
1x28 The Warriors of Death
May 30, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.7
Barbara tries to change the course of history - and Ian fights for his life.
Directed by: John Crockett · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Keith Pyott, Ian Cullen, John Ringham, Margot Van der Burgh
1x29 The Bride of Sacrifice
Jun 6, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 6.3
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.
Directed by: John Crockett · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Keith Pyott, Ian Cullen, John Ringham, Margot Van der Burgh
1x30 The Day of Darkness
Jun 13, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 6.4
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.
Directed by: John Crockett · Written by: John Lucarotti · Starring: Keith Pyott, Ian Cullen, John Ringham, Margot Van der Burgh
1x31 Strangers in Space
Jun 20, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
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 paralysis.
Directed by: Mervyn Pinfield · Written by: Peter R. Newman · Starring: Ilona Rodgers, Stephen Dartnell, Lorne Cossette
1x32 The Unwilling Warriors
Jun 27, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 5.7
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 the TARDIS.
Directed by: Mervyn Pinfield · Written by: Peter R. Newman · Starring: Ilona Rodgers, Stephen Dartnell, Lorne Cossette, Joseph Greig
1x33 Hidden Danger
Jul 11, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 5.6
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.
Directed by: Mervyn Pinfield · Written by: Peter R. Newman · Starring: Ilona Rodgers, Stephen Dartnell, Lorne Cossette, Peter Glaze
1x34 A Race Against Death
Jul 18, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 5.8
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.
Directing: Mervyn Pinfield · Writer: Peter R. Newman · Cast: Ilona Rodgers, Stephen Dartnell, Peter Glaze, Arthur Newall
1x35 Kidnap
Jul 25, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 5.7
The City Administrator is determined to destroy the Doctor and his friends and his paranoia prevents the Doctor's cure from being distributed.
Directing: Frank Cox · Writer: Peter R. Newman · Cast: Ilona Rodgers, Stephen Dartnell, Peter Glaze, Arthur Newall
1x36 A Desperate Venture
Aug 1, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.2
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.
Directed by: Frank Cox · Written by: Peter R. Newman · Starring: Ilona Rodgers, John Bailey, Stephen Dartnell, Peter Glaze
1x37 A Land of Fear
Aug 8, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.4
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, the Doctor must take on the disguise of a public official to try and save their lives.
Directed by: Henric Hirsch · Written by: Dennis Spooner · Starring: Peter Walker, Laidlaw Dalling, Neville Smith, Robert Hunter
1x38 Guests of Madame Guillotine
Aug 15, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.4
Susan, Ian and Barbara are sentenced to be guillotined but an encounter with a dying English prisoner may offer Ian a chance of survival.
Directing: Henric Hirsch · Writer: Dennis Spooner · Cast: Peter Walker, Howard Charlton, Jack Cunningham, Jeffry Wickham
1x39 A Change of Identity
Aug 22, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 6.1
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.
Directing: John Gorrie · Writer: Dennis Spooner · Cast: Jack Cunningham, James Cairncross, Roy Herrick, Donald Morley
1x40 The Tyrant of France
Aug 29, 1964 · 25 min · ★ 6.1
The Doctor is forced into a meeting with Robespierre while Barbara's attempts to find a physician for Susan result in them being betrayed.
Directed by: Henric Hirsch · Written by: Dennis Spooner · Starring: Jack Cunningham, James Cairncross, Roy Herrick, Donald Morley
1x41 A Bargain of Necessity
Sep 5, 1964 · 24 min · ★ 6.1
Ian finds himself held prisoner by the treacherous Leon while the Doctor attempts to engineer Susan and Barbara's escape.
Directed by: Henric Hirsch · Written by: Dennis Spooner · Starring: Jack Cunningham, James Cairncross, Donald Morley, Edward Brayshaw
1x42 Prisoners of Conciergerie Season Finale
Sep 12, 1964 · 26 min · ★ 6.6
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.
Directing: Henric Hirsch · Writer: Dennis Spooner · Cast: Jack Cunningham, James Cairncross, Donald Morley, Keith Anderson