Doctor Who: Season 3

1965 · 45 episodes · ★ 6.3

What Season 3 of Doctor Who

The season opens with the Doctor and his companions after an encounter with a hostile robot. Drahvin women rescue them, but their hospitality becomes increasingly dangerous. The plot then branches out on several fronts. On Kembel, the Daleks prepare a secret meeting with their allies, and that scheme drives the season's main story. The Doctor also gets caught up in the Trojan War, where he is mistaken for the god Zeus, and later in sixteenth-century Paris, in the middle of the Huguenot persecution. The Monk, a returning enemy, complicates every step of the journey. The companions, including Steven, Vicki and Sara, follow the Doctor to every destination.

45episodes

Sep 11, 1965premiered

Jul 16, 1966latest episode

18.5 hrtotal runtime

Season 3 Episodes

3x01 Four Hundred Dawns
Sep 11, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
After an encounter with a hostile robot called a Chumblie, the Doctor and his companions are rescued by a group of female Drahvins.
Directing: Derek Martinus · Writing: William Emms · Starring: Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien
3x02 Trap of Steel
Sep 18, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 5.8
With the knowledge that the planet will be destroyed in two days, the Drahvins instruct the Doctor to help them steal the Rills' ship.
Directing: Derek Martinus · Writing: William Emms · Starring: Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien
3x03 Air Lock
Sep 25, 1965 · 24 min
The Doctor and Vicki encounter the Rills and learn the situation is more complex than they thought while Steven finds the Drahvins' hospitality ever more perilous.
Directed by Derek Martinus · Written by William Emms · Starring Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien, Angelo Muscat
3x04 The Exploding Planet
Oct 2, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
The Doctor and Vicki enlist the aid of the Chumblies to rescue Steven from the Drahvins and then find a way off the planet before its destruction.
Directing: Derek Martinus · Writing: William Emms · Starring: Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien
3x05 Mission to the Unknown
Oct 9, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 6.4
Whilst The Doctor, Steven and Vicki are traveling to their next destination. On the planet Kembel, Marc Cory, a Space Security Service agent discovers The Daleks are attending a secret meeting with their allies. Where Cory discovers the Dalek's evil plan, which sets the stage for the epic 12-part adventure "The Dalek Master Plan".
Directing: Derek Martinus · Writing: Terry Nation · Starring: Peter Hawkins, John Scott Martin, David Graham, Robert Jewell
3x06 Temple of Secrets
Oct 16, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 6.2
The TARDIS lands in the middle of the Trojan War, where the Doctor is mistaken for the god Zeus.
Directed by: Michael Leeston-Smith · Written by: Donald Cotton · Starring: Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien, Francis de Wolff, Pat Gorman
3x07 Small Prophet, Quick Return
Oct 23, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 5.6
While Odysseus forces the Doctor to find a way to win the war, Steven decides to get himself taken prisoner in order to enter Troy and find Vicki and the TARDIS.
Directing: Michael Leeston-Smith · Writing: Donald Cotton · Starring: Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien, Barrie Ingham, Francis de Wolff
3x08 Death of a Spy
Oct 30, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
With Steven and Vicki being held prisoner by the Trojans, the Doctor's only hope of seeing them again is to suggest the idea of the Trojan Horse.
Directing: Michael Leeston-Smith · Writing: Donald Cotton · Starring: Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien, Barrie Ingham, Francis de Wolff
3x09 Horse of Destruction
Nov 6, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
The Doctor waits inside the Trojan Horse for a chance to reach his companions but Steven's assumed identity as a Greek soldier and Vicki's growing feelings for Troilus endanger their escape.
Directed by Michael Leeston-Smith · Written by Donald Cotton · Starring Peter Purves, Maureen O'Brien, Barrie Ingham
3x10 The Nightmare Begins
Nov 13, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 7.3
The Doctor runs afoul of the Daleks and Special Security Agent Bret Vyon on the planet Kembel.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Peter Purves, Nicholas Courtney, John Scott Martin, Kevin Stoney
3x11 Day of Armageddon
Nov 20, 1965 · 24 min · ★ 6.8
The Doctor infiltrates the Daleks' conference to try and discover their plans, leaving Steven, Katarina and Bret to find a way off the planet.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Peter Purves, Nicholas Courtney, John Scott Martin, Kevin Stoney
3x12 Devil's Planet
Nov 27, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 7.0
The Doctor and his friends escape Kembel in the Spar ship but the Daleks force them down on the planet Desperus, where they are threatened by a group of convicts.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Peter Purves, Nicholas Courtney, John Scott Martin, Kevin Stoney
3x13 The Traitors
Dec 4, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 7.3
With Katarina being held hostage, the Doctor, Steven and Bret are in danger of having to given in to Kirksen's demands, while, on Earth, Chen has them listed as traitors.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Peter Purves, Jean Marsh, Nicholas Courtney, John Scott Martin
3x14 Counter Plot
Dec 11, 1965 · 24 min · ★ 6.3
The Doctor, Steven and Sara are accidentally transported to the planet Mira where Chen sends the Daleks after them.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Peter Purves, Peter Hawkins, Jean Marsh, John Scott Martin
3x15 Coronas of the Sun
Dec 18, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 6.5
The Doctor, Steven and Sara escape Mira in a Dalek pursuit ship but when they find the ship is returning to Kembel, they are forced to come up with a new plan to avoid the Daleks.
Directed by Douglas Camfield · Written by Dennis Spooner · Starring Peter Purves, Jean Marsh, John Scott Martin, Kevin Stoney
3x16 The Feast of Steven
Dec 25, 1965 · 25 min · ★ 5.2
The Doctor, Steven and Sara visit a Liverpool police station on Christmas Day and a Hollywood film set during the 1920s.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Terry Nation · Starring: Peter Purves, Royston Tickner
3x17 Volcano
Jan 1, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
The Daleks realise the Doctor has given them a fake Taranium Core while, on the planet Tigus, the Doctor encounters the Meddling Monk.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Dennis Spooner · Starring: Peter Purves, Peter Hawkins, Jean Marsh, John Scott Martin
3x18 Golden Death
Jan 8, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
The Doctor, Steven and Sara travel to Ancient Egypt, pursued by both the Daleks and the Meddling Monk.
Directed by Douglas Camfield · Written by Dennis Spooner · Starring Peter Purves, Jean Marsh, John Scott Martin, Kevin Stoney
3x19 Escape Switch
Jan 15, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 6.2
Steven, Sara and the Monk are captured by the Daleks in order to force the Doctor to hand over the Taranium Core.
Directed by: Douglas Camfield · Written by: Dennis Spooner · Starring: Peter Purves, Peter Hawkins, Jean Marsh, John Scott Martin
3x20 The Abandoned Planet
Jan 22, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.5
The Doctor, Steven and Sara reach Kembel where they find the Daleks have betrayed their allies and imprisoned them.
Directed by Douglas Camfield · Written by Dennis Spooner · Starring Peter Purves, Jean Marsh, John Scott Martin, Kevin Stoney
3x21 Destruction of Time
Jan 29, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 7.5
With the Daleks poised to invade the solar system, the Doctor decides his only option is to activate the Time Destructor prematurely, threatening the entire planet.
Directed by Douglas Camfield · Written by Dennis Spooner · Starring Peter Purves, Jean Marsh, John Scott Martin, Kevin Stoney
3x22 War of God
Feb 5, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.8
The TARDIS lands in sixteenth century Paris and Steven becomes involved with a group of Huguenots.
Directed by Paddy Russell · Written by John Lucarotti · Starring Peter Purves, Erik Chitty
3x23 The Sea Beggar
Feb 12, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
While trying to find the Doctor, Steven discovers a conspiracy to assassinate a man known as the Sea Beggar.
Directing: Paddy Russell · Writing: John Lucarotti · Starring: Peter Purves, Hugh Cecil
3x24 Priest of Death
Feb 19, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.7
Steven has discovered the identity of the Sea Beggar, but can he warn the Huguenots in time?
Directing: Paddy Russell · Writing: John Lucarotti · Starring: Peter Purves, Barry Justice
3x25 Bell of Doom
Feb 26, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 7.0
Steven rejoins the Doctor and they leave Paris just ahead of the massacre, leaving Anne behind.
Directing: Paddy Russell · Writing: John Lucarotti, Donald Tosh · Starring: Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x26 The Steel Sky
Mar 5, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 5.9
The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive on a giant spaceship millions of years in the future, transporting the last humans away from the doomed Earth.
Directed by: Michael Imison · Written by: Paul Erickson, Lesley Scott · Starring: Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x27 The Plague
Mar 12, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
With the Ark infected with a cold virus, the Doctor must convince the Guardians to trust him so he can find a cure.
Directed by: Michael Imison · Written by: Paul Erickson, Lesley Scott · Starring: Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x28 The Return
Mar 19, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 6.3
The Doctor, Steven and Dodo have travelled 700 years into the future and find that the Ark is now under the control of the Monoids as it approaches Refusis.
Directed by: Michael Imison · Written by: Paul Erickson, Lesley Scott · Starring: Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x29 The Bomb
Mar 26, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 5.5
The Monoids abandon the Ark, leaving Steven and the Guardians to die, but a mutiny in their ranks may give the Doctor a chance to bring about peace.
Directed by: Michael Imison · Written by: Paul Erickson, Lesley Scott · Starring: Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x30 The Celestial Toyroom
Apr 2, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.1
The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive in the realms of the Celestial Toymaker, who forces them to play his deadly games.
Directing: Bill Sellars · Writing: Brian Hayles · Starring: Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, Michael Gough
3x31 The Hall of Dolls
Apr 9, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 5.4
While the Doctor continues to play the Trilogic Game with the Toymaker, Steven and Dodo are involved in a deadly game of musical chairs.
Directed by Bill Sellars · Written by Brian Hayles · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, Michael Gough, Carmen Silvera
3x32 The Dancing Floor
Apr 16, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 5.1
Steven and Dodo are forced to cross the dancing floor, where the Toymaker's dolls plan to force them to dance for eternity.
Directed by: Bill Sellars · Written by: Brian Hayles · Starring: Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, Carmen Silvera, Peter Stephens
3x33 The Final Test
Apr 23, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 6.0
As the Doctor nears the end of his game against the Toymaker, Steven and Dodo take on Cyril in a lethal game of hopscotch to try and recover the TARDIS.
Directed by Bill Sellars · Written by Brian Hayles · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, Michael Gough, Peter Stephens
3x34 A Holiday for the Doctor
Apr 30, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 6.0
The TARDIS arrives in Tombstone, Arizona in 1891. Where the Doctor is looking for a dentist when he has a toothache, where The Doctor finds the local dentist is the famous Doc Holliday who is in a feud with The Clanton Brothers and their hired gunfighter Johnny Ringo, whilst local sheriff Wyatt Earp is trying to keep the peace. The Doctor, Steven and Dodo find themselves joining forces with The Clanton Brothers and Sheriff Wyatt Earp.
Directed by Rex Tucker · Written by Donald Cotton · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, John Alderson, Maurice Good
3x35 Don't Shoot the Pianist
May 7, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 6.1
With the Clantons believing the Doctor to be Doc Holliday, Wyatt Earp takes him into protective custody but this leaves Steven and Dodo in danger.
Directed by Rex Tucker · Written by Donald Cotton · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, John Alderson, Maurice Good
3x36 Johnny Ringo
May 14, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
Earp comes to Steven's rescue and arrests Phineas Clanton, prompting the Clantons to decide to enlist the help of Johnny Ringo.
Directed by Rex Tucker · Written by Donald Cotton · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, Laurence Payne, John Alderson
3x37 The O.K. Corral
May 21, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 5.9
The Clantons have shot Warren Earp, leading to a showdown between the two families with the Doctor powerless to prevent bloodshed.
Directed by Rex Tucker · Written by Donald Cotton · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves, Laurence Payne, John Alderson
3x38 The Savages (1)
May 28, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
The Doctor, Steven and Dodo arrive in the far future and are welcomed by the advanced civilisation of the Elders but soon begin to suspect they are hiding a secret.
Directed by Christopher Barry · Written by Ian Stuart Black · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x39 The Savages (2)
Jun 4, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 5.8
The Doctor, Steven and Dodo investigate why there are Savages in the Elders' city and uncover the true price of the Elders' perfect society.
Directed by Christopher Barry · Written by Ian Stuart Black · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x40 The Savages (3)
Jun 11, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 5.8
The Doctor has been subjected to the Elders' extraction process and Steven and Dodo must return to their city to rescue him.
Directed by Christopher Barry · Written by Ian Stuart Black · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x41 The Savages (4)
Jun 18, 1966 · 25 min · ★ 5.4
The Doctor urges the Savages to finally bring an end to the Elders' oppression and enlists the help of an unlikely ally.
Directed by Christopher Barry · Written by Ian Stuart Black · Starring Jackie Lane, Peter Purves
3x42 The War Machines (1)
Jun 25, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 7.1
The Doctor and Dodo return to London in the present day where the Doctor becomes concerned about WOTAN, a new super-computer installed in the Post Officer Tower.
Directed by: Michael Ferguson · Written by: Ian Stuart Black · Starring: Jackie Lane, Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, John Harvey
3x43 The War Machines (2)
Jul 2, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 6.8
Dodo is under the control of WOTAN and attempts to lure the Doctor into a trap, while the rest of WOTAN's slaves begin construction on its robotic War Machines.
Directed by: Michael Ferguson · Written by: Ian Stuart Black · Starring: Jackie Lane, Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, John Harvey
3x44 The War Machines (3)
Jul 9, 1966 · 24 min · ★ 6.9
Ben tries to escape from the warehouse but is captured by Polly, who is now also under WOTAN's control, and forced to work on construction the War Machine.
Directing: Michael Ferguson · Writing: Ian Stuart Black · Starring: Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, John Harvey, Alan Curtis
3x45 The War Machines (4) Season Finale
Jul 16, 1966 · 23 min · ★ 7.1
The first War Machine is defeated but the Doctor only has a matter of hours to destroy WOTAN before the rest of its army is activated.
Directing: Michael Ferguson · Writing: Ian Stuart Black · Starring: Michael Craze, Anneke Wills, John Harvey, Alan Curtis