Happy 60th, Doctor Who. Join Celebrations With This Full Schedule
Clear out your schedules. The big moment for The Whoniverse fans is upon us.
Summary
- The Doctor Who franchise turns 60 on November 23, 2023.
- Fans and creators are planning to celebrate the big date with a bang.
- The celebrations begin on November 1, when BBC iPlayer launches The Whoniverse with a host of old and new shows.
- The full schedule includes a range of programs dedicated to the sci-fi franchise, 60th anniversary specials and a Christmas episode.
The iconic sci-fi franchise premiered its first episode, The Unearthly Child, on the BBC on November 23, 1963. It was the first time viewers in the UK, and then the world, met and fell in love with the charismatic, face-changing Time Lord, who navigated time and space in his iconic ship, TARDIS, looking like an old police box.
Sixty years later, Doctor Who, who has changed many companions and 14 faces with a new one coming in Season 14 next year, still furrows the expanses of the universe and glues numerous generations of viewers to the screens.
Of course, the 60th anniversary is not something to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to, and the showmakers don't intend to disappoint the series' huge fan base. They are set to celebrate the jubilee with a bang, starting on the first day of November already.
Celebrations begin today
November 1st is a big day for Doctor Who fans. BBC iPlayer is opening the doors to The Whoniverse, bringing together a huge catalog of the franchise under one roof.
The library will include over 800 episodes of Classic Doctor Who from the original 1963-89 run and Doctor Who Confidential, the behind-the-scenes show about the making of Doctor Who, originally broadcast on BBC Three.
The first exclusive content in the new Whoniverse is the six-part series Tales of the TARDIS, created by Russell T. Davies, which reunites the legendary Doctors with their companions, taking longtime fans back in time and introducing new viewers to the lore of the show.
In addition, two other celebratory programs are landing on BBC4. The Talking Doctor Who documentary stars fan-favorite Doctor David Tennant in an hour-long nostalgic journey through the classic era of the iconic franchise. And Doctor Who Concert features some of the most beloved music from the show's history.
Complete Celebration Schedule
Of course, the festivities don't stop there. Here is the full list of all the treats Doctor Who fans will be getting over the next two months.
November 1 (BBC iPlayer, BBC4):
- The Whoniverse
- Classic Doctor Who
- Doctor Who Confidential
- Tales of the TARDIS
- Talking Doctor Who
- Doctor Who@60: A Musical Celebration.
November 17 and November 23:
Russell T Davies teased that Whovians should get ready for something special on these dates, without going into details.
November 18 (BBC Radio 4 Extra):
Comedian Toby Hadoke dives into the journey of a Doctor Who fan in his new programme Surviving Doctor Who - an A-Z.
November 23 (BBC One):
A special Doctor Who-themed episode of Bargain Hunt premieres.
November 25 (BBC, Disney+):
The Star Beast, the first of three 60th anniversary specials created by Russell T. Davies and featuring the on-screen reunion of David Tennant and Catherine Tate, lands on the streaming platforms.
December 2 (BBC, Disney+):
Wild Blue Yonder continues the story with Neil Patrick Harris as the Toymaker, a classic Doctor Who villain.
December 9 (BBC, Disney+):
The Giggle concludes the series of 60th Anniversary Specials.
December 25 (BBC, Disney+):
Doctor Who revives the old tradition of Christmas specials with the new episode introducing Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.