How to Watch Classic Doctor Who Episodes

PDF download Download Article
Learn where you can watch old Doctor Who seasons
PDF download Download Article

Are you desperately trying to track down classic Doctor Who episodes so you can watch them online? Doctor Who has been in the public eye for over 50 years and has amassed an enormous cult following. The show has survived cancellations, revivals, and all kinds of changes in the television landscape. It's no wonder fans of more recent iterations might want to experience the classics. While Doctor Who's online availability is a bit scattered, this wikiHow article has both Whovians and new fans covered when it comes to watching classic episodes of Doctor Who!

Things You Should Know

  • BritBox remains the most comprehensive source of classic Doctor Who, containing seasons 1-27.
  • Search third-party streaming and torrent sites for classic seasons & episodes of Doctor Who.
  • You may be able to borrow classic Dr. Who DVDs from your public library.
  • YouTube is home to several reconstructions of the show's 97 missing episodes.
Section 1 of 9:

Streaming on BritBox

PDF download Download Article
  1. BritBox includes access to the first through the seventh Doctor. That's seasons 1-27, running from 1963-1989. It's not free, but it includes access to the most extensive Doctor Who archives out there.
    • You can watch BritBox on your computer at https://www.britbox.com , or by adding the BritBox app to your Roku , Chromecast , Fire TV Stick, or smart TV . You can also add BritBox as a channel on Amazon Prime.
    • BritBox offers a 7-day free trial but is a paid service thereafter.
    • If you are overwhelmed by the amount of Doctor Who content available, let us help you determine where to start .
    2. Advertisement
Section 2 of 9:

Borrowing from a Library

PDF download Download Article
  1. Many libraries own DVD collections of TV shows and movies. Visit the DVD & Blu-Ray section of your library to see if they have any of the classic Doctor Who box sets.
    • Check your library’s online catalog before visiting.
    • Ask a librarian for assistance or if the library might consider ordering additional box sets.
  2. The BBC has put out some excellent box sets, many of which feature pivotal episodes of Doctor Who:
    • Davros box set. This is a great introductory box set that features five storylines with four different Doctors.
    • The Beginning box set. This collections features three episodes from the first Doctor.
      • This set also includes a condensed 30-minute version of one of the show's lost episodes. [1]
    • Tomb of the Cybermen. Though this is a “single” storyline spanning four episodes, it is a great story featuring the second Doctor.
    • New Beginnings box set. This collection features the last two stories from the third Doctor. [2]
    3. Advertisement
Section 3 of 9:

Searching the Web

PDF download Download Article
  1. Many third-party sites stream old episodes of Doctor Who. To find a particular episode, include it in your search. These websites stay online by not hosting the physical video on their site. Instead they contain links to other websites that host the video.
    • Some of these sites may not be entirely legal, so consider using a VPN when streaming.
    • The specific URLs for these sites are constantly changing to avoid getting taken down, so you may need to conduct a Google search again even after finding an appropriate site.
Section 4 of 9:

Torrenting Old Episodes

PDF download Download Article
  1. Torrents are a great way to find and download classic Doctor Who episodes for free. Just be sure to use a VPN and turn on your antivirus software when torrenting.
    • Make sure you have a torrenting client before continuing.
    • Popular torrent sites include The Pirate Bay and 1337x.
  2. Use the website's search bar to look up "classic Doctor Who". You will likely get many results, so be sure to review each option before downloading it.
    • Options may range from entire seasons to individual episodes. Include additional keywords if you are looking for a specific episode.
  3. This will send the download to your torrenting client.
    • When selecting a torrent file, consider the amount of seeders and leechers as well. The more seeders a file has, the faster it will download.
  4. If you chose a file with a lot of seeders, it should download rather quickly.
    • When the file has downloaded, do not delete it from your torrenting client. Leaving it in there allows you to "seed" the file for future Doctor Who fans!
  5. Open your downloaded file. It may be a collection of various files, but you only need the video file within.
    6. Advertisement
Section 5 of 9:

Watching on Cable

PDF download Download Article
  1. BBC America offers American cable users all kinds of British programming each day. Check your local listings to see if BBC America is playing classic Doctor Who episodes anytime soon.
    • On many cable boxes, you may also search for "Doctor Who" and find all channels where it might be playing.
Section 6 of 9:

Buying Physical Copies

PDF download Download Article
  1. Visit Amazon or eBay . Many online marketplaces will have cheap deals on box sets and DVD collections of classic Doctor Who. Amazon and eBay may be your best bet.
  2. Be sure to do your research so you know you are paying a fair price for the DVDs.
    • Because these DVDs are rather old (and sometimes rare), they may be sold as collector's items, making them more expensive. Still, deals are out there if you are willing to look!
    • If you are interested in building a collection of classic Doctor Who content, this is the quickest and most effective way to do so!
    3. Advertisement
Section 7 of 9:

Streaming Newer Episodes on Max (Formerly Known as HBO Max)

PDF download Download Article
  1. If you are a new fan who is yet to see some of these "older" seasons, you can find them on Max.
    • You can watch Max on a computer at https://www.hbomax.com , using the Max app on your phone or tablet, or by adding the app to your smart TV or streaming device.
    • Max is also the streaming home of all future seasons of Doctor Who.
Section 8 of 9:

Watch Reconstructions

PDF download Download Article
  1. The BBC and its fans have created several reconstructions of the show's 97 lost episodes. These range from animations to slideshows to reenactments. You can find most of them on YouTube.
  2. This will yield thousands of results. The reconstructions posted by the BBC are likely to be the best quality, but feel free to comb through all the reconstructions out there.
    • If you find these reconstructions too tedious but don't want to miss out on the plot, try reading through a detailed synopsis of the story instead, such as the ones provided on the fan wiki.
    3. Advertisement
Section 9 of 9:

Approaching Classic Doctor Who

PDF download Download Article
  1. Doctor Who was very different from 1963 to 1989 than it is today. New series fans have scrutinized it for its dated visual effects and low production values. Take all this into account when you're deciding. Also remember that classic Who also ran in a serialized format, with stories ranging anywhere from 1 to 12 episodes to complete one story arc.
  2. There were eight classic Doctors so you have some options. Here is a list of good starting points and the year in which they were broadcast:
    • An Unearthly Child (1963)
    • The War Games (1969)
    • Spearhead from Space (1970)
    • Terror of the Autons (1971)
    • The Three Doctors (1972-73)
    • The Time Warrior (1973-74)
    • The Ribos Operation (1978)
    • The Keeper of Traken (1981)
    • Kinda (1982)
    • The Five Doctors (1983) [3]
  3. There is no reason to watch the series chronologically if you don’t find it interesting. Track recurring characters and monsters that you’re interested in. If you like the Master or Cybermen, track down all the episodes they appear on by searching the internet. There are several fan sites that indicate each episode a certain character or monster appears. [4]
  4. In the late 1960s and the 1970s the BBC wanted to reuse videotape so they wouldn't have to keep buying more, and as a result, multiple episodes from the first three Doctors' eras were "lost to time." Thankfully though, all of the Third Doctor's era has been recovered and missing episodes are starting to turn up in unexpected places.
    5. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    I'm trying to get a box set of the Tom Baker years. How can I single them out?
    Ellie Bretherton
    Community Answer
    You have to buy each "story" separately. For example, "The Keeper of Traken": Parts 1 - 4.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 1 Helpful 20
  • Question
    Doctor Who, classic Doctor Who and the Sarah Jane Adventures were removed from Netflix! What can I do?
    Community Answer
    You can watch the series on Amazon Prime, rent from the library, watch on a TV channel, or simply purchase them.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 9
  • Question
    How can I watch the classics on live TV?
    Community Answer
    Research if any channels you receive air classic Who. For example, BBC or RetroTV; check your listings!
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 7
See more answers
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to
      Fix When Netflix Doesn't Work on Your Samsung TV
      5 Simple Ways to Reset Netflix on Your Smart TV
      3 Ways to Change the Language on HBO Max
      How to
      Turn on a Vizio TV without a Remote: Manual & App Solutions
      15 Reasons Hulu Keeps Crashing and How To Fix It
      How to
      Tell if You're Watching TV in HD
      How to
      Turn Off the Subtitles on Samsung TV: Easy Guide
      How to
      Forget a Spoiler
      How to
      See a Live Taping of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon
      2 Quick & Easy Ways to Cancel Your Regal Unlimited Subscription
      Ultimate Guide to Pitching a Show for TV & Streaming
      What to Do If Your Hulu Subtitles & Captions Are Out of Sync
      How to
      Fix Your Spectrum App When It's Acting Up
      3 Helpful Ways to Combat Post Series Depression
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/g24950/doctor-who-missing-lost-episodes-found-animated/?slide=1
      2. ↑ http://andrewhickey.info/2009/07/12/a-beginners-guide-to-doctor-who-dvds/
      3. ↑ http://www.tor.com/2012/07/30/how-to-who-on-starting-to-watch-classic-doctor-who/
      4. ↑ http://www.tor.com/2012/07/30/how-to-who-on-starting-to-watch-classic-doctor-who/

      About This Article

      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 162,731 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement