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Where to Watch Dr Who

How & Where To Watch Doctor Who in 2025: Stream Season 14 and All of Doctor Who Series

With the new Doctor Who season 14, we've put together this guide on how and where to watch Doctor Who seasons from anywhere -- including a completely free option by using a VPN.

Kit CopsonJackie Leavitt

Written by Kit Copson (Writer, Briefing Editor)

Reviewed by Jackie Leavitt (Co-Chief Editor)

Last Updated: 2024-12-26T18:33:06+00:00

All our content is written fully by humans; we do not publish AI writing. Learn more here.

Key Takeaways: How to Watch Doctor Who Season 14 on BBC iPlayer
  1. Sign up for NordVPN by going to its website and grabbing a 74% (plus 3 months free) discounted plan risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
  2. Open the VPN on your device and connect to a U.K. server
  3. Sign in to BBC iPlayer and start streaming ‘Doctor Who.’ 

Best VPNs for Streaming Doctor Who:

  1. NordVPN — Secure, swift and packed with advanced features. NordVPN’s best deal is available at a 74% (plus 3 months free) discount.
  2. Surfshark — Wallet-friendly VPN without compromises. Get (for the Winter Deal) 64% (plus 4 months free) off the first two years with Surfshark, covered by its 30-day money-back guarantee.
  3. ExpressVPN — Top-notch VPN that anyone can use. Explore ExpressVPN’s features with a 30-day return policy, and grab extended plans at a 25% discount.

What to Know About Streaming Doctor Who:

  • Quick rundown: British TV series ‘Doctor Who’ has its roots in the year 1963 and is still going strong to this day with multitudes of fans from all around the world. It follows the exploits of a time lord known as the “The Doctor” from the planet Gallifrey. 
  • Season 14: This year, ‘Sex Education’ fan-favorite Ncuti Gatwa takes the lead as the doctor in a brand-new season of ‘Doctor Who.’ He will be joined by Millie Gibson, who portrays Ruby Sunday. Disney+ will broadcast the new season, though all episodes will also be free on BBC iPlayer. 
  • Fun fact: Though one of the world’s most famous characters, Doctor Who’s real name has never been revealed. Exactly why is unclear, but someone on Reddit1 has speculated that this might be because there are many names attached to the Doctor — the names of people he previously knew. 
Best VPN for Streaming Doctor Who

Season 14 of the beloved sci-fi series ‘Doctor Who’ arrives in the U.S. on May 10, but you can watch it for free on BBC iPlayer from May 11 (U.K.) In light of this, fans should check out our guide on how and where to watch ‘Doctor Who’ for free no matter where you are in the world. 

If you’re in the U.K., it’s easy to stream ‘Doctor Who’ episodes for free on BBC iPlayer, but if you’re outside the U.K., you may need to pay for a streaming platform subscription if you don’t have a VPN.

Luckily, if you’re outside the U.K. but have a decent VPN, you can use that VPN to stream the new ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 episodes on BBC iPlayer for free, as well as all previous seasons. Read on to learn how. 

Not available in your country?

Watch Doctor Who now on Amazon Prime Video and other streaming platforms.

Status checked 2025/01/13:

  • 12/11/2021

    Cloudwards.net updated this article with up-to-date information.

  • 05/10/2024 Facts checked

    We’ve updated this guide to make sure information on where to watch ‘Doctor Who’ — particularly the latest season — is up to date. 

  • 10/01/2024

    We optimized this article’s user guide and recalibrated the VPN rankings for accuracy.

At a Glance: Where To Watch Doctor Who?

In some countries like the U.S., U.K. and Canada, you can also buy ‘Doctor Who’ on buy/rental platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video, but since it’s so easy to stream all episodes for free, you shouldn’t need to do this. 

  • Classic ‘Doctor Who’ (1963-1989): Tubi (U.S.), Britbox (U.S.), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
  • Modern seasons of ‘Doctor Who’ (2005-present, seasons 1-13): Max (formerly HBO Max) — U.S.), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 (May 10, 2024 release): Disney+ (U.S. and international), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
  • 60th Anniversary specials (2023): BBC iPlayer (U.K.), Disney+ (U.S. & international)
  • ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’ (spin-off series: 2007): BBC iPlayer (U.K.), Max (U.S.)

Which Streaming Services Have Doctor Who Season 14?

You can stream ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 on Disney+ (international) from May 10, 2024 (U.S. time), but this is a paid platform. Luckily, the new season arrives on BBC iPlayer — which is a free platform — on May 11, 2024, at midnight (U.K. time). 

If you’re overseas at the time of ‘Doctor Who’ season 14’s release on BBC iPlayer, you can connect to a British server on a VPN to use the streaming service. If you keep scrolling, you’ll find a step-by-step tutorial on how to do that. 

Is Doctor Who Season 14 on Netflix?

No, ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 is not on Netflix because Disney+ is the platform with the rights to stream the season internationally, while the BBC has the U.K. rights. However, copyright agreements for streaming platforms change fairly often, so there’s a chance ‘Doctor Who’ could come to Netflix one day. 

Where to Watch Classic Doctor Who Series (1963 – 1989)?

A classic never dies, and although a new season is being released, some may wish to journey back through time and delve into early ‘Doctor Who’ episodes. Early “doctors” include William Hartnell (First Doctor), Patrick Troughton (Second Doctor), Tom Baker (Fourth Doctor) and Colin Baker (Sixth Doctor). Here is a roundup of everywhere you can head for your fix of classic ‘Doctor Who’:

  • (U.K.)
  • Tubi (U.S.)
  • (U.S.) 

If you’re outside a location where your desired streaming platform is available, you can connect to a VPN server in that location. For example, if you want to watch the classic series on free streaming service Tubi but are outside the U.S., you can connect to a U.S. server. 

Where to Watch Modern Doctor Who Episodes (2005 – Present)?

The modern ‘Doctor Who’ era kicked off in 2005. As of May 10, 2024, the season is in its 14th run. “Doctors” from the modern era have included Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor), David Tennant (Tenth Doctor), Matt Smith (Eleventh Doctor) and Peter Capaldi (Twelfth Doctor). Ncuti Gatwa portrays the Fifteenth Doctor in season 14, the latest season. 

You can currently stream seasons 1 — 13 on the following platforms:

  • (U.S.)
  • (U.K.)

However, season 14 has a new home in most countries. No doubt frustratingly for many fans, seasons 1 through 13 will remain on Max and will not move to the new platform. The good news is that a VPN can help you access all ‘Doctor Who’ episodes on BBC iPlayer. Season 14 is streamed on: 

  • (U.S. & international)
  • (U.K.)

In addition to the above platforms, some seasons of modern ‘Doctor Who’ are available on demand on Pluto TV — another free platform — in Canada.

Where to Watch Doctor Who 60th Anniversary (2023)?

In 2023, three 60th-anniversary special ‘Doctor Who’ episodes were released. The specials marked the return of two British treasures and former cast members, David Tennant (Tenth Doctor) and Catherine Tate (Donna Noble). Here are your options for watching the 60th Anniversary specials:

  • (U.K.)
  • (U.S. and international)
Where to Watch Doctor Who Christmas Specials (2005–2023)?

The ‘Doctor Who’ Christmas special episodes, including the most recent special, ‘The Church on Ruby Road’ (2023), which stars Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, are on BBC iPlayer. Tune in from outside the U.K. by connecting to a U.K. server on a VPN. 

How to Watch Doctor Who Free Online With a VPN

If you’ve never used a VPN before, you may be feeling confused about how you can use one to bypass geoblocks. Check out this tutorial on how to unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN from outside the U.K. and stream ‘Doctor Who’ for free. We used NordVPN as our example.

  1. Sign up for a VPN

    Once you’ve settled on a VPN, head to the provider’s website to choose a plan that works for you. NordVPN has an affordable two-year plan and you can claim your money back within 30 days if you’re not satisfied.

    nordvpn step 1
  2. Download the VPN App

    Download the app file from the provider’s website, then open the file to install the app on your device. Mobile users can download the app onto their device directly from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS).

    nordvpn step 2
  3. Connect to a U.K. Server

    Log in to the VPN’s app and use the server list to select a U.K. server, then click “connect.”

    NordVPN connecting to the UK
  4. Stream ‘Doctor Who’ on BBC iPlayer

    Go to BBC iPlayer and create an account if you haven’t already — when prompted, enter any U.K. postcode. Click “yes” when asked if you have a TV license. Once you’ve logged in, search for ‘Doctor Who’ to start streaming.

    doctor who bbc

The Best VPNs to Stream Doctor Who

If you need a VPN to access BBC iPlayer or another service, you’ll want to make sure the provider you opt for has servers in your target country and is fast and secure. All VPNs come with their pros and cons (check out the full reviews for providers to learn more about this), but some have many more pros than they do cons, including the following providers:

  • NordVPN: In addition to having the best overall speeds and affordable plans, NordVPN offers a range of extra features you can include in or leave out of your plan as needed. Pop over to our NordVPN review for the full lowdown. 
  • Surfshark: This is a cheap and cheerful VPN service that doesn’t scrimp on features, Surfshark is a decent choice for those looking to save a few dollars. You probably already guessed it, but here’s our Surfshark review for those curious to know more. 
  • ExpressVPN: We’ve always had a positive experience with ExpressVPN in terms of security, speed and ease of use. You can learn more about our best overall VPN recommendation in our ExpressVPN review
  • PrivadoVPN: Privado VPN is the best option for those in need of a secure free VPN service. Like other free services, PrivadoVPN has its limitations, but it has a free U.K. server and works well with streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer. We’ve got a full PrivadoVPN review that discusses the ins and outs of the service. 

How To Watch Doctor Who in Order

If you need a quick refresher, here is the full ‘Doctor Who’ release order and the dates the seasons were first aired. We’ve split this into the classic seasons and the modern seasons. 

Classic Doctor Who
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 1 (1963)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 2 (1964)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 3 (1965)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 4 (1966)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 5 (1967)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 6 (1968)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 7 (1970)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 8 (1971)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 9 (1972)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 10 (1972)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 11 (1973)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 12 (1974)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 13 (1975)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 (1976)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 15 (1977)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 16 (1978)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 17 (1979)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 18 (1980)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 19 (1982)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 20 (1983)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 21 (1984)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 22 (1985)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 23 (1986)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 24 (1987)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 25 (1988)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 26 (1989)
Modern Doctor Who
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 1 (2005)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 2 (2006)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 3 (2007)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 4 (2008)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 7 (2012)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 8 (2014)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 9 (2015)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 10 (2017)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 11 (2018)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 12 (2020)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 13 (2021)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 (2024)
  • ‘Doctor Who’ season 15 (upcoming — 2025)

How To Watch Doctor Who by Doctor

The infamous series is currently on its fifteenth doctor. With so many actors having taken on the role since 1963, it can be easy to lose track of who starred in which season, so here’s all the details you need to know: 

Doctor Order:PerformerSeasons
First DoctorWilliam HartnellSeason 1–3 (1963–1965)
Second DoctorPatrick TroughtonSeason 4–6 (1966– 1968)
Third DoctorJon PertweeSeason 7–11 (1970–1973)
Fourth DoctorTom BakerSeason 12–18 (1974–1980)
Fifth DoctorPeter DavisonSeason 19–21 (1982–1984)
Sixth DoctorColin Baker Season 22–23 (1985–1986)
Seventh DoctorSylvester McCoySeason 24–26 (1987–1989)*
Eighth DoctorPaul McGann‘Doctor Who’ — TV film (1996)
Ninth DoctorChristopher EcclestonSeason 1 (2005)*
Tenth DoctorDavid TennantSeason 2–4 (2006–2008)
Eleventh DoctorMatt SmithSeason 5–7 (2010–2012)
Twelfth DoctorPeter CapaldiSeason 8–10 (2014–2017)
Thirteenth DoctorJodie WhittakerSeason 11–13 (2018–2021)
Fourteenth DoctorDavid Tennant60th-anniversary specials (2023)
Fifteenth DoctorNcuti GatwaSeason 14 (2024)
*End of the classic era
*Start of the modern era

Final Thoughts

Just because you’re not physically located in the U.K., that doesn’t mean you can’t stream ‘Doctor Who’ on BBC iPlayer. All you need is a VPN service with British servers that can handle geoblocks, and fortunately, there are plenty of those. Once you have access to iPlayer, you can also watch other shows like ‘The Traitors‘ and ‘Luther‘. 

Beware, though — some VPNs are terrible and should be avoided at all costs. For this reason, we recommend opting for a service we’ve reviewed and checked out here at Cloudwards, such as NordVPN. Trying NordVPN for a month is completely risk-free, as you can use the 30-day money-back guarantee if you end up not liking it.

Did this guide help you access BBC iPlayer from outside the U.K.? What are you most looking forward to in ‘Doctor Who’ season 14? Drop us a comment below, and thanks for reading.

FAQ: Stream Doctor Who

  • You can stream all seasons of ‘Doctor Who’ on BBC iPlayer. If you’re not in the U.K., use a VPN and connect to a British server.

  • No, ‘Doctor Who’ seasons 1–13 are on Max (formerly HBO Max) in the U.S.

  • Yes. The fourteenth season of ‘Doctor Who’ will arrive on Disney+ (except in the U.K.) on May 10, 2024.

  • No. In the U.S., ‘Doctor Who’ is on Max (seasons 1–13) and Disney+ (season 14). Classic ‘Doctor Who’ is on Tubi (free) and Britbox in the U.S.

Sources:

  1. Reddit — The Name of Doctor Who
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