So, you’re looking for tv shows with the doctor and maybe you’ve realized that the "Whoniverse" is way more than just one guy in a blue box. It’s actually a massive, messy, wonderful web of spin-offs, forgotten pilots, and brand-new streaming events. Honestly, it's a bit of a headache to track where everything lives these days, especially with the recent shakeups between the BBC and Disney+.
We’re currently sitting in 2026, and the landscape for Doctor Who has shifted again. If you’ve been out of the loop, you might have missed that the big Disney+ co-production deal actually wrapped up after Ncuti Gatwa’s second season. While the mouse is out, the Doctor is very much in.
The Core Shows You Actually Need to Watch
When people talk about tv shows with the doctor, they usually mean the main series, but which one? There’s the "Classic" era that ran from 1963 to 1989, the "Revival" that started in 2005, and the new "Global" era that kicked off in 2023.
- Doctor Who (1963-1989): This is the foundation. It’s 26 seasons of low-budget brilliance. You’ve got William Hartnell starting it all as a grumpy grandfather and Tom Baker becoming the definitive Doctor for an entire generation with that iconic long scarf.
- Doctor Who (2005-2022): This is where most modern fans started. Christopher Eccleston brought it back, David Tennant made it a global phenomenon, and Matt Smith turned it into a fairy tale.
- Doctor Who (2023-Present): Currently led by Ncuti Gatwa (the Fifteenth Doctor), this era leaned hard into high-budget spectacle. Interestingly, 2025 saw the introduction of Varada Sethu as the new companion, Belinda Chandra, and a pretty wild Season 2 that even included an animated episode.
The Spin-Offs That Changed the Game
You can't really say you've seen the tv shows with the doctor if you haven't ventured into the spin-offs. Some are darker than the main show, some are for kids, and some are just plain weird.
Torchwood is the big one. It was Russell T Davies' way of doing "Doctor Who for grown-ups." Starring John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, it dealt with sex, death, and alien threats that the Doctor was too busy to handle. Children of Earth, the third season, is legitimately some of the best sci-fi television ever made. Period.
Then you have The Sarah Jane Adventures. It brought back Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, arguably the most beloved companion in the show's history. It was technically for a younger audience, but let's be real—adults watched it for the nostalgia and the occasional 10th and 11th Doctor cameos. It only ended because of Sladen's tragic passing in 2011.
The Newest Addition: The War Between the Land and the Sea
If you are looking for the absolute latest tv shows with the doctor (or at least his world), you have to talk about The War Between the Land and the Sea. This five-part miniseries just finished airing, and it brought back the Sea Devils in a massive way.
It felt like a middle ground between the grit of Torchwood and the scale of the main show. It featured Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Russell Tovey, alongside Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart. This was the final project of the Disney+ partnership, and it really showed off the budget. The special effects for the Sea Devils were a far cry from the rubber suits of the 1970s.
What’s Happening in 2026?
The big news for 2026 is that the BBC is back in the driver's seat alone. Disney+ chose not to renew the deal, reportedly due to the staggering $13 million per episode price tag and viewership that didn't quite hit the Marvel or Star Wars levels they wanted.
What does this mean for the tv shows with the doctor?
- A New Christmas Special: Written by Russell T Davies, a new special is confirmed for December 2026.
- Budget Adjustments: Expect the show to feel a bit more "British" again. While the $100 million Disney era was flashy, many fans are actually excited to see the show return to its roots of clever writing over pure spectacle.
- The Billie Piper Mystery: There are massive rumors swirling that the 2026 special might feature Billie Piper (the original 2005 companion, Rose Tyler) in a way we’ve never seen before. Some fans are even speculating she might be the 16th Doctor, though the BBC is keeping that tight-lipped.
Where to Find Everything
Streaming rights for tv shows with the doctor are a total mess, frankly. In the UK, it’s easy: almost everything is on BBC iPlayer.
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In the US and elsewhere, the 2023-2025 seasons (Ncuti Gatwa’s run) are staying on Disney+ for now. However, the "Classic" episodes are usually on BritBox or Tubi, and the 2005-2022 "New Who" seasons are often found on Max. If you're looking for Torchwood or Sarah Jane, you'll likely need a separate subscription or a digital purchase.
Your Next Steps for the Whoniverse
If you're feeling overwhelmed, don't try to watch everything at once. Start with the "essential" path to get the best experience:
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- Watch "Blink" (Season 3, Episode 10 of the 2005 run): It's the perfect standalone episode to see if you like the vibe.
- Dive into Season 1 (2005): Start with Christopher Eccleston to get the emotional weight of the Doctor’s history.
- Check out "The War Between the Land and the Sea": If you want modern production values and a tight, five-episode story, this is your best entry point for 2026.
- Track the 2026 Christmas Special news: Keep an eye on official BBC channels, as this will likely signal the start of a brand-new production era for the franchise.
The Doctor always says "everything ends," but with this show, that's never actually true. It just changes shape.