The 9 Classic Series Stories for New Series Fans

The seven Doctors of the Classic Series. From left to right: William Hartnell as the First Doctor, Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor, Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor, Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Sylvester McCoy as the Seventh Doctor.

Doctor Who Series 12 has been and gone, and now comes the inevitable wait for the next series. Of course, just because the series has ended, doesn't mean there isn't more Doctor Who to enjoy. Especially for fans who have only ever watched the new series, there's a whole 26 years of classic Doctor Who to discover. I'm going to do a run down of the best entry points for fans who have seen all of new series Doctor Who back to front, and are looking to expand their horizons into the classic series!

1. "An Unearthly Child" (1963) - Featuring the First Doctor (William Hartnell):

The Doctor (William Hartnell), Ian (William Russell),
Barbara (Jacqueline Hill) and Susan (Carole Ann Ford)
escape back to the TARDIS, in a promotional photo for the
first ever Doctor Who story, "An Unearthly Child".

Probably the most obvious place to start with classic Doctor Who is at the beginning. "An Unearthly Child" is the first ever Doctor Who story, and still stands the test of time, even 56 years later. Starting in the very domestic setting of Shoreditch in 1963, and then taking the TARDIS, and the viewer, back in time to the Stone Age, this story shows, right from the very beginning, that Doctor Who wasn't afraid to think outside the (police) box. The first episode is a masterpiece of television: a small-scale character piece that builds to what is probably the greatest reveal in science-fiction history. The companions are great fun to be around: Ian and Barbara are earthy and relatable, while Susan and the Doctor's enigmatic behaviour presents an intriguing mystery. The following three episodes in the Stone Age aren't quite as interesting, but they do at least present some present danger for our new Team TARDIS, and a chance for the characters to bond and grow. The Doctor, as a character, is probably at the most alien he's ever been here, but there is still a warmth to him that you see develop as his era goes on. If you love the Twelfth Doctor and his character journey, you'll love William Hartnell's take on the Doctor. He's crotchety and grumpy, but at the same time warm and affectionate to those he cares about. Susan, Ian and Barbara make for an excellent team, and the four share a fantastic dynamic that makes the stories of the era watchable and enjoyable. "An Unearthly Child" is a great starting point for Doctor Who: as I say, the last three episodes are pretty mediocre. However, as an introduction to the First Doctor's era, there's none better and more suitable for new fans.

2. "The Tomb of the Cybermen" (1967) - Featuring the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton):

The Doctor (Patrick Troughton) has to explain himself to the
archaeological party, in a promotional photo for "The Tomb of
the Cybermen".

Jumping into the era of the Second Doctor can be a little tricky, mostly because a lot of his era is, like William Hartnell's, sadly missing. However, one story that does still exist in the archives is "The Tomb of the Cybermen". Taking inspiration from the Universal Horror Mummy films of the 1930's, "Tomb of the Cybermen" shows the metal monsters at perhaps their most sinister and menacing. Being the first major story for new companion Victoria, we once again get a fresh perspective upon the adventures of the Doctor, while the Doctor's relationship with highland companion Jamie is at its highest point. There's a great bunch of guest characters too, all of whom fit into the different roles the story needs them to perfectly. The scenes of the Cybermen breaking out of the tombs is one of the most iconic moments from the show's history, and one that a number of Cybermen stories, such as "Nightmare in Silver" and the recent "Ascension of the Cybermen" have attempted to replicate. Patrick Troughton is a wonder as the Second Doctor here: showing the light and dark of the Doctor's character perfectly, taking command of the situation and squaring up to the Cyber Controller. If you love the Eleventh Doctor, you will find the Second Doctor right down your ally, as he shares a lot of traits with Matt Smith's potrayal. In fact, Smith based a lot of his Doctor upon Troughton after watching "The Tomb of the Cybermen", showing how successfully his Doctor comes across in this one story. The scene he shares with Victoria talking about their relatives is one of the most touching scenes in the show's history. It's hard to argue that "Tomb of the Cybermen" isn't anything more than a stone cold classic, when it has so many great elements and aspects, and is a key story for Patrick Troughton's Doctor.

3. "Spearhead from Space" (1970) - Featuring the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee):

The Doctor (Jon Pertwee) hides from the Autons, in a
promotional photo for "Spearhead from Space".

For newcomers, the era of the Third Doctor can seem a little strange. After all, during a vast chunk of this period of Doctor Who, the Doctor is stringently exiled to 1970's Earth, and working with UNIT (the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce). There's no place better to begin, therefore, than at the beginning, with "Spearhead from Space". The first true 'reinvention' of the show, this story introduces the Third Doctor, his new assistant Doctor Elizabeth Shaw, and establishes the ongoing presence of UNIT, lead by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. It also introduces the Autons and the Nestene Consciousness, as seen in "Rose", the very first story of the revived series. A cracking script by veteran Who writer Robert Holmes, this is a great debut for Pertwee's Doctor, showing off all his key characteristics and allowing us a chance to see him in action. We are introduced to the idea the Doctor has two hearts as well, a key part of the Doctor's alien biology. And this is the first Doctor Who story to be broadcast in colour as well, and the only classic series story to be filmed entirely on location. This gives the story a sweeping, cinematic look that grabs the eye, and helps cement this era as action-packed and explosive. The Autons are presented as a powerful, terrifying force, and the scenes of them smashing out of shop windows and attacking the public is one of Doctor Who's most enduring images. Jon Pertwee is instantly authoritative, even though the Doctor spends a vast amount of the first two episodes in bed. He instantly takes charge of the situation, very much like both Peter Capaldi and and Christopher Eccleston's Doctors. His relationship with Nicholas Courtney as the Brigadier is one of the best double acts in the show's history, and is one you get to see built on significantly as the era progresses. "Spearhead from Space" is one of the most perfect places to start with for classic Doctor Who, and the best place to start with for Jon Pertwee's era.

4. "The Ark in Space" (1975) - Featuring the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker):

The Doctor (Tom Baker) and Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth
Sladen) investigate the biology of a Wirrn, in a promotional
photo for "The Ark in Space".

The Fourth Doctor era is one of the most popular amongst fans of the classic series. Right from the beginning, Tom Baker cemented himself as probably the greatest actor ever to take on the role of the Doctor. "The Ark in Space" is only his second story in the role, and already he is at the height of his powers. Cited as one of the all-time greatest stories of Doctor Who ever by former modern Doctor Who show-runners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat, this story sees the Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and new companion Harry Sullivan arriving in the far future, to find the decedents of humanity in preservation aboard a huge space-station. But something has got on-board, and humanity must now fight to survive against the Wirrn. This is probably the most archetypal set-up for a Doctor Who story ever: a base-under-siege, and the Doctor, his companions and the guest characters are forced to survive against an insidious alien threat. The claustrophobic tension the scenario brings allows the characters to come to the fore in a way that has never really been done previously, and the stakes are clear and high right from the beginning. There are points in this story where the Doctor really could lose, and Tom Baker is perfect as a Doctor clinging onto the hope that he can get everyone out alive. To be honest, if you enjoy modern Doctor Who, its hard not to like Tom Baker's Doctor. All of them have echoes of Tom's Doctor, from Tennant's humour to Capaldi's alien edge. Here, together with Who legend Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan, they make for a formidable TARDIS team. Sure, the monsters might be a little ropy, and the lighting is a little harsh. However, if you are willing to suspend your disbelief, this is a fantastic story that manages to convince you of the horror and the danger of the situation the characters are in. A fantastic, phenomenal piece of television, this is a standout from the Fourth Doctor's era.

5. "Genesis of the Daleks" (1975) - Featuring the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker):

The Doctor (Tom Baker) threatens Davros (Michael Wisher),
in a promotional photo for "Genesis of the Daleks".

If you've done any research about classic Doctor Who at all, or seen any clips, chances are it involved "Genesis of the Daleks". This is one of the most seminal, the most significant, and the most important stories in Doctor Who history. It may have taken twelve years for the show to tell the story of how the Daleks came to be, but this single story has ramifications that still extend up to the present day. Seen as the inciting incident in the Last Great Time War, as well as the inspiration behind the Series 9 two-parter "The Magician's Apprentice/The Witch's Familiar", the Doctor is sent to Skaro by the Time Lords in order to prevent the creation of the Daleks, and he, together with Sarah and Harry, find that the evil scientist Davros is starting to mutate his own people in order to create them. Right from the very beginning, this is something special. It's the first story to feature Davros, in his most terrifying role: not as evil Dalek ruler, but as crazed, megalomaniac scientist. His scenes with the Doctor here show why he has become such a popular antagonist with the show's creatives: he is fiercely intelligent, but uses that intelligence for evil. Aided and abetted by his just-as-evil henchman Nyder, Davros makes for one of the show's most feared and fearsome antagonists here, leaving his Daleks very much on the sidelines. When they do enter the scene, however, they're as intimating and fierce as they've ever been. If you're fan of Doctor Who as allegory, or Doctor Who touching upon dark subjects, then you'll love "Genesis of the Daleks". The Doctor's confrontations with Davros are some of the most gripping in the show's history. Honestly, "Genesis of the Daleks" is such a special story, and was my first classic series story. This is Doctor Who at its finest, and there's not much more that I can recommend that is even to the same standard.

6. "City of Death" (1979) - Featuring the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker):

The Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) explore
Paris, in this publicity photo for "City of Death".

Tom Baker has a mammoth seven year tenure as the Doctor, so I felt it important to take an example from later in his run as well. If you're not so keen on Doctor Who's Gothic tendencies and horror elements, and prefer things to be more fun and light-hearted, then "City of Death" is for you. Now partnered with the second incarnation of Time Lady Romana, the Doctor visits Paris, only to find something unusual is happening with time. And it all connects to the Mona Lisa and Count Scarlioni. Written by the great Douglas Adams, "City of Death" is as witty as any Doctor Who story you can imagine, and beautifully plotted. Each twist and turn is so wonderfully fresh, and the whole thing has a vibrance and a dynamism that was unseen in the classic series up till this point. The four episodes fly by, with a warm atmosphere and a wonderful slew of jokes. This is probably the funniest the show has ever been, while, at the same time, reminding the audience that there is genuine peril and danger. So often the show has attempted to gloss over this during humorous episodes: not so here. Tom Baker and Lalla Ward are on fire, making this dynamic very like that shared by David Tennant and Billie Piper, or Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman. Being a smart Time Lord, Romana has the opportunity to further the plot herself, and its in Romana that the ground work for Jodie Whittaker and Jo Martin's Doctors is laid. This is all topped off with location material in Paris itself, beautifully underscored by composer Dudley Simpson. With the pace, flair, humour and style of modern Doctor Who, "City of Death" is the story that, more than any other, shows off how good Doctor Who is, and how accessible it can be. There is something here for everyone, no matter who you are or what you like most. If you've never seen "City of Death" before, you're in for a treat.

7. "Earthshock" (1982) - Featuring the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison):

Things get desperate for the Doctor (Peter Davison), in a
promotional photo for "Earthshock".

After seven long years with Tom Baker in charge, the jump to the Fifth Doctor can seem a little strange. His era features a lot of trial and error, in an attempt to find what the show was after such a big change. One of the most successful instances of this radical approach was "Earthshock". Bringing back the Cybermen after seven years in a shocking cliffhanger to part 1, this story pulls no punches with its gritty, action-adventure style. If you enjoyed the recent two-part Cyberman story "Ascension of the Cybermen/The Timeless Children", you'll love this story, as a lot of the same beats and moments originate from this story. This is Doctor Who as an action movie: the direction style is frenetic and fast-paced, while the script is full of death and disaster. The Doctor is at his most frenetic here, as the situation rapidly runs away from him. Peter's much more human and vulnerable Doctor shares a number of echoes with both Matt Smith and Jodie Whittaker's Doctors, especially in his fragility in front of the Cyber Leader. While he may have three companions under him at this point (Adric, Nyssa and Tegan), its the Doctor who's very much in the driving seat in this one. His arguments with Adric at the beginning highlight how much of this era is defined by the relationships between the TARDIS travellers, and this argument shows what happens when they're pushed as far as possible. The Cybermen are as powerful and as intimidating as any story in the new series, and it takes everything the Doctor has to stop them. If you enjoy those rare Doctor Who stories where everything is on the line, everything is at stake and that change the game for Doctor Who forever, then this is the story for you. Oh, and there's one big event in this story that I haven't talked about, but I think its only fair that, if you've never seen "Earthshock" before, you go in unspoiled as to what that is...

8. "Vengeance on Varos" (1985) - Featuring the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker):

The Doctor (Colin Baker) expresses his outrage at Varosian
society, in a promotional photo for "Vengeance on Varos".

The dark streak that starts to run through the Fifth Doctor's later stories continues into the Sixth Doctor's era. The darkest era of the classic show's run, nowhere is that vision better exemplified than in "Vengeance on Varos". Now travelling with Peri Brown, the Doctor arrives on the planet Varos on a desperate mission. Soon, however, he and Peri find themselves fighting against the cruel tyranny on Varos, all the while having their ordeal filmed for the Varosian masses, trapped inside the Punishment Dome. Predicting the rise of reality TV by about 15 years, "Vengeance on Varos" is Doctor Who's biting satire on Thatcher's Britain, where big corporations are represented by a evil slug and those that demand change are thrown into a gigantic torture chamber while their ordeal is broadcast as entertainment for the broken masses. Honestly, not many shows could pull off a concept like that. This is a story that sees the Doctor get to express his moral outrage at the society that has been created, and sees Colin Baker given a rare chance to show off how strong his Doctor could be, without the burden of continuity to weigh him down. Its true that Colin got a bad rep during his time as the Doctor, and, although his Doctor won't be to everyone's tastes, if you like Chris Eccleston or Peter Capaldi's Doctors, you'll probably get on with 'Old Sixy', who shares a lot of the same traits. This is also probably one of the most violent stories of the classic era, although a lot of the violence has a satirical bent to it. And there's Sil, one of the most interesting villains in the classic series in the mix as well. "Vengeance on Varos" is probably the strongest story in the Colin Baker era, and, while not perfect, it is a pretty good story that gives you a taste of the type of stories commonplace in the Sixth Doctor's era.

9. "Remembrance of the Daleks" (1988) - Featuring the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy):

The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) take
care of some unfinished business involving the Daleks, in a
promotional photo for "Remembrance of the Daleks". 

And so, we come to the end of the classic series. The Seventh Doctor's era might have been the end, but, in the process, these last three seasons laid the groundwork for the show's revival under Russell T Davies. The opening story of Season 25, "Remembrance of the Daleks" sees the Doctor and new companion Ace journeying to London in 1963, only to find two different factions of Daleks after a piece of Time Lord technology known as the Hand of Omega. An explosive story, this sees the Doctor at possibly his most manipulative as he tries to ensure that the right faction of Daleks get control of the Hand of Omega. Linking back with a number of events that took place in the very first episode, this story has a feeling of coming full circle. If you love Matt Smith or Jodie Whittaker's Doctors, you'll find a lot to love in McCoy: all three share a caring, yet manipulative side. As for Ace, played by the wonderful Sophie Aldred, she is basically a proto-new series companion. She shares a number of traits with a number of new series companions, especially Rose, and she is a motivated, strong character in her own right. As time goes on, you get to see more of her backstory and more of her character. This story keeps the excitement levels high, with a Dalek civil war taking place in the backstreets of London, double crosses and massive explosions. If you love you're pyrotechnics, you'll love this story. "Remembrance" is also the first time we start getting proper hints that the Doctor's backstory is not everything we thought it was, something which has, of course, recently been built upon in "The Timeless Children". With action, political commentary, mystery, strong characters and some standout moments, "Remembrance of the Daleks" is easily one of Doctor Who's highest points, and is the perfect place to start if you're looking to get into the Sylvester McCoy era.

And that's my guide to getting started with classic Doctor Who! It may seem a little daunting at first, but, once you start, you'll be travelling down that rabbit hole, I promise you that! If you want to find any of these stories, they are available on DVD, Blu-Ray and on streaming platform Britbox (you can get a 30 day free trial here: https://www.britbox.co.uk/). Comment below if you found this guide helpful, and what you think of classic Doctor Who! I'd love to get feedback on whether this list helped you!

The seven classic Doctors all stand together.

All pictures copyright to the BBC. Thank you very much for reading.