The Doctor Who series returned in 2005 spearheaded by producer Russell T Davies who did a fantastic job of re-visualising the programme using the latest technology. It has now completed its 3rd new series and has been joined by a wonderful adult spin-off called Torchwood led by a new returning cast member known as Captain Jack Harkness. The majority of the stories have been excellent fun and action packed, although inevitably there are the occasional exceptions. So which ones make the greatest hits list.

Episode Average Rating

7.1

Christopher Eccleston is enrolled into the role of the new Doctor and is beautifully assisted by Billie Piper as Rose Tyler. Later in the series the character of Jack Harkness is introduced, one that will return in key roles in the future. This series was on the whole an excellent start, although it was also a period where the cast and production team were finding its feet, and notably the Slitheen stories are weak. The main thrust of the series focused on the Dalek storylines, and here are the best or most significant episodes.

1. The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances - An amazing 2 part story set in the 1941 blitz which keeps you guessing for a significant portion before you have any idea what is really going on. Captain Jack is introduced for the first time. This one has everything, suspense building up, an atmospheric wartime background and some great interplay between the characters. A Doctor Who masterpiece.

2. Dalek - The last remaining Dalek is found tortured in a billionaires collection. A superb twist where the Dalek becomes the victim, at least for a short while, and here begins a special connection between Rose and the Dalek race. This story is full of emotion, and builds up to a classic confrontation between the Doctor and the last Dalek.

3. The Unquiet Dead - A period drama style story set in 1869 when the Doctor teams up with Charles Dickens to confront the dead who keep coming back to life. An excellent cast and an equally engaging ghost story where the Doctor’s actions have drastic consequences.

4. Parting Of The Ways - The season finale was a two part story featuring the Daleks invasion of earth. Selected particularly for the second part of the story which is a classic rearguard action of the heroes holding off the Daleks on a spacestation. Contains a significant moment in the Captain Jack storyline not revealed until much much later. Also contains the departure of Eccleston as the new face of Doctor Who.

5. The End Of The World - A neat and simple episode where Rose goes on her first adventure to see the destruction of planet earth. A great line up of aliens, including the introduction of the Face of Boe, Rose overcome by the realisation of what is happening to her, the Doctor revealing a dark secret and some neat robot spider creatures. A great episode.

Episode Average Rating

7.9

David Tennant takes on the role as the regenerated Doctor and quickly establishes himself as my all time favourite alongside Tom Baker. His huge enthusiasm switching at times to a much more menacing and deadly nature make great viewing. The series was now firmly re-established and more confident in its approach, producing some stronger stories in the new series. Rose’s boyfriend Mickey begins to take a more prominent role, and the Cybermen emerge as the key enemy this season.

1. The Girl In The Fireplace - An absolute classic love story as the Doctor enters the court of Louis XIV through different time periods. Superbly written and very clever in its design and concept. The masked clockwork enemies are also inspired. Definately one of my favourite Who stories of all time.

2. Tooth And Claw - A tense werewolf tale where the Doctor and Rose must protect Queen Victoria from the alien menace. This is my young sons favourite story and contains plenty of suspense, great effects, and some neat monster chase scenes. The Doctor’s moment of realisation is simply fabulous. This one is enthralling.

3. The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit - A dark two part story set on the edge of a black hole as the Doctor encounters the beast imprisoned in a deep pit. The location and set is great, the Ood species are introduced and Sanctuary base crew are being killed off one by one. A recipe for a successful and scary story.

4. Army Of Ghosts / Doomsday - The closing two part story where the Cyberman plan their invasion of earth only to confront the Daleks with a similar strategy. A great build up, and a heart wrenching finale as the cast jump between parallel universes.

5. School Reunion - A school is taken over by aliens who are using the pupils to crack the code to life. Whilst a slightly questionable storyline, this is particularly notable for the return of Sarah Jane Smith and K9 and this alone makes it an important story. It is also great fun, with Anthony Head a superb headmaster and the final goodbye with Sarah Jane always leaves me close to tears at the end.

Episode Average Rating

8.1

David Tennant continues the role as the Doctor and is joined by a new assistant in Martha Jones following Rose’s departure. There is a better balance to this season, although with not quite so many outstanding stories but conversely there are hardly any really poor ones. The Daleks return here in what actually ends up as one of the weaker two part stories, and late on Captain Jack also returns for the triple part finale against The Master.

1. Blink - Barely featuring the Doctor or Martha at all, this becomes another classic Doctor Who story which is superbly filmed. Strange messages from the past are being sent to a London girl who realises people are disappearing all around her. One of the scariest stories of the new series, just remember ‘Dont Blink’.

2. Human Nature / Family of Blood - The Doctor is being pursued and to avoid his enemies he hides in 1913 completely forgetting his identity. Only Martha holds the key to recovering this, but the Doctor seems happy to remain a human. Another one of the great stories, an interesting twist and a menacing threat throughout. The scarecrow enemies are excellent.

3. 42 - The Doctor answers a distress call on a mining ship that is about to crash into the sun. The crew are being possessed and one by one killed off. Hopefully this one will be hot enough for you. This one is fast paced and has real edge.

4. Utopia - The start of a 3 part story as The Master re-emerges from a lost existence and Captain Jack teams up again to confront him. Utopia in particular is the best of these 3 episodes as the last surviving humans endeavor to escape death and the collapse of reality.

5. Smith & Jones - An entire hospital is transported to the moon as the Judoon attempt to track down an alien vampire. Introduces Martha Jones as the new companion for the Doctor and contains lots of stormtrooping fun.

Episode Average Rating

8.4

David Tennant continues as the Doctor in series 4 joined by Katherine Tate as Donna Noble as his new permanent companion (although she has starred in two specials already). Katherine Tate adds in a touch of extra comic lines and has a near progressive storyline. Martha Jones is also back for a few stories and so too is Rose Tyler for the finale. The Sontarans make their re-appearance in a two part special, and overall this is the strongest set of stories so far in a season.

1. The Stolen Earth / Journeys End - A two part epic finale which pits the return of Davros and his created Daleks in a plan to annihilate the Universe. The Doctor is joined by just about everyone from the new series in a spectacular storyline which is fast paced and dramatic. The build up in The Stolen Earth is simply brilliant.

2. Silence In The Library / Forest Of The Dead- A two part story scripted by Steven Moffat who is already legendary from ‘Blink’ & ‘Girl In The Fireplace’. This one is just as adept at building danger and suspense, but adding in a clever twist - what is the library’s secret and is this really all happening in a girl’s imagination? Amazing writing yet again.

3. The Sontaran Strategem / The Poison Sky - The Sontaran enemy are back as they build an invasion of earth, but why are their tactics not in keeping with their usual style. Unit also return in this great two part story which neatly mixes up a secret cult, Unit taskforce, the Sontarans and reveals more detail about Donna’s family.

4. Midnight - A tense dialogue based episode where the Doctor is trapped along with a small group of sightseers on a small shuttle. One of the occupants becomes posessed by an alien lifeform but can the Doctor stop the paranoia. This is the first episode to actually get my young son hiding in true Dr Who fashion.

5. Turn Left - Earth’s history is changed as Donna is pursuaded to change one small detail in her past. Uniquely linking many previous storyline events this charts the death of the Doctor and the return of Rose and she teams up with Donna to save the Universe.

1. Voyage of the Damned - Kylie Minogue joins the Doctor in this cracking special episode that sees the Tardis crash into the Titanic, leaving the Doctor in a Poseidon adventure chase through the ship to escape the host and to find out what is located floor 31. A highly entertaining episode with an all star cast, the best special episode so far.