The complete ninth series of Doctor Who is out on DVD and bluray.

Starring Peter Capaldi and Jenna Coleman, they were joined by Maisie Williams for last year’s shocking and exciting episodes.

But, which series is the BEST of Doctor Who since it retuned in 2005? Here’s what we think.

9. Series Seven (2012-13)


Despite starting off promisingly with the classic Asylum Of The Daleks, this split series (never a good idea) crumbled after the loss of Amy and Rory.

New companion Clara, then dubbed the Impossible Girl (for some reason, not quite sure), joined but her debut run was hardly memorable.



Most Doctor Who series will have one ‘stinker’, as they are known, but Series 7 treated us to a pair of diabolical plops – The Rings Of Akhaten, and Nightmare In Silver featuring the Cybermen and written by acclaimed author Neil Gaiman.

8. Series Eight (2014)

Peter Capaldi’s first series did have its moments but his characterisation and stories failed to hit the right note on a consistently high level.

New writers brought in did demonstrate what the show is capable of – classic tales like Mummy On The Orient Express and Flatline – but this particular year felt flat and uninspiring.

It was, however, topped off with the exquisite seasonal special, Last Christmas.

7. Series Six (2011)

Matt Smith’s second series in charge of the TARDIS was also the first to feature the ‘split’ – something nobody was keen on.

It kicked off in great style with the return of River Song, the introduction of the scary-as-f**k Silence and filming in the United States.

But the break did disrupt the flow.

And on its return, the notion of Amy and Rory’s newborn baby was rather put to the back seat and the mystery of the astronaut who ‘killed’ the Doctor in the series opener was also ‘solved’.

And by ‘solved’, I mean a timey-wimey explanation that still gives me a headache trying to decipher.

6. Series Five (2010)

Steven Moffat’s first series as showrunner was an entertainingly consistent affair with no real stinkers in there at all.

There are less memorable stories, for sure, such as The Beast Below and Victory Of The Daleks, but they aren’t terrible by any means.

What this batch of episodes does have is an excellent Matt Smith hitting the ground running like no other Doctor.

His debut adventure The Eleventh Hour is still one of Who’s best.

His companions Amy and Rory also make for delightful company over the course of the series.

Other highlights include the return of the Weeping Angels (and River Song!), James Corden popping up in The Lodger and the beautiful and haunting Vincent And The Doctor.

5. Series Two (2006)

If you cast your mind back (10 bloody years!), you’ll remember that David Tennant and Billie Piper were THE nation’s favourite couple. ]



The makers of Who were still finding their feet somewhat (and surprised at the huge success the first series was) resulting in some ‘interesting choices’ – Peter Kay as a Blue Peter designed alien in Love & Monsters and the then-futuristic look at the 2012 Olympics with a ‘Scribble Monster’ and the Tenth Doctor lighting the Olympic flame.

Mis-steps aside, we were hooked.

Classic companions Sarah Jane Smith and K9 returned whilst the Tenth Doctor fell in love with Madame de Pompadour in the gorgeous The Girl In The Fireplace.

Oh, and he also came face to face with Satan.

Best of all, though, was the finale.

The Doctor and Rose’s separation is THE televisual moment from 2006 and one of Doctor Who’s most iconic moments.

4. Series Nine (2015)

Last year’s run of episodes saw Peter Capaldi settle into his role as The Twelfth Doctor and also kicked off in a climactic fashion with the return of Missy and Davros on the Dalek world Skaro.

We also witnessed the return of another classic monster, the Zygons, in a spellbinding two-part story that included Peter Capaldi giving the speech of his life as the Doctor argued against war.

Game Of Thrones’ Maisie Williams appeared in numerous episodes as the immortal and slightly disturbing Ashildr.

But our full marks and all of the gold stars go to Heaven Sent, the series penultimate ep, featuring Peter Capaldi all by himself trapped, giving yet another performance of a lifetime. A sublime story.

Oh, and the Doctor got some cool new shades too…


3. Series Three (2007)

New companion Martha Jones, who gets a bit of stick from fans but did manage to save the world twice, joined the Tenth Doctor for an impressive run of stories.

The New York Dalek two-parter aside, Series Three boasts possibly the best second half to a series ever.

Starting with Human Nature, where the Doctor turned himself into a human, we then get fan-favourite Weeping Angels debut Blink, from scare-meister Steven Moffat, and then the return of both Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman) and The Master (John Simm) in the breathtaking Utopia.

Which leads into the apocalyptic finale on a Master-ruled Earth.

2. Series One (2005)

When Russell T Davies sensationally brought back Doctor Who to our televisions screens almost 11 years ago, no one would have believed just how brilliant and successful it would become.

Giving the lead roles to Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper was a genius movie, as was RTD’s companion-based perspective on the show.

For us, there’s not really a duff story in Eccleston’s 13 instalments and this was the first time Doctor Who hit the emotional highs (or lows depending on how you grade your feels) in stories like Father’s Day, where Rose met her long-deceased father or the finale which saw the Ninth Doctor bravely send Rose back home to safety from the Daleks.

It was quite like any other series of Who ever.

Throw into the mix Captain Jack, Mickey Smith, Jackie Tyler, amazing new (and scary) Daleks, Charles Dickes and gas mask zombies and you’ve got yourself one helluva series.


1. Series Four (2008)

Many Whovians baulked at the thought of Catherine Tate being a full-time companion but, as always, fans are usually always wrong.

Right from the get-go Tennant and Tate revealed a chemistry quite unlike any other Doctor/companion relationship.

These two were buddies. BFFs. And despite his ‘wisdom’, Donna Noble wasn’t afraid to take the Doctor down a peg or two or question the Time Lord when he was wrong.

Another blistering run of continuous eps saw the couple visit the Library and meet River Song for the first time, then the Tenth Doctor found himself alone and almost dead in a tourist bus full of rather angry tourists in Midnight while Donna created her own universe in the heart-breaking Turn Left.

Then there was the finale!

Never before had a television show caused so much news (well, apart from Dallas’ Who Shot JR?).

The finale, Journey’s End, actually made mainstream news as the nation discussed whether or not David Tennant was regenerating into a NEW Doctor (despite the fact he’d actually filmed the coming Christmas Special).

2008 was a golden year for Doctor Who, with both fans and mainstream audiences watching every week in their millions sitting on the edge of their seats, awaiting the following episode.

Doctor Who – The Complete Ninth Series is available on DVD and bluray now and available to download from the BBC Store.