All 7 Doctor Who Anniversary Specials Across the Sci-Fi Show’s 62-Year History, Ranked

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As a lifelong fan, I’ve always loved how Doctor Who marks its big milestones with special episodes. Over the past 62 years, they’ve done this seven times, though some of those celebrations have been truly amazing and really shaped the show. It’s hard to believe it all started back on November 23, 1963, with ‘An Unearthly Child’! The series has definitely had its peaks and valleys, but it’s become something incredible – the longest-running sci-fi show ever, and a real treasure of British television. I’m so excited to see what 2025 brings for the 62nd anniversary!

Although there aren’t any plans for a special episode to mark Doctor Who‘s 62nd anniversary in 2025, the show has created big celebratory adventures for seven of its anniversaries over the years. Episodes were made for the 10th, 20th, 25th, 30th, 50th, and 60th anniversaries, and a special was also released in 2022 to celebrate the BBC’s 100th birthday. Some of these anniversary episodes were more memorable and influential than others. With the next major anniversary—the show’s 70th—not arriving until 2033, let’s take a look back at some of the past celebrations.

7) 30th Anniversary Children in Need Special — “Dimensions in Time” (1993)

Released in 1993, “Dimensions in Time” wasn’t a regular episode of Doctor Who, but a special made to celebrate the show’s 30th anniversary and raise money for Children in Need. It featured a unique crossover with the British soap opera Eastenders, bringing back every actor who had previously played the Doctor, along with their companions. The story involves the Rani (Kate O’Mara) trapping them all in a time loop within Eastenders’ Albert Square. While “Dimensions in Time” was a nostalgic and successful fundraising event, it’s generally considered a lighthearted special. It isn’t part of the official Doctor Who storyline, and with such a large cast and a confusing plot, it didn’t allow for much character development.

6) 25th Anniversary Episode — “Silver Nemesis” (1988)

While “Dimensions in Time” marked an anniversary without affecting the show’s story – Doctor Who had already been cancelled – “Silver Nemesis” simply aired as a regular episode on November 23, 1988, with no mention of the 25th anniversary. This episode featured a particularly lively and engaging dynamic between the Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and Ace (Sophie Aldred) as they fought Cybermen and the sorceress Lady Peinforte (Fiona Walker). It’s a fun adventure, though it feels like the 25th anniversary deserved a more significant celebration.

5) 10th Anniversary Episode — “The Three Doctors” (1972-1973)

“The Three Doctors” was a groundbreaking episode, as it was the first time Doctor Who brought together multiple Doctors – William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and Jon Pertwee – to celebrate the show’s anniversary. While it didn’t air on November 23rd, it kicked off Doctor Who’s tenth year in 1973. The episode also introduced Omega, the original creator of Time Lord time travel, who was seeking revenge after being exiled. This addition became a significant part of Time Lord history. However, the story’s slow pace, somewhat weak characters, and now-outdated special effects mean it hasn’t aged particularly well.

4) 60th Anniversary Specials — “The Star Beast,” “Wild Blue Yonder,” & “The Giggle” (2023)

David Tennant returned as the Doctor following Jodie Whittaker’s time on the show, and his three specials celebrating Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary brought back Catherine Tate as his former companion, Donna Noble. Together, they faced new threats like the Meep and the Toymaker (played by Neil Patrick Harris). It was wonderful to see this popular pair reunited, and Donna’s story finally received a good ending. These specials were a solid start to Russell T. Davies’ new run of the show, though it was disappointing they didn’t acknowledge Doctor Who’s past more, and some of the episodes felt rushed or had noticeable visual effects problems.

3) 20th Anniversary Special — “The Five Doctors” (1983)

To mark Doctor Who‘s 20th anniversary in 1983, “The Five Doctors” brought together five incarnations of the Doctor: the First (played by Richard Hurndall, following William Hartnell’s death), Second, Third, Fourth (through archive footage of Tom Baker), and Fifth (Peter Davison). Seeing so many Doctors together was a fantastic way to celebrate the show’s history, filled with nostalgic moments and callbacks to past adventures. Despite a complicated storyline involving a dangerous area of Gallifrey called the Death Zone, “The Five Doctors” remains the largest official multi-Doctor story ever made, making it a significant part of Doctor Who lore.

2) BBC Centenary Special — “The Power of the Doctor” (2022)

Jodie Whittaker’s time as the Thirteenth Doctor came to an end with “The Power of the Doctor,” a special episode that marked the BBC’s 100th anniversary in 2022. Though the storyline was sometimes hard to follow and some of the Doctor’s friends didn’t get the farewells they deserved, the special was a fantastic tribute to the show’s long history. It brought back many familiar faces, including past companions like Tegan, Ace, Mel, Jo, and even Ian Chesterton. We also saw brief appearances from previous Doctors, including the First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth.

“The Power of the Doctor” brought together three of the Doctor’s most famous enemies: the Master (played by Sacha Dhawan), the Daleks, and the Cybermen. Both Sacha Dhawan and Jodie Whittaker gave excellent performances, and the special effects were stunning, especially during the Doctor’s regeneration at Durdle Door. While the episode had some weaknesses, it was a fantastic anniversary celebration, though it has since been surpassed as the best episode.

1) 50th Anniversary Special — “The Day of the Doctor” (2013)

Many fans consider “The Day of the Doctor” to be the best anniversary episode of Doctor Who. It celebrated the show’s 50th anniversary on November 23, 2013, and was a special, full-length adventure. The episode reunited the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors (played by David Tennant and Matt Smith) as they explored their history, including a previously unknown Doctor, the War Doctor (John Hurt). It was revealed he had destroyed Gallifrey to end the Time War, but in a surprising twist, the three Doctors ultimately worked together to save their home planet, forever changing the show.

As a huge Doctor Who fan, “The Day of the Doctor” really blew me away! The production quality was incredible, and David Tennant, Matt Smith, and Jenna Coleman (as Clara) all gave some of their best performances. It was amazing to see three Doctors working together, figuring out how to save Gallifrey and the Time Lords. And honestly, getting to see Billie Piper back as the Moment was a fantastic surprise! The Zygons were a bit unexpected, but the episode managed to give fans what they wanted and celebrate the show’s history without feeling forced or cliché. It was just brilliant!

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2025-11-25 19:43