The WORST episodes of Doctor Who

Every episode of Doctor Who ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Doctor Who!

The Doctor, a mysterious traveller in space and time, travels in his ship, the TARDIS. The TARDIS can take him and his companions anywhere in time and space. Inevitably he finds evil at work wherever he goes...

Last Updated: 11/13/2023Network: BBC OneStatus: Ended
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Timelash (2)
star
5.53
133 votes

#1 - Timelash (2)

Season 22 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/16/1985

Directors: Pennant Roberts
Writer: Glen McCoy
The Space Pirates (5)
star
5.84
122 votes

#2 - The Space Pirates (5)

Season 6 - Episode 33 - Aired 4/5/1969

Directors: Michael Hart
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The Space Pirates (4)
star
6.01
125 votes

#3 - The Space Pirates (4)

Season 6 - Episode 32 - Aired 3/29/1969

Directors: Michael Hart
The Space Pirates (part 3)
star
6.03
128 votes

#4 - The Space Pirates (part 3)

Season 6 - Episode 31 - Aired 3/22/1969

Directors: Michael Hart
Time and the Rani (4)
star
6.05
186 votes

#5 - Time and the Rani (4)

Season 24 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/28/1987

Directors: Andrew Morgan
The Space Pirates (part 1)
star
6.08
127 votes

#6 - The Space Pirates (part 1)

Season 6 - Episode 29 - Aired 3/8/1969

Directors: Michael Hart
The Underwater Menace (4)
star
6.08
107 votes

#7 - The Underwater Menace (4)

Season 4 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/4/1967

Directors: Julia Smith
The Twin Dilemma (3)
star
6.10
135 votes

#8 - The Twin Dilemma (3)

Season 21 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/29/1984

Directors: Peter Moffatt
The Centre (6)
star
6.14
191 votes

#9 - The Centre (6)

Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/20/1965

The Menoptra attack the Carsinome and the Doctor and his friends come face-to-face with the Animus. The Isop-Top device is their only hope of destroying the alien creature.

Directors: Richard Martin
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Crater of Needles (4)
star
6.17
188 votes

#10 - Crater of Needles (4)

Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/6/1965

Ian and Vrestin fall into caverns beneath the surface of Vortis and encounter the Optera. The Doctor finds the landing site of the Menoptra, and the Zarbi prepare to ambush them.

Directors: Richard Martin
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The Underwater Menace (part 2)
star
6.19
111 votes

#11 - The Underwater Menace (part 2)

Season 4 - Episode 20 - Aired 1/21/1967

Jamie and Ben are set to work in the mines but are determined to escape. The Doctor discovers that Zaroff's mad plans will cause the destruction of the Earth.

Directors: Julia Smith
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The Space Pirates (6)
star
6.19
126 votes

#12 - The Space Pirates (6)

Season 6 - Episode 34 - Aired 4/12/1969

Directors: Michael Hart
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Invasion (5)
star
6.23
192 votes

#13 - Invasion (5)

Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/13/1965

Barbara and a few of the Menoptra hide in an ancient temple. The Doctor and Vicki escape the Carsinome and join forces with Barbara's group who are preparing to attack the Animus.

Directors: Richard Martin
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The Twin Dilemma (4)
star
6.25
159 votes

#14 - The Twin Dilemma (4)

Season 21 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/30/1984

Directors: Peter Moffatt
Delta and the Bannermen (1)
star
6.27
169 votes

#15 - Delta and the Bannermen (1)

Season 24 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/2/1987

Directors: Chris Clough
The Space Pirates (part 2)
star
6.30
136 votes

#16 - The Space Pirates (part 2)

Season 6 - Episode 30 - Aired 3/15/1969

General Hermack suspects Milo Clancey of being in league with the pirates. Trapped inside a segment of the beacon, the air supply is running out for the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe.

Directors: Michael Hart
Escape to Danger (3)
star
6.31
194 votes

#17 - Escape to Danger (3)

Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/27/1965

The alien intelligence, the Animus, coerces the Doctor into tracking down the Menoptra. Ian escapes the Carsinome and joins forces with Vrestin, but the Zarbi are in pursuit.

Directors: Richard Martin
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Time and the Rani (3)
star
6.31
208 votes

#18 - Time and the Rani (3)

Season 24 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/21/1987

Directors: Andrew Morgan
Timelash (1)
star
6.34
101 votes

#19 - Timelash (1)

Season 22 - Episode 10 - Aired 3/9/1985

The planet Karfel, in the distant future. The tyrannical Borad rules with an iron fist, and any who oppose him are cast into the Timelash - a space-time tunnel leading to the past of an alien world called Earth...

Directors: Pennant Roberts
Writer: Glen McCoy
The Mysterious Planet (3)
star
6.35
176 votes

#20 - The Mysterious Planet (3)

Season 23 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/20/1986

Directors: Nicholas Mallett
Time and the Rani (2)
star
6.35
185 votes

#21 - Time and the Rani (2)

Season 24 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/14/1987

Directors: Andrew Morgan
The Underwater Menace (1)
star
6.37
136 votes

#22 - The Underwater Menace (1)

Season 4 - Episode 19 - Aired 1/14/1967

Directors: Julia Smith
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The Zarbi (2)
star
6.39
202 votes

#23 - The Zarbi (2)

Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/20/1965

Rescued by the Menoptra, Barbara is then captured by the ant-like Zarbi. The Doctor and Ian trace the missing TARDIS to a giant web city and encounter a mysterious intelligence.

Directors: Richard Martin
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Meglos (3)
star
6.40
127 votes

#24 - Meglos (3)

Season 18 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/11/1980

Directors: Terence Dudley
Time and the Rani (1)
star
6.41
221 votes

#25 - Time and the Rani (1)

Season 24 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/7/1987

Directors: Andrew Morgan