Doctor Who backdrop
Drama•Action & Adventure•Sci-Fi & Fantasy

The Worst Episodes of Doctor Who

Every episode of Doctor Who ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Doctor Who!

Binge this in 12d 4h•Peaking at 9.1/10

The adventures of The Doctor, a time-traveling humanoid alien known as a Time Lord. He explores the universe in his TARDIS, a sentient time-traveling spaceship. Its exterior appears as a blue British police box, which

Airs on
BBC OneBBC Television
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons26

All1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 34 - The Space Pirates (6)
    4.7/10(345 votes)

    #1 - The Space Pirates (6)

    S6:E34

    With Clancey and Issigri trapped aboard the LIZ, the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe try to convince Madeleine to help them before Caven destroys Ta.

    Director:Michael Hart
    Writer:Robert Holmes

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 33 - The Space Pirates (5)
    4.9/10(341 votes)

    #2 - The Space Pirates (5)

    S6:E33

    Madeleine is revealed to be working with Caven, who comes up with a way to kill the Doctor and his friends whilst framing them for the piracy.

    Director:Michael Hart
    Writer:Robert Holmes

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 31 - The Space Pirates (3)
    5.0/10(343 votes)

    #3 - The Space Pirates (3)

    S6:E31

    The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe flee from the Space Corps with Clancey, who decides to seek refuge on Ta.

    Director:Michael Hart
    Writer:Robert Holmes

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 32 - The Space Pirates (4)
    5.0/10(341 votes)

    #4 - The Space Pirates (4)

    S6:E32

    The Doctor, Jamie and Zoe are held prisoner by the space pirates while Caven comes up with a plan to throw suspicion onto Clancey.

    Director:Michael Hart
    Writer:Robert Holmes

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 29 - The Space Pirates (1)
    5.1/10(365 votes)

    #5 - The Space Pirates (1)

    S6:E29

    Space beacons are being destroyed by pirates, who are salvaging the argonite metal. When the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe arrive on one of the beacons, they are mistaken for pirates.

    Director:Michael Hart
    Writer:Robert Holmes

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 23 - The Twin Dilemma (3)
    5.2/10(501 votes)

    #6 - The Twin Dilemma (3)

    S21:E23

    The Doctor arrives on Jaconda, once lush and green, to find it completely devastated by giant gastropods. Old legends about the planet's half-human/half-slugs weren't just myths after all. With or without help from the Doctor and his unpredictable mood swings, Lt. Lang is up for rescuing the twins, who are finally informed of the grand purpose they've been brought to Jaconda to accomplish.

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Anthony Steven

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

    7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Doctor Who

    READ
  7. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 24 - The Twin Dilemma (4)
    5.2/10(504 votes)

    #7 - The Twin Dilemma (4)

    S21:E24

    The Doctor and Edgeworth deduce that the real plan of Mestor, the gastropod ruler of Jaconda, will not only destroy Jaconda but lead to the devastation of other planets. Together they hope to thwart him despite his formidable ability at slipping into people's minds and controlling them.

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Anthony Steven

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  8. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 21 - The Twin Dilemma (1)
    5.3/10(563 votes)

    #8 - The Twin Dilemma (1)

    S21:E21

    Earth, the future. The genius Sylvest twins, child prodigies, are kidnapped by the mysterious Professor Edgeworth and taken to the planet Jaconda. But who is Edgeworth? Why does he serve the giant slug Mestor? And what is Mestor's plan?

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Anthony Steven

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Doctor Who Season 21 Episode 22 - The Twin Dilemma (2)
    5.3/10(500 votes)

    #9 - The Twin Dilemma (2)

    S21:E22

    The Doctor takes Peri to Titan 3, a desolate hunk of rock in space where he hopes to find some solitude for a while. Instead he finds the lone but unconscious survivor of a recent spaceship crash in sight of a mound-shaped complex where no formalised structure should exist.

    Director:Peter Moffatt
    Writer:Anthony Steven

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Doctor Who Season 22 Episode 11 - Timelash (2)
    5.4/10(519 votes)

    #10 - Timelash (2)

    S22:E11

    The Borad accepts no opposition and enables Maylin Tekker to expose the rebels and trap Peri with the Morlox. The Doctor tries to avert a war between Karfel and the Bandrils.

    Director:Pennant Roberts
    Writer:Glen McCoy

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 3 - Time and the Rani (3)
    5.4/10(570 votes)

    #11 - Time and the Rani (3)

    S24:E3

    The solstice nears, making it time for the Rani to bring her plans into fruition. The Doctor's sympathies for Beyus, ruler of the Lykertyans, are rather qualified. Beyus' heart is for his people yet something prompts him to collaborate fully in helping the Rani reach all her objectives. The answer, he's told, lies within the Center of Leisure.

    Director:Andrew Morgan
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 4 - Time and the Rani (4)
    5.4/10(579 votes)

    #12 - Time and the Rani (4)

    S24:E4

    The Rani, at last, links the Doctor into her great brain machine, the crowning jewel in her component packet of geniuses brought together to turn Lakertya itself into one vast cerebral mass capable of redirecting time anywhere in the universe, giving her absolute power over all creation.

    Director:Andrew Morgan
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 21 - The Centre
    5.5/10(729 votes)

    #13 - The Centre

    S2:E21

    The Doctor and Vicki are taken before the Animus but the isoptope is left behind in the laboratory.The only hope of victory lies with Barbara and her Menoptera allies.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 2 - Time and the Rani (2)
    5.5/10(584 votes)

    #14 - Time and the Rani (2)

    S24:E2

    The Rani's impersonation of Mel backfires badly because Urak can't tell the difference, while the Doctor attempts to learn the secret of the Loyhargil.

    Director:Andrew Morgan
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 19 - Crater of Needles
    5.6/10(741 votes)

    #15 - Crater of Needles

    S2:E19

    Ian and Vrestin are captured by the subterranean Optera while Barbara and her Menoptera allies attempt to escape from the slave camp.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 20 - Invasion
    5.6/10(730 votes)

    #16 - Invasion

    S2:E20

    Barbara and the surviving Menoptera take refuge in the Temple of Light while the Doctor and Vicki attempt to escape by taking control of a Zarbi.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Doctor Who Season 6 Episode 30 - The Space Pirates (2)
    5.6/10(408 votes)

    #17 - The Space Pirates (2)

    S6:E30

    With the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe trapped on a beacon segment, Hermack becomes suspicious of the unruly prospector Milo Clancey.

    Director:Michael Hart
    Writer:Robert Holmes

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Doctor Who Season 22 Episode 10 - Timelash (1)
    5.6/10(567 votes)

    #18 - Timelash (1)

    S22:E10

    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...

    Director:Pennant Roberts
    Writer:Glen McCoy

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 1 - Time and the Rani (1)
    5.6/10(646 votes)

    #19 - Time and the Rani (1)

    S24:E1

    The alien world of Lakertya. With the aid of the savage Tetraps, the Rani has conquered this planet to allow her to continue her depraved biochemical experiments. But she finds herself needing the Doctor's assistance...

    Director:Andrew Morgan
    Writers:Philip Baker, Jane Baker

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Doctor Who Season 2 Episode 18 - Escape to Danger
    5.7/10(739 votes)

    #20 - Escape to Danger

    S2:E18

    The Doctor is forced to co-operate with the Animus but Ian uses the opportunity to make an escape attempt.

    Director:Richard Martin
    Writer:Bill Strutton

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 10 - Delta and the Bannermen (2)
    5.7/10(544 votes)

    #21 - Delta and the Bannermen (2)

    S24:E10

    Mel's just discovered something very interesting about the life cycle of her new friend and the Doctor has been cornered by an alien bounty hunter wearing blue suede shoes.

    Director:Chris Clough
    Writer:Malcolm Kohll

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Doctor Who Season 24 Episode 11 - Delta and the Bannermen (3)
    5.7/10(551 votes)

    #22 - Delta and the Bannermen (3)

    S24:E11

    As Billy and Ray do what they can to help save Delta and the baby, the Doctor and Goronwy the beekeeper face Gavrok and his Bannermen one last time...

    Director:Chris Clough
    Writer:Malcolm Kohll

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Doctor Who Season 4 Episode 22 - The Underwater Menace (4)
    5.8/10(510 votes)

    #23 - The Underwater Menace (4)

    S4:E22

    With Zaroff's plan nearing completion, the Doctor and Ben realise the only way to save the world is to destroy Atlantis.

    Director:Julia Smith
    Writer:Geoffrey Orme

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Doctor Who Season 15 Episode 18 - Underworld (2)
    5.8/10(497 votes)

    #24 - Underworld (2)

    S15:E18

    After 100,000 years, the Minyans have found the long-lost P7E. But what awaits them on the ship, long buried in the core of a newborn planet?

    Director:Norman Stewart
    Writers:Dave Martin, Bob Baker

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Doctor Who Season 15 Episode 19 - Underworld (3)
    5.8/10(494 votes)

    #25 - Underworld (3)

    S15:E19

    The Minyans have, at long last, found the P7E. But a host of guards and robotic seers stand between them and the race banks.

    Director:Norman Stewart
    Writers:Dave Martin, Bob Baker

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"The Space Pirates (6)" is the worst rated episode of "Doctor Who". It scored 4.7/10 based on 345 votes. Directed by Michael Hart and written by Robert Holmes, it aired on 4/12/1969. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "The Space Pirates (5)".