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The 50th Anniversary Specials were a number of stories released in 2013 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. Like the 20th anniversary special, The Five Doctors [+]Terrance Dicks, Doctor Who 20th Anniversary Special (Public Broadcasting Service, 1983)., these specials are not considered to be part of a numbered season.

The two main stories were The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary Specials (BBC One, 2013). and The Time of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2013 (BBC One, 2013)., principally starring Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald.

Overview[]

The 50th Anniversary Specials followed on from the final moments of The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013)., in which Clara Oswald discovered the Doctor's greatest secret, a previously unknown incarnation known as the War Doctor. Because of this narrative connection, The Name of the Doctor was subsequently included in the 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition box set.

The anniversary stories revolved around the War Doctor and the final events of the Last Great Time War. The Christmas special also followed on from Name by focusing on the Doctor's life on Trenzalore and resolving a great deal of conflicts and mysteries surrounding his lifetime, and the coming end of his life.

The specials featured a number of the Doctor's regenerations, specifically those of the Eighth, War, and Eleventh Doctors. As such, the regenerations of all but the Second Doctor have now been depicted on-screen.

During the specials, the regeneration cycle introduced in the 1976 serial The Deadly Assassin was addressed. Before the specials aired, discussions and rumours about the War Doctor's true nature made it unclear whether or not the Doctor had truly undergone just ten regenerations up to Matt Smith's incarnation.

Furthermore, the specials answered the long-standing fan speculation that had arisen since the events of the two-part Series 4 finale in 2008, The Stolen Earth [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008). and Journey's End [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 4 (BBC One, 2008)., where the Tenth Doctor circumvented a regeneration and whether or not that had counted in the cycle.

The formal introduction of the War Doctor and the eventual depiction of his own regeneration into the Ninth Doctor meant the Doctor actually had regenerated more times than previously suggested. When the birth of the Meta-Crisis Tenth Doctor was also proven to have used up a regeneration, it signified all twelve regenerations in the cycle were exhausted. The Doctor was then bestowed a second regeneration cycle to bypass this limit.

The 2013 specials saw the end of Matt Smith's tenure as the Eleventh Doctor, and ended with his regeneration into the Twelfth, played by Peter Capaldi.

Celebrating the shows 50th anniversary, several of the specials also featured previous actors who had portrayed the Doctor. Paul McGann portrayed the Eighth Doctor on-screen for the first time since his initial portrayal in TV: Doctor Who [+]Matthew Jacobs, Doctor Who Television Movie (Fox Broadcasting Company, 1996)., David Tennant returned as the Tenth Doctor, and all other former actors were seen through the use of archive footage. Tom Baker also returned but instead playing the role of the Curator, an enigmatic character who is a future incarnation of the Doctor. The War Doctor was also played by John Hurt.

Although Jenna Coleman returned as sole companion Clara Oswald, Billie Piper returned to the series, but portraying a representation of the Bad Wolf, rather than her regular character of companion Rose Tyler.

Cast[]

and introducing Peter Capaldi as the Doctor

Recurring[]

Guest[]

Television stories[]

Special episodes[]

Episode
Number
Title Writer Director Notes
50th Anniversary The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary Specials (BBC One, 2013). Steven Moffat Nick Hurran First full appearance of the War Doctor. Guest appearances by the Tenth Doctor and Elizabeth I. Reintroduction of the Zygons. First appearance of the Twelfth Doctor, Petronella Osgood, the General, and the Curator. Regeneration of the War Doctor into the Ninth Doctor. Gallifrey saved from destruction.
Christmas The Time of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2013 (BBC One, 2013). Steven Moffat Jamie Payne Final regular appearance of the Eleventh Doctor. Origin of the Silence and fate of Gallifrey revealed. The Siege of Trenzalore is depicted. The Doctor's regeneration cycle is extended. Conclusion of the "Trenzalore" arc. Official debut of the Twelfth Doctor.

Mini-episodes[]

Title Writer Director Notes
The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC Red Button, 2013). Steven Moffat John Hayes Reintroduction of the Sisterhood of Karn. Guest appearance by the Eighth Doctor, and depicts his regeneration into the War Doctor.
The Last Day Jamie Stone The Doctors do not appear.
Cinema Intros: Strax & The Doctor Features Strax and the Doctors addressing the cinema audience.

Related specials[]

Alongside the continuation of Doctor Who itself, a number of specials were also made relating to the real world production of the Doctor Who universe.

Title Writer Director Notes
An Adventure in Space and Time Mark Gatiss Terry McDonough Docudrama of William Hartnell's tenure as The Doctor.
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot Peter Davison Parody episode starring Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy.

Aliens and enemies[]

Adaptations and merchandising[]

Home media[]

DVD / Blu-ray[]

This section's awfully stubby.

This section need to have images added, showing the individual sets.

The Collector's edition also featured the Series 7 finale The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013)..

Title Number and duration
of episodes
R2 release date R4 release date R1 release date
Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor
The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary Specials (BBC One, 2013).
The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC Red Button, 2013).
The Last Day [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary arc 50th Anniversary Prequel 2 (2013).
1 × 77 min.
1 × 8 min.
1 × 3 min.
2 December 2013 4 December 2013 10 December 2013
Doctor Who: An Adventure in Space and Time
An Adventure in Space and Time [+]Mark Gatiss, An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC Two, 2013).
1 × 90 min. 2 December 2013 4 December 2013 27 May 2014
Doctor Who: The Time of the Doctor
The Time of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2013 (BBC One, 2013).
1 × 60 min. 20 January 2014 22 January 2014 4 March 2014
Doctor Who: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition
The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Day of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary Specials (BBC One, 2013).
The Night of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Specials minisode (BBC Red Button, 2013).
The Last Day [+]Steven Moffat, 50th Anniversary arc 50th Anniversary Prequel 2 (2013).
The Time of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2013 (BBC One, 2013).
An Adventure in Space and Time [+]Mark Gatiss, An Adventure in Space and Time (BBC Two, 2013).
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot [+]Peter Davison, BBC Red Button (2013).
1 x 45 min.
1 × 77 min.
1 × 8 min.
1 × 3 min.
1 × 60 min.
1 × 90 min.
1 × 30 min.
8 September 2014 10 September 2014 TBA

The 50th Anniversary Specials released on 21 November 2023 in a limited edition Blu-ray box set containing every "New Who" series up to Series 13.[1]

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