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Season 14 of the beloved sci-fi series ‘Doctor Who’ arrives in the U.S. on May 10, but you can watch it for free on BBC iPlayer from May 11 (U.K.) In light of this, fans should check out our guide on how and where to watch ‘Doctor Who’ for free no matter where you are in the world.
If you’re in the U.K., it’s easy to stream ‘Doctor Who’ episodes for free on BBC iPlayer, but if you’re outside the U.K., you may need to pay for a streaming platform subscription if you don’t have a VPN.
Luckily, if you’re outside the U.K. but have a decent VPN, you can use that VPN to stream the new ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 episodes on BBC iPlayer for free, as well as all previous seasons. Read on to learn how.
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12/11/2021
Cloudwards.net updated this article with up-to-date information.
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05/10/2024 Facts checked
We’ve updated this guide to make sure information on where to watch ‘Doctor Who’ — particularly the latest season — is up to date.
At a Glance: Where To Watch Doctor Who?
In some countries like the U.S., U.K. and Canada, you can also buy ‘Doctor Who’ on buy/rental platforms like Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video, but since it’s so easy to stream all episodes for free, you shouldn’t need to do this.
- Classic ‘Doctor Who’ (1963-1989): Tubi (U.S.), Britbox (U.S.), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
- Modern seasons of ‘Doctor Who’ (2005-present, seasons 1-13): Max (formerly HBO Max) — U.S.), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
- ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 (May 10, 2024 release): Disney+ (U.S. and international), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
- 60th Anniversary specials (2023): BBC iPlayer (U.K.), Disney+ (U.S. & international)
- ‘The Sarah Jane Adventures’ (spin-off series: 2007): BBC iPlayer (U.K.), Max (U.S.)
Which Streaming Services Have Doctor Who Season 14?
You can stream ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 on Disney+ (international) from May 10, 2024 (U.S. time), but this is a paid platform. Luckily, the new season arrives on BBC iPlayer — which is a free platform — on May 11, 2024, at midnight (U.K. time).
If you’re overseas at the time of ‘Doctor Who’ season 14’s release on BBC iPlayer, you can connect to a British server on a VPN to use the streaming service. If you keep scrolling, you’ll find a step-by-step tutorial on how to do that.
Is Doctor Who Season 14 on Netflix?
No, ‘Doctor Who’ season 14 is not on Netflix because Disney+ is the platform with the rights to stream the season internationally, while the BBC has the U.K. rights. However, copyright agreements for streaming platforms change fairly often, so there’s a chance ‘Doctor Who’ could come to Netflix one day.
How to Watch Doctor Who Free Online With a VPN
If you’ve never used a VPN before, you may be feeling confused about how you can use one to bypass geoblocks. Check out this tutorial on how to unblock BBC iPlayer with a VPN from outside the U.K. and stream ‘Doctor Who’ for free. We used ExpressVPN as our example.
- Sign up for a VPN
Once you’ve settled on a VPN, head to the provider’s website to choose a plan that works for you. ExpressVPN and many other reliable services let you claim your money back within 30 days if you’re not satisfied.
- Download the VPN App
Download the app file from the provider’s website, then open the file to install the app on your device. Mobile users can download the app onto their device directly from Google Play (Android) or the App Store (iOS).
- Connect to a U.K. Server
Log in to the VPN’s app and navigate to the server list. Select a U.K. server from the list, then click “connect.”
- Stream ‘Doctor Who’ on BBC iPlayer
Go to BBC iPlayer and create an account if you haven’t already — when prompted, enter any U.K. postcode. Click “yes” when asked if you have a TV license. Once you’ve logged in, search for ‘Doctor Who’ to start streaming.
The Best VPNs to Stream Doctor Who
If you need a VPN to access BBC iPlayer or another service, you’ll want to make sure the provider you opt for has servers in your target country and is fast and secure. All VPNs come with their pros and cons (check out the full reviews for providers to learn more about this), but some have many more pros than they do cons, including the following providers:
- ExpressVPN: This is a VPN service we’ve been using and testing for years and with which we’ve always had a positive experience in terms of security, speed and ease of use. You can learn more about our best overall VPN recommendation in our ExpressVPN review.
- NordVPN: In addition to having the best overall speeds and affordable plans, NordVPN offers a range of extra features you can include in or leave out of your plan as needed. Pop over to our NordVPN review for the full lowdown.
- Surfshark: This is a cheap and cheerful VPN service that doesn’t scrimp on features, Surfshark is a decent choice for those looking to save a few dollars. You probably already guessed it, but here’s our Surfshark review for those curious to know more.
- privadovpn: privado vpn is the best option for those in need of a secure free VPN service. Like other free services, PrivadoVPN has its limitations, but it has a free U.K. server and works well with streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer. We’ve got a full PrivadoVPN review that discusses the ins and outs of the service.
How To Watch Doctor Who in Order
If you need a quick refresher, here is the full ‘Doctor Who’ release order and the dates the seasons were first aired. We’ve split this into the classic seasons and the modern seasons.
How To Watch Doctor Who by Doctor
The infamous series is currently on its fifteenth doctor. With so many actors having taken on the role since 1963, it can be easy to lose track of who starred in which season, so here’s all the details you need to know:
| Doctor Order: | Performer | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| First Doctor | William Hartnell | Season 1–3 (1963–1965) |
| Second Doctor | Patrick Troughton | Season 4–6 (1966– 1968) |
| Third Doctor | Jon Pertwee | Season 7–11 (1970–1973) |
| Fourth Doctor | Tom Baker | Season 12–18 (1974–1980) |
| Fifth Doctor | Peter Davison | Season 19–21 (1982–1984) |
| Sixth Doctor | Colin Baker | Season 22–23 (1985–1986) |
| Seventh Doctor | Sylvester McCoy | Season 24–26 (1987–1989)* |
| Eighth Doctor | Paul McGann | ‘Doctor Who’ — TV film (1996) |
| Ninth Doctor | Christopher Eccleston | Season 1 (2005)* |
| Tenth Doctor | David Tennant | Season 2–4 (2006–2008) |
| Eleventh Doctor | Matt Smith | Season 5–7 (2010–2012) |
| Twelfth Doctor | Peter Capaldi | Season 8–10 (2014–2017) |
| Thirteenth Doctor | Jodie Whittaker | Season 11–13 (2018–2021) |
| Fourteenth Doctor | David Tennant | 60th-anniversary specials (2023) |
| Fifteenth Doctor | Ncuti Gatwa | Season 14 (2024) |
*Start of the modern era
Final Thoughts
Just because you’re not physically located in the U.K., that doesn’t mean you can’t stream ‘Doctor Who’ on BBC iPlayer. All you need is a VPN service with British servers that can handle geoblocks, and fortunately, there are plenty of those.
Beware, though — some VPNs are terrible and should be avoided at all costs. For this reason, we recommend opting for a service we’ve reviewed and checked out here at Cloudwards. Did this guide help you access BBC iPlayer from outside the U.K.? What are you most looking forward to in ‘Doctor Who’ season 14? Drop us a comment below, and thanks for reading.
FAQ: Stream Doctor Who
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You can stream all seasons of ‘Doctor Who’ on BBC iPlayer. If you’re not in the U.K., use a VPN and connect to a British server.
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No, ‘Doctor Who’ seasons 1–13 are on Max (formerly HBO Max) in the U.S.
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Yes. The fourteenth season of ‘Doctor Who’ will arrive on Disney+ (except in the U.K.) on May 10, 2024.
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No. In the U.S., ‘Doctor Who’ is on Max (seasons 1–13) and Disney+ (season 14). Classic ‘Doctor Who’ is on Tubi (free) and Britbox in the U.S.
Sources:
- Reddit — The Name of Doctor Who