Well, Steven Moffat has returned to Doctor Who with a bang - or should that be a Boom?

Advertisement

The former showrunner has just dropped the most tense, and heart-stopping episode of season 14, while also introducing a very intriguing and familiar guest star.

But, as the new season gets into its stride after Space Babies, The Devil's Chord and Boom, there's plenty more to come including the next episode, the mysterious 73 Yards.

Plus, will we ever reunite with Mrs Flood? Will we find out any more about what's happening to Ruby, or who her birth mother is? And who exactly is The One Who Waits? We'll have to keep watching to find out.

For now, everything you need to know about when the new episode of Doctor Who is released and the full release schedule.

More like this

When is Doctor Who season 14 episode 4, 73 Yards, out?

Doctor Who season 14 episode 4, 73 Yards, will be released on Saturday 25th May at midnight on BBC iPlayer and at 6:50pm on BBC One.

All new Doctor Who episodes will drop on BBC iPlayer first - so if you're waiting to watch on BBC One, beware spoilers!

Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa
BBC STUDIOS,Yoshitaka Kono

73 Yards is written by returning showrunner Russell T Davies and is directed by Dylan Holmes Williams.

It's a mysterious episode, with not much being made public about its plot. However, we do have a synopsis from the BBC reading: "Landing on the Welsh coast, the Doctor and Ruby embark on the strangest journey of their lives. In a rain-lashed pub, the locals sit in fear of ancient legends coming to life."

Doctor Who episode 14 release schedule: When are new episodes out?

With the first two episodes now available, you can find a full schedule for when the remaining instalments will arrive – complete with the episode titles – below:

  • Episode 1 – Space Babies – Saturday 11th May 2024 (out now)
  • Episode 2 – The Devil's Chord – Saturday 11th May 2024 (out now)
  • Episode 3 – Boom Saturday 18th May 2024 (out now)
  • Episode 4 – 73 Yards Saturday 25th May 2024
  • Episode 5 – Dot and Bubble – Saturday 1st June 2024
  • Episode 6 – Rogue Saturday 8th June 2024
  • Episode 7 – The Legend of Ruby Sunday Saturday 15th June 2024
  • Episode 8 – Empire of Death Saturday 22nd June 2024

What time are Doctor Who season 14 episodes out on BBC iPlayer?

Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson as the Doctor and Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who. They're dressed in 60s outfits outside the TARDIS and they're holding each toher looking frightened.
Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor and Millie Gibson as Ruby Sunday in Doctor Who season 15 episode 2 The Devil's Chord. BBC Studios/Bad Wolf,Natalie Seery

As mentioned above, for the first time episodes from Doctor Who season 14 will be releasing at the same time around the world, on BBC iPlayer in the UK and on Disney Plus elsewhere.

As part of this, the episodes will also be arriving on iPlayer before they air on BBC One– the release schedule depending on your territory around the world is as follows:

  • 12am, Saturday 11th May BST (British Summer Time) – BBC iPlayer
  • 4pm, Friday 10th May PT (Pacific Time) – Disney Plus
  • 7pm, Friday 10th May ET (Eastern Time) – Disney Plus

What has been said about the changed Doctor Who schedule?

Russell T Davies in front of a backdrop with the "Doctor Who" logo and the BBC emblem. He wears glasses and a dark jacket over a collared shirt.
Russell T Davies. James Pardon/Bad Wolf/BBC Studios

In previous years, Doctor Who has always aired on BBC One first, usually at a time between 5pm and 9pm, on a Saturday or a Sunday.

When the change in schedule was announced earlier this year, with a switch to the BBC iPlayer-first model at midnight, some fans criticised the move, arguing that they wouldn't be able to stay up so late to watch the episodes, and worried about getting them spoiled on social media before seeing them.

There was also criticism that the change would mean the show lost its ability to generate instant social media discussion, with fans watching the show together at the same time and discussing it online as it went out.

When the news was announced, former showrunner and returning guest writer Steven Moffat commented on a post by showrunner Russell T Davies saying: "Wait, WHAT??? Two brand new Doctor Who stories ON THE SAME DAY?? This is a whole new level of INSANE GREATNESS!!".

He then went on to jokingly acknowledging the fan response, saying: "Speaking as a fan, I can’t wait to complain about it!!!"

Meanwhile, Davies wrote in an issue of Doctor Who Magazine that the new release schedule gave fans more choice, saying: "You’re not having to change your habits to fit the show, the show is changing to fit you. And it’s changing to adopt the patterns of all modern TV shows. Yes, I think all of them, very soon. This is the future, and it’s here, right now."

He added that fans should manage their online activity on a Saturday to avoid being spoiled, while caveating: "I’m not making light of this. I can hear the worries. It’s easy to say 'stay offline' when your health or job or nature might make that impossible. And I’m sorry, because then, yes, spoilers will fly.

"Unfortunately, there’s always been a subset of viewers hitting the spoiler problem, like the tons of people who work Saturdays and on night shifts. They’ve had to negotiate this for years. So there has never been a transmission pattern in the digital age that’s perfect for everyone.

"And to be honest. If you’re that online, and cannot change… folks, you stand a high chance of getting spoiled anyway. Before transmission. That’s the modern world. Beyond my control."

How many episodes are in Doctor Who season 14?

Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor in Doctor Who holding a flare in a rocky environment
Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor in Doctor Who. BBC

There will be eight episodes in total in Doctor Who season 14, with the titles, writers and directors already having been announced for each.

You can find a full list here:

  1. Space Babies - Writer: Russell T Davies. Director: Julie Anne Robinson.
  2. The Devil's Chord - Writer: Russell T Davies. Director: Ben Chessell.
  3. Boom - Writer: Steven Moffat. Director: Julie Anne Robinson.
  4. 73 Yards - Writer: Russell T Davies. Director: Dylan Holmes Williams.
  5. Dot and Bubble - Writer: Russell T Davies. Director: Dylan Holmes Williams.
  6. Rogue - Writers: Kate Herron and Briony Redman. Director: Ben Chessell.
  7. The Legend of Ruby Sunday - Writer: Russell T Davies. Director: Jamie Donoughue.
  8. Empire of Death - Writer: Russell T Davies. Director: Jamie Donoughue.

Doctor Who will continue on Saturday 25th May on BBC iPlayer and BBC One. Previous seasons are available to stream on BBC iPlayer with episodes of the classic series also available on BritBox – you can sign up for a 7-day free trial here.

Advertisement

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement