Doctor Who is one of the longest-running and most beloved sci-fi shows in the world. For 60 years, it has entertained and inspired generations of fans with adventures across time and space. To celebrate its milestones, the show has produced several anniversary specials that bring together different incarnations of the Doctor and pay tribute to its rich history.

Doctor Who first aired on November 23, 1963, on BBC One, as a children’s educational program that aimed to teach history and science through the adventures of a mysterious time traveler known as the Doctor and his companions. The show was created by Sydney Newman, C. E. Webber, and Donald Wilson, and the first Doctor was played by William Hartnell. The show soon became a hit with audiences of all ages, thanks to its imaginative stories, low-budget charm, and iconic villains such as the Daleks and the Cybermen.

After over half a century on the air, Doctor Who continues to evolve while honoring its rich history at landmark anniversaries. From multi-doctor stories to Dalek invasions, from comedy sketches to feature-length specials, the show has always found a way to mark its anniversaries with style and fanfare. Most recently, this came in the form of fan-favorites David Tennant and Catherine Tate returning to the screen to tie up some loose ends, and introducing Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor to kickstart a new era. But how has the show celebrated previous milestones?

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Tenth Anniversary: The Three Doctors

The first-anniversary special was The Three Doctors, which aired in 1972-73 to mark the 10th anniversary of the show. It was the first time that the show featured a multi-doctor story, as the First Doctor (William Hartnell), the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), and the Third Doctor (Jon Pertwee) all teamed up to face a cosmic threat from Omega, a renegade Time Lord. The special also introduced the concept of the Time Lords granting the Doctor a new cycle of regenerations, as a reward for saving the universe.

20th Anniversary: The Five Doctors

In 1983, The Five Doctors materialized as the next anniversary spectacle, marking two decades of Doctor Who. An epic tale unfolds, intertwining the First Doctor (Richard Hurndall, stepping in for the late William Hartnell), the Second Doctor, the Third Doctor, the Fourth Doctor (represented by footage, as Tom Baker declined participation), and the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison).

Companions and adversaries from eras past join the saga, as a mysterious captor thrusts them into the Death Zone on Gallifrey, unveiling puzzles and dangers. The Master (Anthony Ainley) returns, enticed by a new regeneration cycle, and the abductor is revealed as Borusa, the Doctor's former mentor.

--The Master, "The Five Doctors"

25th Anniversary: Remembrance Of The Daleks

The 25th anniversary of the show was marked by "Remembrance of the Daleks," which aired in 1988 as part of the 25th season. It was not a multi-doctor story, but rather a sequel to the very first story, "An Unearthly Child," which aired in 1963. The Seventh Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred) returne to 1963 London, where they encounter two factions of Daleks searching for the Hand of Omega, a powerful device that the First Doctor had left behind.

The special also featured the return of Davros, the creator of the Daleks, who was betrayed by his creations. The story was a commentary on the Cold War and the arms race, as well as a reflection on the Doctor's dark side.

30th Anniversary: Dimensions In Time

The 30th anniversary of the show was celebrated by "Dimensions in Time," which aired in 1993 as part of the Children in Need charity telethon. It was a crossover with the soap opera EastEnders and featured the Fifth Doctor, the Sixth Doctor (Colin Baker), the Seventh Doctor, and the Eighth Doctor (Paul McGann, who made his official debut in the 1996 TV movie). Many companions and enemies from the past also appeared.

The story involved Rani (Kate O'Mara), a renegade Time Lady, who trapped the Doctors and their friends in a time loop that merged different eras and locations. The special was a lighthearted, humorous tribute to the show's history, and allowed the viewers to vote for the story's outcome by phone.

50th Anniversary: The Day Of The Doctor

The 50th-anniversary special, "The Day of the Doctor," graced screens in 2013. Spectacularly featuring the Tenth Doctor (David Tennant), the Eleventh Doctor (Matt Smith), and the War Doctor (John Hurt), the story unfolds against the backdrop of the Time War. Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) returned as the Bad Wolf, transcending time and space.

The Doctors faced an impossoble decision: to save Gallifrey and the Daleks or sacrifice their home planet for the greater good. The surprise preview of the Twelfth Doctor (Peter Capaldi) saw a united effort to freeze Gallifrey in a pocket dimension, rewriting history and preserving the Time Lords. A cameo from Tom Baker as the Curator teased the Doctor's future.