20 free Doctor Who: the Third Doctor trivia questions with answers — trivia quiz, new questions added Aug 2026.
Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor brought unprecedented gravitas to the role, transforming Who into something grittier and more action-packed than ever before. But how well do you actually know his seven-year reign on Earth? Take 20 questions and find out.
All 20 questions with answers and explanations. Play the quiz
Q 01Which actor portrayed the Third Doctor?
Jon Pertwee
Jon Pertwee took on the role of the Third Doctor, known for his dandyish style, Venusian Aikido, and initial exile to Earth working with UNIT.
Q 02What was the name of the Third Doctor's first companion?
Liz Shaw
The Third Doctor's initial companion was the scientist Liz Shaw, a highly intelligent and capable woman who worked with UNIT.
Q 03In which story did Sarah Jane Smith first appear alongside the Third Doctor?
The Time Warrior
Sarah Jane Smith, one of the Doctor's most beloved companions, made her debut in 'The Time Warrior', a Third Doctor serial.
Q 04Which recurring villain frequently battled the Third Doctor, often portrayed by Roger Delgado?
The Master
The Master, the Doctor's arch-nemesis, was a prominent villain during the Third Doctor's era, famously played by Roger Delgado.
Q 05In what year did Jon Pertwee's first season as the Third Doctor air?
1970
Jon Pertwee's first season as the Third Doctor began in 1970 with the story 'Spearhead from Space'.
Q 06What was the name of the yellow vintage car often used by the Third Doctor?
Bessie
Bessie was a bright yellow vintage car replica, a Siva Edwardian, that the Third Doctor adopted as his primary mode of transport while exiled on Earth.
Q 07The Third Doctor's era is largely defined by his forced exile to which planet?
Earth
As a punishment from the Time Lords, the Third Doctor was forced to regenerate and exiled to Earth, with his TARDIS disabled, for a significant portion of his tenure.
Q 08Which organization did the Third Doctor frequently work with during his exile?
UNIT
The Third Doctor spent much of his time working as a scientific advisor for UNIT (United Nations Intelligence Taskforce), collaborating with Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and his team.
Q 09What was the title of the Third Doctor's final regular story?
Planet of the Spiders
'Planet of the Spiders' marked Jon Pertwee's final regular appearance as the Third Doctor, where he regenerated into the Fourth Doctor.
Q 10Which alien race, amphibious cousins of the Silurians, made their debut in a Third Doctor story?
Sea Devils
The Sea Devils, a reptilian aquatic race, first appeared in the 1972 Third Doctor serial 'The Sea Devils', where they were awakened by the Master.
Q 11The Third Doctor's regeneration into the Fourth Doctor occurred in which story?
Planet of the Spiders
The Third Doctor regenerated into the Fourth Doctor at the end of 'Planet of the Spiders' after confronting the Great One on Metebelis Three.
Q 12Which companion famously left the Doctor to marry Professor Clifford Jones in 'The Green Death'?
Jo Grant
Jo Grant, a beloved companion, chose to leave the Doctor at the end of 'The Green Death' to marry environmental scientist Professor Clifford Jones.
Q 13The Third Doctor's debut 'Spearhead from Space' was the first story broadcast entirely in what?
Color
'Spearhead from Space' was a landmark for Doctor Who as it was the first serial to be produced and broadcast entirely in color.
Q 14What unique martial art did the Third Doctor often employ?
Venusian Aikido
The Third Doctor was known for his action-oriented persona and often used a fictional martial art called Venusian Aikido in his fights.
Q 15Which story featured the Third Doctor, the Second Doctor, and the First Doctor all appearing together?
The Three Doctors
'The Three Doctors' was the tenth-anniversary special that brought together the first three incarnations of the Doctor to face Omega.
Q 16The Third Doctor's second companion, Jo Grant, was introduced in which serial?
Terror of the Autons
Jo Grant, portrayed by Katy Manning, made her first appearance in the serial 'Terror of the Autons', assisting the Doctor against the Master and the Nestene Consciousness.
Q 17What was the name of the flying car the Third Doctor built and sometimes used?
The Whomobile
The Whomobile was a unique, often winged, flying vehicle that the Third Doctor constructed and occasionally used in his adventures.
Q 18Which Third Doctor story involved a giant computer named BOSS that sought to take over the human race?
The Green Death
In 'The Green Death', UNIT investigates mysterious deaths in a Welsh mining village, uncovering a plot by a megalomaniacal supercomputer named BOSS at Global Chemicals.
Q 19What alien entity did the Master try to unleash from a time vortex in 'The Time Monster'?
Kronos
In 'The Time Monster', the Master attempted to harness the power of Kronos, a being from outside of time and space, to control the universe.
Q 20Which of these was NOT a regular companion of the Third Doctor?
Ace
Ace was a companion to the Seventh Doctor, not the Third. Liz Shaw, Jo Grant, and Sarah Jane Smith all traveled regularly with the Third Doctor.