Since the first glimpse of a menacing plunger at the end of Doctor Who’s fifth episode on 21 December 1963, Skaro’s hate-filled mutants have been a permanent fixture in the show’s 51-year history.

To celebrate, CultBox decided to count down every Dalek story on screen (cameo appearances notwithstanding) and reveal our all-time favourite…

 

20. ‘Death to the Daleks’ (1974)

Cold ingenuity sees the mutants swap energy weapons for ballistic rounds on the energy sapping planet of the Exxilons, as they ally themselves with a human space mission to mine the planet for a rare mineral.

 

19. ‘Revelation of the Daleks’ (1985)

More about Davros than his creations themselves, the Dalek genius seeks to entrap the Sixth Doctor and create a new race of Daleks loyal to him. Unfortunately, he suffers some “consumer resistance” to his plans.

 

18. ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’ (1965-1966)

This epic Hartnell twelve-parter, itself prefaced by a Doctor-less prologue episode ‘Mission to the Unknown’, saw the Daleks in league with a host of other species.

Developing a deadly time destructor, the Doctor’s battle with his enemies sees the death of two companions. Sadly, only a precious three episodes have survived.

 

17. ‘The Time of the Doctor’ (2013)

In the background of the tale but posing a potent threat throughout, the Daleks remain the principal stumbling block to the return of the Time Lords. An enthusiastic battle ensues towards the end of the story before the Doctor’s freshly granted regeneration energy takes out the Dalek mothership in grand style.

 

16. ‘The Pandorica Opens’ / ‘The Big Bang’ (2010)

While the Daleks form part of the anti-Doctor alliance, their presence is mostly felt in the second half of Series 5’s two-part finale with a wonderfully calcified stone Dalek, resurrected by the light of the Pandorica.

 

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