73 Yards
Updated: 12/10/2025, 10:16:30 AM Wikipedia source
"73 Yards" is the fourth episode of the fourteenth series of the science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode was first released in the United Kingdom on BBC iPlayer on 25 May 2024 and was broadcast on BBC One the same night. It was released simultaneously on Disney+ in the United States on 24 May. The episode was written by Russell T Davies and directed by Dylan Holmes Williams. In the episode, the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) suddenly vanishes from a clifftop in Wales after breaking a fairy circle. His companion Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson), searches for him whilst being followed by a mysterious woman who is always 73 yards away from her. Described by Davies as folk horror, "73 Yards" was the first episode of the fourteenth series to be filmed, with shooting taking place in various locations around Wales in late 2022 and early 2023. "73 Yards" was watched by 4.058 million viewers and received positive reviews from critics, with Gibson's performance being widely praised. The episode was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation.
Infobox
Directed by
Dylan Holmes Williams
Written by
Russell T Davies
Produced by
Vicki Delow
Executive producers
mw- Russell T Davies Julie Gardner Jane Tranter Joel Collins Phil Collinson
Music by
Murray Gold
Series
Series 14
Running time
47 minutes
First broadcast
25 May 2024 (2024-05-25)
Tables
Professional ratings · Broadcast and reception
Source
Source
Aggregate scores
Source
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Rating
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)
Aggregate scores
Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer)
Aggregate scores
100%
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Rating)
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Rating)
Aggregate scores
Rotten Tomatoes (Average Rating)
Aggregate scores
8.6/10
Review scores
Review scores
Aggregate scores
Review scores
Source
Source
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Source
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Rating
Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Aggregate scores
Digital Spy
Aggregate scores
Empire
Empire
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Empire
Aggregate scores
Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Aggregate scores
Evening Standard
Aggregate scores
i
i
Aggregate scores
i
Aggregate scores
IGN
IGN
Aggregate scores
IGN
Aggregate scores
8/10
Radio Times
Radio Times
Aggregate scores
Radio Times
Aggregate scores
The Independent
The Independent
Aggregate scores
The Independent
Aggregate scores
Total Film
Total Film
Aggregate scores
Total Film
Aggregate scores
Vulture
Vulture
Aggregate scores
Vulture
Aggregate scores
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Tomatometer) | 100% |
| Rotten Tomatoes (Average Rating) | 8.6/10 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Digital Spy | |
| Empire | |
| Evening Standard | |
| i | |
| IGN | 8/10 |
| Radio Times | |
| The Independent | |
| Total Film | |
| Vulture | |
References
- Attributed to multiple sources:
- The Hugo Awardhttps://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2025-hugo-awards/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-strangest-villain-ever-exclusive-newsupdate/
- Behind the Scenes – 73 Yards – Doctor Whohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EftAeJcCBo
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2023/03/doctor-who-spin-off-emerge-jemma-redgrave-russell-t-davies-great-thing-ive-ever-made-1235299996/
- Digital Spyhttps://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a43321792/doctor-who-russell-t-davies-greatest-things/
- Den of Geekhttps://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-millie-gibson-ruby-has-to-be-her-own-hero-73-yards/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/doctor-who-mid-season-questions-73-yards-explained-1235908268/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-01-01/doctor-who-new-years-special-questions/
- ComicBook.comhttps://comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/doctor-who-2024-season-1-trailer-2-episode-titles/
- Cultboxhttps://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-filming-with-aneurin-barnard-at-cardiff-city-stadium
- Caerphilly Observerhttps://caerphilly.observer/news/1039245/caerphilly-doctor-who-episode-filmed-at-white-cross-groeswen
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/article/2024/may/25/doctor-who-73-yards-millie-gibson-ncuti-gatwa-wales-witchcraft-folk-horror-recap
- Digital Spyhttps://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a60844384/doctor-who-73-yards-review/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/doctor-who-most-watched-episode-73-yards/
- Inversehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/doctor-who-73-yards-ending-ruby-timeline-turn-left
- Screen Ranthttps://screenrant.com/doctor-who-season-14-episode-4-doctor-missing-filming-explained-rtd/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-ncuti-gatwa-sex-education-schedule-newsupdate/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/aneurin-barnard-doctor-who-ncuti-gatwa-1899-b2258852.html
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2023/global/global/doctor-who-jemma-redgrave-aneurin-barnard-cast-new-season-1235482161/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-roger-ap-gwilliam/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-73-yards-cast/
- Screen Ranthttps://screenrant.com/doctor-who-mrs-flood-old-ruby-theory-debunk/
- Colliderhttps://collider.com/doctor-who-2024-episode-4-recap/
- Bleeding Coolhttps://bleedingcool.com/tv/doctor-who-73-yards-review-horror-tale-of-abandonment-surviving/
- Inversehttps://www.inverse.com/entertainment/doctor-who-73-yards-ending-ruby-timeline-turn-left
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-73-yards-susan-twist-newsupdate/
- Rotten Tomatoeshttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/doctor_who_2023/s01/e04
- Empirehttps://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/doctor-who-73-yards/
- Evening Standardhttps://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/doctor-who-bbc-ncuti-gatwa-b1160022.html
- ihttps://inews.co.uk/culture/television/doctor-who-73-yards-review-millie-gibson-tremendous-3071603
- IGNhttps://www.ign.com/articles/doctor-who-season-1-episode-5-73-yards-review
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-episode-4-73-yards-review/
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/doctor-who-73-yards-recap-millie-gibson-b2550301.html
- Total Filmhttps://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/sci-fi-shows/doctor-who-season-1-episode-4-73-yards-review-recap/
- Vulturehttps://www.vulture.com/article/doctor-who-recap-season-1-episode-4-73-yards.html
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-release-time/
- Cosmopolitanhttps://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a60758329/doctor-who-season-14-release-schedule/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-release-date/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-73-yards-overnight-ratings-newsupdate/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-season-14-launch-ratings-revealed-newsupdate/
- Radio Timeshttps://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-73-yards-consolidated-ratings-newsupdate/
- VG247https://www.vg247.com/73-yards-is-more-than-just-an-all-time-great-doctor-who-episode-its-one-of-the-best-bits-of-tv-in-years-review
- Engadgethttps://www.engadget.com/doctor-who-73-yards-review-dont-stand-so-close-to-me-000018703.html
- bleedingcool.comhttps://bleedingcool.com/tv/doctor-who-ep-4-73-yards-once-again-humans-are-the-worst-monsters/
- https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/tv-review-doctor-who-episode-73-yards-fails-to-stick-the-landing/https://www.outfrontmagazine.com/tv-review-doctor-who-episode-73-yards-fails-to-stick-the-landing/
- Doctor Who: 73 Yards (Target Collection)
- "Doctor Who 73 Yards"https://www.rarewaves.com/products/9781529942743-doctor-who-73-yards
- "RTD Instagram post"https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ZseIBt0p1/
- Penguin Bookshttps://www.penguin.co.uk/books/464689/dwn-2-by-sh/9781529942750