Breaking the fourth wall in the greatest Doctor Who episodes of all time feature a meta moment like this. It’s worth noting, however, that some of these instances aren’t on purpose. In the classic era, many of these are production errors, and in the modern era, episodes like “Sleep No More” appear to break the fourth wall, but are actually creative directional choices.

From a knowing glance to a direct message, Doctors, companions, and villains alike break the fourth wall. Even though the most recent seasons feature many of these moments, Doctor Who has been breaking the fourth wall since the show’s early installments.

17 Tlotoxl

Classic Era - "The Aztecs"

In the serial “The Aztecs,” one of the First Doctor’s best stories in Doctor Who, the villain Tlotoxl breaks the fourth wall for the first time in Doctor Who (at least on purpose). He does this after he claims Barbara is posing as the reincarnation of the high priest Yetaxa, and attempts to poison her to prove her mortality.

However, Barbara foils his plans, and Tlotoxl threatens to destroy her in response. He tells audiences that he vows to stop Barbara, who isn’t really a threat, but the way he glares into the camera is undoubtedly unnerving.

16 The First Doctor

Classic Era - "The Daleks' Master Plan"

William Hartnell’s First Doctor is the first incarnation of the titular character to break the fourth wall. During the classic era serial “The Daleks' Master Plan,” the First Doctor speaks directly to the camera and wishes all of those watching at home a Happy Christmas. The episode within this serial in which this moment happens is aptly named “The Feast of Steven,” which, funnily enough, has nothing to do with the festive season until the last scenes.

15 The Fourth Doctor

Classic Era - "The Face Of Evil," "Image Of The Fendahl," "Underworld," "The Invasion Of Time," "The Pirate Planet," & "Shada"

Out of the incarnations of the Doctor in Doctor Who, the Fourth Doctor is the most meta. Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor breaks the fourth wall several times. In the 2017 version of “Shada,” he grins at audiences as the story is wrapping up, for example.

From comments about the sonic screwdriver in “The Invasion of Time” to getting confused about being at Hyde Park in “The Face of Evil,” the Fourth Doctor hilariously loves to break the fourth wall.

However, he also talks to the camera several times, too. From comments about the sonic screwdriver in “The Invasion of Time” to getting confused about being at Hyde Park in “The Face of Evil,” the Fourth Doctor hilariously loves to break the fourth wall.

14 Davros' Assassin

Classic Era - "Genesis Of The Daleks"

The first recurring Doctor Who villain to break the fourth wall is a Dalek in “Genesis of the Daleks.” At the end of the serial, the Daleks decide to turn against their leader, and one of the aliens assassinates Davros. That same Dalek then delivers a chilling speech to viewers, warning them they will bide their time and eventually escape, and on that day, the Daleks will take over the universe. Every Dalek is somewhat threatening, but this one is particularly concerning.

13 Wrack

Classic Era - "Enlightenment"

In the Fifth Doctor serial, “Enlightenment,” the villainous Captain Wrack is introduced. The Eternal is determined to become independent from the Ephemerals, but when the Doctor gets involved, Wrack isn’t happy. Wrack laughs directly at the camera as she cackles over her plans to destroy the Doctor, which, ultimately, never come to fruition. Instead, Wrack is thrown overboard into space, where she remains for all eternity.

12 Morgus

Classic Era - "The Caves Of Androzani"

Several of these moments in classic era Doctor Who don’t count as fourth wall breaks because they’re unintentional, but Morgus in “The Caves of Androzani” is a unique example. Hilariously, Morgus actor John Normington fails to understand the stage directions given to him while delivering a dramatic monologue about the execution, and he speaks directly to the camera. However, these shots are purposely left in the final edit as the production team at the time thought it made Normington’s performance more theatrical.

11 The Sixth Doctor

Classic Era - "The Caves Of Androzani"

Within moments of the shocking Doctor Who regeneration sequence in “The Caves of Androzani,” the brand-new Sixth Doctor uses his first few seconds on-screen to break the fourth wall. After a snarky question and a quick jab at Peri’s intelligence, the Sixth Doctor looks straight at the camera and utters the iconic words “Change, my dear — and it seems not a moment too soon.”

10 The Valeyard

Classic Era - "The Trial Of A Time Lord"

Doctor Who’s the Valeyard is an enigmatic figure many hope will return in the future, and considering the meta angle the show is currently taking, perhaps this will happen. In “The Ultimate Foe,” the last chapter of the serial “The Trial of a Time Lord,” the Valeyard disguises himself as the Keeper of the Matrix. He breaks the fourth wall by looking at the camera and laughing about his escape, which provides a brilliant cliffhanger to Colin Baker’s final appearance as the Sixth Doctor.

9 The Seventh Doctor

Classic Era - "Remembrance Of The Daleks"

While taking cover at Coal Hill School in “Remembrance of the Daleks,” the Seventh Doctor is adamant that the Daleks won’t land their shuttle anywhere near the playground. However, this ultimately proves to be untrue, and as the Daleks’ ship lands outside the school, the Doctor its he has “miscalculated” to viewers at home. This is a fantastic and comical moment, and I wish other Doctors would own up to their mistakes like this.

8 River Song

Modern Era - "Forest Of The Dead"

Throughout River Song’s entire timeline in Doctor Who, she only breaks the fourth wall once, and it’s an easy moment to miss if you’re not looking carefully. At the end of “Forest of the Dead,” the recently saved River tucks Donna’s “children” and Charlotte Abigail Lux into bed. While standing in the doorway of the kids’ bedroom, at the very last moment, River shoots a wholesome glance directly at the camera and into the hearts and souls of those watching, which creates a rather warming moment.