The "classic" Doctor Who refers to the original British science fiction television series produced by the BBC that aired from 1963 to 1989. This era of Doctor Who consists of 695 episodes and is characterized by multi-episode serials, where stories often span several episodes and sometimes link directly into one another

. Key points about the classic Doctor Who include:

• It began in 1963 with William Hartnell as the First Doctor and continued through fourteen actors portraying the Doctor up until 1989

• The show features the Doctor, a Time Lord who travels through time and space in the TARDIS, a time machine that looks like a British police box

• The classic series episodes were mostly around 25 minutes long and told serialized stories rather than standalone episodes typical of the revived series starting in 2005

• The Doctor regenerates into a new form when near death, allowing different actors to portray the character while maintaining continuity

• The classic era introduced many iconic elements and enemies, such as the Daleks, Cybermen, and the Master

• The classic episodes are available on platforms like the BBC's Doctor Who Classic channel on YouTube, which hosts full episodes from the original run

For detailed episode guides and story lists from the classic era, resources like the BBC Classic Series Episode Guide and IMDb provide comprehensive information

. In summary, "classic Doctor Who" refers to the original series from 1963 to 1989, known for its serialized storytelling, foundational characters, and long-running influence on science fiction television