The sixth series of the television programme Doctor Who was shown in two parts. The first seven episodes were broadcast from April to June 2011, and the final six episodes from August to October. The series began with the episode "The Impossible Astronaut" and ended with "The Wedding of River Song". The main series was preceded by "A Christmas Carol", a special episode shown at Christmas in 2010. This was the sixth season to be shown on television since the programme was revived in 2005. It is the thirty-second season overall.