Series 12 (Doctor Who 2005): Difference between revisions

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'''Series 12''' of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' premiered on [[Wednesday]] [[1 January (releases)|1 January]] [[2020 (releases)|2020]]. [[Chris Chibnall]] remained in the position of [[executive producer]] whilst [[Jodie Whittaker]], [[Tosin Cole]], [[Mandip Gill]] and [[Bradley Walsh]] reprised their roles as the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], [[Ryan Sinclair]], [[Yasmin Khan]] and [[Graham O'Brien]] respectively. The series opened with ''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]'' and concluded with ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]'', with an additional New Year's Special, ''[[Revolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Revolution of the Daleks]]'', airing in 2021.
Series 12 was first confirmed in [[April (production)|April]] [[2015 (production)|2015]], when then-showrunner [[Steven Moffat]] confirmed that ''Doctor Who'' had been renewed through 2020.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32202633</ref>
Whittaker announced her own return on Friday [[7 December (production)|7 December]] [[2018 (production)|2018]], two days prior to the broadcast of the [[series 11 (Doctor Who)|series 11]] finale, ''[[The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos (TV story)|The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos]]''.<ref name="Thirteen">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jodie-whittaker-confirms-return-doctor-who-season-12-1167388|title=Jodie Whittaker Confirms Return for 'Doctor Who' Season 12 (Exclusive)|date of source=7 December 2018|website name=Hollywood Reporter|accessdate=9 December 2018}}</ref> The series was announced almost immediately after the conclusion of said episode.<ref name="S12">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/entries/89823d93-ca6c-486b-9c82-2a71cd1560bb|title=Doctor Who Series 12 Announcement|author=The Doctor Who Team|date of source=9 December 2018|website name=Doctor Who|accessdate=9 December 2018}} </ref>
A [[Doctor Who: Series 12 (documentary series)|series of behind the scenes features]] were released to [[YouTube]].
It continued an ongoing storyline, only briefly mentioned previous series, of "[[Timeless Child|the Timeless Child]]".
== Overview ==
Series 12 consisted of 9 stories shown over 11 episodes, bring back two-parters, a format that had not occurred the [[Series 11 (Doctor Who)|previous season]]. ''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]'', the opening story of the series, was the first time since [[2010 (releases)|2010]]'s ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' that a two-parter didn't receive individual titles. The series had a heavy environmental theme, mirroring current global concerns.
The series continued the "[[Timeless Child]]" story arc, and delved into an unknown past of the Doctor, the [[Time Lords]] and [[Gallifrey]]. This was done via a more "traditional" series arc, as was prominent in the [[Russell T Davies]] and [[Steven Moffat]] eras.
Series 12 delved deeper into the [[companion]]s' lives and ultimately resulted in the departure of [[Ryan Sinclair]] and [[Graham O'Brien]] in the New Years special. The series also saw the temporary return of [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]].
As was done between [[Series 8 (Doctor Who)|series 8]] and [[Series 9 (Doctor Who)|series 9]], this series also saw some changes to [[The Doctor's TARDIS|the TARDIS]] compared to the previous series, in the form of a new crystalline column hanging from the ceiling just above the crystalline [[time rotor]], a set a hexagon-filled gold stairs to an upper level that leads to the rest of the ship and new screens and systems and wall changes to make it look even bigger.
The "[[cold opening]]s" returned for some of the episodes this series, having been notably absent in the previous series.
=== Returning foes ===
Series 12 welcomed back [[the Master]] to the show in a new male [[incarnation]] played by [[Sacha Dhawan]] and disguised as an [[MI6]] spy known as "[[O (Spyfall)|O]]". The Master was last seen in [[Series 10 (Doctor Who)|series 10]]'s ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]'' with both their [[The Master#As Harold Saxon|Harold Saxon]] incarnation played by [[John Simm]] and {{Gomez}} incarnation played by [[Michelle Gomez]]. The series finale, ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]'', used an anagram for Dhawan on the ''Doctor Who'' website; "Barack Stemis" which, if re-arranged, means "Master is Back" and playing a false character called "Fakout".<ref name="Fakout">https://twitter.com/0_MattWhelan_0/status/1230222077300482050</ref><ref name="Stemis">https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000g09m</ref> This tactic, discounting in-universe examples from [[2007 (releases)|2007]]'s ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]''/''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]''/''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'', had not been seen since ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]]'' in [[1983 (releases)|1983]], when an alias was used to hide the presense of [[Anthony Ainley]].
Series 12 re-introduced the [[Judoon]], giving them a central role in a television story for the first time since the [[Series 6 (Doctor Who)|series 6]] mid-series finale ''[[A Good Man Goes to War (TV story)|A Good Man Goes to War]]'' in [[2011 (releases)|2011]]. The [[Nanogene]]s, last seen in the [[2012 (releases)|2012]] story ''[[Asylum of the Daleks (TV story)|Asylum of the Daleks]]'', also made an appearance this series.
The series also saw the return of the [[Eternal]]s, not seen on television since before the 2005 revival of the show. This was done through new characters, [[Zellin]] and [[Rakaya]].
The [[Cyberman|Cybermen]] also made their way back onto the small screen this series, in their first TV appearance since the [[2017 (releases)|2017]] story ''[[The Doctor Falls (TV story)|The Doctor Falls]]'' (discounting archival footage in ''[[Twice Upon a Time (TV story)|Twice Upon a Time]]''), first in the form of [[Ashad]], followed by a whole army of them, consisting of the [[Cybus Industries|Cybus]]/[[Mondas]]ian cross-breed as [[Cyberguard]]s and a new variant called [[Cyber-Warrior]]s. They also utilised a new weaponry called [[Cyberdrone]]s, which were flying [[Cyber-helmet]]s.
The [[Time Lord]]s returned for the first time since the [[2015 (releases)|2015]] [[Series 9 (Doctor Who)|series 9]] finale ''[[Hell Bent (TV story)|Hell Bent]]''. Although they mainly appeared only through a vision scene in [[the Matrix]], a sole Time Lady was also seen working with the Judoon in ''[[Fugitive of the Judoon (TV story)|Fugitive of the Judoon]]''. The finale also gives mention to the [[Shobogan (species)|Shobogans]], first mentioned in [[1976 (releases)|1976]]'s [[The Deadly Assassin (TV story)|''The Deadly Assassin'']].
The [[Dalek]]s also made their way back, both in their bronze design and in the "scrapyard" design from ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]'', albeit with a new black Dalek [[casing]]. But like [[Series 11 (Doctor Who)|Series 11]], they did not feature in the main series, instead popping up in the following special.
The special itself featured cameos from multuple previous foes, most notably a [[Weeping Angel]], a [[Silent]], an [[Ood]], a [[Pting]] and a [[Sycorax]].
== Cast ==
* [[Thirteenth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Jodie Whittaker]]
* [[Graham O'Brien]] - [[Bradley Walsh]]
* [[Ryan Sinclair]] - [[Tosin Cole]]
* [[Yasmin Khan]] - [[Mandip Gill]]
=== Recurring ===
* [[Sonya Khan]] - [[Bhavnisha Parmar]]
* [[Najia Khan]] - [[Shobna Gulati]]
* [[Hakim Khan]] - [[Ravin J Ganatra]]
* [[Sergeant|Sgt.]] [[Ramesh Sunder]] - [[Asif Khan]]
* [[Tibo]] - [[Buom Tihngang]]
* [[Gabriel (The Woman Who Fell to Earth)|Gabriel]] - [[Everal A Walsh]]
* [[The Master|"O"/The Master]] - [[Sacha Dhawan]]
* [[Captain]] [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Jack Robertson]] - [[Chris Noth]]
* [[Grace O'Brien]] - [[Sharon D Clarke]]
=== Guest ===
* [[C (Spyfall)|C]] - [[Stephen Fry]]
* [[Daniel Barton]] - [[Sir]] [[Lenny Henry]]
* [[Seesay]] - [[Darron Meyer]]
* [[Browning (Spyfall)|Browning]] - [[Dominique Maher]]
* [[Passenger 2 (Spyfall)|Passenger]] - [[Sacharissa Claxton]]
* Voice of the [[Kasaavin]] - [[Struan Rodger]]
* [[Collins (Spyfall)|Mr. Collins]] - [[Andrew Bone]]
* [[Ethan (Spyfall)|Ethan]] - [[Christopher McArthur]]
* [[Sniper (Spyfall)|Sniper]] - [[Melissa De Vries]]
* [[Passenger 1 (Spyfall)|Older Passenger]] - [[William Ely]]
* [[US operative (Spyfall)|US operative]] - [[Brian Law]]
* [[Rendition Man]] - [[Ronan Summers]]
* [[Noor Inayat Khan]] - [[Aurora Marion]]
* [[Charles Babbage]] - [[Mark Dexter]]
* [[Ada Lovelace]] - [[Sylvie Briggs]]
* [[Daniel Barton's mother|Mrs. Barton]] - [[Blanche Williams]]
*[[Jacob Perkins|Perkins]] - [[Kenneth Jay]]
* [[Airport worker (Spyfall)|Airport Worker]] - [[Tom Ashley]]
* [[Nevi]] - [[James Buckley]]
* [[Vorm]] - [[Will Austin]]
* [[Wheezy (Orphan 55)|Lead]] [[Dreg]] - [[Spencer Wilding]]
* [[Bella (Orphan 55)|Bella]] - [[Gia Ré]]
* [[Vilma (Orphan 55)|Vilma]] - [[Julia Foster]]
* [[Hyph3n]] - [[Amy Booth-Steel]]
* [[Benni (Orphan 55)|Benni]] - [[Col Farrell]]
* [[Sylas]] - [[Lewin Lloyd]]
* [[Kane (Orphan 55)|Kane]] - [[Laura Fraser]]
* [[Queen of the Skithra|Queen Skithra]] - [[Anjli Mohindra]]
* [[Thomas Edison]] - [[Robert Glenister]]
* [[Nikola Tesla]] - [[Goran Višnjić]]
* [[Dorothy Skerrit]] - [[Haley McGee]]
* [[Bill Tallow]] - [[Robin Guiver]]
* [[Brady (Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror)|Mr. Brady/Shadowman]] - [[Russell Bentley]]
* [[Harold Green]] - [[Paul Kasey]]
* [[Sorensson (Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror)|Mr. Sorensson]] - [[Erick Hayden]]
* [[Martin (Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror)|Mr. Martin]] - [[Brian Caspe]]
* [[Foreman (Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror)|Foreman]] - [[Shaun Mason]]
* [[Marcia (Fugitive of the Judoon)|Marcia]] - [[Judith Street]]
* Voice of [[Judoon Captain]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]
* [[Pol-Kon-Don|Judoon Captain Pol-Kon-Don]] - [[Paul Kasey]]
* [[Judoon]] - [[Simon Carew]], [[Richard Highgate]], [[Richard Price]], [[Matthew Rohman]]
* [[Lee Clayton]] - [[Neil Stuke]]
* [[Ruth Clayton]]/[[Fugitive Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Jo Martin]]
* [[Gat]] - [[Ritu Arya]]
* [[Tourist (Fugitive of the Judoon)|Tourist]] - [[Katie Luckins]]
* [[Allan (Fugitive of the Judoon)|"All Ears" Allan]] - [[Michael Begley]]
* [[Jake Willis]] - [[Warren Brown]]
* [[Adam Lang]] - [[Matthew McNulty]]
* [[Gabriela Camara]] - [[Joana Borja]]
* [[Suki Cheng]] - [[Molly Harris]]
* [[Jamila Velez]] - [[Gabriela Toloi]]
* [[Joyce (Praxeus)|Joyce]] - [[Soo Drouet]]
* [[Zach Olson]] - [[Tristan de Beer]]
* [[Aramu]] - [[Thapelo Maropefela]]
* [[Zellin]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Rakaya]] - [[Clare-Hope Ashitey]]
* [[Tahira]] - [[Aruhan Galieva]]
* [[Maryam (Can You Hear Me?)|Maryam]] - [[Sirine Saba]]
* [[Anita Patel]] - [[Nasreen Hussain]]
* [[Mum (Can You Hear Me?)|Mum]] - [[Amanda Liberman]]
* [[Fred (Can You Hear Me?)|Fred]] - [[Michael Keane]]
* [[Andrew (Can You Hear Me?)|Andrew]] - [[Anthony Taylor]]
* [[Tibo|Old Tibo]] - [[Willie Jonah]]
* [[Mary Shelley|Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin]] - [[Lili Miller]]
* [[George Gordon Byron|Lord Byron]] - [[Jacob Collins Levy]]
* [[Claire Clairmont]] - [[Nadia Parkes]]
* [[Percy Shelley|Percy Bysshe Shelley]] - [[Lewis Rainer]]
* Dr. [[John Polidori]] - [[Maxim Baldry]]
* [[Elise (The Haunting of Villa Diodati)|Elise]] - [[Sarah Perles]]
* [[Fletcher (The Haunting of Villa Diodati)|Fletcher]] - [[Stefan Bednarczyk]]
* [[Ashad|Lone Cyberman/Ashad]] - [[Patrick O'Kane]]
* [[Sergeant (Ascension of the Cybermen)|Sergeant]] - [[Caolán Byrne]]
* [[Ravio]] - [[Julie Graham]]
* [[Ko Sharmus]] - [[Ian McElhinney]]
* [[Feekat]] - [[Steve Toussaint]]
* [[Patrick (Ascension of the Cybermen)|Patrick]] - [[Branwell Donaghey]]
* [[Meg (Ascension of the Cybermen)|Meg]] - [[Orla O'Rourke]]
* [[Fuskle]] - [[Jack Osborn]]
* [[Michael (Ascension of the Cybermen)|Michael]] - [[Andrew Macklin]]
* [[Ethan (Ascension of the Cybermen)|Ethan]] - [[Matt Carver]]
* [[Brendan (Ascension of the Cybermen)|Brendan]] - [[Evan McCabe]]
* [[Bescot]] - [[Rhiannon Clements]]
* [[Yedlarmi]] - [[Alex Austin]]
* Voice of [[Cybermen]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]
* Cybermen - [[Matthew Rohman]], [[Simon Carew]], [[Jon Davey]], [[Richard Highgate]], [[Richard Price]], [[Mick Lewis]], [[Matthew Doman]], [[Paul Bailey]]
* [[First Tecteun|Tecteun]] - [[Seylan Baxter]]
* [[Solpado]] - [[Kirsty Besterman]]
* [[Jo Patterson]] - [[Harriet Walter]]
* [[Leo Rugazzi]] - [[Nathan Stewart-Jarrett]]
* [[Armen (Revolution of the Daleks)|Armen]] - [[Nathan Armarkwei-Laryea]]
* [[Rachel (Revolution of the Daleks)|Rachel]] - [[Helen Anderson]]
* [[Dalek|Voice of the Daleks]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]
* [[Dalek Operator]] 1 - [[Barnaby Edwards (actor)|Barnaby Edwards]]
* Dalek Operator 2 - [[Nicholas Pegg]]
== Production ==
It was originally reported that [[pre-production]] on series 12 had begun in November 2018, with [[Ray Holman]] having updated his CV to say so. Furthermore it was said that [[principal photography|filming]] would begin in January 2019.<ref name="pre-production">{{cite web|url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/tv/doctor-who-season-12-pre-production/|title=Doctor Who Season 12 Has Already Begun Pre-Production|author=Bone, Christian|date of source=12 November 2018|website name=We Got This Covers|accessdate=12 January 2019}}</ref>
In an interview with ''[[Radio Times]]'' the cast and showrunner spoke about feeling "less pressure" heading into the second series, with Tosin stating: "Last year was new showrunner, new Doctor, new companions, new time of the show, so everything was just brand new – now that we’ve done that, everyone survived, everyone’s OK, the fans have loved it." Mandip added that "there was a bit of uproar or whatever while we were doing it, but [the fans] proved that they do change with the Doctor – and they stay". Chibnall followed up by saying: "There was more pressure last year, launching Jodie, launching a whole new family of companions, a new look, a new composer – it was a whole new team last year."<ref>https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-14/doctor-who-series-12-less-pressure/</ref>
[[File:LED light pink TARDIS.png|thumb|right|200px|The TARDIS' pink lighting from Series 11.]]
Producer [[Nikki Wilson]] noted that the crystal "fingers" in the TARDIS looked pink on camera; a colourist colour-corrected every TARDIS scene for series 11. For series 12, the LEDs in the "fingers" were completely redone to fix this problem.<ref name="Guide">https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-15/doctor-who-tardis-changes/</ref>
=== Crew ===
==== Producers ====
Producers included [[Stefan Morris]] and [[Alex Mercer]].
[[Chris Chibnall]] and [[Matt Strevens]] continued their roles as [[executive producer]]<nowiki/>s.
[[Nikki Wilson]] continued her role as [[series producer]].
[[Dafydd Shurmer]], the previous series' [[art director]], took over the position of [[production designer]] after [[Arwel Wyn Jones]] left.
==== Writers ====
Headwriter Chris Chibnall wrote four episodes for the series, namely the two-part opener and the two-part finale. He also co-wrote the fifth, sixth and seventh episodes.
Series 11 writers [[Ed Hime]], [[Vinay Patel]], and [[Pete McTighe]] returned to each pen another script for this series. [[Nina Métivier]], who served as [[script editor]] on series 11, also wrote a story for this series. New writers included [[Maxine Alderton]] and [[Charlene James]].
[[Sheena Bucktowonsing]] served as script editor on the series.
==== Directors ====
[[Jamie Stone]] directed Block 1, consisting of episodes 1 and 6<ref name="New Info" >https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-new-episode-titles-writers-and-descriptions</ref>, as well as Block 5, consisting of 9 and 10.<ref name="Direct1" >http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-new-directors-discovered</ref> [[Lee Haven Jones]] directed Block 2, consisting of episodes 2 and 3.<ref name="Direct1" /> [[Nida Manzoor]] directed Block 3<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-new-director-actor-character-discovered</ref>, consisting of episodes 4 and 5.<ref name="New Info" /> [[Emma Sullivan]] directed Block 4<ref name="Direct1" />, consisting of episodes 7 and 8.<ref name="Special">https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-news-on-a-special</ref> Lee Haven Jones also directed the festive special.
One [[director of photography]] this series was [[Ed Moore]].
[[Caroline Pope]] was [[choreographer]] and [[movement director]].<ref name="Casarotto">https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/files/cvs/pope.pdf?mtime=20190823171640</ref>
=== Filming ===
[[Location filming]] on series 12 began on [[23 January (production)|23 January]] [[2019 (production)|2019]] in [[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]],<ref name="block 1 filming">{{cite web|url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a26014385/doctor-who-series-12-first-look-photo-filming-starts/|title=Doctor Who kicks off series 12 filming with first-look at Jodie Whittaker and cast|author=Harp, Justin|date of source=23 January 2019|website name=Digital Spy|accessdate=24 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="radiotimes2">{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2019-01-24/doctor-who-series-12-filming-starts/|title=Doctor Who series 12 has officially started filming|author=24 January 2019|date of source=24 January 2019|website name=RadioTimes|accessdate=26 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="Cape Town">{{cite web|url=https://hnentertainment.co/doctor-who-series-12-is-officially-delayed-to-2020-but-could-begin-filming-soon-in-wales-south-africa/|title='Doctor Who' Series 12 Is Officially Delayed To 2020 But Could Begin Filming Soon In Wales/South Africa|author=Marc, Christopher|date of source=7 January 2019|website name=HN Entertainment|accessdate=12 January 2019}}</ref><ref>http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-jodie-whittaker-and-companion-actors-headed-abroad</ref> with cast members having arrived in the country shortly beforehand.<ref name="block 1 filming" /><ref>https://twitter.com/thinguy/status/1086694785933545473</ref> Filming in South Africa ended on [[7 February (production)|7 February]].<ref name="Taal">https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-new-photos-of-jodie-whittaker-and-the-tardis-in-south-africa</ref> While filming in South Africa, [[Jodie Whittaker]] was let into contact with a [[wikipedia:Sac spider|Sac Spider]], which are extremely dangerous and venomous. She let it crawl around on her inside her costume, unaware of the danger.<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/news/jodie-whittakers-near-fatal-encounter-with-south-african-spider-while-filming-doctor-who</ref>
Filming for the season took place in various locations around Wales, including [[Cardiff]],<ref>http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-filming-in-cardiff</ref> [[Swansea]],<ref>http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-filming-at-swansea-guildhall-wales</ref> [[Barry]],<ref>http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-more-filming-in-barry-with-bradley-walsh</ref> [[St Athan]],<ref>http://cultbox.co.uk/spoilers/doctor-who-series-12-bradley-walsh-filming-at-mod-st-athan</ref> [[New Port]],<ref>http://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-filming-at-tredegar-house</ref> [[Bridgend]],<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/spoilers/years-and-years-actor-maxim-baldry-to-appear-in-doctor-who-historical-episode</ref> and [[Nash Point]].<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-filming-at-nash-point</ref>
Filming also took place in [[Tenerife]]<ref>http://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-completion-of-filming-in-tenerife</ref>, [[Bulgaria]],<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/goran-visnjic-and-robert-glenister-to-appear-in-doctor-who-series-12-episode</ref> [[London]]<ref name="EpisodeFilming">https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-series-12-glimpses-of-filming-from-new-video-release</ref>, [[Gloucester]]<ref>https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/doctor-who-filming-right-here-2868729</ref> and [[Bristol]].<ref name="Dalek">https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-filming-with-new-dalek-design-in-bristol</ref>
On the [[25 October (production)|25 October]], the cast and crew held a [[Halloween]]-styled [[wrap party]] to celebrate that filming was nearing its end.<ref name="PreWrap">https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-fancy-dress-wrap-party</ref>
Filming wrapped up completely on [[19 November (production)|19 November]] [[2019 (production)|2019]], adding a short Wrap Up-video to prove it.<ref>https://www.blogtorwho.com/video-its-a-wrap-series-12-filming-has-finished/</ref>
''Revolution of the Daleks'' was also filmed in winter 2019, over a year prior to broadcast, reportedly in order to attach it to series 12 filming, to give the cast a longer break.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-03-31/doctor-who-coronavirus-schedule/|title=Why Doctor Who might escape delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic|author=Fullerton, Huw|date of source=31 March 2020|website name=RadioTimes|accessdate=13 May 2020}}</ref>
Unusually, sometime in [[November (production)|November]] [[2020 (production)|2020]], an extra scene was filmed for ''Revolution'' as part of a test day for startup on filming for [[Series 13 (Doctor Who)|Series 13]] during [[COVID-19]] restrictions.<ref name="Test">https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/revolution-of-the-daleks-2020-filmed-scene-inserted-into-doctor-who-new-years-special</ref>
=== Promotion ===
[[File:Series12Promo.jpg|thumb|right|"Watch this Space"]]
On [[31 October (production)|31 October]] [[2019 (production)|2019]], the [[BBC]] released the first proper promotion of the coming series 12, in the form of a poster showing a shadow of the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] cast in the yellow light from the open [[The Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] doors in the bottom corner. A faded rainbow appeared across her chest, and the tagline said "Watch this Space".<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3656897680990899?d=n&sfns=mo</ref>
On [[10 November (production)|10 November]], the BBC released a promo teaser for the new series on the ''[[YouTube|Official Doctor Who YouTube Channel]]'', with the camera zooming fast through a purple [[Time Vortex|vortex]] to a region of space in which the TARDIS suddenly appears and zooms across, revealing first the tagline "Watch this Space" then the "''Doctor Who''" logo and the text "Coming Soon". The "''Doctor Who''" page itself said "Make Space... 23/11/19".<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3686361808044486?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo</ref>
At a Q&A session held at [[Sheffield Hallam University]] on [[19 November (production)|19 November]], Chibnall told the audience that the opening story would be "the biggest episode in the show’s history". A [[BBC One]] source to [[The Mirror]] said that "It’s going to be huge. The scale is just epic. No one will be disappointed."<ref name="S12ep1" >https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-showrunner-claims-series-opener-will-be-the-biggest-episode-in-the-shows-history</ref> Whittaker added that "I feel like we’re treading new ground for each of the character journeys, and the development of everybody’s storylines."<ref>https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-11-21/doctor-who-series-13-happening/</ref>
[[File:Series12Promo2(1).jpg|thumb|right|"Space. For All."]]
On [[21 November (production)|21 November]], the "''Doctor Who''" page posted a new poster, this time showing the entire main cast on a white background at the top and a region of [[space]] at the bottom. The poster said "Space. For All." as well as "Coming Soon".<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3732364913444175?d=n&sfns=mo</ref>
On [[22 November (production)|22 November]], the "''Doctor Who''" Facebook page posted a "Trailer Preview" video showing the three [[companion]]s inside the TARDIS, nodding, to which the Doctor pulled a lever on the [[TARDIS control console|console]]. The preview then said "Trailer Premiere [[Saturday]]" with the page itself posting the time and the hashtag for [[Doctor Who Day]].<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3734818519865481?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo</ref>
On [[23 November (production)|23 November]], the first official trailer for Series 12 was released.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3735856496428350?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo</ref>
On [[2 December (production)|2 December]], the second official trailer for Series 12 was released. It followed up on what was shown in the first trailer as well as showing new content. It ended with a repeat of "Watch this Space" from the teaser trailer and was followed by the release date, "[[New Year's Day]]".<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3773118029368863/</ref>
[[File:Series12Promo2(4).jpg|thumb|right|"Space. For All" on 01.01.2020]]
On the same day they re-released the second promo poster but with a slight alteration: instead of "Coming Soon", the text below now read "New Year's Day". The Doctor's companions were also not present in this poster variant.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3773122112701788/</ref>
On [[6 December (production)|6 December]], while promoting [[Fathom Events]], the ''Doctor Who'' Facebook page repeated clips from the second trailer for the series.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3784314294915903/</ref> On the same day, a "first look" at ''Spyfall Part 1'' was released. It revealed an "impossible" mission for the Doctor and friends.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3788741727806493/</ref>
On [[8 December (production)|8 December]], a "What To Expect" video was released, with Jodie, Mandip, Tosin, Bradley and Chris Chibnall telling viewers what to expect. The first official trailer was shown along with it.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3788410177839648/</ref> On the same day, a platoon of [[Judoon]] invaded [[Victoria Station]] to meet visitors, and a big interactive screen was put up, showing the "Watch this Space" teaser transitioning into the TARDIS landing on a surface invaded by Judoon.<ref>https://www.blogtorwho.com/doctor-whos-judoon-invade-victoria-station/</ref>
On [[10 December (production)|10 December]], a second "Preview" clip from the first episode was released. It showed Ryan and Yaz interviewing a spy.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3802867306393935/</ref>
On [[11 December (production)|11 December]], a "New to Who?" video was released, offering a quick summary of the character of "[[The Doctor]]" and the show's premise to potential new viewers, showing a range of clips from the [[Thirteenth Doctor]]'s time until now.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3806021629411836/</ref>
On [[12 December (production)|12 December]], a video of the Judoon invading Victoria Station along with other parts of [[London]] was released. This video also featured interviews with fans.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3809787369035262/</ref>
On [[16 December (production)|16 December]], a video with the caption "She's Back" was released exclusively on the ''Doctor Who'' Facebook page showing an compilation of clips from Series 11 along with some descriptive words of the Doctor in-between and ending with two clips from the new series.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/DoctorWho/videos/767190083782463/</ref>
On [[17 December (production)|17 December]], another promo poster was released. It showed [[Team TARDIS]] in black suits in front of what seemed to be a [[black hole]] with a ring of distorted light around it.<ref>https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3825786647435334/</ref>
On [[21 December (production)|21 December]], a short "Words to Live By" video was released that had the "Space. For All" clip at the beginning and end, with a clip from each of the main "New Who" Doctors in-between.<ref>https://fbwat.ch/1Kw4MhdG126r76UN</ref>
On [[24 December (production)|24 December]], a short video with a few clips from the second trailer and the words "Space For Adventure" was released.<ref>https://fbwat.ch/1prvQYp1ZkXAmAVo</ref> Similar videos were released over the next three days, each with a different tagline.<ref>https://fbwat.ch/1zA15esmAica14su</ref><ref>https://fbwat.ch/1x29JHubDo2UsMg2</ref><ref>https://fbwat.ch/1nKSYgeBEUqoYXCE</ref>
On [[8 October (production)|8 October]] [[2020 (production)|2020]], a live-streamed video panel was held at [[New York Comic-Con]], attended by Whittaker, Walsh and Gill. The panel teased the forthcoming winter special ''[[Revolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Revolution of the Daleks]]''.<ref name="RotDCult"> https://cultbox.co.uk/news/revolution-of-the-daleks-what-is-known-so-far-about-the-doctor-who-special</ref> At the same panel, the question was brought up about how a life sentence for a [[Time Lord]] would work, given the series finale conclusion with [[the Doctor]] being sentenced to life in a space prison and due to a Time Lord’s life-span, to which Whittaker hinted that there might be answers given in ''Revolution''.<ref> https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-10-09/doctor-who-christmas-special-jodie-whittaker-regeneration/?fbclid=IwAR2SdI21SdTSCAkn3QtaRnanbzMG1I1d3sj6RK9qhLK7o7hoUtbTzTnaDj0</ref>
On [[23 November (production)|Doctor Who Day, 23rd November]], the official ''Doctor Who'' website and YouTube channel released promo posters and a promo preview from ''Revolution'', both showing the return of [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]]. The posters also showed the return of the [[Dalek]]s.<ref name="JackBack"> https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?article=captain-jack-revolution-of-the-daleks-john-barrowman&fbclid=IwAR0ZhVX2fOGfE8XzV7AbyF6PvfZdeyZGwTM4K4102s4cncVQxawX9BMI7AM</ref> The trailer for the special was released on the [[29 November (production)|29 November]] and revealed that it would be released on [[1 January (releases)|New Year's Day]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]].<ref name="RevTrail">https://fb.watch/23IwJ2mhfB/</ref>
=== Broadcast ===
Regular episodes, apart from ''Spyfall: Part One'', continued airing on [[Sunday]]s, following on from the schedule established with series 11.
On [[17 December (production)|17 December]], [[BFI Southbank]] held a press screening of ''Spyfall'' attended by cast and crew. Burgers branded with "DOCTOR WHO" were served.<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-spyfall-screening-at-bfi-southbank</ref>
[[BBC America]] aired all full series and specials of New Who during the week between [[24 December (releases)|24 December]] and [[1 January (releases)|1 January]] in preparation for series 12. The network also aired animated "lost episodes" as an extra.<ref name="Fathom" />
On [[Sunday]] [[5 January (releases)|5 January]], [[Fathom Events]] played host to a special screening of the premiere episode ''Spyfall'' as well as showing an early unveiling of the following episode.<ref name="Fathom" >https://cultbox.co.uk/news/nationwide-bbc-america-doctor-who-fan-event-spyfall-screening</ref>
=== Myths ===
Although now debunked, Starburst Magazine had reportedly been in contact with the BBC back in November 2018, during which time, the BBC said that series 12 would air in Autumn 2019.<ref name="Starburst">https://www.starburstmagazine.com/doctor-bbc-confirm-series-12-broadcast-2019</ref> Starburst also claimed that [[Chris Chibnall]] and [[Jodie Whittaker]] had not been very happy behind the scenes, and were set to leave after series 12 had finished.<ref name="Starburst" />
A rumour of Chibnall's departure gained momentum once again in August 2019 when some [[Gallifrey Base]] spoiler hounds ambiguously reported that "Chibnall has already gone, it's chaos in Cardiff." This quickly spread to Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube.<ref>https://www.reddit.com/r/gallifrey/comments/cndtrj/rumor_chris_chibnall_has_left_doctor_who/</ref> The rumour was later denied as "nonsense" by BBC insiders, who went on to reference similar rumours of the past.<ref>https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-08-08/doctor-who-departure-rumours-branded-nonsense-by-insiders/</ref>
== Television stories ==
=== Regular series ===
{| {{prettytable}} width="90%"
!width=5%|'''Episode<br>Number''' || width=20%|'''Title''' || width=15%|'''Writer''' || width=15%|'''Director''' || '''Notes'''
|-
|rowspan=2|1 & 2
|rowspan=2|''[[Spyfall (TV story)|Spyfall]]''||rowspan=2|[[Chris Chibnall]]||[[Jamie Stone|Jamie Magnus Stone]]||rowspan=2|[[MI6]] makes its first appearance on televised ''[[Doctor Who]]''. Debut of {{Dhawan}} and the return of [[The Master's TARDIS|his TARDIS]]. Reintroduction of the [[Tissue Compression Eliminator]]. [[Gallifrey]] is revealed to have been destroyed. First appearance of the [[Timeless Child]].
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Lee Haven Jones]]
|-
|3
|''[[Orphan 55 (TV story)|Orphan 55]]''||[[Ed Hime]]||Introduction of [[Hopper virus]].
|-
|4
|''[[Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror (TV story)|Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror]]''||[[Nina Métivier]]|| rowspan="2" |[[Nida Manzoor]]||
|-
|5
|''[[Fugitive of the Judoon (TV story)|Fugitive of the Judoon]]''||[[Vinay Patel]] & Chris Chibnall||Return of the [[Judoon]], [[Jack Harkness]] and the [[Chameleon Arch]]. First mention of the [[Ashad|Lone Cyberman]]. [[Ruth Clayton]] is revealed to be [[Fugitive Doctor|another incarnation of the Doctor]].
|-
|6
|''[[Praxeus (TV story)|Praxeus]]''||[[Pete McTighe]] & Chris Chibnall||Jamie Magnus Stone||
|-
|7
|''[[Can You Hear Me? (TV story)|Can You Hear Me?]]''||[[Charlene James]] & Chris Chibnall|| rowspan="2" |[[Emma Sullivan]]||Return of the [[Eternal|Eternals]].
|-
| 8
|''[[The Haunting of Villa Diodati (TV story)|The Haunting of Villa Diodati]]''||[[Maxine Alderton]]||The [[Ashad|Lone Cyberman]] appears.
|-
| rowspan="2" |9 & 10
| rowspan="1" |''[[Ascension of the Cybermen (TV story)|Ascension of the Cybermen]]'' / ''[[The Timeless Children (TV story)|The Timeless Children]]''|| rowspan="2" |Chris Chibnall || rowspan="2" |Jamie Magnus Stone||| The [[Timeless Child]] is revealed to be [[the Doctor]], and the Doctor learns she's had many past lives.
|}
===New Year special===
{| {{prettytable}} width="90%"
! width="5%" |'''#'''|| width="20%" |'''Title'''|| width="15%" |'''Writer'''|| width="15%" |'''Director'''||'''Notes'''
|-
| N/A
|''[[Revolution of the Daleks (TV story)|Revolution of the Daleks]]''||[[Chris Chibnall]]||[[Lee Haven Jones]]||Return of [[Jack Robertson]] and the Time War [[Dalek]]s. Jack Harkness meets the Thirteenth Doctor. Ryan and Graham leave the TARDIS.
|}
===Episode notes===
* ''Spyfall: Part One'' pays homage to two [[James Bond]] stories; ''Casino Royale'' and ''Skyfall'', respectively.<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-spyfall-new-images-and-information</ref>
*''Spyfall: Part Two'' featured the first time the [[Thirteenth Doctor]] identified herself as a [[Time Lord]] from the planet [[Gallifrey]].
*The villain in ''Orphan 55'' was so terrifying that even being on set behind the scenes had cast and crew frightened.<ref>https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-27/doctor-who-series-12-monsters-orphan-55/</ref>
*The [[Judoon Captain]] is named [[Pol-Kon-Don]] as a tribute to late ''Doctor Who'' fan and friend of [[Chris Chibnall]], [[Paul Condon]].<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/news/judoon-captain-named-for-doctor-who-fan-paul-condon</ref>
*Although ''Fugitive of the Judoon'' was directed by [[Nida Manzoor]], [[Jack Harkness]]' scenes were directed by [[Jamie Magnus Stone]].<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-fugitive-of-the-judoon-behind-the-scenes</ref>
*''Can You Hear Me?'' featured an [[Animation|animated segment]] illustrated by [[Nina Chakrabarti]] with [[Emma Sullivan]] and [[DNEG]].<ref>https://cultbox.co.uk/news/nightmare-episode-of-doctor-who-will-include-an-animated-segment</ref>
* The "cold opening" in ''Ascension of the Cybermen'' had a smooth transition into the [[title sequence]] through the eye of a [[Cyberman]]-head.
*''The Timeless Children'' had the [[Doctor Who theme|theme music]] play across the Doctor's memory-scene when overloading [[the Matrix]].
*''The Timeless Children'' had the most extensive use of archive footage in any of the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episodes or any other media, and indeed any of the spin-offs as of 2021.
* Jodie Whittaker was so devastated to film the last scenes with Tosin Cole and Bradley Walsh during ''Revolution of the Daleks'' that she broke down and had to be “carried” back to her trailer.<ref>https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1367134/Jodie-Whittaker-crying-Bradley-Walsh-last-scene-tosin-Cole-exit-BBC-video</ref>
==Aliens and enemies==
*[[Kasaavin]]
*[[Daniel Barton]]
*{{Dhawan|n="O"/The Master}}
* [[Deep-Space Squid]]
*[[Humanoid]]s
**[[Hyph3n]]
** Several [[Tranquility Spa]] guests
*[[Hopper virus]]
*[[Dreg]]s
**[[Dreg leader]]
***"[[Wheezy (Orphan 55)|Wheezy]]"
*[[Skithra]]
**[[Queen]] [[Queen of the Skithra|Skithra]]
*[[Judoon]]
**[[Pol-Kon-Don]]
*[[Nanogene]]s
*[[Lee Clayton]]
*[[Ruth Clayton|"Ruth Clayton"/"The Doctor"]]
*[[Gat]] ([[Gallifreyan]])
*[[Praxeus]]
* [[Crow]]s (possessed)
**[[Enzyme]]s (infected)
*[[Suki Cheng]]
* [[Suki Cheng's crew]]
*[[Chagaska]]
* [[Rakaya]]
*[[Zellin]]
*[[Ghost]]s
**[[Ghost woman (The Haunting of Villa Diodati)|Ghost woman]]
** [[Ghost child (The Haunting of Villa Diodati)|Ghost child]]
*[[Cyberium]]
*[[Cybermen]]
** The [[Ashad|Lone Cyberman/Ashad]]
**[[Cyberdrone]]s
**[[Cyberguard]]s
**[[Cyber-Warrior]]s
*[[Time Lord]]s
**[[Shobogan (species)|Shobogans]]
***[[Tecteun]]
*** [[Shobogan child]]
***[[Omega]]
***[[Rassilon]]
***[[Solpado]]
**[[Timeless Child's species|"Timeless" species]]
***[[Timeless Child]]
**[[CyberMaster]]s
*[[Jack Robertson]]
*[[Defence Drone|Defence Drones]]
**[[Reconnaissance Dalek]]
* [[Gathering coil]]
* [[Thijarian]]
*[[Weeping Angel]]
**[[Angela (Revolution of the Daleks)|Angela]]
*[[Ood]]
**[[Bonnie (Revolution of the Daleks)|Bonnie]]
*[[Sycorax]]
**[[Clyde (Revolution of the Daleks)|Clyde]]
*[[Silent (Revolution of the Daleks)|Silent]]
*[[Pting]]
**[[Tiny (Revolution of the Daleks)|Tiny]]
* [[Dalek]]s
**[[Death Squad Dalek]]s
***[[Dalek leader (Revolution of the Daleks)|Squad Leader]]
== Adaptations and merchandising==
===Home media ===
====DVD / Blu-ray====
In [[May (production)|May]] [[2017 (production)|2017]], it was announced that due to the terms of a deal between [[BBC Worldwide]] and [[SMG Pictures]] in [[China]], the company has [[Right of first refusal|first right of refusal]] on the purchase for the Chinese market of past and future series and spin-offs, ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]'' and ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'', of the programme.<ref>http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-06-03/the-bbc-is-already-preparing-for-at-least-five-more-series-of-doctor-who</ref><ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/2017/doctor-who-china</ref>
In [[October (production)|October]] [[2019 (production)|2019]], it was revealed that due to the show heading to [[HBO Max]], the network had struck a deal for additional series of the programme.<ref>https://vocal.media/futurism/doctor-who-series-13-and-14-confirmed-hbo-max-reveals-but-will-whittaker-stick-around</ref>
The twelfth series was released on [[DVD releases|DVD]] and [[Blu-ray]] on [[4 May (releases)|4 May]], [[2020 (releases)|2020]] alongside the [[2019 (releases)|2019]] [[New Year Special]] ''[[Resolution (TV story)|Resolution]]''<ref>https://www.thedigitalfix.com/television/news/doctor-who-series-12-dvd-and-blu-ray-release-confirmed-for-april-and-will-include-resolution/</ref> which was originally given a separate release from [[Series 11 (Doctor Who)|the previous series]].<ref>https://shop.bbc.com/products/doctor-who-resolution-21898.html</ref>
===Action Figures===
''to be added''
==Stories set during this season==
===Novels===
*''[[At Childhood's End (novel)|At Childhood's End]]''
== Footnotes==
{{reflist|3}}
{{reflist|3}}
===Notes===
===Notes===

Revision as of 17:09, 6 May 2022

RealWorld.png

Series 12 of Doctor Who premiered on Wednesday 1 January 2020. Chris Chibnall remained in the position of executive producer whilst Jodie Whittaker, Tosin Cole, Mandip Gill and Bradley Walsh reprised their roles as the Thirteenth Doctor, Ryan Sinclair, Yasmin Khan and Graham O'Brien respectively. The series opened with Spyfall and concluded with The Timeless Children, with an additional New Year's Special, Revolution of the Daleks, airing in 2021.

Series 12 was first confirmed in April 2015, when then-showrunner Steven Moffat confirmed that Doctor Who had been renewed through 2020.[1]

Whittaker announced her own return on Friday 7 December 2018, two days prior to the broadcast of the series 11 finale, The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos.[2] The series was announced almost immediately after the conclusion of said episode.[3]

A series of behind the scenes features were released to YouTube.

It continued an ongoing storyline, only briefly mentioned previous series, of "the Timeless Child".

Overview

Series 12 consisted of 9 stories shown over 11 episodes, bring back two-parters, a format that had not occurred the previous season. Spyfall, the opening story of the series, was the first time since 2010's The End of Time that a two-parter didn't receive individual titles. The series had a heavy environmental theme, mirroring current global concerns.

The series continued the "Timeless Child" story arc, and delved into an unknown past of the Doctor, the Time Lords and Gallifrey. This was done via a more "traditional" series arc, as was prominent in the Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat eras.

Series 12 delved deeper into the companions' lives and ultimately resulted in the departure of Ryan Sinclair and Graham O'Brien in the New Years special. The series also saw the temporary return of Captain Jack Harkness.

As was done between series 8 and series 9, this series also saw some changes to the TARDIS compared to the previous series, in the form of a new crystalline column hanging from the ceiling just above the crystalline time rotor, a set a hexagon-filled gold stairs to an upper level that leads to the rest of the ship and new screens and systems and wall changes to make it look even bigger.

The "cold openings" returned for some of the episodes this series, having been notably absent in the previous series.

Returning foes

Series 12 welcomed back the Master to the show in a new male incarnation played by Sacha Dhawan and disguised as an MI6 spy known as "O". The Master was last seen in series 10's The Doctor Falls with both their Harold Saxon incarnation played by John Simm and Missy incarnation played by Michelle Gomez. The series finale, The Timeless Children, used an anagram for Dhawan on the Doctor Who website; "Barack Stemis" which, if re-arranged, means "Master is Back" and playing a false character called "Fakout".[4][5] This tactic, discounting in-universe examples from 2007's Utopia/The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords, had not been seen since The King's Demons in 1983, when an alias was used to hide the presense of Anthony Ainley.

Series 12 re-introduced the Judoon, giving them a central role in a television story for the first time since the series 6 mid-series finale A Good Man Goes to War in 2011. The Nanogenes, last seen in the 2012 story Asylum of the Daleks, also made an appearance this series.

The series also saw the return of the Eternals, not seen on television since before the 2005 revival of the show. This was done through new characters, Zellin and Rakaya.

The Cybermen also made their way back onto the small screen this series, in their first TV appearance since the 2017 story The Doctor Falls (discounting archival footage in Twice Upon a Time), first in the form of Ashad, followed by a whole army of them, consisting of the Cybus/Mondasian cross-breed as Cyberguards and a new variant called Cyber-Warriors. They also utilised a new weaponry called Cyberdrones, which were flying Cyber-helmets.

The Time Lords returned for the first time since the 2015 series 9 finale Hell Bent. Although they mainly appeared only through a vision scene in the Matrix, a sole Time Lady was also seen working with the Judoon in Fugitive of the Judoon. The finale also gives mention to the Shobogans, first mentioned in 1976's The Deadly Assassin.

The Daleks also made their way back, both in their bronze design and in the "scrapyard" design from Resolution, albeit with a new black Dalek casing. But like Series 11, they did not feature in the main series, instead popping up in the following special.

The special itself featured cameos from multuple previous foes, most notably a Weeping Angel, a Silent, an Ood, a Pting and a Sycorax.

Cast

Recurring

Guest

Production

It was originally reported that pre-production on series 12 had begun in November 2018, with Ray Holman having updated his CV to say so. Furthermore it was said that filming would begin in January 2019.[6]

In an interview with Radio Times the cast and showrunner spoke about feeling "less pressure" heading into the second series, with Tosin stating: "Last year was new showrunner, new Doctor, new companions, new time of the show, so everything was just brand new – now that we’ve done that, everyone survived, everyone’s OK, the fans have loved it." Mandip added that "there was a bit of uproar or whatever while we were doing it, but [the fans] proved that they do change with the Doctor – and they stay". Chibnall followed up by saying: "There was more pressure last year, launching Jodie, launching a whole new family of companions, a new look, a new composer – it was a whole new team last year."[7]

The TARDIS' pink lighting from Series 11.

Producer Nikki Wilson noted that the crystal "fingers" in the TARDIS looked pink on camera; a colourist colour-corrected every TARDIS scene for series 11. For series 12, the LEDs in the "fingers" were completely redone to fix this problem.[8]

Crew

Producers

Producers included Stefan Morris and Alex Mercer.

Chris Chibnall and Matt Strevens continued their roles as executive producers.

Nikki Wilson continued her role as series producer.

Dafydd Shurmer, the previous series' art director, took over the position of production designer after Arwel Wyn Jones left.

Writers

Headwriter Chris Chibnall wrote four episodes for the series, namely the two-part opener and the two-part finale. He also co-wrote the fifth, sixth and seventh episodes.

Series 11 writers Ed Hime, Vinay Patel, and Pete McTighe returned to each pen another script for this series. Nina Métivier, who served as script editor on series 11, also wrote a story for this series. New writers included Maxine Alderton and Charlene James.

Sheena Bucktowonsing served as script editor on the series.

Directors

Jamie Stone directed Block 1, consisting of episodes 1 and 6[9], as well as Block 5, consisting of 9 and 10.[10] Lee Haven Jones directed Block 2, consisting of episodes 2 and 3.[10] Nida Manzoor directed Block 3[11], consisting of episodes 4 and 5.[9] Emma Sullivan directed Block 4[10], consisting of episodes 7 and 8.[12] Lee Haven Jones also directed the festive special.

One director of photography this series was Ed Moore.

Caroline Pope was choreographer and movement director.[13]

Filming

Location filming on series 12 began on 23 January 2019 in Cape Town, South Africa,[14][15][16][17] with cast members having arrived in the country shortly beforehand.[14][18] Filming in South Africa ended on 7 February.[19] While filming in South Africa, Jodie Whittaker was let into contact with a Sac Spider, which are extremely dangerous and venomous. She let it crawl around on her inside her costume, unaware of the danger.[20]

Filming for the season took place in various locations around Wales, including Cardiff,[21] Swansea,[22] Barry,[23] St Athan,[24] New Port,[25] Bridgend,[26] and Nash Point.[27]

Filming also took place in Tenerife[28], Bulgaria,[29] London[30], Gloucester[31] and Bristol.[32]

On the 25 October, the cast and crew held a Halloween-styled wrap party to celebrate that filming was nearing its end.[33]

Filming wrapped up completely on 19 November 2019, adding a short Wrap Up-video to prove it.[34]

Revolution of the Daleks was also filmed in winter 2019, over a year prior to broadcast, reportedly in order to attach it to series 12 filming, to give the cast a longer break.[35]

Unusually, sometime in November 2020, an extra scene was filmed for Revolution as part of a test day for startup on filming for Series 13 during COVID-19 restrictions.[36]

Promotion

"Watch this Space"

On 31 October 2019, the BBC released the first proper promotion of the coming series 12, in the form of a poster showing a shadow of the Thirteenth Doctor cast in the yellow light from the open TARDIS doors in the bottom corner. A faded rainbow appeared across her chest, and the tagline said "Watch this Space".[37]

On 10 November, the BBC released a promo teaser for the new series on the Official Doctor Who YouTube Channel, with the camera zooming fast through a purple vortex to a region of space in which the TARDIS suddenly appears and zooms across, revealing first the tagline "Watch this Space" then the "Doctor Who" logo and the text "Coming Soon". The "Doctor Who" page itself said "Make Space... 23/11/19".[38]

At a Q&A session held at Sheffield Hallam University on 19 November, Chibnall told the audience that the opening story would be "the biggest episode in the show’s history". A BBC One source to The Mirror said that "It’s going to be huge. The scale is just epic. No one will be disappointed."[39] Whittaker added that "I feel like we’re treading new ground for each of the character journeys, and the development of everybody’s storylines."[40]

"Space. For All."

On 21 November, the "Doctor Who" page posted a new poster, this time showing the entire main cast on a white background at the top and a region of space at the bottom. The poster said "Space. For All." as well as "Coming Soon".[41]

On 22 November, the "Doctor Who" Facebook page posted a "Trailer Preview" video showing the three companions inside the TARDIS, nodding, to which the Doctor pulled a lever on the console. The preview then said "Trailer Premiere Saturday" with the page itself posting the time and the hashtag for Doctor Who Day.[42]

On 23 November, the first official trailer for Series 12 was released.[43]

On 2 December, the second official trailer for Series 12 was released. It followed up on what was shown in the first trailer as well as showing new content. It ended with a repeat of "Watch this Space" from the teaser trailer and was followed by the release date, "New Year's Day".[44]

"Space. For All" on 01.01.2020

On the same day they re-released the second promo poster but with a slight alteration: instead of "Coming Soon", the text below now read "New Year's Day". The Doctor's companions were also not present in this poster variant.[45]

On 6 December, while promoting Fathom Events, the Doctor Who Facebook page repeated clips from the second trailer for the series.[46] On the same day, a "first look" at Spyfall Part 1 was released. It revealed an "impossible" mission for the Doctor and friends.[47]

On 8 December, a "What To Expect" video was released, with Jodie, Mandip, Tosin, Bradley and Chris Chibnall telling viewers what to expect. The first official trailer was shown along with it.[48] On the same day, a platoon of Judoon invaded Victoria Station to meet visitors, and a big interactive screen was put up, showing the "Watch this Space" teaser transitioning into the TARDIS landing on a surface invaded by Judoon.[49]

On 10 December, a second "Preview" clip from the first episode was released. It showed Ryan and Yaz interviewing a spy.[50]

On 11 December, a "New to Who?" video was released, offering a quick summary of the character of "The Doctor" and the show's premise to potential new viewers, showing a range of clips from the Thirteenth Doctor's time until now.[51]

On 12 December, a video of the Judoon invading Victoria Station along with other parts of London was released. This video also featured interviews with fans.[52]

On 16 December, a video with the caption "She's Back" was released exclusively on the Doctor Who Facebook page showing an compilation of clips from Series 11 along with some descriptive words of the Doctor in-between and ending with two clips from the new series.[53]

On 17 December, another promo poster was released. It showed Team TARDIS in black suits in front of what seemed to be a black hole with a ring of distorted light around it.[54]

On 21 December, a short "Words to Live By" video was released that had the "Space. For All" clip at the beginning and end, with a clip from each of the main "New Who" Doctors in-between.[55]

On 24 December, a short video with a few clips from the second trailer and the words "Space For Adventure" was released.[56] Similar videos were released over the next three days, each with a different tagline.[57][58][59]

On 8 October 2020, a live-streamed video panel was held at New York Comic-Con, attended by Whittaker, Walsh and Gill. The panel teased the forthcoming winter special Revolution of the Daleks.[60] At the same panel, the question was brought up about how a life sentence for a Time Lord would work, given the series finale conclusion with the Doctor being sentenced to life in a space prison and due to a Time Lord’s life-span, to which Whittaker hinted that there might be answers given in Revolution.[61]

On Doctor Who Day, 23rd November, the official Doctor Who website and YouTube channel released promo posters and a promo preview from Revolution, both showing the return of Captain Jack Harkness. The posters also showed the return of the Daleks.[62] The trailer for the special was released on the 29 November and revealed that it would be released on New Year's Day 2021.[63]

Broadcast

Regular episodes, apart from Spyfall: Part One, continued airing on Sundays, following on from the schedule established with series 11.

On 17 December, BFI Southbank held a press screening of Spyfall attended by cast and crew. Burgers branded with "DOCTOR WHO" were served.[64]

BBC America aired all full series and specials of New Who during the week between 24 December and 1 January in preparation for series 12. The network also aired animated "lost episodes" as an extra.[65]

On Sunday 5 January, Fathom Events played host to a special screening of the premiere episode Spyfall as well as showing an early unveiling of the following episode.[65]

Myths

Although now debunked, Starburst Magazine had reportedly been in contact with the BBC back in November 2018, during which time, the BBC said that series 12 would air in Autumn 2019.[66] Starburst also claimed that Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker had not been very happy behind the scenes, and were set to leave after series 12 had finished.[66]

A rumour of Chibnall's departure gained momentum once again in August 2019 when some Gallifrey Base spoiler hounds ambiguously reported that "Chibnall has already gone, it's chaos in Cardiff." This quickly spread to Twitter, Facebook, and Youtube.[67] The rumour was later denied as "nonsense" by BBC insiders, who went on to reference similar rumours of the past.[68]

Television stories

Regular series

Episode
Number		 Title Writer Director Notes
1 & 2 Spyfall Chris Chibnall Jamie Magnus Stone MI6 makes its first appearance on televised Doctor Who. Debut of the Spy Master and the return of his TARDIS. Reintroduction of the Tissue Compression Eliminator. Gallifrey is revealed to have been destroyed. First appearance of the Timeless Child.
Lee Haven Jones
3 Orphan 55 Ed Hime Introduction of Hopper virus.
4 Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror Nina Métivier Nida Manzoor
5 Fugitive of the Judoon Vinay Patel & Chris Chibnall Return of the Judoon, Jack Harkness and the Chameleon Arch. First mention of the Lone Cyberman. Ruth Clayton is revealed to be another incarnation of the Doctor.
6 Praxeus Pete McTighe & Chris Chibnall Jamie Magnus Stone
7 Can You Hear Me? Charlene James & Chris Chibnall Emma Sullivan Return of the Eternals.
8 The Haunting of Villa Diodati Maxine Alderton The Lone Cyberman appears.
9 & 10 Ascension of the Cybermen / The Timeless Children Chris Chibnall Jamie Magnus Stone The Timeless Child is revealed to be the Doctor, and the Doctor learns she's had many past lives.

New Year special

# Title Writer Director Notes
N/A Revolution of the Daleks Chris Chibnall Lee Haven Jones Return of Jack Robertson and the Time War Daleks. Jack Harkness meets the Thirteenth Doctor. Ryan and Graham leave the TARDIS.

Episode notes

Aliens and enemies

Adaptations and merchandising

Home media

DVD / Blu-ray

In May 2017, it was announced that due to the terms of a deal between BBC Worldwide and SMG Pictures in China, the company has first right of refusal on the purchase for the Chinese market of past and future series and spin-offs, Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, of the programme.[75][76]

In October 2019, it was revealed that due to the show heading to HBO Max, the network had struck a deal for additional series of the programme.[77]

The twelfth series was released on DVD and Blu-ray on 4 May, 2020 alongside the 2019 New Year Special Resolution[78] which was originally given a separate release from the previous series.[79]

Action Figures

to be added

Stories set during this season

Novels

Footnotes

  1. ↑ https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32202633
  2. ↑ Jodie Whittaker Confirms Return for 'Doctor Who' Season 12 (Exclusive). Hollywood Reporter (7 December 2018). Retrieved on 9 December 2018.
  3. ↑ The Doctor Who Team (9 December 2018). Doctor Who Series 12 Announcement. Doctor Who. Retrieved on 9 December 2018.
  4. ↑ https://twitter.com/0_MattWhelan_0/status/1230222077300482050
  5. ↑ https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000g09m
  6. ↑ Bone, Christian (12 November 2018). Doctor Who Season 12 Has Already Begun Pre-Production. We Got This Covers. Retrieved on 12 January 2019.
  7. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-14/doctor-who-series-12-less-pressure/
  8. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-15/doctor-who-tardis-changes/
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-new-episode-titles-writers-and-descriptions
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-new-directors-discovered
  11. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-new-director-actor-character-discovered
  12. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-news-on-a-special
  13. ↑ https://cdn.casarotto.co.uk/files/cvs/pope.pdf?mtime=20190823171640
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Harp, Justin (23 January 2019). Doctor Who kicks off series 12 filming with first-look at Jodie Whittaker and cast. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 24 January 2019.
  15. ↑ 24 January 2019 (24 January 2019). Doctor Who series 12 has officially started filming. RadioTimes. Retrieved on 26 January 2019.
  16. ↑ Marc, Christopher (7 January 2019). 'Doctor Who' Series 12 Is Officially Delayed To 2020 But Could Begin Filming Soon In Wales/South Africa. HN Entertainment. Retrieved on 12 January 2019.
  17. ↑ http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-jodie-whittaker-and-companion-actors-headed-abroad
  18. ↑ https://twitter.com/thinguy/status/1086694785933545473
  19. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-new-photos-of-jodie-whittaker-and-the-tardis-in-south-africa
  20. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/jodie-whittakers-near-fatal-encounter-with-south-african-spider-while-filming-doctor-who
  21. ↑ http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-filming-in-cardiff
  22. ↑ http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-filming-at-swansea-guildhall-wales
  23. ↑ http://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-more-filming-in-barry-with-bradley-walsh
  24. ↑ http://cultbox.co.uk/spoilers/doctor-who-series-12-bradley-walsh-filming-at-mod-st-athan
  25. ↑ http://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-filming-at-tredegar-house
  26. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/spoilers/years-and-years-actor-maxim-baldry-to-appear-in-doctor-who-historical-episode
  27. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-filming-at-nash-point
  28. ↑ http://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-series-12-completion-of-filming-in-tenerife
  29. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/goran-visnjic-and-robert-glenister-to-appear-in-doctor-who-series-12-episode
  30. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-series-12-glimpses-of-filming-from-new-video-release
  31. ↑ https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/whats-on/doctor-who-filming-right-here-2868729
  32. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-filming-with-new-dalek-design-in-bristol
  33. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-series-12-fancy-dress-wrap-party
  34. ↑ https://www.blogtorwho.com/video-its-a-wrap-series-12-filming-has-finished/
  35. ↑ Fullerton, Huw (31 March 2020). Why Doctor Who might escape delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic. RadioTimes. Retrieved on 13 May 2020.
  36. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/revolution-of-the-daleks-2020-filmed-scene-inserted-into-doctor-who-new-years-special
  37. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3656897680990899?d=n&sfns=mo
  38. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3686361808044486?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo
  39. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/general/doctor-who-showrunner-claims-series-opener-will-be-the-biggest-episode-in-the-shows-history
  40. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-11-21/doctor-who-series-13-happening/
  41. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3732364913444175?d=n&sfns=mo
  42. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3734818519865481?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo
  43. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3735856496428350?vh=e&d=n&sfns=mo
  44. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3773118029368863/
  45. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3773122112701788/
  46. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3784314294915903/
  47. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3788741727806493/
  48. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3788410177839648/
  49. ↑ https://www.blogtorwho.com/doctor-whos-judoon-invade-victoria-station/
  50. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3802867306393935/
  51. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3806021629411836/
  52. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3809787369035262/
  53. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/DoctorWho/videos/767190083782463/
  54. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/127031120644257/posts/3825786647435334/
  55. ↑ https://fbwat.ch/1Kw4MhdG126r76UN
  56. ↑ https://fbwat.ch/1prvQYp1ZkXAmAVo
  57. ↑ https://fbwat.ch/1zA15esmAica14su
  58. ↑ https://fbwat.ch/1x29JHubDo2UsMg2
  59. ↑ https://fbwat.ch/1nKSYgeBEUqoYXCE
  60. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/revolution-of-the-daleks-what-is-known-so-far-about-the-doctor-who-special
  61. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2020-10-09/doctor-who-christmas-special-jodie-whittaker-regeneration/?fbclid=IwAR2SdI21SdTSCAkn3QtaRnanbzMG1I1d3sj6RK9qhLK7o7hoUtbTzTnaDj0
  62. ↑ https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?article=captain-jack-revolution-of-the-daleks-john-barrowman&fbclid=IwAR0ZhVX2fOGfE8XzV7AbyF6PvfZdeyZGwTM4K4102s4cncVQxawX9BMI7AM
  63. ↑ https://fb.watch/23IwJ2mhfB/
  64. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-spyfall-screening-at-bfi-southbank
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 https://cultbox.co.uk/news/nationwide-bbc-america-doctor-who-fan-event-spyfall-screening
  66. ↑ 66.0 66.1 https://www.starburstmagazine.com/doctor-bbc-confirm-series-12-broadcast-2019
  67. ↑ https://www.reddit.com/r/gallifrey/comments/cndtrj/rumor_chris_chibnall_has_left_doctor_who/
  68. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-08-08/doctor-who-departure-rumours-branded-nonsense-by-insiders/
  69. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-spyfall-new-images-and-information
  70. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-12-27/doctor-who-series-12-monsters-orphan-55/
  71. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/judoon-captain-named-for-doctor-who-fan-paul-condon
  72. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-fugitive-of-the-judoon-behind-the-scenes
  73. ↑ https://cultbox.co.uk/news/nightmare-episode-of-doctor-who-will-include-an-animated-segment
  74. ↑ https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1367134/Jodie-Whittaker-crying-Bradley-Walsh-last-scene-tosin-Cole-exit-BBC-video
  75. ↑ http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-06-03/the-bbc-is-already-preparing-for-at-least-five-more-series-of-doctor-who
  76. ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/2017/doctor-who-china
  77. ↑ https://vocal.media/futurism/doctor-who-series-13-and-14-confirmed-hbo-max-reveals-but-will-whittaker-stick-around
  78. ↑ https://www.thedigitalfix.com/television/news/doctor-who-series-12-dvd-and-blu-ray-release-confirmed-for-april-and-will-include-resolution/
  79. ↑ https://shop.bbc.com/products/doctor-who-resolution-21898.html

Notes

v • e
Doctor Who television stories
 
Seasons 1-4: William Hartnell
Season 1: 1963-1964
Season 2: 1964-1965
Season 3: 1965-1966
Season 4: 1966
 
Seasons 4-6: Patrick Troughton
Season 4: 1966-1967
Season 5: 1967-1968
Season 6: 1968-1969
 
Seasons 7-11: Jon Pertwee
Season 7: 1970
Season 8: 1971
Season 9: 1972
Season 10: 1972-1973
Season 11: 1973-1974
 
Seasons 12-18: Tom Baker
Season 12: 1974-1975
Season 13: 1975-1976
Season 14: 1976-1977
Season 15: 1977-1978
Season 16: 1978-1979
Season 17: 1979-1980
Season 18: 1980-1981
 
Seasons 19-21: Peter Davison
Season 19: 1982
Season 20: 1983
Children in Need 1983
Season 21: 1984
 
Seasons 21-23: Colin Baker
Season 21: 1984
Season 22: 1985
Season 23: 1986
 
Seasons 24-26: Sylvester McCoy
Season 24: 1987
Season 25: 1988-1989
Season 26: 1989
 
TV Movie & 2013 specials: Paul McGann
TV Movie: 1996
Specials: 2013
Minisodes
 
Series 1: Christopher Eccleston
Series 1: 2005
Regular episodes
 
Series 2-4: David Tennant
Series 2: 2005-2006
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Series 3: 2006-2007
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Animated special
Series 4: 2007-2010
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Minisodes
Animated special
Seasonal specials
 
Series 5-2013 specials: Matt Smith
Series 5: 2010
Regular episodes
Series 6: 2010-2011
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: Apr 2011)
Regular episodes
(Part 2: Aug 2011)
Minisode
Series 7: 2011-2013
Christmas Special
Minisodes
Regular episodes
(Part 1: 2012)
Minisode
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
(Part 2: 2013)
Specials: 2013
 
Series 8-10: Peter Capaldi
Series 8: 2014
Regular episodes
Series 9: 2014-2015
Christmas Special
Minisode
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
Series 10: 2016-2017
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
Christmas Special
 
Series 11-13: Jodie Whittaker
Series 11: 2018-2019
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 12: 2020-2021
Regular episodes
New Year Special
Series 13: 2021
Minisodes
Regular episodes
Seasonal specials
 
60th Anniversary Specials: David Tennant
Specials: 2023
Minisodes
60th Anniversary Specials
 
Season 1 (2023)-present: Ncuti Gatwa
Season 1: 2023-2024
Christmas Special
Regular episodes
v • e
Aliens and Enemies of Series 12
Spyfall
Orphan 55
Nikola Tesla's Night of Terror
Fugitive of the Judoon
Praxeus
Can You Hear Me?
The Haunting of Villa Diodati
Ascension of the Cybermen
The Timeless Children
Revolution of the Daleks
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