Nemesis (CON episode)

Nemesis
Broadcast on:	BBC Three
Broadcast with:	The Unicorn and the Wasp
Series number:	4
Broadcast date:	17 May 2008 (full length) 18 May 2008 (Cut Down)
Runtime:	45 minutes (full length) 12'01" (Cut Down)
Key crew
Narrator:	Anthony Head
Doctor Who Confidential
← Previous	Sins of the Fathers
Next →	Shadow Play

Nemesis was the episode of Doctor Who Confidential broadcast in conjunction with The Unicorn and the Wasp.

The title is a reference to the 1971 Agatha Christie novel of the same name.

The thrust of the episode was to explain how Unicorn was, in production terms, very much like a traditional hour of mystery television. The story required, because of the storytelling conventions it tried to honour, a large cast — all of whom had to be equally filmed so the director's shot choices didn't give away the murderer. This meant, as several participants explained, many more takes of the same scene than usual for Doctor Who. The impact of having to setup multiple times for the same scene to cover different actors was explained several times throughout the episode.

Aspects of production covered

• The visual effects setup of the final scene with the Vespiform at the lake
• The filming of the scene in which the Doctor rids his system of cyanide
• How cinematographer, director, gaffer and actors came together to film the narratively complex dinner scene against the backdrop of a thunderstorm
• The problems of filming a car chase with two vintage cars that couldn't actually travel more than about twenty miles an hour and how a low loader came in handy

Additional topics covered

• The casting of Fenella Woolgar
• The use of David Tennant's father as a background extra
• A montage of the use of Agatha Christie book titles in the script
• A look back at moments when other Doctors met "celebrity" historical figures, featuring the First, Fourth, Sixth, Seventh, Ninth and younger Tenth Doctors
• A Next time on Doctor Who Confidential... trailer for the following episode.

People interviewed

• Graeme Harper, Director, Episode 7
• Gareth Roberts, Writer, Episode 7
• David Tennant, The Doctor
• Russell T Davies, Head Writer, Doctor Who
• Sandy McDonald, Footman
• Andy Pryor, Casting Director
• Fenella Woolgar, Agatha Christie
• Matthew Prichard, Agatha Christie's Grandson
• Tom Goodman-Hill, Reverend Golightly
• Tim Barter, Visual Effects Supervisor
• Susie Liggat, Producer, Episode 7
• Charlotte Eaton, Mrs Hart
• Rory Taylor, Director of Photography
• Mark Hutchings, Gaffer
• Adam Rayner, Roger
• Malcolm McKay, Vintage Car Owner

Music list

• "Armchair Detective" by Reverend and the Makers, Album: The State of Things
• "Over and Over" by Hot Chip, Album: The Warning (also used in CON: Out of Time)
• "Woe Is Me" by Billy Cotton and his Cotton Pickers, Album: Robert Parker's Jazz Classics in Digital Stereo: Jazz in Britain Pioneers RPCD 606
• "Step Back in Time (Walkin' Rhythm Mix)" by Kylie Minogue, Album: Kylie: Greatest Hits
• "She Moves She" by Four Tet, Album: Rounds
• "After You've Gone" by Billy Cotton and his Cotton Pickers, Album: Robert Parker's Jazz Classics in Digital Stereo: Jazz in Britain Pioneers RPCD 606
• "I Got Stung" by Elvis Presley, Album: Elvis The Collection Volume 2
• "Cosmic Gliss" by Ian Boddy, Album: Drones DWCD 0311
• "Take Me to the River" by Talking Heads, Album: More Songs About Buildings and Food
• "Arkansas" by Fred Elizalde and his 'Hot' Music, Album: Robert Parker's Jazz Classics in Digital Stereo: Jazz in Britain Pioneers RPCD 606
• "Insomnia" by Faithless, Album: Reverence
• "Grieving for You" by Jack Hylton's Rhythmagicians, Album: Robert Parker's Jazz Classics in Digital Stereo: Jazz in Britain Pioneers RPCD 606
• "Shut up and Drive" by Rhianna, Album: Shut up and Drive
• "Chop Suey!" by System of a Down, Album: Toxicity

These songs were in the music list on the Doctor Who website, but do not feature in the episode:

• "The Bee Song" by Athur Askey, Album: Young at Heart - Children's Favourites
• "Ready to Go" by Republica, Album: The Best Girl Power Album in the World... Ever!

Crew

• Camera - James Daniels, Eric Huyton, Nick Jardine
• Sound - Kevin Meredith, Jon Thomas
• Runners - Scott Handcock, Stuart Laws
• Edit Assistant - Sam Jones
• Researchers - Ian Hay, Nathan Landeg, Robin Owen Ellis
• Assistant Producers - Paul Giddings, Paul Symonds
• Production Accountant - Elaine Stephenson
• Production Co-ordinators - Amanda Buckley, Tors Grantham
• Production Manager - Kirsty Reid
• Production Executive - Paul Williams
• Editor - John Parker
• Colourist - Jon Everett
• Dubbing Mixer - Mark Ferda
• Produced & Directed by - Hannah Williams
• Executive Producer - Mark Cossey
• Executive Producers for Dr Who - Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner
• Producer - Zoë Rushton
• Series Producer - Gillane Seaborne

Elements retained in Cut Down

to be added

Home video releases

Doctor Who: The Complete Fourth Series DVD cover.

The "Cut Down" version of this episode was included on the Doctor Who: The Complete Fourth Series DVD box set released on 17 November 2008.