Is There Life on Mars? (CON episode)

Is There Life on Mars?
Broadcast on:	BBC Three
Broadcast with:	The Waters of Mars
Broadcast date:	15 November 2009
Runtime:	57'59"
Key crew
Narrator:	Anthony Head
Memorable moment
▶︎ YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy UnderstoodDismiss
Doctor Who Confidential
← Previous	Desert Storm
Next →	Lords and Masters

Is There Life on Mars? (also known as The Waters of Mars Confidential on the DVD) was the episode of Doctor Who Confidential broadcast in conjunction with The Waters of Mars.

The title is a reference to the 1971 David Bowie song "Life on Mars?". A reference to the singer is also in the episode.

Aspects of production covered

• Designing of the prosthetics for the Flood.
• On-set rehearsal of certain scenes before blocking them out physically.
• Filming of the chase scenes within this story.
• The designing of GADGET, and the fun of getting pulled along on top of him in one scene.

Additional topics covered

• Balancing the potential visual scariness of a monster with the family nature of the show.

People interviewed

• Russell T Davies, Head Writer
• Nikki Wilson, Producer
• David Tennant, The Doctor
• Phil Ford, Co-writer, Waters of Mars
• Lindsay Duncan, Adelaide Brooke
• Julie Gardner, Executive Producer
• Graeme Harper, Director
• Neill Gorton, Prosthetics Designer
• Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Maggie Cain
• Peter O'Brien, Ed Gold
• Edward Thomas, Production Designer
• Paul Kelly, Special Effects Supervisor
• Aleksandar Mikic, Yuri Kerenski
• Michael Goldsmith, Roman Groom
• Cosima Shaw, Steffi Ehrlich
• Ailsa Berk, Choreographer
• Alan Ruscoe, Andy Stone
• Danny Hargreaves, Special Effects Supervisor
• Abbi Collins, Stunt Co-ordinator

Music list

• "Invaders Must Die" by The Prodigy (also used in CON: Alien Abduction)
• "Also Sprach Zarathustra - Tone Poem for Large Orchestra, Op. 30: Introduction" by Richard Strauss
• "Main Title (from 'Aliens')" by James Horner & London Symphony Orchestra
• "Creep" by Radiohead
• "Don't Upset the Rhythm (Go Baby Go)" by The Noisettes
• "Ziggy Stardust" by David Bowie
• "Inspector Gadget Theme" by Shuki Levy
• "Life on Mars?" by David Bowie
• "War of the Worlds" by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
• "Fire" by Kasabian (also used in CON: What Goes on Tour...)
• "Red" by Elbow

Crew

Executive Producer   Mark Cossey

Executive Producers for Dr Who   Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner

Series Producer   Gillane Seaborne

Producer Zoë Rushton

General production staff Assistant Producer - Ian Hay, Donovan Keogh, Hannah Williams Production Accountant - Kevin Rickwood Production Co-Ordinator - Megan Pinches, Tors Grantham Production Executive - Stan Matthews Production Manager - Katy Cartwright Researcher - Matthew Andrews, Stuart Laws, Robert Wootton Team Assistant - Emma Chapman	Camera and lighting department Camera - Eric Huyton, Aled Jenkins, Jon Rees, Andy Smith Runner - James Bowen, Claire Riley Special and visual effects Colourist - Matt Mullins	General post-production staff Edit Producer - Paul Symonds Editor - Lizzie Minnion Sound Dubbing Mixer - Mark Ferda Sound - Dafydd Parry, Jon Thomas

BBC Cymru Wales
© BBC MMIX
Not every person who worked on this episode was credited. The absence of a credit for a position doesn't necessarily mean the job wasn't required. The information above is based solely on observations of the actual end credits of the episodes as broadcast, and does not relay information from IMDB or other sources.

Elements retained in Cut Down

There was no "Cut Down" version of this episode.

Home video releases

Doctor Who: 2009 Winter Specials DVD cover.

The full length version of the episode was included on the Doctor Who: 2009 Winter Specials DVD & Blu-ray box set released on 11 January 2010; and the Doctor Who: The Complete Specials DVD & Blu-ray box set also released on 11 January 2010.