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|range          =  
|range          =  
|number in range =  
|number in range =  
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/doctor-who-2023-children-in-need-shooting-script-07042023.pdf
|image          = 14 never here.png
|image          = 14 never here.png
|novelisation    = Destination: Skaro (short story)
|doctor          = Fourteenth Doctor
|doctor          = Fourteenth Doctor
|enemy          =  
|enemy          =  
|featuring      = [[Davros]], [[Dalek Prime|First Dalek]]
|featuring      = [[Davros]], [[Dalek Prime|First Dalek]], [[Nyder]]
|setting        = [[Skaro]], the "[[genesis of the Daleks]]"
|setting        = [[Skaro]], the "[[genesis of the Daleks]]"
|writer          = Russell T Davies
|writer          = Russell T Davies
|director        = [[Jamie Donoghue]]
|director        = [[Jamie Donoughue]]
|producer        =
|producer        =  
|broadcast date  = 17 November 2023
|broadcast date  = 17 November 2023
|network        = BBC One
|network        = BBC One
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|series          = [[List of Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|series          = [[List of Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
|prev            = The Power of the Doctor (TV story)
|prev            = The Power of the Doctor (TV story)
|next            = The Daleks in Colour (TV story)
|next            = The Star Beast (TV story)
|series2        = ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'' [[mini-episode|mini-episodes]]
|series2        = ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'' [[mini-episode|mini-episodes]]
|prev2          = The Flux is Coming... (TV story)
|prev2          = The Flux is Coming... (TV story)
|next2          =  
|next2          = Doctor Who: The Bedtime Story (TV story)
|series3        = ''[[Children in Need]]'' specials
|series3        = ''[[Children in Need]]'' specials
|prev3          = Anastasia's Doctor Who Surprise
|prev3          = Anastasia's Doctor Who Surprise
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'''''Destination: Skaro'''''<ref name="rtd">[https://www.instagram.com/p/CzvbEfpNh_q/ @russelltdavies63 on instagram.com]</ref> — also simply titled '''''Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023'''''<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gsddbs ''Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023'' on bbc.co.uk]</ref> — was a televised [[mini-episode|minisode]] broadcast on [[17 November (releases)|17 November]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]] on [[BBC One]] for ''[[Children in Need]]'', written by [[Russell T Davies]]<ref name="mediacentre">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/doctor-who-tardis-lands-during-bbc-children-in-need ''Doctor Who: The TARDIS lands during BBC Children In Need'' on bbc.co.uk]</ref> [[2023 specials|in celebration]] of the [[list of anniversaries|60th anniversary]].
'''''Destination: Skaro'''''<ref name="rtd">[https://www.instagram.com/p/CzvbEfpNh_q/ @russelltdavies63 on instagram.com]</ref> — also simply titled '''''Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023'''''<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0gsddbs ''Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023'' on bbc.co.uk]</ref> — was a televised [[mini-episode|minisode]] broadcast on [[17 November (releases)|17 November]] [[2023 (releases)|2023]] on [[BBC One]] for ''[[Children in Need]]'', written by [[Russell T Davies]]<ref name="mediacentre">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2023/doctor-who-tardis-lands-during-bbc-children-in-need ''Doctor Who: The TARDIS lands during BBC Children In Need'' on bbc.co.uk]</ref> [[2023 specials|in celebration]] of the [[list of anniversaries|60th anniversary]].


Much like the 2005 ''Children in Need'' special {{cs|Born Again (TV story)}} had done with the [[Tenth Doctor]], ''Destination: Skaro'' marked the first full appearance of the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] on-screen, following his debut in {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}. In the interim, he saw multiple appearances in other media, including the comic story {{cs|Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)}}, which lead directly into ''Destination: Skaro'' by bringing the Doctor to [[Skaro]] during it's epilogue.
Much like the 2005 ''Children in Need'' special {{cs|Born Again (TV story)}} had done with the [[Tenth Doctor]], ''Destination: Skaro'' marked the first full appearance of the [[Fourteenth Doctor]] on-screen, following his debut in {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}. In the interim, he saw multiple appearances in other media, including the comic story {{cs|Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)}}, which lead directly into ''Destination: Skaro'' by bringing the Doctor to [[Skaro]] during its epilogue.


While mainly comedic in tone, ''Destination: Skaro'' was notable for bringing the Doctor back to the [[genesis of the Daleks]], where he ended up unintentionally becoming part of a [[Bootstrap paradox]] by inspiring key elements of their development, such as accidentally giving away the name "Dalek" for the [[Mark III Travel Machine]], as well as their battle cry, "[[Exterminate]]", and inspiring the [[suction arm]] by replacing the [[multi-dextrous claw]] he accidently destroyed with a [[plunger]]. However, dialogue in the minisode indicates that it is set in an different timeline to {{cs|Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)}}. ''Destination: Skaro'' also marked the first time an adult [[Davros]] was shown before his disfigurement in a visual medium, and the second time he had been seen on-screen without the need for his [[Davros's chair|life support chair]], coming after his appearance as a child in {{cs|The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Witch's Familiar (TV story)}}.
While mainly comedic in tone, ''Destination: Skaro'' was notable for bringing the Doctor back to the [[genesis of the Daleks]], where he ended up unintentionally becoming part of a [[Bootstrap paradox]] by inspiring key elements of their development, such as accidentally giving away the name "Dalek" for the [[Mark III Travel Machine]], as well as their battle cry, "[[Exterminate]]", and inspiring the [[suction arm]] by replacing the [[multi-dextrous claw]] with a [[plunger]] after having accidentally destroyed it. However, dialogue in the minisode indicates that it is not meant to wholly fit in with the version of history seen in {{cs|Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)}}, with the Doctor realising that his interference coincides with "the timelines and canon rupturing". ''Destination: Skaro'' also marked the first time an adult [[Davros]] was shown before his disfigurement in a visual medium, and the second time he had been seen on-screen without the need for his [[Davros's chair|life support chair]], coming after his appearance as a child in {{cs|The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Witch's Familiar (TV story)}}.
 
This story would be novelised in the form of ''[[Doctor Who The Official Annual 2025]]'' short story {{cs|Destination: Skaro (short story)}}.


== Publisher's summary ==
== Publisher's summary ==
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[[Davros]] and his assistant, [[Castavillian]], are building [[Dalek Prime|the first iteration]] of a mutant-housing [[Mark III Travel Machine]]. Castavillian tries coming up with a new name for the Machine, using different anagrams of [[Kaled]], though none of which Davros approves of. Hearing a request from [[Nyder]] over an [[intercom]], Davros leaves, telling Castavillian not to touch anything. As Castavillian laments his inability to come up with a good anagram, he hears an inexplicable wheezing and groaning.
[[Davros]] and his assistant, [[Castavillian]], are building [[Dalek Prime|the first iteration]] of a mutant-housing [[Mark III Travel Machine]]. Castavillian tries coming up with a new name for the Machine, using different anagrams of [[Kaled]], though none of which Davros approves of. Hearing a request from [[Nyder]] over an [[intercom]], Davros leaves, telling Castavillian not to touch anything. As Castavillian laments his inability to come up with a good anagram, he hears an inexplicable wheezing and groaning.


Suddenly, [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] crashes into the room, smashing into a wall. The [[Fourteenth Doctor]] opens the door and, after greeting the bewildered Castavillian, starts rambling about [[regenerating]] from a "really [[Thirteenth Doctor|brilliant woman]]" into an [[Tenth Doctor|old face]], until he realises realises his violent landing has accidentally smashed the [[multi-dextrous claw]] off the Machine, and apologises. Then he sees the Machine, and realises that its a [[Dalek]], which Castavillian picks up on approvingly. As the Doctor notes that he was lucky that he wasn't "[[Extermination|exterminated]]", he realises that he has accidentally travelled to the "[[genesis of the Daleks]]", with Castavillian noting down everything he says. Hurriedly, he legs it back to the TARDIS, retrieves a plunger, and throws it to Castavillian. The Doctor runs back into the TARDIS and tells Castavillian he "was never [t]here" as the TARDIS dematerialises.  
Suddenly, [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] crashes into the room, smashing into a wall. The [[Fourteenth Doctor]] opens the door and, after greeting the bewildered Castavillian, starts rambling about [[regenerating]] from a "really [[Thirteenth Doctor|brilliant woman]]" into an [[Tenth Doctor|old face]], until he realises his violent landing has accidentally smashed the [[multi-dextrous claw]] off the Machine, and apologises. Then he sees the Machine, and realises that it's a [[Dalek]], which Castavillian picks up on approvingly. As the Doctor notes that he was lucky that he wasn't "[[Extermination|exterminated]]", he realises that he has accidentally travelled to the "[[genesis of the Daleks]]", with Castavillian noting down everything he says. Hurriedly, he legs it back to the TARDIS, retrieves a plunger, and throws it to Castavillian. The Doctor runs back into the TARDIS and tells Castavillian he "was never [t]here" as the TARDIS dematerialises.  


Panicking, Castavillian sticks the plunger on to the Dalek in place of the claw. Davros re-enters and sees the plunger stuck on to the Dalek. Castavillian looks at him nervously, yet Davros, after a pause, only says, "''I like it.''"
Panicking, Castavillian sticks the plunger on to the Dalek in place of the claw. Davros re-enters and sees the plunger stuck on to the Dalek. Castavillian looks at him nervously, yet Davros, after a pause, only says, "''I like it.''"
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== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* [[Fourteenth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[David Tennant]]
* [[Fourteenth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[David Tennant]]
* [[Castavillian|Mr Castavillian]] - [[Mawaan Rizwan]]
* [[Castavillian]] - [[Mawaan Rizwan]]
* [[Davros]] - [[Julian Bleach]]
* [[Davros]] - [[Julian Bleach]]
* Voice of [[Dalek Prime|the Dalek]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]{{fact}}
* Voice of [[Dalek Prime|the Dalek]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]<ref name="podcast"> [https://www.bigfinish.com/podcasts/v/2023-11-26-eleven-chimes Big Finish Podcast - 26 November 2023 Eleven Chimes Time: 15 minutes]</ref>
* [[Nyder]] - Nicholas Briggs{{fact}}
* [[Nyder]] - [[Nicholas Briggs]]<ref name="podcast"/>
* [[Dalek Operator]] - [[Barnaby Edwards (actor)|Barnaby Edwards]]{{fact}}
* [[Dalek Operator]] - [[Barnaby Edwards]]{{fact}}
 
== Crew ==
{{Wales crew
|Writer        = Russell T Davies
|ExecutiveProd3 = Jane Tranter
|ExecutiveProd  = Russell T Davies
|ExecutiveProd2 = Julie Gardner
|ExecutiveProd4 = Phil Collinson
|ExecutiveProd5 = Joel Collins
|Director      = Jamie Donoughue
|Producer      = Scott Handcock
}}


== Worldbuilding ==
== Worldbuilding ==
* Davros mentions that [[Thousand Year War|the war]] caused the [[Kaled]]s to [[mutation|mutate]].
* Davros mentions that [[Thousand Year War|the war]] caused the [[Kaled]]s to [[mutation|mutate]].
* Davros identifies the bonded [[polycarbide]] [[casing|shell]], [[multi-dextrous claw]] and [[ruby ray blaster]] as part of the Travel Machine's arsenal.
* Davros identifies the bonded [[polycarbide]] [[casing|shell]], [[multi-dextrous claw]] and [[ruby ray blaster]] as part of the Travel Machine's arsenal.
* The anagrams Castavillian proposes for the Travel Machine's name are "Lekad", "Adlek", "[[Klade]]",{{note|There exists a discrepancy between the subtitles between BBC iPlayer, which use the spelling "Klade", and [[YouTube]], which instead uses the anagram "Klaed".}} and "Edlak".
* The anagrams Castavillian proposes for the Travel Machine's name are "Lekad", "Adlek", "[[Klade]]",{{note|The name was scripted as "Klade";<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/doctor-who-2023-children-in-need-shooting-script-07042023.pdf ''Children In Need Special - The Fourteenth Doctor (2023)'' on bbc.co.uk./writersroom]</ref> the subtitles on BBC iPlayer spelled it as such, however the subtitles on [[YouTube]] used the spelling "Klaed".}} and "Edlak".
* When the Doctor realises that he is inspiring the development of the Daleks by saying his future knowledge with Castavillian in earshot writing it down, creating a [[bootstrap paradox]], he fears it will result in the [[timeline]]s and [[canonicity|canon]] "[[rupture|rupturing]]."
* When the Doctor realises that he is inspiring the development of the Daleks by saying his future knowledge with Castavillian in earshot writing it down, creating a [[bootstrap paradox]], he fears it will result in the [[timeline]]s and [[canonicity|canon]] "[[rupture|rupturing]]."


== Notes ==
== Story notes ==
* The title "''Destination: Skaro''" was only given by [[Russell T Davies]] on a post on his [[Instagram]].<ref name="rtd"/>
* The title "''Destination: Skaro''" was only given by [[Russell T Davies]] on a post on his [[Instagram]].<ref name="rtd"/>
* ''Destination: Skaro'' was the first time an adult Davros was seen prior to his disfigurement in live action, though this time of his life had previously been depicted in [[Big Finish Productions]]' ''[[I, Davros]]'' audio dramas {{cs|Davros (audio story)}}, {{cs|Purity (audio story)}} and {{cs|Corruption (audio story)}}. He had also previously been shown as a child in {{cs|The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Witch's Familiar (TV story)}}. Russell T Davies stated on ''[[Doctor Who: Unleashed]]'' that he did not want to depict Davros as he looked in the past to avoid associating a disfigured wheelchair user with "evil", particularly during Children in Need, where those with physical disabilities and mobility issues are among those who are helped by the charity.
* ''Destination: Skaro'' was the first time an adult Davros was seen prior to his disfigurement in live action, though this time of his life had previously been depicted in [[Big Finish Productions]]' ''[[I, Davros]]'' audio dramas {{cs|Davros (audio story)}}, {{cs|Purity (audio story)}} and {{cs|Corruption (audio story)}}. He had also previously been shown as a child in {{cs|The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)}} and {{cs|The Witch's Familiar (TV story)}}. Russell T Davies stated on ''[[Doctor Who: Unleashed]]'' that he did not want to depict Davros as he looked in the past to avoid associating a disfigured wheelchair user with "evil", particularly during Children in Need, where those with physical disabilities and mobility issues are among those who are helped by the charity.
* According to ''[[Doctor Who: Unleashed]]'', ''Destination: Skaro'' was filmed on [[David Tennant]]'s birthday a year after he had wrapped production on the [[2023 specials|60th anniversary specials]]. This would place the date of filming as [[17 April (people)|17 April]] [[2023 (people)|2023]].
* According to ''[[Doctor Who: Unleashed]]'', ''Destination: Skaro'' was filmed on [[David Tennant]]'s birthday, almost a year after he had wrapped production on the [[2023 specials|60th anniversary specials]]. This would place the date of filming as [[18 April (people)|18 April]] [[2023 (people)|2023]].
* ''Destination: Skaro'' contradicts elements of the audio dramas ''[[Davros (audio story)|Davros]]'' and ''[[I, Davros]]'', such as the scene where Davros constructs the [[Mark I Travel Machine]], which was done after he was confined to his wheelchair, and Davros is already shown acquainted with [[Nyder]], despite the audio releases depicting their first meeting as happening when Nyder rescued Davros from the attack that disfigured him. However, the Doctor's remark about rupturing timelines implies that ''Destination: Skaro'' occurs in an different reality.
* ''Destination: Skaro'' contradicts elements of the audio dramas {{cs|Davros (audio story)}} and ''[[I, Davros]]'', such as the scene where Davros constructs the [[Mark I Travel Machine]], which was done after he was confined to his wheelchair, and Davros is already shown acquainted with [[Nyder]], despite the audio releases depicting their first meeting as happening when Nyder rescued Davros from the attack that disfigured him.
* In addition to voicing the Daleks, [[Nicholas Briggs]] performed the voice of [[Nyder]], doing an impression of actor [[Peter Miles]], who portrayed Nyder in {{cs|Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)}}.{{source}}
* In addition to voicing the Daleks, [[Nicholas Briggs]] performed the voice of [[Nyder]], doing an impression of actor [[Peter Miles]], who portrayed Nyder in {{cs|Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)}}.<ref name="podcast"/>
* The TARDIS's [[TARDIS control room#Crystal console|"Crystal" desktop theme]], used mainly by the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], can be seen through the doors when the Doctor is about to leave Skaro, indicating that the Fourteenth Doctor hasn't yet changed the theme for the TARDIS to suit his new incarnation.
* The TARDIS's [[TARDIS control room#Crystal console|"Crystal" desktop theme]], used mainly by the [[Thirteenth Doctor]], can be seen through the doors when the Doctor is about to leave Skaro, as the next story to feature the Fourteenth Doctor, {{cs|The Star Beast (TV story)}}, would debut a new desktop theme. However, while the Thirteenth Doctor's TARDIS desktop theme could be seen briefly, the actual set had been dismantled prior to the filming of the [[2023 specials]], which were filmed a year prior to ''Destination: Skaro''.
** The full set however had been dismantled prior to filming of the [[2023 specials]], which were filmed a year prior to this special.
 
=== Production errors ===
{{discontinuity}}
''to be added''


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
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* One of the anagrams Castavillian proposes for the [[Mark III Travel Machine]] is "[[Klade]]"; the Klade, as seen in several [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures|BBC ''Eighth Doctor Adventures'']] novels, such as [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Father Time (novel)}}, were often hinted at being the future evolutions of the Daleks.
* One of the anagrams Castavillian proposes for the [[Mark III Travel Machine]] is "[[Klade]]"; the Klade, as seen in several [[BBC Eighth Doctor Adventures|BBC ''Eighth Doctor Adventures'']] novels, such as [[PROSE]]: {{cs|Father Time (novel)}}, were often hinted at being the future evolutions of the Daleks.
* An hour has passed for the Doctor since [[Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration|his regeneration]]; this aligns with Davies' intent<ref>[[DWM 584]] - ''The Strip of a Lifetime''</ref> that [[COMIC]]: {{cs|Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)}}, set immediately after [[TV]]: {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}, takes places over the course of a single hour.  
* An hour has passed for the Doctor since [[Thirteenth Doctor's regeneration|his regeneration]]; this aligns with Davies' intent<ref>[[DWM 584]] - ''The Strip of a Lifetime''</ref> that [[COMIC]]: {{cs|Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)}}, set immediately after [[TV]]: {{cs|The Power of the Doctor (TV story)}}, takes places over the course of a single hour.  
* The Doctor saying, "''Sixty minutes ago, I was this [[Thirteenth Doctor|really brilliant woman]]''", draws a parallel back to {{cs|The Woman Who Fell to Earth (TV story)}}, where the Thirteenth Doctor told [[Yaz Khan]] and [[Ryan Sinclair]] that "half an [[hour]] ago, [she] was [[Twelfth Doctor|a white-haired Scotsman]]."
* The Doctor saying, ''"Sixty minutes ago, I was this [[Thirteenth Doctor|really brilliant woman]]"'', draws a parallel back to {{cs|Twice Upon a Time (TV story)}}, where the Doctor's first reaction to her new face was, ''"Oh, brilliant!"'', and {{cs|The Woman Who Fell to Earth (TV story)}}, where the Thirteenth Doctor told [[Yaz Khan]] and [[Ryan Sinclair]] that "half an [[hour]] ago, [she] was [[Twelfth Doctor|a white-haired Scotsman]]."
** He also mentions having "[[Tenth Doctor|this old face]] back", referencing his resemblance to a prior incarnation.
* The Doctor calling the time period the "genesis of the Daleks" in dialogue acts as a nod to [[TV]]: {{cs|World Enough and Time (TV story)}}, in which the [[Saxon Master]] similarly dubbed his [[The Cyber-Foundries|Cyber-Foundries]] as the "[[genesis of the Cybermen]]".
* The Doctor calling the time period the "genesis of the Daleks" in dialogue acts as a nod to [[TV]]: {{cs|World Enough and Time (TV story)}}, in which the [[Saxon Master]] similarly dubbed his [[The Cyber-Foundries|Cyber-Foundries]] as the "[[genesis of the Cybermen]]".
* The Doctor mentions the concept of [[canonicity]] as a concept similar to a [[timeline]]; many sources have also referenced canonicity in this way, such as [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Blue Angel (novel)}} establishing that the [[Time Lord]]s have a [[Towers of Canonicity and Likelihood|Tower of Canonicity]]. Furthermore, the Doctor's exclamation that "the timelines and canon are rupturing" is very similar to a line in [[GAME]]: {{cs|Double Danger (game)|page=44}}, where it is stated that "there's been a rupture in time and the Doctor needs to know [...] what's changed between two realities."
* The Doctor mentions the concept of [[canonicity]] as a concept similar to a [[timeline]]; many sources have also referenced canonicity in this way, such as [[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Blue Angel (novel)}} establishing that the [[Time Lord]]s have a [[Towers of Canonicity and Likelihood|Tower of Canonicity]]. Furthermore, the Doctor's exclamation that "the timelines and canon are rupturing" is very similar to a line in [[GAME]]: {{cs|Double Danger (game)|page=44}}, where it is stated that "there's been a rupture in time and the Doctor needs to know [...] what's changed between two realities."
Line 97: Line 92:
== Home media releases ==
== Home media releases ==
=== Digital releases ===
=== Digital releases ===
Following its broadcast on television, ''Destination: Skaro'' was added to [[BBC iPlayer]]'s [[Whoniverse (BBC iPlayer)|Whoniverse]] catalog of ''Doctor Who'' content as a title separate from ''[[Doctor Who]]'' (2023-), under the name ''Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023''.
Following its broadcast on television, ''Destination: Skaro'' was added to [[BBC iPlayer]]'s ''[[Whoniverse (BBC iPlayer)|Whoniverse]]'' catalog of ''Doctor Who'' content as a title separate from ''[[Doctor Who (TV series)|Doctor Who]]'' (2023-), under the name ''Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023''. It was also released on [[YouTube]] under the title, ''Fourteenth Doctor is Here! | BBC Children in Need 2023 | Doctor Who'', around the same time.


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 14:35, 7 September 2024

Destination: Skaro
Gallery
RealWorld.png

Destination: Skaro[1] — also simply titled Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023[2] — was a televised minisode broadcast on 17 November 2023 on BBC One for Children in Need, written by Russell T Davies[3] in celebration of the 60th anniversary.

Much like the 2005 Children in Need special Born Again [+]Loading...["Born Again (TV story)"] had done with the Tenth Doctor, Destination: Skaro marked the first full appearance of the Fourteenth Doctor on-screen, following his debut in The Power of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Power of the Doctor (TV story)"]. In the interim, he saw multiple appearances in other media, including the comic story Liberation of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Liberation of the Daleks (comic story)"], which lead directly into Destination: Skaro by bringing the Doctor to Skaro during its epilogue.

While mainly comedic in tone, Destination: Skaro was notable for bringing the Doctor back to the genesis of the Daleks, where he ended up unintentionally becoming part of a Bootstrap paradox by inspiring key elements of their development, such as accidentally giving away the name "Dalek" for the Mark III Travel Machine, as well as their battle cry, "Exterminate", and inspiring the suction arm by replacing the multi-dextrous claw with a plunger after having accidentally destroyed it. However, dialogue in the minisode indicates that it is not meant to wholly fit in with the version of history seen in Genesis of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)"], with the Doctor realising that his interference coincides with "the timelines and canon rupturing". Destination: Skaro also marked the first time an adult Davros was shown before his disfigurement in a visual medium, and the second time he had been seen on-screen without the need for his life support chair, coming after his appearance as a child in The Magician's Apprentice [+]Loading...["The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)"] and The Witch's Familiar [+]Loading...["The Witch's Familiar (TV story)"].

This story would be novelised in the form of Doctor Who The Official Annual 2025 short story Destination: Skaro [+]Loading...["Destination: Skaro (short story)"].

Publisher's summary[[edit] | [edit source]]

In this special Children in Need episode, the Doctor hurtles through space and time to a crucial point in the Daleks' history.

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Davros and his assistant, Castavillian, are building the first iteration of a mutant-housing Mark III Travel Machine. Castavillian tries coming up with a new name for the Machine, using different anagrams of Kaled, though none of which Davros approves of. Hearing a request from Nyder over an intercom, Davros leaves, telling Castavillian not to touch anything. As Castavillian laments his inability to come up with a good anagram, he hears an inexplicable wheezing and groaning.

Suddenly, the Doctor's TARDIS crashes into the room, smashing into a wall. The Fourteenth Doctor opens the door and, after greeting the bewildered Castavillian, starts rambling about regenerating from a "really brilliant woman" into an old face, until he realises his violent landing has accidentally smashed the multi-dextrous claw off the Machine, and apologises. Then he sees the Machine, and realises that it's a Dalek, which Castavillian picks up on approvingly. As the Doctor notes that he was lucky that he wasn't "exterminated", he realises that he has accidentally travelled to the "genesis of the Daleks", with Castavillian noting down everything he says. Hurriedly, he legs it back to the TARDIS, retrieves a plunger, and throws it to Castavillian. The Doctor runs back into the TARDIS and tells Castavillian he "was never [t]here" as the TARDIS dematerialises.

Panicking, Castavillian sticks the plunger on to the Dalek in place of the claw. Davros re-enters and sees the plunger stuck on to the Dalek. Castavillian looks at him nervously, yet Davros, after a pause, only says, "I like it."

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The title "Destination: Skaro" was only given by Russell T Davies on a post on his Instagram.[1]
  • Destination: Skaro was the first time an adult Davros was seen prior to his disfigurement in live action, though this time of his life had previously been depicted in Big Finish Productions' I, Davros audio dramas Davros [+]Loading...["Davros (audio story)"], Purity [+]Loading...["Purity (audio story)"] and Corruption [+]Loading...["Corruption (audio story)"]. He had also previously been shown as a child in The Magician's Apprentice [+]Loading...["The Magician's Apprentice (TV story)"] and The Witch's Familiar [+]Loading...["The Witch's Familiar (TV story)"]. Russell T Davies stated on Doctor Who: Unleashed that he did not want to depict Davros as he looked in the past to avoid associating a disfigured wheelchair user with "evil", particularly during Children in Need, where those with physical disabilities and mobility issues are among those who are helped by the charity.
  • According to Doctor Who: Unleashed, Destination: Skaro was filmed on David Tennant's birthday, almost a year after he had wrapped production on the 60th anniversary specials. This would place the date of filming as 18 April 2023.
  • Destination: Skaro contradicts elements of the audio dramas Davros [+]Loading...["Davros (audio story)"] and I, Davros, such as the scene where Davros constructs the Mark I Travel Machine, which was done after he was confined to his wheelchair, and Davros is already shown acquainted with Nyder, despite the audio releases depicting their first meeting as happening when Nyder rescued Davros from the attack that disfigured him.
  • In addition to voicing the Daleks, Nicholas Briggs performed the voice of Nyder, doing an impression of actor Peter Miles, who portrayed Nyder in Genesis of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Genesis of the Daleks (TV story)"].[4]
  • The TARDIS's "Crystal" desktop theme, used mainly by the Thirteenth Doctor, can be seen through the doors when the Doctor is about to leave Skaro, as the next story to feature the Fourteenth Doctor, The Star Beast [+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"], would debut a new desktop theme. However, while the Thirteenth Doctor's TARDIS desktop theme could be seen briefly, the actual set had been dismantled prior to the filming of the 2023 specials, which were filmed a year prior to Destination: Skaro.

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.

to be added

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Home media releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Digital releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

Following its broadcast on television, Destination: Skaro was added to BBC iPlayer's Whoniverse catalog of Doctor Who content as a title separate from Doctor Who (2023-), under the name Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023. It was also released on YouTube under the title, Fourteenth Doctor is Here! | BBC Children in Need 2023 | Doctor Who, around the same time.

References[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 @russelltdavies63 on instagram.com
  2. ↑ Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023 on bbc.co.uk
  3. ↑ Doctor Who: The TARDIS lands during BBC Children In Need on bbc.co.uk
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Big Finish Podcast - 26 November 2023 Eleven Chimes Time: 15 minutes
  5. ↑ Children In Need Special - The Fourteenth Doctor (2023) on bbc.co.uk./writersroom
  6. ↑ DWM 584 - The Strip of a Lifetime

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ The name was scripted as "Klade";[5] the subtitles on BBC iPlayer spelled it as such, however the subtitles on YouTube used the spelling "Klaed".

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

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