Children of Earth: Day One (TV story): Difference between revisions

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{{Infobox Torchwood
{{Infobox Story SMW
|image         = 16j.jpg
|image                 = 16j.jpg
|name    = Children of Earth:<br />Day One
|series               = ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''
|series         =''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''|
|season number         = Series 3 (Torchwood)
|season number = [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]]
|series episode number = 1
|episode number         = 27
|scripturl      = https://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/documents/torchwood-children-of-earth-episode-1-day-one-pink-revisions-10082008.pdf
|main character = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]], [[Rhys Williams|Rhys]]
|main character       = [[Jack Harkness|Jack]], [[Gwen Cooper|Gwen]], [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]]
|featuring = [[Lois Habiba|Lois]], [[John Frobisher|Frobisher]], [[Bridget Spears|Bridget]], [[Alice Carter|Alice]], [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]], [[Clem McDonald|Clem]]
|featuring            = Rhys Williams
|network       = [[BBC One]]
|featuring2            = Lois Habiba
|enemy          = [[The 456]]
|featuring3            = John Frobisher
|setting        = {{il|[[Cardiff]],[[London]] and [[East Grinstead]], [[2009]]}}
|featuring4            = Clem McDonald
|writer         = [[Russell T Davies]]
|featuring5            = Alice Carter
|director       = [[Euros Lyn]]
|featuring6            = Bridget Spears
|producer       = [[Peter Bennett]]
|featuring7            = Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson
|broadcast date = [[6 July]] [[2009]]
|network               = BBC One
|prev = Exit Wounds (TV story)  
|setting              = [[Cardiff]], [[East Grinstead]] and [[London]], [[September]] [[2009]]
|next     = Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)
|writer               = Russell T Davies
}}
|director             = [[Euros Lyn]]
{{you may|Day One}}
|producer             = [[Peter Bennett]]
'''''Children of Earth: Day One''''' was the first episode of the [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|third series]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It saw to the destruction of the Torchwood 3 HQ and the theft of their trademark vehicle.
|broadcast date       = 6 July 2009
|prev                 = Exit Wounds (TV story)  
|next                 = Children of Earth: Day Two (TV story)
|trailer              = Torchwood Children of Earth Trailer 2 - BBC One
|clip                  = The children stop - Torchwood - BBC
|clip2                = The Torchwood Hub is Destroyed! Day One Torchwood Children of Earth
|format = 1x60 minute episode;<br/>Part 1 of 5
}}{{you may|Day One (TV story)|n1=Day One}}
'''''Children of Earth: Day One''''' was the first episode of [[Series 3 (Torchwood)|Series 3]] of ''[[Torchwood (TV series)|Torchwood]]''. It was written by [[Russell T Davies]], directed by [[Euros Lyn]] and featured [[John Barrowman]] as [[Jack Harkness]], [[Eve Myles]] as [[Gwen Cooper]], [[Kai Owen]] as [[Rhys Williams]] and [[Gareth David-Lloyd]] as [[Ianto Jones]].
 
It marked the beginning of the end for the Torchwood Institute as it had been established over the course of two series by eliminating almost all of its technological resources. It saw the destruction of the [[Torchwood Three]] [[the Hub|headquarters]] and the theft of their [[Torchwood SUV|trademark vehicle]]. Gwen also discovered she had recently become [[pregnant]].
 
This story featured the second appearance of [[Peter Capaldi]] portraying a character within the ''Doctor Who'' universe. He previously had the role of [[Caecilius]] in the story ''[[The Fires of Pompeii (TV story)|The Fires of Pompeii]]'' and would later play [[the Doctor]] himself in his [[twelfth incarnation]].


== Synopsis ==
== Synopsis ==
When all children on the [[Earth]] stop and start chanting "We Are Coming", the Torchwood team investigates. Could this be the start of a global crisis?
When all [[child]]ren on [[Earth]] stop and start chanting "We are coming", the [[Torchwood Three|Torchwood team]] investigates. Could this be the start of a global crisis?


== Plot ==
== Plot ==
One night in [[Scotland]], [[1965]], young children are driven in a school bus to an undisclosed location. When the bus stops, the children exit and walk towards a light. It grows brighter as they draw closer. One hesitates, then flees as the light covers a large area.  
One night in [[Scotland]], [[1965]], young children are driven in a school [[bus]] to an undisclosed location. When the bus stops, the children exit and walk towards a light. It grows brighter as they draw closer. One hesitates, then flees as the light covers a large area.


Forty-four years later, in [[Cardiff]], [[September]] [[2009]], at 8:40 am GMT, [[Gwen Cooper]] is withdrawing money from an ATM when she notices two children standing completely still and unresponsive. In fact, all the children all over the [[United Kingdom]] freeze. After a minute, the children start moving again, acting as if nothing has happened. Gwen goes to [[Torchwood Three|the Hub]] and begins to investigate the incident.
Forty-four years later, in [[Cardiff]], [[September]] [[2009]], at 8:40 am GMT, [[Gwen Cooper]] is withdrawing money from a [[cash machine]] when she notices two children standing completely still and unresponsive. In fact, all the children all over the [[United Kingdom]] freeze. After a minute, the children start moving again, acting as if nothing has happened. Gwen goes to [[the Hub]] and begins to investigate the incident.


At a [[St. Helen's Hospital|hospital]], Dr. [[Rupesh Patanjali]] fails to save a man's life. [[Jack Harkness]] and [[Ianto Jones]], whom Dr. Patanjali believes are the man's neighbours, ask to see the body alone. Jack uses a [[laser torch]] to open the corpse. He extracts an alien organ. Dr. Patanjali re-enters, sees the alien organ and asks if the men are Torchwood. Jack quickly denies it. Dr. Patanjali tells them the bodies of five ethnic males have vanished over the past two months. Jack tells him it's a problem for the NHS. Ianto and he drive away. Back at the Hub, Gwen tells them what has happened with the children.
At a [[St Helen's Hospital|hospital]], [[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr Rupesh Patanjali]] fails to save a man's life. [[Jack Harkness]] and [[Ianto Jones]], whom Dr Patanjali believes are the man's neighbours, ask to see the body alone. Jack uses a [[laser saw]] to open the corpse and extracts an [[alien]] organ. Dr Patanjali re-enters, sees the alien organ and asks if the men are Torchwood. Jack quickly denies it. Dr Patanjali tells them the bodies of five ethnic males have vanished over the past two months. Jack tells him it's a problem for the NHS. Ianto and he drive away. Back at the Hub, Gwen tells them what has happened with the children.


A woman named [[Lois Habiba]] begins her first day at work for her new boss, [[Bridget Spears]], assistant to the Permanent Secretary to the [[Home Office]], [[John Frobisher]]. Frobisher is visited by [[UNIT]] [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]], who tells him children "stopped" at the exact same time all over the world, as the Torchwood team also discovers. Oduya says UNIT has gone to yellow alert, although they don't know if the phenomenon is extraterrestrial in origin.
A woman named [[Lois Habiba]] begins her first day at work for her new boss, [[Bridget Spears]], assistant to the Permanent Secretary to the [[Home Office]], [[John Frobisher]]. Frobisher is visited by [[UNIT]] [[Augustus Oduya|Colonel Oduya]], who tells him children "stopped" at the exact same time all over the world, as the Torchwood team also discovers. Oduya says UNIT has gone to yellow alert, although they don't know if the phenomenon is extraterrestrial in origin.


Dr. Patanjali wanders in the plaza outside the Hub. Gwen goes to meet him, as the self-appointed "recruitment officer," since, as Jack says, the team needs a doctor. While they talk, all the children again suddenly stop at 10:30 am. They scream, then chant in unison: "We are coming." The Torchwood team later discovers that an adult patient in [[Digby York Hospital|a mental institution]] in [[East Grinstead]] — [[Clement McDonald|Timothy White]] — also stopped and spoke the same words. Every child in the world said the same words.
Dr Patanjali wanders in the [[Roald Dahl Plass|plaza]] outside the Hub. Gwen goes to meet him, as the self-appointed "recruitment officer," since, as Jack says, the team needs a [[doctor]]. While they talk, all the children again suddenly stop at 10:30 am. They scream, then chant in unison: "We are coming." The Torchwood team later discovers that an adult patient in [[Digby York Hospital|a mental institution]] in [[East Grinstead]] — [[Clement McDonald|Timothy White]] — also stopped and spoke the same words. Every child in the world said the same words.


Mr. [[Dekker]], head of [[MI5]]'s technology division, who is also in charge of alien monitoring, tells Frobisher the aliens called [[the 456]] have re-established contact for the first time since 1965. Frobisher meets with the Prime Minister, [[Brian Green]], and suggests, "It might be best if certain historical events were taken off the record." Green agrees, but refuses Frobisher's request he issue a "blank page"; he doesn't want his name attached. Green puts Frobisher in charge of the crisis so Green can have deniability if things go wrong.
[[Dekker|Mr Dekker]], head of [[MI5]]'s [[technology]] division, who is also in charge of alien monitoring, tells Frobisher the aliens called [[the 456]] have re-established contact for the first time since 1965. Frobisher meets with the Prime Minister, [[Brian Green]], and suggests, "It might be best if certain historical events were taken off the record." Green agrees, but refuses Frobisher's request he issue a "blank page"; he doesn't want his name attached. Green puts Frobisher in charge of the crisis so Green can have deniability if things go wrong.


Lois fields a phone call from Jack Harkness. When she logs it, the computer flags Torchwood as classified. Curious, she logs on as Bridget Spears and finds Torchwood was established to defend the Earth against extraterrestrial threats.
Lois fields a phone call from Jack Harkness. When she logs it, the computer flags Torchwood as classified. Curious, she logs on as Bridget Spears and finds Torchwood was established to defend the Earth against extraterrestrial threats.


Back at the Hub, Jack and Ianto agree they need to question a child. Jack visits his daughter, [[Alice Carter]], and her son [[Steven Carter|Steven]], his grandson. Alice refuses to let Jack use Steven. Ianto visits his sister, [[Rhiannon Davies]]. He tries to talk her into letting him take one of her children on an "outing", but she refuses. She also asks Ianto about his having been seen out to dinner with a man. Ianto admits his feelings for Jack. The [[Torchwood S.U.V]] is stolen during Ianto's visit.
Back at the Hub, Jack and Ianto agree they need to question a [[child]]. Jack visits his daughter, [[Alice Carter]], and her son [[Steven Carter|Steven]], his grandson. Alice refuses to let Jack use Steven. Ianto visits his sister, [[Rhiannon Davies]]. He tries to talk her into letting him take one of her children on an "outing", but she refuses. She also asks Ianto about his having been seen out to dinner with a man. Ianto admits his feelings for Jack. He explains he doesn't have an inkling for men, but Jack has affected him differently, so he isn't broadcasting his sexual choices. Rhiannon promises him that she will not tell anyone about his relationship. However, it becomes evident she gossiped to her husband [[Johnny Davies|Johnny]] when he walks in and thoughtlessly calls Ianto a "gay boy" who, according to his wife, has been "taking it up the arse". Feeling humiliated, he takes the riffing with a grain of salt and puts up with Johnny to save face.


Gwen visits Timothy White. He tells her that when he was a child he was put on a bus and taken away with a group of children; they were told they were going to a new home. He watched the other children approach a bright light, which took them. He escaped; he got scared and ran away. His real name is [[Clem McDonald]]. He has an unusually heightened sense of smell. Clem tells Gwen the aliens are coming back, that he has been smelling them for months -- and that she is three weeks pregnant. Gwen calls Ianto, now back at the Hub, and tells him to start a search for information about MacDonald, missing children, and Scotland. Ianto's research triggers an alarm at an unidentified military monitoring station.
Suddenly, a [[car]] alarm begins wailing. Johnny looks out the window and asks whom the "black car" belongs to. Ianto confirms it as the [[Torchwood SUV]]. Ianto ignores Johnny's warning that his car is a target on their estate. He puts too much faith in the vehicle's triple deadlock, a costly mistake. Johnny alerts him a few hooligans have broken into the company car with ease. Panicked, Ianto bursts outside to find the SUV nowhere in sight. Johnny says the local thieves always do a victory lap to parade around in their stolen ride and takes the opportunity to pelt them with bricks on the pass around, rather than calling the authorities as Ianto requests. Surely enough, the Torchwood SUV blazes back into view one last time. The joyriding jokers cheer and whoop as they drive off with the car, one of them mooning the group as they pass by. David cheers the joyriders on from his bedroom window, which earns him a scolding from Rhiannon. An exasperated Ianto watches the car disappear around a corner as Johnny chases the thieves with an armload of bricks.


At the Home Office, Frobisher orders Bridget Spears to issue a blank page, an order to kill. Four people are on the list. One is Captain Jack Harkness. The others are Colonel Michael Sanders, Ellen Hunt and Captain Andrew Staines. Lois sees Bridget is distressed. She goes into Bridget's e-mail account and finds the blank page order, recognising Jack's name from his earlier phone call.
Gwen visits Timothy White. He tells her that when he was a child he was put on a bus and taken away with a group of children; they were told they were going to a new home. He watched the other children approach a bright light, which took them. He escaped; he got scared and ran away. His real name is Clem McDonald. He has an unusually heightened sense of smell. Clem tells Gwen the aliens are coming back, that he has been smelling them for months — and that she is three weeks [[Pregnancy|pregnant]]. Gwen calls Ianto, now back at the Hub, and tells him to start a search for information about MacDonald, missing children, and Scotland. Ianto's research triggers an alarm at an unidentified military monitoring station.


Jack returns to Cardiff hospital, hoping to question a child in the children's ward. Dr. Patanjali tells him that another ethnic man has died; when Jack goes with him to examine the body, Dr. Patanjali shoots him. A young woman named Johnson comes in and waits until Jack revives, proving the rumours about his immortality. She kills Jack again, then orders her men to surgically implant a bomb in his body. Patanjali is a spy, under orders to infiltrate Torchwood. Johnson kills Rupesh to stop Jack from finding him and learning why he was shot. Jack revives again and returns to the Hub.
At the Home Office, Frobisher orders Bridget Spears to issue a blank page, an order to kill. Four people are on the list. One is Captain Jack Harkness. The others are Colonel [[Michael Sanders]], [[Ellen Hunt]] and Captain [[Andrew Staines]]. Lois sees Bridget is distressed. She goes into Bridget's e-mail account and finds the blank page order, recognising Jack's name from his earlier phone call.
 
Jack returns to Cardiff hospital, hoping to question a child in the children's ward. Dr Patanjali tells him that another ethnic man has died; when Jack goes with him to examine the body, Dr Patanjali shoots him. A young woman named Johnson comes in and waits until Jack revives, proving the rumours about his [[immortality]]. She kills Jack again, then orders her men to surgically implant a bomb in his body. Patanjali is a spy, under orders to infiltrate Torchwood. Johnson kills Patanjali to stop Jack from finding him and learning why he was shot. Jack revives again and returns to the Hub.
[[File:JackinHubCOE.jpg|thumb|Jack looks up to Ianto before the Hub blows up.]]
[[File:JackinHubCOE.jpg|thumb|Jack looks up to Ianto before the Hub blows up.]]
Gwen uses a scanner at Torchwood. Clement's claims are true; she is pregnant. Jack arrives and places his hand on hers, inadvertently scanning himself, finding the bomb in his stomach. He tells Gwen and Ianto to get out. He kisses Ianto, watches him rise on the elevator, and tells him, "I'll come back...I always do." The Hub blows up in a massive explosion, knocking the running Gwen to the ground.
Gwen uses a scanner at Torchwood. Clement's claims are true; she is pregnant. Jack arrives and places his hand on hers, inadvertently scanning himself, finding the bomb in his stomach. He tells Gwen and Ianto to get out. He kisses Ianto, watches him rise on the elevator, and tells him, "I'll come back...I always do." The Hub blows up in a massive explosion, knocking the running Gwen to the ground.
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== Cast ==
== Cast ==
* Captain [[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Jack Harkness|Captain Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]]
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
* [[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Rhys Williams]] - [[Kai Owen]]
* [[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]
* [[Lois Habiba]] - [[Cush Jumbo]]
* [[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr. Rupesh Patanjali]] - [[Rik Makarem]]
* [[Rupesh Patanjali|Dr Rupesh Patanjali]] - [[Rik Makarem]]
* [[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
* [[Alice Carter]] - [[Lucy Cohu]]
* [[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]
* [[Steven Carter]] - [[Bear McCausland]]
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* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[John Frobisher]] - [[Peter Capaldi]]
* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Dekker|Mr Dekker]] - [[Ian Gelder]]
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
* [[Johnson (Children of Earth: Day One)|Johnson]] - [[Liz May Brice]]
* [[Clem McDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
* [[Clem McDonald]] - [[Paul Copley]]
* [[Brian Green]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
* [[Brian Green]] - [[Nicholas Farrell]]
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* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Johnny Davies]] - [[Rhodri Lewis]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Anna Frobisher]] - [[Hilary Maclean]]
* [[Nurse (Children of Earth)|Nurse]] - [[Anna Lawson]]
* [[Nurse (Children of Earth: Day One)|Nurse]] - [[Anna Lawson]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Parliamentary Secretary (Children of Earth: Day One)|Parliamentary Secretary]] - [[Rachel Ferjani]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Press Officer]] - [[Christopher James]]
* [[Water Taxi Man]] - [[Phylip Harries]]
* [[Water Taxi Man]] - [[Phylip Harries]]
* [[Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[Operative (Children of Earth: Day One)|Operative]] - [[Ben Loyd-Holmes]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[David Davies]] - [[Luke Perry]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
* [[Mica Davies]] - [[Aimee Davies]]
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* [[Lilly Frobisher]] - [[Madeleine Rakic-Platt]]
* [[Lilly Frobisher]] - [[Madeleine Rakic-Platt]]
* [[Clem McDonald|Young Clem]] - [[Gregory Ferguson]]
* [[Clem McDonald|Young Clem]] - [[Gregory Ferguson]]
* [[Chinese girl]] - [[Jennifer Chew]]
* [[Taiwanese girl (Children of Earth: Day One)|Taiwanese girl]] - [[Jennifer Chew]]
* [[Mother (Children of Earth: Day One)|Mother]] - [[Crisian Emmanuel]]
* [[Tyler's mother|Mother]] - [[Crisian Emmanuel]]
* [[Mother 2 (Children of Earth: Day One)|Mother 2]] - [[Melanie Barker]]
* [[Sasha's mother|Mother 2]] - [[Melanie Barker]]
* [[Father (Children of Earth: Day One)|Father]] - [[Scott Bailey]]
* [[Father (Children of Earth: Day One)|Father]] - [[Scott Bailey]]


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|OnlineEditor=Geraint Pari Huws
|OnlineEditor=Geraint Pari Huws
|OnlineEditor2=Matt Mullins
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|VisualFXProducer=Marie Jones
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|VisualFXSupervisor=Barney Curnow
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|OnlineVFXEditor=Mark Bright
|VFXAssistant=Alex Fitzgerald
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|WithThanksTo=BBC National Orchestra of Wales
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|OriginalTheme=Murray Gold
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|CastingDirector=Andy Pryor CDG
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|ProductionExec=Julie Scott
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|Prosthetics=Millennium FX
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|Music=Ben Foster
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|Editor=William Oswald
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|Note=This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit.
|Note=This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit.
|Note2=This episode was not broadcast with thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. In its place is a [[Sound editor]] credit for [[Matt Cox]].
|Note2=
}}
}}


== References ==
== Worldbuilding ==
=== [[:Category:Real world|Real world]] ===
* An [[advertisement]] for [[Tommy Hilfiger]] is present.
* There is a humourous nod to the BBC comedy [[wikipedia: Gavin and Stacey|Gavin and Stacey]], "What's occurring?!" [[Wikipedia:Ruth Jones|Ruth Jones]], one of the creators of Gavin and Stacey, guest starred in the [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|series 2]] episode ''[[Adrift]].''
* A photo of [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] are in Gwen's workspace.
 
=== Real world ===
* Gwen calls Jack and Ianto "the [[Chuckle Brothers]]".
* Gwen calls Jack and Ianto "the [[Chuckle Brothers]]".
* One of the people on Frobisher's hit list is a Colonel Michael Sanders. This may be a reference to the founder of fast food restaurant KFC.
=== [[:Category:Restaurants|Restaurants]] ===
* [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] offers to take [[Mica Davies|Mica]] to [[McDonald's]].


=== [[:Category:Individuals|Individuals]] ===
=== Restaurants ===
* Frost Lynch, the company owned by Mark Lynch in [[Combat]], is the realty agency promoting the house Rhys is visiting.
* [[Ianto Jones|Ianto]] offers to take his niece, [[Mica Davies|Mica]], to [[McDonald's]] due to missing her birthday.
* A photo of [[Toshiko Sato]] and [[Owen Harper]] is in Gwen's workspace.
* Although in a relationship with Jack, Ianto establishes he has never felt this way for another man.
* Jack dies (and revives) three times.


=== [[:Category:United Nations Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]] ===
=== Unified Intelligence Taskforce ===
* [[UNIT]] is mentioned many times and a UNIT officer meets with Frobisher. Despite the real-life decision to remove the "United Nations" name from the UNIT acronym, dialogue establishes UNIT is still under the command of the UN, which orders UNIT to yellow alert.
* [[Colonel]] [[Alan Mace]] is posted in [[Vancouver]].


=== [[:Category:Companions of the Doctor|Companions]] ===
=== Time ===
* [[Frobisher]] is also the name of a 1980s-era companion of the [[Sixth Doctor]] in the ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' comic strips.
* The children first stop at 8:40AM [[GMT]], and then again at 10:30AM GMT. Rhys recognises both times as being when kids are more out in the public in Britian due to being dropped off at schools and on playtime, respectively.


=== [[:Category:Music|Music]] ===
=== Locations ===
* When Jack mentions [[Martha Jones]], the musical motif "Martha's Theme" from ''Doctor Who'' is heard.'' ''
* As a result of the pause, Gwen records seventeen [[RTA]]s all involving children occurring between 8:40 and 8:41 across [[United Kingdom|the country]] from [[Glasgow]] to [[St Ives]].
* Ianto receives reports from [[France]], noting fifteen RTAs to have occurred at 9:40AM French time, [[Norway]], [[Sweden]], [[Denmark]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Spain]], [[Portugal]], [[Bosnia]], and [[Tokyo]].
* Oyuda notes to Frobisher that children have stopped across the world from Britain, [[Germany]], [[India]], [[Egypt]], [[Guyana]], [[Singapore]], to [[America]].


== Story notes ==
== Story notes ==
* [[Freema Agyeman]] was originally expected to appear as [[Martha Jones]] throughout the mini-series. When her casting in the TV series ''Law & Order: UK'' made her unavailable for the whole production, Davies wrote a cameo appearance for her in ''Day One''. Her schedule prevented her from appearing for the cameo. ([[REF]]: ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale|Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]'', which includes the script for the aborted cameo.)
* [[Freema Agyeman]] was originally expected to appear as [[Martha Jones]] throughout the mini-series. When her casting in the TV series ''Law & Order: UK'' made her unavailable for the whole production, Davies wrote a cameo appearance for her in ''Day One'', but her schedule prevented her from appearing for the cameo. The cameo was featured in script form in ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter]]''. Martha appears to still be with UNIT, as Jack bemoans that a sergeant is his contact with UNIT instead of Martha. This means that Martha did not take Jack's implied job offer from [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End (TV story)|Journey's End]]''.
*  [[Jack Harkness|Jack's]] and [[Ianto Jones|Ianto Jones's]] families are introduced. Jack has a grown daughter and a grandson.
* The hospital seen in this episode is the same as seen in the BBC hospital drama ''[[Casualty]]''.
* Brian Green is the fourth Prime Minister to appear on screen in the revived ''Doctor Who'' universe, following the unidentified PM killed by the [[Slitheen]] in [[TV]]: ''[[Aliens of London]]'', [[Harriet Jones]] and [[Harold Saxon]]. (Tony Blair was also mentioned as having been Prime Minister in [[TV]]: ''[[Rise of the Cybermen]]'' and [[Aubrey Fairchild (Beautiful Chaos)|Aubrey Fairchild]] is a character in the book [[PROSE]]: ''[[Beautiful Chaos]]''.)
* Despite the real-life decision to remove the "United Nations" name from the UNIT acronym, dialogue establishes UNIT is still under the command of the UN, which orders UNIT to yellow alert.
* The setting of the hospital is the same as BBC hospital show ''Casualty''.
* There is a humorous nod to the BBC comedy ''[[Gavin and Stacey]]'' by quoting "What's occurring?!". [[Ruth Jones]], one of the stars and creators of the show, guest starred in the [[Series 2 (Torchwood)|series 2]] episode ''[[Adrift]]''.


=== Ratings ===
=== Ratings ===
* 5.9 million viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures. 6.47 million viewers, according to official viewing figures.
* 5.9 million [[BBC One]] viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
* 6.47 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures<ref>[https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-10/ BARB Ratings - July, 2008]</ref>
* [[AI]] of 88%
* 13th most-watched programme in [[Britain]] during the week of transmission


=== Filming locations ===
=== Filming locations ===
''to be added''
''to be added''


=== Production errors ===
=== Myths ===
* When Gwen says Martha Jones is on her honeymoon, it meant she married her fiancée [[Thomas Milligan]] and was on her honeymoon with him. ''It is later revealed that she married Mickey Smith and was actually on her honeymoon with him.''
 
=== Broadcasts ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Date
!Time
!Channel
!class="unsortable"|Notes
|-
|[[Monday]] [[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC One]] & [[BBC HD]]
|First broadcast.
|-
|[[Monday]] [[6 July (releases)|6 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|23:45
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[7 July (releases)|7 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|00:05
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Friday]] [[17 July (releases)|17 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|21:00
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Saturday]] [[18 July (releases)|18 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|01:15
|[[BBC Three]]
|
|-
|[[Tuesday]] [[21 July (releases)|21 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|22:00
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|-
|[[Sunday]] [[27 December (releases)|27 December]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]]
|23:30
|[[BBC HD]]
|
|}
 
=== Errors ===
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}
{{Torchwood discontinuity}}


== Continuity ==
== Continuity ==
* [[Martha Jones]] has gone on honeymoon (September 2009). She married [[Mickey Smith]], confirmed in December 2009. ([[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
* Gwen calls out for Ianto and Jack in the Hub when the light is turned off, asking them what they are doing, referring to when she walked in on them in Jack's office during [[TV]]: {{cs|Adrift (TV story)}}.
* Martha appears to still be with UNIT, as Jack bemoans that a sergeant is his contact with UNIT instead of Martha. This means that Martha did not take Jack's implied job offer in [[TV]]: ''[[Journey's End]]''. By ''The End of Time'', Martha will have left UNIT and be working freelance together with Mickey.
* Jack and Ianto's toying with [[Rupesh Patanjali]] when he finds their base mirrors what the team did when Gwen stumbled upon their organisation in [[TV]]: {{cs|Everything Changes (TV story)}}, something Gwen picks up on.
* [[Alan Mace|Colonel Mace]] has been relocated to [[Vancouver]] by [[UNIT]].
* Lois reads up on the history of Torchwood, such as its founding by Queen [[Victoria]] in [[1879]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Tooth and Claw (TV story)}}.
* When Rhys calls Gwen about a house that he has seen up for sale, the estate agent sign outside it says "Frost and Lynch", the same estate agency from the episode ''[[Combat]]'', which [[Mark Lynch]] owned alongside running the [[Weevil]] fight club.
* When Frobisher mentions informing the Prime Minister, Dekker notes elected officials "just come and go", a reference to Britain's recent frequent change of prime ministers including [[Harriet Jones]] through 2006 and early 2007, as shown in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}} [[Harold Saxon]] through 2008 seen in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums}} and [[Aubrey Fairchild (Beautiful Chaos)|Aubrey Fairchild]] through to spring 2009, as displayed in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Beautiful Chaos (novel)|Beautiful Chaos]]''.
* The "Gizmo" which Gwen uses to turn off the CCTV appears to be the same device that [[Tanizaki|Dr Tanizaki]] used to examine [[Lisa Hallett]] in ''[[Cyberwoman]]''.
* PM Brian Green says that nowadays the threat "rains down from the skies, made of metal and stinking green", referring to [[Dalek|the Daleks]] and [[Planetary Relocation Incident|their recent invasion of Earth]], which happened in [[TV]]: {{cs|The Stolen Earth (TV story)}} and {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}}.
* The "blank page" resembles [[psychic paper]].
* When Rhys calls Gwen about a house that he has seen up for sale, the [[estate agency|estate agent]] sign outside it says "[[Frost and Lynch]]", the same one which [[Mark Lynch]] owned alongside running the [[Weevil]] fight club during [[TV]]: {{cs|Combat (TV story)}}.
* Torchwood is still supposed to be a "secret" organisation, but public awareness of it is referenced in several scenes, most notably when Gwen says if you ask people about Torchwood, they usually send people towards Cardiff Bay (where the Hub is located); at one point Gwen exchanges humorous words about her job with a man outside the main entrance. This isn't the first time Torchwood's "secrecy" is called into question; see, for example, [[TV]]: ''[[Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang]]'', and [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Lost Souls]]''.
* The [[Torchwood SUV|SUV]] has been stolen before, like during the events of [[TV]]: {{cs|Countrycide (TV story)}} and {{cs|Fragments (TV story)}}.
* When Lois reads up on the history of Torchwood, the text on screen references the events of [[TV]]: ''[[Tooth and Claw (TV story)|Tooth and Claw]]''.
* Jack previously wondered what would happen if his body were totally destroyed, as contemplated in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Bay of the Dead (novel)|Bay of the Dead]]''.
* Rupesh states that due to recent events (not specifically referenced but likely to include things like the [[Webstar]] attack ([[TV]]: ''[[The Runaway Bride]]'') and the relocation of Earth ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'')), half the world now knows of or believes in the existence of alien life, while the other half is in denial. Suicide rates have risen, which Rupesh ascribes to crises of faith. This may also be reflected by the insanity and suicide of [[Alex Hopkins]], who learnt about upcoming events in 1999. ([[TV]]: ''[[Fragments (TV story)|Fragments]]'')
 
* The destruction of the Hub in a massive explosion leaves open the question of the fate of artefacts and creatures in the facility, including any imprisoned [[Weevil]]s and Jack's brother, [[Gray]], last seen in stasis. It is shown in [[TV]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'' and [[TV]]: ''[[End of the Road]]'' that at least a few items were recovered by individuals for personal use.
* When John Frobisher mentions informing the Prime Minister, Mr Dekker notes elected officials "just come and go," a reference to Britain's recent frequent change of prime ministers including [[Harriet Jones]] through 2006/2007, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Christmas Invasion (TV story)|The Christmas Invasion]]'') [[Harold Saxon]] through 2008 ([[TV]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums (TV story)|The Sound of Drums]]''/''[[Last of the Time Lords (TV story)|Last of the Time Lords]]'') and [[Aubrey Fairchild (Beautiful Chaos)|Aubrey Fairchild]] through to spring 2009. ([[PROSE]]: ''[[Beautiful Chaos (novel)|Beautiful Chaos]]'')
* Brian Green refers to how it all comes "raining down from the skies, made of metal, and stinking green," referencing in particular the [[Dalek]]s in their 2009 Invasion of Earth. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'' / ''[[Journey's End]]'')
== Home video releases ==
== Home video releases ==
* ''Children of Earth: Day One'' was released on DVD along with the rest of ''Children of Earth'' on [[13 July]] [[2009]] in the UK.
* ''Children of Earth: Day One'' was released on DVD along with the rest of ''Children of Earth'' on [[13 July (releases)|13 July]] [[2009 (releases)|2009]] in the UK.
* It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
{{Torchwood series 3}}
{{Reflist}}
 
{{TWTV}}
{{UNIT stories}}
{{UNIT stories}}
[[fr:Day One (Children of Earth)]]
[[ro:Children of Earth: Day One]]
{{TitleSort}}
{{TitleSort}}
{{ImageLinkTV}}
[[cy:Children of Earth: Day One (stori deledu)]]
[[de:T 27 - Children of Earth: Day One]]
[[fr:Children of Earth: Day One]]
[[he:ילדי כדור הארץ: היום הראשון (סיפור טלוויזיה)]]
[[ro:Children of Earth Day One]]


[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[Category:Torchwood television stories]]
[[Category:2009 television stories]]
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1965]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
[[Category:Stories set in 2009]]
[[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Stories set in Cardiff]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in London]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1965]]
[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:Stories set in Scotland]]
[[Category:Series 3 (Torchwood) stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in England]]
[[Category:UNIT television stories]]
[[Category:UNIT television stories]]
[[Category:Stories set in the City of Westminster]]

Latest revision as of 18:45, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for Day One.

Children of Earth: Day One was the first episode of Series 3 of Torchwood. It was written by Russell T Davies, directed by Euros Lyn and featured John Barrowman as Jack Harkness, Eve Myles as Gwen Cooper, Kai Owen as Rhys Williams and Gareth David-Lloyd as Ianto Jones.

It marked the beginning of the end for the Torchwood Institute as it had been established over the course of two series by eliminating almost all of its technological resources. It saw the destruction of the Torchwood Three headquarters and the theft of their trademark vehicle. Gwen also discovered she had recently become pregnant.

This story featured the second appearance of Peter Capaldi portraying a character within the Doctor Who universe. He previously had the role of Caecilius in the story The Fires of Pompeii and would later play the Doctor himself in his twelfth incarnation.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

When all children on Earth stop and start chanting "We are coming", the Torchwood team investigates. Could this be the start of a global crisis?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

One night in Scotland, 1965, young children are driven in a school bus to an undisclosed location. When the bus stops, the children exit and walk towards a light. It grows brighter as they draw closer. One hesitates, then flees as the light covers a large area.

Forty-four years later, in Cardiff, September 2009, at 8:40 am GMT, Gwen Cooper is withdrawing money from a cash machine when she notices two children standing completely still and unresponsive. In fact, all the children all over the United Kingdom freeze. After a minute, the children start moving again, acting as if nothing has happened. Gwen goes to the Hub and begins to investigate the incident.

At a hospital, Dr Rupesh Patanjali fails to save a man's life. Jack Harkness and Ianto Jones, whom Dr Patanjali believes are the man's neighbours, ask to see the body alone. Jack uses a laser saw to open the corpse and extracts an alien organ. Dr Patanjali re-enters, sees the alien organ and asks if the men are Torchwood. Jack quickly denies it. Dr Patanjali tells them the bodies of five ethnic males have vanished over the past two months. Jack tells him it's a problem for the NHS. Ianto and he drive away. Back at the Hub, Gwen tells them what has happened with the children.

A woman named Lois Habiba begins her first day at work for her new boss, Bridget Spears, assistant to the Permanent Secretary to the Home Office, John Frobisher. Frobisher is visited by UNIT Colonel Oduya, who tells him children "stopped" at the exact same time all over the world, as the Torchwood team also discovers. Oduya says UNIT has gone to yellow alert, although they don't know if the phenomenon is extraterrestrial in origin.

Dr Patanjali wanders in the plaza outside the Hub. Gwen goes to meet him, as the self-appointed "recruitment officer," since, as Jack says, the team needs a doctor. While they talk, all the children again suddenly stop at 10:30 am. They scream, then chant in unison: "We are coming." The Torchwood team later discovers that an adult patient in a mental institution in East Grinstead — Timothy White — also stopped and spoke the same words. Every child in the world said the same words.

Mr Dekker, head of MI5's technology division, who is also in charge of alien monitoring, tells Frobisher the aliens called the 456 have re-established contact for the first time since 1965. Frobisher meets with the Prime Minister, Brian Green, and suggests, "It might be best if certain historical events were taken off the record." Green agrees, but refuses Frobisher's request he issue a "blank page"; he doesn't want his name attached. Green puts Frobisher in charge of the crisis so Green can have deniability if things go wrong.

Lois fields a phone call from Jack Harkness. When she logs it, the computer flags Torchwood as classified. Curious, she logs on as Bridget Spears and finds Torchwood was established to defend the Earth against extraterrestrial threats.

Back at the Hub, Jack and Ianto agree they need to question a child. Jack visits his daughter, Alice Carter, and her son Steven, his grandson. Alice refuses to let Jack use Steven. Ianto visits his sister, Rhiannon Davies. He tries to talk her into letting him take one of her children on an "outing", but she refuses. She also asks Ianto about his having been seen out to dinner with a man. Ianto admits his feelings for Jack. He explains he doesn't have an inkling for men, but Jack has affected him differently, so he isn't broadcasting his sexual choices. Rhiannon promises him that she will not tell anyone about his relationship. However, it becomes evident she gossiped to her husband Johnny when he walks in and thoughtlessly calls Ianto a "gay boy" who, according to his wife, has been "taking it up the arse". Feeling humiliated, he takes the riffing with a grain of salt and puts up with Johnny to save face.

Suddenly, a car alarm begins wailing. Johnny looks out the window and asks whom the "black car" belongs to. Ianto confirms it as the Torchwood SUV. Ianto ignores Johnny's warning that his car is a target on their estate. He puts too much faith in the vehicle's triple deadlock, a costly mistake. Johnny alerts him a few hooligans have broken into the company car with ease. Panicked, Ianto bursts outside to find the SUV nowhere in sight. Johnny says the local thieves always do a victory lap to parade around in their stolen ride and takes the opportunity to pelt them with bricks on the pass around, rather than calling the authorities as Ianto requests. Surely enough, the Torchwood SUV blazes back into view one last time. The joyriding jokers cheer and whoop as they drive off with the car, one of them mooning the group as they pass by. David cheers the joyriders on from his bedroom window, which earns him a scolding from Rhiannon. An exasperated Ianto watches the car disappear around a corner as Johnny chases the thieves with an armload of bricks.

Gwen visits Timothy White. He tells her that when he was a child he was put on a bus and taken away with a group of children; they were told they were going to a new home. He watched the other children approach a bright light, which took them. He escaped; he got scared and ran away. His real name is Clem McDonald. He has an unusually heightened sense of smell. Clem tells Gwen the aliens are coming back, that he has been smelling them for months — and that she is three weeks pregnant. Gwen calls Ianto, now back at the Hub, and tells him to start a search for information about MacDonald, missing children, and Scotland. Ianto's research triggers an alarm at an unidentified military monitoring station.

At the Home Office, Frobisher orders Bridget Spears to issue a blank page, an order to kill. Four people are on the list. One is Captain Jack Harkness. The others are Colonel Michael Sanders, Ellen Hunt and Captain Andrew Staines. Lois sees Bridget is distressed. She goes into Bridget's e-mail account and finds the blank page order, recognising Jack's name from his earlier phone call.

Jack returns to Cardiff hospital, hoping to question a child in the children's ward. Dr Patanjali tells him that another ethnic man has died; when Jack goes with him to examine the body, Dr Patanjali shoots him. A young woman named Johnson comes in and waits until Jack revives, proving the rumours about his immortality. She kills Jack again, then orders her men to surgically implant a bomb in his body. Patanjali is a spy, under orders to infiltrate Torchwood. Johnson kills Patanjali to stop Jack from finding him and learning why he was shot. Jack revives again and returns to the Hub.

Jack looks up to Ianto before the Hub blows up.

Gwen uses a scanner at Torchwood. Clement's claims are true; she is pregnant. Jack arrives and places his hand on hers, inadvertently scanning himself, finding the bomb in his stomach. He tells Gwen and Ianto to get out. He kisses Ianto, watches him rise on the elevator, and tells him, "I'll come back...I always do." The Hub blows up in a massive explosion, knocking the running Gwen to the ground.

Meanwhile, all of the children chant, "We are coming, we are coming, we are coming ... back".

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

General production staff

Script department

Camera and lighting department

Art department

Costume department

Make-up and prosthetics

Movement

Casting

General post-production staff

Special and visual effects

Sound



Not every person who worked on this adventure 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.
          

This episode did not have a "created by Russell T Davies" credit.


Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

Restaurants[[edit] | [edit source]]

Unified Intelligence Taskforce[[edit] | [edit source]]

Time[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The children first stop at 8:40AM GMT, and then again at 10:30AM GMT. Rhys recognises both times as being when kids are more out in the public in Britian due to being dropped off at schools and on playtime, respectively.

Locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

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

  • Freema Agyeman was originally expected to appear as Martha Jones throughout the mini-series. When her casting in the TV series Law & Order: UK made her unavailable for the whole production, Davies wrote a cameo appearance for her in Day One, but her schedule prevented her from appearing for the cameo. The cameo was featured in script form in Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale - The Final Chapter. Martha appears to still be with UNIT, as Jack bemoans that a sergeant is his contact with UNIT instead of Martha. This means that Martha did not take Jack's implied job offer from TV: Journey's End.
  • The hospital seen in this episode is the same as seen in the BBC hospital drama Casualty.
  • Despite the real-life decision to remove the "United Nations" name from the UNIT acronym, dialogue establishes UNIT is still under the command of the UN, which orders UNIT to yellow alert.
  • There is a humorous nod to the BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey by quoting "What's occurring?!". Ruth Jones, one of the stars and creators of the show, guest starred in the series 2 episode Adrift.

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • 5.9 million BBC One viewers, according to unofficial overnight figures
  • 6.47 million viewers, according to final official BARB viewing figures[1]
  • AI of 88%
  • 13th most-watched programme in Britain during the week of transmission

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

to be added

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • When Gwen says Martha Jones is on her honeymoon, it meant she married her fiancée Thomas Milligan and was on her honeymoon with him. It is later revealed that she married Mickey Smith and was actually on her honeymoon with him.

Broadcasts[[edit] | [edit source]]

Date Time Channel Notes
Monday 6 July 2009 21:00 BBC One & BBC HD First broadcast.
Monday 6 July 2009 23:45 BBC Three
Tuesday 7 July 2009 00:05 BBC HD
Friday 17 July 2009 21:00 BBC Three
Saturday 18 July 2009 01:15 BBC Three
Tuesday 21 July 2009 22:00 BBC HD
Sunday 27 December 2009 23:30 BBC HD

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.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Gwen calls out for Ianto and Jack in the Hub when the light is turned off, asking them what they are doing, referring to when she walked in on them in Jack's office during TV: Adrift [+]Loading...["Adrift (TV story)"].
  • Jack and Ianto's toying with Rupesh Patanjali when he finds their base mirrors what the team did when Gwen stumbled upon their organisation in TV: Everything Changes [+]Loading...["Everything Changes (TV story)"], something Gwen picks up on.
  • Lois reads up on the history of Torchwood, such as its founding by Queen Victoria in 1879. (TV: Tooth and Claw [+]Loading...["Tooth and Claw (TV story)"].
  • When Frobisher mentions informing the Prime Minister, Dekker notes elected officials "just come and go", a reference to Britain's recent frequent change of prime ministers including Harriet Jones through 2006 and early 2007, as shown in TV: The Christmas Invasion [+]Loading...["The Christmas Invasion (TV story)"] Harold Saxon through 2008 seen in TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)","The Sound of Drums"] and Aubrey Fairchild through to spring 2009, as displayed in PROSE: Beautiful Chaos.
  • PM Brian Green says that nowadays the threat "rains down from the skies, made of metal and stinking green", referring to the Daleks and their recent invasion of Earth, which happened in TV: The Stolen Earth [+]Loading...["The Stolen Earth (TV story)"] and Journey's End [+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"].
  • When Rhys calls Gwen about a house that he has seen up for sale, the estate agent sign outside it says "Frost and Lynch", the same one which Mark Lynch owned alongside running the Weevil fight club during TV: Combat [+]Loading...["Combat (TV story)"].
  • The SUV has been stolen before, like during the events of TV: Countrycide [+]Loading...["Countrycide (TV story)"] and Fragments [+]Loading...["Fragments (TV story)"].
  • Jack previously wondered what would happen if his body were totally destroyed, as contemplated in PROSE: Bay of the Dead.

Home video releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Children of Earth: Day One was released on DVD along with the rest of Children of Earth on 13 July 2009 in the UK.
  • It was also released in the Series 1-4 boxset (Region 2 release: 14 November 2011.)

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ BARB Ratings - July, 2008
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