Desert Storm (CON episode)

Desert Storm
Broadcast on:	BBC Three
Broadcast with:	Planet of the Dead
Broadcast date:	11 April 2009
Runtime:	48'39" (TV version), 57'03" (DVD/Blu-ray/Whoniverse version)
Key crew
Narrator:	Noel Clarke
Memorable moment
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Doctor Who Confidential
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Desert Storm (also known as Planet of the Dead Confidential on the DVD) was the episode of Doctor Who Confidential broadcast in conjunction with Planet of the Dead.

The title is a reference to "Operation Desert Storm" from the Gulf War.

This was the first episode of Confidential to be made in high definition.

This episode introduced a refreshed title sequence as it was now in high definition.

Aspects of production covered

• David Tennant and the production team flying to Dubai to shoot the special, having to wake up early to do the shoot, and the crew's vehicles getting stuck in the sand.
• The vast difficulties and mishaps faced in shipping a double-decker bus from England to the United Arab Emirates and then hauling it to the desert that would be used to portray the 200.

Additional topics covered

to be added

People interviewed

• Russell T Davies, Head Writer
• James Strong, Director
• Julie Gardner, Executive Producer
• Edward Thomas, Production Designer
• Tracie Simpson, Producer
• Stephen Nicholas, Chief Supervising Art Director
• Julian Luxton, Set Decorator
• Debbi Slater, Production Manager
• David Tennant, The Doctor
• Michelle Ryan, Lady Christina de Souza
• Adam James, D. I. McMillan
• Gareth Skelding, Location Manager
• Danny Hargreaves, Special Effects Supervisor
• Barbara Southcott, Make-up Designer
• Pam Mullins, Make-up Supervisor
• Julian Howarth, Sound Recordist
• Neill Gorton, Prosthetics Designer
• Paul Kasey, Sorvin

Music list

• "Kids" by MGMT
• "Lawrence of Arabia Overture" by Maurice Jarre
• "Mister Sandman" by The Chordettes (also used in TV: Delta and the Bannermen and Sleep No More)
• "Summer Holiday" by Cliff Richard & The Shadows
• "Happy Up Here" by Röyksopp
• "Steady, As She Goes" by The Raconteurs
• "Independent Women, Part 1" by Destiny's Child
• "Love Lockdown" by Kanye West
• "Omen" by The Prodigy (also used in CON: War Games)
• "The Age of the Understatement" by The Last Shadow Puppets
• "Sandstorm" by Cast
• "Windy" by The Association
• "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)" by The Offspring
• "Stingray Theme" by Barry Gray
• "Propane Nightmares" by Pendulum
• "Bring Me Sunshine" by Morecambe & Wise
• "Use Somebody" by Kings of Leon
• "The Last Rites (from 'The Departed')" by Howard Shore feat. G.E. Smith & Sharon Isbin

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, Hannah Williams Production Accountant - Kevin Rickwood Production Co-Ordinator - Tors Grantham Production Executive - Stan Matthews Production Manager - Katy Cartwright Researcher - Matthew Andrews, Robert Wootton	Camera and lighting department Camera - Paul Mongey, Jon Rees, Andy Smith Runner - James Bowen Special and visual effects Colourist - Jon Everett	General post-production staff Edit Assistant - Claire Riley Editor - Gary Skipton Sound Dubbing Mixer - Mark Ferda Sound - Steve Hoy, Kevin Meredith, Mazyar Tajiki

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: Planet of the Dead DVD cover.

An extended version of the episode was included on the Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead DVD & Blu-ray released on 29 June 2009; and the Doctor Who: The Complete Specials DVD & Blu-ray box set released on 11 January 2010.