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{{Infobox Object
{{Infobox Object
|object name = TARDIS key
|image      = HendersonKey.jpg
|image      = [[file:HendersonKey.jpg|250px]]
|type        = [[Gallifreyan technology]]
|type        = [[Gallifreyan technology]]
|origin      = [[Time Lord]]s
|origin      = [[Gallifrey]]
|appearances =  
|first cs    = An Unearthly Child (TV story)
|mentions    =  
|clip        = The Editor Steals the TARDIS Key (HD) The Long Game Doctor Who
}}
}}{{ImageLink}}
A '''TARDIS key''' was the [[key]] to the exterior door of a [[TARDIS]]. They could be found in a variety of shapes and designs which could be customised by the owners. Whatever the key's shape and size, and whatever form the TARDIS' [[outer plasmic shell]], the key would fit a lock somewhere in the structure.


A '''TARDIS key''' was the key to the exterior door of a [[TARDIS]]. They could be found in a variety of shapes and designs. Whatever the key's shape and size, and whatever form the TARDIS' [[outer plasmic shell]], the key would fit a lock somewhere in the structure.
== Function ==
Use of a TARDIS key enabled entry to a locked TARDIS in the manner of other types of keys, and was not limited by the reconfigurable shape of either the key itself or the outer plasmic shell of the TARDIS. Different TARDIS shells had different locks, whether obvious or hidden, and a TARDIS lock would accept its key even if it was physically larger than the lock. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Interference - Book Two (novel)}})


==Function==
Because of a [[metabolism detector]] behind the lock, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}}) unauthorised people who stole [[the Doctor's TARDIS key]] usually found themselves unable to open the [[TARDIS door]]s without the Doctor there. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The High Price of Parking (audio story)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|Spearhead from Space (TV story)}}) Nevertheless, [[companion]]s were often able to use the Doctor's key without the Doctor around, ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Jabari Countdown (audio story)}}, {{cs|Lucie Miller (audio story)}}) and many had [[The Doctor's spare TARDIS key|their own keys]] to the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sensorites (TV story)}}<!--, [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Empire of Glass (novel)|The Empire of Glass]]'', ''[[Interference - Book Two (novel)|Interference - Book Two]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Hexagora (audio story)|Hexagora]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Fascination (short story)|Fascination]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Three's a Crowd (audio story)|Three's a Crowd]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Crooked World (novel)|The Crooked World]]'', [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Time Works (audio story)|Time Works]]'', ''[[Relative Dimensions (audio story)|Relative Dimensions]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[Aliens of London (TV story)|Aliens of London]]'', ''[[Bad Wolf (TV story)|Bad Wolf]]'', ''[[42 (TV story)|42]]'', ''[[The Poison Sky (TV story)|The Poison Sky]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Nothing O'Clock (short story)|Nothing O'Clock]]'', [[TV]]: ''[[The Snowmen (TV story)|The Snowmen]]'', ''[[The Time of the Doctor (TV story)|The Time of the Doctor]]'', ''[[The Husbands of River Song (TV story)|The Husbands of River Song]]'', [[PROSE]]: ''[[Bill and the Three Jackets (short story)|Bill and the Three Jackets]]''-->, {{cs|Aliens of London (TV story)}}, et al.)
[[File:TardisKey&Lock1996.jpg|thumb|right|200px|The [[Eighth Doctor]]'s TARDIS key and lock, the actual lock hidden behind the "Yale" lock. ([[DW]]: [[Doctor Who (1996)|Doctor Who]])]]


Use of a TARDIS key enabled entry to a locked TARDIS in the manner of other types of keys, and was not limited by the reconfigurable shape of either the key itself or the outer plasmic shell of the TARDIS. Different TARDIS shells had different locks, whether obvious or hidden, and a TARDIS lock would accept its key even if it was physically larger than the lock. ([[EDA]]: ''[[Interference - Book Two]]'')
The keys changed shape, just as the TARDIS did. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Alchemists (audio story)}})


Entry to [[the Doctor's TARDIS]] was allowed by inserting a key into the lock, just like a real [[police box]]. However, the locking mechanism did not respond to police-issued keys, and would not even open when unauthorized persons used the Doctor's keys. The [[Brigadier]] was prevented from opening the TARDIS in the [[Third Doctor|Third Doctor's]] absence, because of the metabolism detector on the lock. ([[DW]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'') Nevertheless, there were occasions on which strangers were able to successfully use the Doctor's key, suggesting either a flaw in the metabolism detector or a choice on the part of the TARDIS. ([[DW]]: ''[[The War Machines]]'', ''[[Shada (TV story)|Shada]]'', ''[[Doctor Who (1996)|Doctor Who]]'', ''[[Blink]]'')
== TARDIS keys ==
=== The Doctor's TARDIS key ===
{{main|The Doctor's TARDIS key}}


The lock could be manually secured from inside the TARDIS, preventing even authorised individuals from using the key to unlock the doors from the exterior. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'', ''[[Utopia (TV story)|Utopia]]'') At one point, the [[Tenth Doctor]] installed a system that allowed him to lock the TARDIS remotely using a fob (as a joke, the TARDIS roof light flashed and a alarm chirp sound was heard, similar to that used on vehicles on Earth). He was also able to open the door remotely. ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
=== Others ===
[[The Doctor]] usually had [[The Doctor's TARDIS key|their TARDIS key]] on their person at any given time. There were numerous other known copies of that key.


There were occasions on which the Doctor or his companions needed to use the key to ''lock'' the doors ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sensorites]]'') while on others ([[DW]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'', ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]'') in which the act of merely closing the doors locked the TARDIS. It was evident that the TARDIS' lock could be set to secure either automatically or manually.
A [[The Doctor's spare TARDIS key|spare key]] was made by the [[First Doctor]] to replace one [[Marco Polo]] had taken away. Marco took away the spare as well and later returned both. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Marco Polo (TV story)}})
[[File:Susans TARDIS key.jpg|thumb|left|[[Susan Foreman]]'s abandoned TARDIS key ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)}})]]


However, a key is not always needed to open a TARDIS. During the Doctor's first encounter with [[River Song]] (from his point of view), she remarked that she had witnessed his future self open the doors of the TARDIS by snapping his fingers. The Doctor reacted with disbelief, but later successfully opened the doors in this fashion. ([[DW]]: ''[[Silence in the Library]]''/''[[Forest of the Dead]]'') After regenerating into his eleventh self, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] again opened the TARDIS by snapping his fingers, demonstrating that this method had become a reliable way for the him to do so. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]'') Despite this development, the Doctor continued to make regular use of his key.
[[Susan Foreman|Susan]]'s [[Susan Foreman's first TARDIS key|first key]] was destroyed by the Doctor whilst shorting out [[static electricity]] production in the [[Dalek City]]. Just before he destroyed it, he promised to make her a new one. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Daleks (TV story)|namedep=The Ordeal (6)}}) Susan's [[Susan Foreman's second TARDIS key|second key]] was seen when Susan locked the TARDIS aboard a [[human]] spaceship in proximity of the [[Sense Sphere]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sensorites (TV story)|namedep=Strangers in Space (1)}}) Later, knowing she would likely never see the TARDIS again, she intentionally abandoned this key in the dirt on the bank of the [[River Thames]], after her grandfather helped her decide to start a new life in the [[2160s]] by locking her out of the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)}}) Susan later recovered her key. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Lucie Miller (audio story)}})


==The Doctor's TARDIS Key==
A key that fell from the Doctor's cloak was picked up by [[Ben Jackson]] and he was able to get inside the TARDIS with [[Polly Wright]] when they tried to return it to the Doctor. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The War Machines (TV story)}})
===Design===
[[file:TARDIS Key.jpg|thumb|right|A copy of the TARDIS key [[DW]]: ''[[Planet of the Spiders]]'')]]
The key to the Doctor's TARDIS has been seen in several forms.
The [[First Doctor|First]] and [[Second Doctor]]s used a key which resembled a plain Earth [[wikipedia:Yale (company)|Yale]] lock, such as might be used with a genuine [[police box]]. The [[Third Doctor]] started out with the same key ([[DW]]: ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'')


At some point in his third life, the Doctor began experimenting with new designs for his key, coming up with several alternative designs before settling on a spade-shaped silver key. After his regeneration, the [[Fourth Doctor]] experimented with even more radical designs, which included a double-helix apparently made of plastic, before eventually going back to the spade and Yale styles. ([[EDA]]: ''[[Interference - Book Two]]'') The Yale key was also used by the [[Fifth Doctor|Fifth]] and [[Sixth Doctor]]s.
During their travels with the [[Fifth Doctor]], both [[Tegan Jovanka]] and [[Nyssa]] were given [[Tegan Jovanka's TARDIS key|their]] [[Nyssa's TARDIS key|own]] keys to the TARDIS ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Hexagora (audio story)}}) as was [[Peri Brown]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Fascination (short story)}}) Peri still had [[Peri Brown's TARDIS key|her key]] when travelling with the [[Sixth Doctor]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|House (short story)}})


The [[Seventh Doctor]] used yet another design, incorporating the [[Seal of Rassilon]] with a fan-shaped motif. ([[DW]]: ''[[Ghost Light]]'') The Seventh Doctor eventually went back to the spade key, which the [[Eighth Doctor]] initially continued to use. ([[DW]]: ''[[Doctor Who (1996)|Doctor Who]]'') At some point, the Eighth Doctor returned to using the Yale key. ([[EDA]]: ''[[The Crooked World]]'', ''[[History 101]]'')
A [[The Doctor's spare TARDIS key|spare copy]] of the spade-type key kept by the Seventh and Eighth Doctors was stored in a secret compartment in the TARDIS' outer shell. It was used by the Eighth Doctor when [[Chang Lee]] had stolen the original from his possessions. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Doctor Who (TV story)}})


The [[Ninth Doctor|Ninth]], [[Tenth Doctor|Tenth]], and [[Eleventh Doctor]]s used Yale-type keys, now in a gold/brass colour as opposed to earlier Doctors' silver-coloured Yale keys.
[[Charlotte Pollard]] had a [[Charlotte Pollard's TARDIS key|TARDIS key]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Time Works (audio story)}})


===Abilities===
The [[Eighth Doctor]] intended to give [[Lucie Miller]] a [[Lucie Miller's TARDIS key|TARDIS key]] with a [[Christmas]]-themed musical ringtone as a Christmas present. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Relative Dimensions (audio story)}})
[[file:Tardis key eleventh hour.png|thumb|right|225px|The [[Eleventh Doctor]]'s TARDIS key glowing in his hand. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]'')]]
Beyond simply unlocking the TARDIS doors, the Doctor's TARDIS key has often displayed other uses and characteristics.
*The Doctor's TARDIS key could be used to open TARDISes other than his own. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Mark of the Rani]]'')
*The TARDIS key glowed and grew warm when the TARDIS was about to materialise nearby ([[DW]]: ''[[Aliens of London]]'') or when an incapacitated TARDIS had finished rebuilding itself. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Eleventh Hour]]'')
**This feature was also exhibited when [[Susan Foreman]]'s key, long disused, began to glow when the [[Eighth Doctor]] came back to [[Earth]] during the [[Dalek]]s' second attempt to move the planet in the [[22nd century]]. ([[BFA]]: ''[[Lucie Miller (audio story)|Lucie Miller]]'')
*When the TARDIS fell through a wound in time, the Doctor realised he could use the key - still warm and in contact with the ship - to bring it back. ([[DW]]: ''[[Father's Day]]'')
*If modified properly, the TARDIS keys retained [[perception filter]] properties of the TARDIS. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sound of Drums]]'')
*The key could remotely lock the TARDIS from a distance, similar to a car alarm. ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
*The key could be used to place the TARDIS one second out of synch with the rest of the universe, preventing it from being seen. ([[DW]]: ''[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]]'')
*The key could be modified to track and locate the TARDIS, allowing the Doctor to find the TARDIS if it was within a hundred years of his position. ([[IDW]]: ''[[The Forgotten]]'')
*When [[Sarah-Jane Smith|Sarah-Jane]] left the key in the lock without opening the door, it canceled the pause control. The TARDIS travelled to its set coordinates Earth, instead of remaining in the copy of [[Devesham]] created by the [[Kraal]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Android Invasion]]'')


===Known copies===
[[Helen Sinclair]] had [[Helen Sinclair's TARDIS key|a TARDIS key]] by the time of the TARDIS's restoration. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Dead Time (audio story)}})
[[File:Susans TARDIS key.jpg|thumb|right|[[Susan Foreman]]'s abandoned TARDIS key  ([[DW]]: ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'')]]
[[The Doctor]] usually had his TARDIS key on his person at any given time. There were numerous other known copies of his key including, but probably not limited to:
*A spare key made by the [[First Doctor]] to replace one [[Marco Polo]] had taken away. He later recovered the key. ([[DW]]: ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]'')
*[[Susan]]'s first key was destroyed by the Doctor whilst shorting out [[static electricity]] production in the [[Dalek City]]. Just before he destroyed it, he promised to make her a new one. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Daleks]]'')
*Susan's second key was seen when Susan locked the TARDIS aboard a [[human]] spaceship in proximity of the [[Sense Sphere]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Sensorites]]'') Later, knowing she would likely never see the TARDIS again, she intentionally abandoned this key in the dirt on the bank of the [[River Thames]], after her grandfather helped her decide to start a new life in the [[2160s]] by locking her out of the TARDIS. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]'') Susan later recovered her key. ([[BFA]]: ''[[Lucie Miller (audio story)|Lucie Miller]]'')
*A key that fell from the Doctor's cloak and was picked up by [[Ben Jackson]]. ([[DW]]: ''[[The War Machines]])''
*A spare copy of the spade-type key kept by the Seventh and Eighth Doctors in a secret compartment in the TARDIS' outer shell ([[DW]]: ''[[Doctor Who (1996)|Doctor Who]]'')
*A double-helix shaped key, apparently made of plastic, which [[Sarah Jane Smith]] took with her when she left the TARDIS. ([[EDA]]: ''[[Interference - Book Two]]'')
*[[Anji Kapoor]]'s Yale design key. ([[EDA]]: ''[[The Crooked World]]'')
*A spade key worn on a choker by [[Romana II|President Romana]] ([[WC]]: ''[[Shada (webcast)|Shada]]'')
*The Yale-type keys given to [[Rose Tyler]], [[Martha Jones]], [[Jack Harkness]], and [[Donna Noble]]. Jones' and Harkness' keys were modified into [[perception filter]]s; it is unclear whether they were returned to their original state of being keys. Although the times when Tyler, Jones and Noble were given keys were established ([[DW]]: ''[[Aliens of London]]'', ''[[42]]'' and ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]''), it is unknown when Jack was given his.
*The [[Claw Shansheeth]] attempted to conjure a copy of the Doctor's TARDIS key through use of a [[Memory Weave]]. The device overloaded and the partially created key disappeared. ([[SJA]]: ''[[Death of the Doctor]]'')


==Other TARDIS Keys==
[[Sarah Jane Smith]] took a [[Sarah Jane Smith's TARDIS key|double-helix shaped key]], apparently made of plastic, with her when she left the TARDIS. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Interference - Book Two (novel)}})
The design and abilities of keys to TARDISes other than the Doctor's remain unknown.


The [[Chancellery Guard]] on [[Gallifrey]] had "cipher indent keys," master TARDIS keys of varying shapes under the control of the [[Castellan]]'s office. Some of these worked by being inserted into the keyhole, some worked by simply being held near the lock. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Deadly Assassin]], [[The Invasion of Time]]'')
[[Anji Kapoor]] was given a [[Anji Kapoor's TARDIS key|Yale design key]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Crooked World (novel)}}) as was [[Rose Tyler]], near the start of her travels. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Aliens of London (TV story)}}) [[Jack Harkness]]'s [[Jack Harkness' TARDIS key|key]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Parting of the Ways (TV story)}}) [[Martha Jones]]' [[Martha Jones' TARDIS key|key]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|42 (TV story)}}) and [[Donna Noble]]'s [[Donna Noble's TARDIS key|key]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)}}) were of the same design. Martha and Jack's keys were briefly modified into [[perception filter]]s. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}})


==Behind the scenes==
The [[Ninth Doctor]] kept at least one copy of his key, the one he gave to Rose Tyler, on a long metal chain with a D-shackle at the end. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Aliens of London (TV story)}}) [[Adam Mitchell]] was briefly in possession of [[Rose Tyler's TARDIS key|Rose's copy of the key]], which was nearly stolen by [[the Editor]]. This further proved to the Doctor that Adam was unfit for companion life. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Long Game (TV story)}}) The [[Tenth Doctor]] opted to keep one on a cord of twine that the [[Weeping Angel]]s stole off him while transporting him to 1969. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Blink (TV story)}}) The [[Eleventh Doctor]], by the end of his life, wore a copy on a cord around his neck, which he gave up to [[Tasha Lem]]. When he and Clara needed to escape the Weeping Angels on [[Trenzalore]], he produced another key that he kept underneath his wig to summon the TARDIS around the two- "the old 'key in the quiff' routine." ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Time of the Doctor (TV story)}})
*The original spade-type TARDIS key was designed by [[Jon Pertwee]] and began use in [[Season 11]]. <ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hpFc_Ool9M "How Who are You?" - KTEH TV]</ref>
*The Rassilon-style key was designed by [[Mike Tucker]]. <ref>"[[Ace! The Inside Story of the End of an Era]]" [[Sophie Aldred]] and [[Mike Tucker]]</ref>
*The prop used for the [[Doctor Who (1996)|TV movie]] was a BBC-licenced replica of the classic spade key, sold at the time by now-defunct American memorabilia catalog 800-TREKKER. <ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/144837.html dw_cosplay Eight Breakdown]</ref>
*The 2005 key was a standard door lock key made by UK lock manufacturer ERA. Spares were stored in a secret compartment inside the TARDIS prop. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/making/whospy/week17.shtml WhoSpy week 17]</ref>


==Footnotes==
A spare key was worn on a choker by [[Romana II]]. ([[WC]]: {{cs|Shada (webcast)}})
 
The [[Claw Shansheeth]] attempted to conjure a copy of the Doctor's TARDIS key through use of a [[memory weave]] on Sarah Jane and [[Jo Jones]]' minds. Sarah Jane and Jo overloaded the device and the partially created key disappeared. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Death of the Doctor (TV story)}})
 
[[Clara Oswin Oswald]] received a [[Clara Oswin Oswald's TARDIS key|copy]] of the key, although she lost it when the ice sculpture governess pulled her out of the TARDIS. However, the Doctor returned it to her while she was dying. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Snowmen (TV story)}}) At some point farther into their adventures than with other companions, the Doctor gave the original Clara Oswald a [[Clara Oswald's TARDIS key|key]] to the TARDIS. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Time of the Doctor (TV story)}})
 
To Clara's knowledge the [[Twelfth Doctor]] had seven keys in his possession, hidden in different places inside his TARDIS. Clara attempted to steal them and blackmail the Doctor into saving [[Danny Pink]], but the Doctor outwitted her and helped her regardless. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Dark Water (TV story)}}) At this point in time she did not appear to have her own key, as none was produced by her during her blackmail attempt; she subsequently reacquired a key ([[TV]]: {{cs|Sleep No More (TV story)}}) which she still possessed after her extraction from [[Trap Street, London|the trap street]] as she was later able to enter the Doctor's TARDIS before returning it to him. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Hell Bent (TV story)}})
 
[[River Song]] was in possession of a [[River Song's TARDIS key|TARDIS key]], which she frequently used to steal away the TARDIS for her own adventures without the Doctor's knowledge. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Husbands of River Song (TV story)}})
 
[[Dan Lewis]] owned a [[Dan Lewis's TARDIS key|TARDIS key]], given to him by the [[Thirteenth Doctor]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Everlasting Summer (comic story)}})
 
The [[Fifteenth Doctor]] offered [[Ruby Sunday]] a key as a way to offer that she become his companion after she proved herself saving the [[Bogeyman (Space Babies)|Bogeyman]] on [[Baby Station Beta]]. She hesitated somewhat before taking the key. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Space Babies (TV story)}})
 
=== Cypher indent keys ===
The [[Chancellery Guard]] on [[Gallifrey]] had cypher indent keys, which were TARDIS master keys of varying shapes under the control of the [[Castellan]]'s office. Some of these worked by being inserted into the keyhole, some worked by simply being held near the lock. Cypher indent keys were specific for each model of TARDIS. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Deadly Assassin (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Invasion of Time (TV story)}})
 
=== Other TARDISes ===
During the [[Last Great Time War]], the key to [[Vassarian's TARDIS]] was taken by [[General]] [[Fesk]]. After Fesk was killed, the [[War Doctor]] claimed the key so he could use the TARDIS to escape [[Rovidia]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Eternity Cage (audio story)}})
 
== Behind the scenes ==
* The Rassilon-style key was designed by [[Mike Tucker]].<ref>''[[Ace! The Inside Story of the End of an Era]]'', [[Sophie Aldred]] and [[Mike Tucker]]</ref>
* The prop used for the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|TV movie]] was a BBC-licenced replica of the classic spade key, sold at the time by now-defunct American memorabilia catalogue 800-TREKKER.<ref>[http://community.livejournal.com/dw_cosplay/144837.html dw_cosplay Eight Breakdown]</ref>
* The 2005 key was a standard nightlatch key made by UK lock manufacturer ERA, and it was the real key to the working lock on the TARDIS prop. Spares were stored in a secret compartment inside the TARDIS prop.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/making/whospy/week17.shtml WhoSpy week 17]</ref>
 
== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
[[Category:TARDIS components]]
 
[[Category:The Doctor's items]]
[[Category:TARDIS keys| *]]

Latest revision as of 17:23, 21 October 2024

A TARDIS key was the key to the exterior door of a TARDIS. They could be found in a variety of shapes and designs which could be customised by the owners. Whatever the key's shape and size, and whatever form the TARDIS' outer plasmic shell, the key would fit a lock somewhere in the structure.

Function[[edit] | [edit source]]

Use of a TARDIS key enabled entry to a locked TARDIS in the manner of other types of keys, and was not limited by the reconfigurable shape of either the key itself or the outer plasmic shell of the TARDIS. Different TARDIS shells had different locks, whether obvious or hidden, and a TARDIS lock would accept its key even if it was physically larger than the lock. (PROSE: Interference - Book Two [+]Loading...["Interference - Book Two (novel)"])

Because of a metabolism detector behind the lock, (TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"]) unauthorised people who stole the Doctor's TARDIS key usually found themselves unable to open the TARDIS doors without the Doctor there. (AUDIO: The High Price of Parking [+]Loading...["The High Price of Parking (audio story)"], TV: Spearhead from Space [+]Loading...["Spearhead from Space (TV story)"]) Nevertheless, companions were often able to use the Doctor's key without the Doctor around, (AUDIO: The Jabari Countdown [+]Loading...["The Jabari Countdown (audio story)"], Lucie Miller [+]Loading...["Lucie Miller (audio story)"]) and many had their own keys to the TARDIS. (TV: The Sensorites [+]Loading...["The Sensorites (TV story)"], Aliens of London [+]Loading...["Aliens of London (TV story)"], et al.)

The keys changed shape, just as the TARDIS did. (AUDIO: The Alchemists [+]Loading...["The Alchemists (audio story)"])

TARDIS keys[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor's TARDIS key[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: The Doctor's TARDIS key

Others[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor usually had their TARDIS key on their person at any given time. There were numerous other known copies of that key.

A spare key was made by the First Doctor to replace one Marco Polo had taken away. Marco took away the spare as well and later returned both. (TV: Marco Polo [+]Loading...["Marco Polo (TV story)"])

Susan Foreman's abandoned TARDIS key (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth [+]Loading...["The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"])

Susan's first key was destroyed by the Doctor whilst shorting out static electricity production in the Dalek City. Just before he destroyed it, he promised to make her a new one. (TV: "The Ordeal" [+]Part of The Daleks, Loading...{"namedep":"The Ordeal (6)","1":"The Daleks (TV story)"}) Susan's second key was seen when Susan locked the TARDIS aboard a human spaceship in proximity of the Sense Sphere. (TV: "Strangers in Space" [+]Part of The Sensorites, Loading...{"namedep":"Strangers in Space (1)","1":"The Sensorites (TV story)"}) Later, knowing she would likely never see the TARDIS again, she intentionally abandoned this key in the dirt on the bank of the River Thames, after her grandfather helped her decide to start a new life in the 2160s by locking her out of the TARDIS. (TV: The Dalek Invasion of Earth [+]Loading...["The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)"]) Susan later recovered her key. (AUDIO: Lucie Miller [+]Loading...["Lucie Miller (audio story)"])

A key that fell from the Doctor's cloak was picked up by Ben Jackson and he was able to get inside the TARDIS with Polly Wright when they tried to return it to the Doctor. (TV: The War Machines [+]Loading...["The War Machines (TV story)"])

During their travels with the Fifth Doctor, both Tegan Jovanka and Nyssa were given their own keys to the TARDIS (AUDIO: Hexagora [+]Loading...["Hexagora (audio story)"]) as was Peri Brown. (PROSE: Fascination [+]Loading...["Fascination (short story)"]) Peri still had her key when travelling with the Sixth Doctor. (PROSE: House [+]Loading...["House (short story)"])

A spare copy of the spade-type key kept by the Seventh and Eighth Doctors was stored in a secret compartment in the TARDIS' outer shell. It was used by the Eighth Doctor when Chang Lee had stolen the original from his possessions. (TV: Doctor Who [+]Loading...["Doctor Who (TV story)"])

Charlotte Pollard had a TARDIS key. (AUDIO: Time Works [+]Loading...["Time Works (audio story)"])

The Eighth Doctor intended to give Lucie Miller a TARDIS key with a Christmas-themed musical ringtone as a Christmas present. (AUDIO: Relative Dimensions [+]Loading...["Relative Dimensions (audio story)"])

Helen Sinclair had a TARDIS key by the time of the TARDIS's restoration. (AUDIO: Dead Time [+]Loading...["Dead Time (audio story)"])

Sarah Jane Smith took a double-helix shaped key, apparently made of plastic, with her when she left the TARDIS. (PROSE: Interference - Book Two [+]Loading...["Interference - Book Two (novel)"])

Anji Kapoor was given a Yale design key, (PROSE: The Crooked World [+]Loading...["The Crooked World (novel)"]) as was Rose Tyler, near the start of her travels. (TV: Aliens of London [+]Loading...["Aliens of London (TV story)"]) Jack Harkness's key, (TV: The Parting of the Ways [+]Loading...["The Parting of the Ways (TV story)"]) Martha Jones' key (TV: 42 [+]Loading...["42 (TV story)"]) and Donna Noble's key (TV: The Sontaran Stratagem [+]Loading...["The Sontaran Stratagem (TV story)"]) were of the same design. Martha and Jack's keys were briefly modified into perception filters. (TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"])

The Ninth Doctor kept at least one copy of his key, the one he gave to Rose Tyler, on a long metal chain with a D-shackle at the end. (TV: Aliens of London [+]Loading...["Aliens of London (TV story)"]) Adam Mitchell was briefly in possession of Rose's copy of the key, which was nearly stolen by the Editor. This further proved to the Doctor that Adam was unfit for companion life. (TV: The Long Game [+]Loading...["The Long Game (TV story)"]) The Tenth Doctor opted to keep one on a cord of twine that the Weeping Angels stole off him while transporting him to 1969. (TV: Blink [+]Loading...["Blink (TV story)"]) The Eleventh Doctor, by the end of his life, wore a copy on a cord around his neck, which he gave up to Tasha Lem. When he and Clara needed to escape the Weeping Angels on Trenzalore, he produced another key that he kept underneath his wig to summon the TARDIS around the two- "the old 'key in the quiff' routine." (TV: The Time of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Time of the Doctor (TV story)"])

A spare key was worn on a choker by Romana II. (WC: Shada [+]Loading...["Shada (webcast)"])

The Claw Shansheeth attempted to conjure a copy of the Doctor's TARDIS key through use of a memory weave on Sarah Jane and Jo Jones' minds. Sarah Jane and Jo overloaded the device and the partially created key disappeared. (TV: Death of the Doctor [+]Loading...["Death of the Doctor (TV story)"])

Clara Oswin Oswald received a copy of the key, although she lost it when the ice sculpture governess pulled her out of the TARDIS. However, the Doctor returned it to her while she was dying. (TV: The Snowmen [+]Loading...["The Snowmen (TV story)"]) At some point farther into their adventures than with other companions, the Doctor gave the original Clara Oswald a key to the TARDIS. (TV: The Time of the Doctor [+]Loading...["The Time of the Doctor (TV story)"])

To Clara's knowledge the Twelfth Doctor had seven keys in his possession, hidden in different places inside his TARDIS. Clara attempted to steal them and blackmail the Doctor into saving Danny Pink, but the Doctor outwitted her and helped her regardless. (TV: Dark Water [+]Loading...["Dark Water (TV story)"]) At this point in time she did not appear to have her own key, as none was produced by her during her blackmail attempt; she subsequently reacquired a key (TV: Sleep No More [+]Loading...["Sleep No More (TV story)"]) which she still possessed after her extraction from the trap street as she was later able to enter the Doctor's TARDIS before returning it to him. (TV: Hell Bent [+]Loading...["Hell Bent (TV story)"])

River Song was in possession of a TARDIS key, which she frequently used to steal away the TARDIS for her own adventures without the Doctor's knowledge. (TV: The Husbands of River Song [+]Loading...["The Husbands of River Song (TV story)"])

Dan Lewis owned a TARDIS key, given to him by the Thirteenth Doctor. (COMIC: The Everlasting Summer [+]Loading...["The Everlasting Summer (comic story)"])

The Fifteenth Doctor offered Ruby Sunday a key as a way to offer that she become his companion after she proved herself saving the Bogeyman on Baby Station Beta. She hesitated somewhat before taking the key. (TV: Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"])

Cypher indent keys[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Chancellery Guard on Gallifrey had cypher indent keys, which were TARDIS master keys of varying shapes under the control of the Castellan's office. Some of these worked by being inserted into the keyhole, some worked by simply being held near the lock. Cypher indent keys were specific for each model of TARDIS. (TV: The Deadly Assassin [+]Loading...["The Deadly Assassin (TV story)"], The Invasion of Time [+]Loading...["The Invasion of Time (TV story)"])

Other TARDISes[[edit] | [edit source]]

During the Last Great Time War, the key to Vassarian's TARDIS was taken by General Fesk. After Fesk was killed, the War Doctor claimed the key so he could use the TARDIS to escape Rovidia. (AUDIO: The Eternity Cage [+]Loading...["The Eternity Cage (audio story)"])

Behind the scenes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Rassilon-style key was designed by Mike Tucker.[1]
  • The prop used for the TV movie was a BBC-licenced replica of the classic spade key, sold at the time by now-defunct American memorabilia catalogue 800-TREKKER.[2]
  • The 2005 key was a standard nightlatch key made by UK lock manufacturer ERA, and it was the real key to the working lock on the TARDIS prop. Spares were stored in a secret compartment inside the TARDIS prop.[3]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ Ace! The Inside Story of the End of an Era, Sophie Aldred and Mike Tucker
  2. ↑ dw_cosplay Eight Breakdown
  3. ↑ WhoSpy week 17
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