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| The '''2009 Specials''' will be broadcast between the end of Series 4 and the beginning of Series 5. Four specials will be broadcast at various points in 2009. Of the four specials, one has been scheduled for Easter 2009, and one for Christmas 2009, leaving the other two unscheduled. These four specials will be overseen by [[Russell T Davies]] and [[Julie Gardner]], but traditional line producer, [[Phil Collinson]], will not be returning for them. All will reportedly star [[David Tennant]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/09/03/48471.shtml Official website's 2007 bulletin about Series 5]</ref>
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| David Tennant announced that after the 2009 specials he would leave ''Doctor Who''. Rumoured actors to replace Tennant were James Nesbitt <ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a69179/nesbitt-to-become-next-doctor.html Cult - News - Nesbitt to become next Doctor? On the 3rd of January, it was announced that Matt Smith will become the Eleventh Doctor. - Digital Spy<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, Robert Carlyle <ref>[http://www.williamhillmedia.com/index_template.asp?file=10285 Who Will Be Next Dr Who? | William Hill Press Office<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, [[David Walliams]] (who was the leading choice) <ref>[http://www.askmen.com/men/entertainment_250/287_david_walliams.html David Walliams - AskMen.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, [[Harry Lloyd]] <ref>[http://www.pr-inside.com/new-doctor-who-unveiled-r207167.htm NEWS NEW DOCTOR WHO UNVEILED Music, movie & Entertainment News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>, [[David Morrissey]] (who previously played [[Jackson Lake]] in the [[The Next Doctor|2008 Christmas special]]) <ref>http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-news/breaking-news/2008/07/04/liverpool-actor-david-morrissey-could-be-next-doctor-who-64375-21227910/</ref> <ref>http://www.kasterborous.com/news.asp?id=1795</ref> and [[Paterson Joseph]]<ref>http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/10/theres-yet-anot.html</ref><ref>http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/23/anglophenia.jsp?bc_id=1249</ref><ref>http://liveforfilm.blogspot.com/2008/10/next-dr-who-could-be.html</ref>. Bill Nighy has stated he would love to take over from Tennant once he leaves if the producers approach him <ref name=autogenerated3>[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/nighy%20eyes%20doctor%20who%20role_1059948 Bill Nighy - Nighy Eyes Doctor Who Role<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>. On the 3rd January 2009, it was announced that 26 year old actor [[Matt Smith]] would be portraying the [[Eleventh Doctor]] for the duration of [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)]]. It is currently unknown whether the regeneration from the Tenth to Eleventh Doctor will occur in the last special, or at the beginning of the 5th series. In an interview with "Wired", [[Euros Lyn]] revealed that the story in which [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] regenerates will be a two-part story with [[Tenth Doctor|the Doctor]] presumably regenerating in the second part.
| | Series 4 of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' started on the [[5th April]] [[2008]]. It was preceded by two specials: ''[[Time Crash]]'' and ''[[Voyage of the Damned]]'' which while not officially considered part of Series 4 have been grouped together with the later episodes for the subsequent Series 4 DVD release. |
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| For the 2009 Specials, the Doctor will be traveling alone, each episode starring a one-off companion.
| | [[David Tennant]] stayed on as the Tenth Doctor, and Catherine Tate reprised her role as Donna Noble, following her one off in the [[The Runaway Bride]]. |
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| There have been conflicting reports given as to why the decision was made to take a year off. Initial media reports suggested that this was in order to allow David Tennant to perform a season of Shakespeare during the time a regular season would have normally entered production. However, these reports are directly contradicted in Russell T. Davies' book ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale]]'', which contains correspondence from the spring of 2007 -- months before the gap year plan was announced -- in which Davies indicated that the intent was to take the series off for a year, except for a few specials, in order to allow a new production team to make its transition, as Davies had already informed the BBC that he would not executive-produce a fifth season.
| | This series featured several (former) companions returning; [[Freema Agyeman]], returned as [[Martha Jones]] for five episodes of the series, which began with ''[[The Sontaran Stratagem]]'' following her three episode spell with [[Torchwood]]. [[Jack Harkness]] crossed over from ''[[Torchwood]]'' for a second time later in the series. [[Billie Piper]] returned as [[Rose Tyler]] for a three episode stint starting with ''[[Turn Left]]'', all three returned in ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'' along with [[Elisabeth Sladen]] as [[Sarah Jane Smith]]. These were further joined by [[Noel Clarke]] and [[Camille Coduri]] in ''[[Journey's End]]''. |
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| Although it was originally announced that the four specials following ''The Next Doctor'' would air during 2009, with a possible summer-fall broadcast for at least one of them, this now appears to not be the case, as [[Russell T. Davies]] has indicated to ''SFX Magazine'' that, following the broadcast of ''Planet of the Dead'' in April 2009, the remaining three specials will air "around Christmas/end of the year".[http://scifipulse.net/?p=6378] An earlier indication that at least one special would not air until 2010 was given by David Tennant himself during interviews following the announcement of his departure from the series.
| | Series 4 featured several milestones. It is the 30th ever broadcast season of Doctor Who, and features the 750th broadcast episode, which was ''[[The Stolen Earth]]'', the 50th new series episode, ''[[The Unicorn and the Wasp]]'', and the 200th broadcast story of Doctor Who, ''[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]]''. The finale episodes ''The Stolen Earth'' and ''Journey's End'' also took the revived series to new heights of popularity, scoring the highest viewership ratings since the [[Tom Baker]] era and according to the media both episodes scored Appreciation Index ratings unprecedented for an ongoing scripted drama series. |
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| ==The Next Doctor==
| | In terms of production, the season marked the first production of a "Companion-lite" episode, ''[[Midnight]]'' (as opposed to the usual "Doctor-lite" episodes), although a Doctor-lite episode, ''[[Turn Left]]'' was also produced. This was necessitated by the need to film several episodes at the same time, including an unprecedented 15th episode, ''[[The Next Doctor]]'', which would air as the 2008 Christmas special. |
| There are conflicting reports from the BBC and other sources as to whether ''[[The Next Doctor]]'', the 2008 Christmas special, is part of the 2009 Specials "series" or not. Arguments in favour of it being included are that it was not aired with the rest of Series 4, and Series 4 already was linked to a Christmas special, ''[[Voyage of the Damned]]'', and also that it was not included on the so-titled "Complete Fourth Series" DVD box set issued in the autumn of 2008. Arguments in favour of it being considered part of the Fourth Series include it being produced during the same production block as Series 4, and that Russell T. Davies referred to it as the 14th episode of Series 4 in his book ''[[Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale]]''. The fact the episode uses a Series 4 production code cannot be used as support as the same is holding true with all of the 2009 Specials which raises the question as to whether the "gap year" might eventually come to be known as Series 4.5 (or season 30.5). According to Davies' interview with ''SFX Magazine''[http://scifipulse.net/?p=6378] the four specials being produced in 2009 form an arc, suggesting that ''The Next Doctor'' is likely to be accorded standalone status, as was the case with the previous Christmas specials, none of which were considered part of the seasons that followed (although they were nonetheless included in the DVD box sets).
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| ==2009 specials==
| | As with the preceding three seasons, Series 4 incorporated several ongoing story arcs or background threads which were resolved in the finale episodes. In Series 4 these threads included: Donna Noble's evolution, Rose Tyler's attempts to return to her original world and the Doctor, the disappearance of bees from planet Earth, recurring references to planets and moons disappearing, and the coming of "The Darkness". |
| ===Television stories===
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| *[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]] -- announced title of Easter 2009 special (broadcast date TBA)
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| *Special 2 (date and title TBA)
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| *Special 3 (date and title TBA, rumoured to be Christmas 2009)
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| *Special 4 (date and title TBA)
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| [[Euros Lyn]] has confirmed that he will be directing the final two specials. In an interview with the website Zap2It.com in February 2009, Lyn indicated that the final two specials will constitute a two-part story.<ref>[http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/02/fifteen-minutes-with-torchwood-children-of-the-earth-director-euros-lyn.html Zap2It.com - interview with Euros Lyn]</ref> | | Series 4 marked the last full season to be produced by [[Russell T Davies]], [[Phil Collinson]] and [[Julie Gardner]]. Collinson left following ''Journey's End'', and Davies and Gardner have announced they will depart following production of a series of specials planned for 2009 in lieu of a regular season. When the show resumes weekly broadcast in [[2010]], [[Steven Moffat]] will be its head writer and show-runner. It also marks the last full season featuring [[David Tennant]] as [[Tenth Doctor|The Doctor]] as in October 2008 he announced his intention to leave the role following the production of the 2009 specials; in January 2009 [[Matt Smith]] was announced as his successor. |
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| ===Casting=== | | ==Television stories== |
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| '''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'''
| | ===Episodes=== |
| *[[Christina de Souza|Lady Christina de Souza]] - [[Michelle Ryan]] | | *[[Partners in Crime]] |
| *[[Malcolm]] - [[Lee Evans]] | | *[[The Fires of Pompeii]] |
| *[[Erisa Magambo|Captain Arisa Magambo]] - [[Norma Dumezweni]] | | *[[Planet of the Ood]] |
| | *[[The Sontaran Stratagem]] / [[The Poison Sky]] |
| | *[[The Doctor's Daughter]] |
| | *[[The Unicorn and the Wasp]] |
| | *[[Silence in the Library]] / [[Forest of the Dead]] |
| | *[[Midnight (TV story)|Midnight]] |
| | *[[Turn Left]] |
| | *[[The Stolen Earth]] / [[Journey's End]] |
| | *[[The Next Doctor]] |
| | ===Mini-episode=== |
| | *[[Music of the Spheres]] |
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| '''Special 2'''
| | ==The Cast== |
| | ===Primary Cast=== |
| | *[[The Doctor]] - [[David Tennant]] |
| | *[[Donna Noble]] - [[Catherine Tate]] |
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| As of February 2009 only two names has been put forward to star in this special.
| | ===Secondary Cast=== |
| *[[Adelaide]] - [[Lindsay Duncan]] | | *[[Martha Jones]] - [[Freema Agyeman]] |
| *[[Mia Bennett]] - [[Gemma Chan]] | | *[[Rose Tyler]] - [[Billie Piper]] |
| | *[[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]] |
| | *[[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elisabeth Sladen]] |
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| '''Special 3''' | | '''Guests''' |
| | *[[Wilfred Mott]] - [[Bernard Cribbins]] |
| | *[[Sylvia Noble]] - [[Jacqueline King]] |
| | *[[Jenny]]- [[Georgia Moffett]] |
| | *[[Francine Jones]] - [[Adjoa Andoh]] |
| | *[[Ianto Jones]] - [[Gareth David-Lloyd]] |
| | *[[Luke Smith]] - [[Tommy Knight]] |
| | *[[Gwen Cooper]] - [[Eve Myles]] |
| | *[[Mickey Smith]] - [[Noel Clarke]] |
| | *[[Jackie Tyler]] - [[Camille Coduri]] |
| | *[[Harriet Jones]] - [[Penelope Wilton]] |
| | *[[Jackson Lake]] - [[David Morrissey]] |
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| As of 21 March 2009, only one star has been seen on set.
| | ==Novels== |
| *[[Verity Newman]] - [[Jessica Hynes]] | | [[Image:2_books.JPG|thumb|right|Two of the Series 4 Books]] |
| | *[[Ghosts of India]] |
| | *[[Shining Darkness]] |
| | *[[The Doctor Trap]] |
| | *[[Beautiful Chaos]] |
| | *[[The Eyeless]] (however this book and the six listed below may end up occurring during the timeframe of the [[2009 Specials (Doctor Who)|2009 Specials]]) |
| | *[[Judgement of the Judoon]] |
| | *[[The Slitheen Excursion]] |
| | *[[Prisoner of the Daleks]] |
| | *[[The Taking of Chelsea 426]] |
| | *[[The Krillitane Storm]] |
| | *[[Autonomy]] |
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| ===Series numbering=== | | ==Audiobooks== |
| Although it was initially thought that the "interval" season of specials might come to be known as Series 5, or Series 4.5, however at present it appears that the BBC will not be assigning a series "number" to the specials, much as the previous Christmas specials and mini-episodes do not technically belong to any particular season. This, however, is contradicted by Russell T Davies himself in his book ''[[The Writer's Tale]]'', where he calls ''The Next Doctor'' the fourteenth episode of the fourth series (likely due to the fact it was produced during the production of Series 4).''DWM'' confirmed the specials would be coded 4.14, 4.15, 4.16 etc. Also, the BBC iPlayer page for The Next Doctor on its Christmas Day release stated the episode was part of 'Series Four'.
| | *[[Pest Control]] |
| | *[[The Forever Trap]] |
| | *[[The Nemonite Invasion]] |
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| ===Writers=== | | == Aliens and Enemies == |
| [[Russell T Davies]] is solely writing only the Christmas 2008 special and two others.<ref name=Gardner>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/07/11/nosplit/bvtvwho11.xml ''Daily Telegraph'' interview with Julie Gardner] 11 July 2008.</ref> One of the specials will be co-written by [[Gareth Roberts]], and one will be co-written by [[Phil Ford]].<ref>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a115043/doctor-who-specials-writers-announced.html? Rawson-Jones, Ben. "'Doctor Who' specials writers announced".] digitalspy.co.uk. 25 July 2008. ''reporting on news originally broken in [[DWM Issue 398|''Doctor Who Magazine'' #398]].</ref> These particular specials will be historic in that they will be the first two episodes of the [[BBC Wales]] production of ''Doctor Who'' to formally credit a co-writer. With the inclusion of Ford, 2009 will mark the fifth straight year that ''Doctor Who'' has included at least one new writer for the show, and make Ford the only writer other than RTD himself to write for ''Torchwood'', ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' and ''Doctor Who''. | | *[[Matron Cofelia]] |
| | *[[Adipose]] |
| | *[[Lucius Petrus Dextrus]] |
| | *[[Pyrovile]] |
| | *[[Ood]] |
| | *[[Klineman Halpen]] |
| | *[[Staal]] |
| | *[[Luke Rattigan]] |
| | *[[Sontaran|Sontarans]] |
| | *[[Cobb|General Cobb]] |
| | *[[Hath]] |
| | *[[Vespiform]] |
| | *[[Vashta Nerada]] |
| | *[[Node]] |
| | *[[Midnight Entity]] |
| | *[[Sky Silvestry]] |
| | *[[Time Beetle]] |
| | *[[Fortune Teller]] |
| | *[[Davros]] |
| | *[[Dalek|Daleks]] |
| | *[[Dalek Caan]] |
| | *[[Cyber-Leader (Pete's World)|Cyber-Leader]] |
| | *[[Cybermen (Pete's World)|Cybermen]] |
| | *[[Mercy Hartigan]] |
| | *[[Cybershade]] |
| | *[[Cyber-King]] |
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| ===Rumours=== | | ==Promotional trailers== |
| *''The Sun'' newspaper in the UK reported [[Paul McGann]] is to make an appearance as the [[Eighth Doctor]] in one of the specials.<ref>[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1673189.ece ''Sun'' reports McGann return]</ref> However, on 12 September 2008, the BBC refuted this allegation, saying, "There is no truth to the story at all."<ref name=Mcgann>[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a130094/bbc-refutes-mcgann-dr-who-return-story.html Rawson-Jones, Ben. ''BBC refutes McGann 'Dr Who' story''] 12 September 2008.</ref> However, a brief clip of McGann as the Doctor ''did'' appear in ''[[The Next Doctor]]'' as part of a recap of all of the Doctor's incarnations.
| | As with previous seasons, trailers were created to promote the season, though this year they were shown in theatres as well as on television in the UK. Of particular note is the second trailer that was released, which utilized unique, specially shot footage of Donna sitting by a camp- or bonfire talking to either an unseen individual or the audience about the Doctor "coming back to save us" and "I'll be ready" interspersed with images of Sontarans, Ood and Daleks. There is no scene like this in any of the episodes; the meaning of "he'll come back to save us" is unknown as there is no circumstance within Series 4 in which Donna would be in such a position to make such a remark. |
| *Actor Patrick Stewart may also appear in the 2009 specials, playing the renegade [[Time Lord]], [[The Monk]].<ref>[http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1770729.ece Blackburn, Jen. "Star Trek hero to play Time Lord". ''The Sun''. 6 October 2008.]</ref> At least one (possibly made-up) source believes that "the BBC has offered him the role and are willing to wait for Stewart's schedule to clear". Stewart could therefore appear in ''either'' the specials or the 2010 series.<ref>[http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/53502/Patrick-Trek-to-Tardis/ "Patrick Trek to TARDIS". ''Daily Star'' 5 October 2008]</ref> ''Unlikely as when it comes to Doctor Who the newspapers tend to make up their own rumours which are completely untrue. For example, the rumour that Jennifer Saunders would play the Doctor.''
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| *The Nimon may return in one of the specials as hinted by Russell T. Davies in an excerpt from The Next Doctor Podcast. ''It is possible that they will appear in [[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]], since a characteristic of the [[Nimon]] is that they are parasitic and use up a planet's resources.''
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| *It is rumoured that News Reporter [[Trinity Wells]], played by [[Lachele Carl]], who has appeared in every series, since series 1, will appear. Davies said in an interview that The Doctor may meet her and she may sacrifice herself for the Earth.
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| *Although initial media coverage of the "gap year" indicated that all the specials would air in 2009, with Tennant's announcement of his pending departure in October 2008 came media references (yet to be officially confirmed) that the final special, and the final episode to feature Tennant, may not air until early 2010. Julie Gardner has confirmed that the first special will be broadcast during the Easter Holidays.
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| *Two mini-episodes (''[[Children in Need Special]]'' and ''[[Time Crash]]'') and two interactive mini-episodes (the online game ''[[Attack of the Graske]]'' and the audience-participation ''[[Music of the Spheres]]'') have been produced since Tennant joined the series; the possibility exists that another mini-episode may be produced during the Specials season, although as of January 2009 there has been no indication of this.
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| *Recurring rumors include speculation that either [[Georgia Moffett]] will return as [[Jenny]], the Doctor's daughter, or that [[River Song]], introduced as a future companion of the Doctor's in Series 4, will return (though spin-off speculates relates as to whether [[Alex Kingston]] would return of if a younger actress would be cast). Both have also been cited as potential companions in Series 5, too.
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| *Initial rumours that one of the specials would be filmed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates were confirmed in late January 2009 when BBC News reported that a bus intended for use in location filming for ''Planet of the Dead'' in Dubai was damaged. A related rumour, referenced in the Dubai-based newspaper ''7DAYS'', citing an unnamed BBC source, indicated that filming for one of the specials would occur in the United States.<ref>http://www.7days.ae/storydetails.php?id=72747%20%20%20%20&page=local%20news&title=Time%20Lord%20to%20land%20in%20Dubai</ref>
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| *In late January several media outlets reported that [[Freema Agyeman]] would reprise the role of [[Martha Jones]] in one of the specials; this is highly unlikely as Russell T Davies intends, with Donna losing her memory, Rose having found a half-human Doctor in a parallel universe, Martha having forged a life of her own outside the TARDIS, and Sarah Jane and Captain Jack still in ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'' and ''[[Torchwood]]'', the 2009 specials will see the Doctor travelling alone, with no references to former companions.
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| * Supposedly, [[Donna Noble]], [[Wilfred Mott]] and [[The Master]] are all meant to return for at least one of the 2009 specials. This is rumoured because in the [[Series 4]] Box-Set, a clip of Donna hearing the TARDIS disappear could be heard and a ring on her finger was shown quite visibly for a number of seconds. This clip was cut from the final cut. Throughout [[Journey's End]] and [[The Stolen Earth]], clips of a ring on Donna's finger are seen. This refers back to the ring that was seen in [[Last of the Time Lords]] and could have some connection between the Master and Donna.<ref>http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/article1659508.ece</ref>
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| * According to an interview by [[Russell T. Davies]] in ''SFX Magazine'', at least one of the specials will feature the [[Ood]] and possibly tie in with the closing scene of ''[[Planet of the Ood]]'', and that the four specials that make up the gap year will form a loose arc, with the final two being a two-parter closely linked to the second special.[http://scifipulse.net/?p=6378]
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| * The Daily Mirror reported that an Episode will be set on [[Mars]]. With the [[Doctor]] having to battle aliens from [[Mars]]. This could possibly mean the [[Ice Warrior]]s will be in one of the specials
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| * The Sun reported that [[Martha Jones]], [[Donna Noble]] and [[Rose Tyler]] where filming for the last special.
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| ===Broadcast dates=== | | The other major trailers included another Donna-centric trailer utilizing a scene between Donna and [[Wilfred Mott]] from ''Partners in Crime'', and a mid-season trailer focusing in part on the return of Rose Tyler in ''Turn Left''. |
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| | ==External Links== |
| | [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/ BBC website page for series 4] |
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| | {{Series 4}} |
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| {| class="browser" | | {| class="browser" |
| |- | | |- |
| | class="prev"|'''Previous series''':<br />[[Series 4 (Doctor Who)|Series 4]] | | | class="prev"|'''Previous Season''':<br />[[Series 3 (Doctor Who)|Series 3]] |
| | class="next"|'''Next series''':<br /> [[Series 5 (Doctor Who)|Series 5]] | | | class="next"|'''Next Season''':<br />[[2009 Specials (Doctor Who)|2009 Specials]] |
| |} | | |} |
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist}}
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| [[Category:Doctor Who seasons]] | | [[Category:Doctor Who seasons]] |
Series 4 of Doctor Who started on the 5th April 2008. It was preceded by two specials: Time Crash and Voyage of the Damned which while not officially considered part of Series 4 have been grouped together with the later episodes for the subsequent Series 4 DVD release.
David Tennant stayed on as the Tenth Doctor, and Catherine Tate reprised her role as Donna Noble, following her one off in the The Runaway Bride.
This series featured several (former) companions returning; Freema Agyeman, returned as Martha Jones for five episodes of the series, which began with The Sontaran Stratagem following her three episode spell with Torchwood. Jack Harkness crossed over from Torchwood for a second time later in the series. Billie Piper returned as Rose Tyler for a three episode stint starting with Turn Left, all three returned in The Stolen Earth along with Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith. These were further joined by Noel Clarke and Camille Coduri in Journey's End.
Series 4 featured several milestones. It is the 30th ever broadcast season of Doctor Who, and features the 750th broadcast episode, which was The Stolen Earth, the 50th new series episode, The Unicorn and the Wasp, and the 200th broadcast story of Doctor Who, Midnight. The finale episodes The Stolen Earth and Journey's End also took the revived series to new heights of popularity, scoring the highest viewership ratings since the Tom Baker era and according to the media both episodes scored Appreciation Index ratings unprecedented for an ongoing scripted drama series.
In terms of production, the season marked the first production of a "Companion-lite" episode, Midnight (as opposed to the usual "Doctor-lite" episodes), although a Doctor-lite episode, Turn Left was also produced. This was necessitated by the need to film several episodes at the same time, including an unprecedented 15th episode, The Next Doctor, which would air as the 2008 Christmas special.
As with the preceding three seasons, Series 4 incorporated several ongoing story arcs or background threads which were resolved in the finale episodes. In Series 4 these threads included: Donna Noble's evolution, Rose Tyler's attempts to return to her original world and the Doctor, the disappearance of bees from planet Earth, recurring references to planets and moons disappearing, and the coming of "The Darkness".
Series 4 marked the last full season to be produced by Russell T Davies, Phil Collinson and Julie Gardner. Collinson left following Journey's End, and Davies and Gardner have announced they will depart following production of a series of specials planned for 2009 in lieu of a regular season. When the show resumes weekly broadcast in 2010, Steven Moffat will be its head writer and show-runner. It also marks the last full season featuring David Tennant as The Doctor as in October 2008 he announced his intention to leave the role following the production of the 2009 specials; in January 2009 Matt Smith was announced as his successor.
Television stories
Episodes
Mini-episode
The Cast
Primary Cast
Secondary Cast
Guests
Novels
Two of the Series 4 Books
Audiobooks
Aliens and Enemies
Promotional trailers
As with previous seasons, trailers were created to promote the season, though this year they were shown in theatres as well as on television in the UK. Of particular note is the second trailer that was released, which utilized unique, specially shot footage of Donna sitting by a camp- or bonfire talking to either an unseen individual or the audience about the Doctor "coming back to save us" and "I'll be ready" interspersed with images of Sontarans, Ood and Daleks. There is no scene like this in any of the episodes; the meaning of "he'll come back to save us" is unknown as there is no circumstance within Series 4 in which Donna would be in such a position to make such a remark.
The other major trailers included another Donna-centric trailer utilizing a scene between Donna and Wilfred Mott from Partners in Crime, and a mid-season trailer focusing in part on the return of Rose Tyler in Turn Left.
External Links
BBC website page for series 4
Template:Series 4
