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| | : ''Series 4 redirects here. For the 1966-1967 season of the original series, see [[Season 4]].'' |
| {{pre-broadcast spoiler}}
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| [[Image:2007_S3_title_Logo.jpg|center|250px]] | | [[Image:2007_S3_title_Logo.jpg|center|250px]] |
| ==2009 Specials==
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| =====Overview=====
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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 so far aired at Easter 2009, followed by a second that aired in mid-Novembre 2009. The two remaining specials are expected to air around Christmas 2009. 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 star [[David Tennant]]. For the 2009 Specials, the Doctor will be traveling alone, each episode starring a one-off companion.
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| =====[[Eleventh Doctor | The Next Doctor]]=====
| | Series 4 of ''[[Doctor Who]]'' started on the [[5th April]] [[2008]]. It was preceded by two specials: ''[[Time Crash]]'' and ''[[Voyage of the Damned]]''. There is some dispute over whether these two productions are officially part of Series 4; [[Russell T. Davies]]' memoir, ''[[The Writer's Tale]]'', describes both as being part of the production of Series 4, however, and both have been included in the subsequent DVD box set; ''Time Crash ''has been considered non-canon by some, however. |
| David Tennant announced that after the 2009 specials he would leave ''Doctor Who''. Rumoured actors to replace Tennant were:
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| *[[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>
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| *[[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>
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| *[[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>
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| *[[Harry Lloyd]] <ref>[http://www.pr-inside.com/new-doctor-who-unveiled-r207167.htm NEWS NEW DOCTOR WHO UNVEILED!] <small> accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref>
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| *[[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/ Liverpool Echo - Liverpool actor David Morrissey could be next Doctor Who] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref> <ref>[http://www.kasterborous.com/news.asp?id=1795 Kasterborous - The Next Doctor?] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref>
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| *[[Paterson Joseph]]<ref>[http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2008/10/theres-yet-anot.html Wired.com - Joseph Joins List of Actors Who Would Be Who] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref><ref>[http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/23/anglophenia.jsp?bc_id=1249 BBC America: anglophenia - Pamela Anderson on Jordan: "I Have No Idea How She Became Famous"]<small> accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref><ref>[http://liveforfilm.blogspot.com/2008/10/next-dr-who-could-be.html Live for Films - The Next Dr Who could be...?] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref>.
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| *[[Bill Nighy]] has stated he would love to take over from Tennant once he leaves if the producers approach him <ref>[http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/nighy%20eyes%20doctor%20who%20role_1059948 Contactmusic.com - Bill Nighy - Nighy Eyes Doctor Who Role] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref>.
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| 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 has been revealed, by the director of the specials, [[Euros Lyn]], that the regenration will be at the end of the [[The End of Time (TV story) | last special]]
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| =====Notes=====
| | [[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]]. |
| 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.
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| ==Episodes==
| | 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]] as Mickey Smith and [[Camille Coduri]] as Jackie Tyler in ''[[Journey's End]]''. |
| =====Television Stories=====
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| *[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]] (11th April 2009)
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| *[[The Waters of Mars]] (15th November 2009)
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| *[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time, Part One]] (Christmas 2009<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/features/bulletins/bulletin_091119_01 Doctor Who - Title Revealed!], BBC, 19 November 2009</ref>)
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| *[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time, Part Two]] (Airdate TBA)
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| =====Others=====
| | 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. |
| *[[Dreamland (TV story)|Dreamland]] ''(Animated special)''
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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, ie. ''Love and Monsters ''and ''Blink''), 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. |
| The status of the 2008 Christmas special ''[[The Next Doctor]]'' is a matter of debate. Officially, it has been called the 14th episode of Series 4, however as noted below, the 4th series numbering also applies to the specials. Conversely, ''The Next Doctor'' was produced during the same production block as Series 4, and also was produced differently than the specials, which were shot in high definition. It remains to be seen if over time ''The Next Doctor'' becomes accepted as a 4th season episode, as one of the 2009 specials, or as a complete standalone.BBC Video has also announced that it will be included in the forthcoming Specials box set on DVD and Blu-Ray, placing it with the 2009 Specials; in the past, BBC Video's titling and programming has come to be considered definitive.
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| =====Mini-Episodes=====
| | 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", mainly represented by the attempts of the Daleks and Davros to wipe out all reality. |
| * In May 2009, a BBC talent competition series hosted by [[John Barrowman]] entitled ''Tonight's the Night'', ran a viewer contest; the grand prize being the opportunity to play an alien villain in a ''Doctor Who'' mini-episode written by [[Russell T. Davies]]. The resulting production was more of a skit, with [[David Tennant]] and Barrowman appearing out of character. Davies wrote in ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' that he intended to write a more canoncial story, but chose not to; he attributed the title ''[[Tonight's the Night]]'' to the mini-episode. It is not considered officially part of the 2009 specials, but it was filmed during production.
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| =====Notes=====
| | The status of the 2008 Christmas special ''[[The Next Doctor]]'' is also disputed. Although broadcast months after the conclusion of Series 4, it was produced at the same time, and like ''Voyage of the Damned'', Davies discusses it in context of being part of Series 4 in ''The Writer's Tale''. This would make Series 4 unique in having ''two'' Christmas specials. Another school of though holds that it is part of the [[2009 Specials]] gap season, due to the fact it isn't included in the Series 4 box set and there are significant production differences between it and the specials, namely it was not filmed in high definition. |
| [[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> | |
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| The title of the first special, ''Planet of the Dead'' was not made public until the closing credits of ''The Next Doctor''; the title of ''The Waters of Mars'' was released at the end of ''Planet of the Dead''. ''The End of Time'' was confirmed as the title of the final special during the 2009 Comic-Con Doctor Who panel; it wasn't confirmed as the title for ''both'' of the final specials until 19 November 2009. This is the first time since ''[[Survival]]'' in 1989 that a title has carried over between multiple episodes.
| | 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, with Karen Gilian appearing as his companion Amy Pond. |
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| | ==Television stories== |
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| | ===Episodes=== |
| | *[[Time Crash]] |
| | *[[Voyage of the Damned]] |
| | *[[Partners in Crime]] |
| | *[[The Fires of Pompeii]] |
| | *[[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]] |
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| | ===Mini-episode=== |
| | *[[Music of the Spheres]] |
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| ==Cast== | | ==Cast== |
| ===Primary Cast=== | | ===Primary Cast=== |
| =====[[The Doctor]]=====
| | *[[The Doctor]] - [[David Tennant]] |
| *[[Tenth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[David Tennant]] | | *[[Donna Noble]] - [[Catherine Tate]] |
| *[[Eleventh Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Matt Smith]] | |
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| =====Companions=====
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| *[[Christina de Souza|Lady Christina De Souza]] - [[Michelle Ryan]] (''Planet of the Dead'')
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| *[[Adelaide Brooke]] - [[Lindsay Duncan]] (''The Waters of Mars'')
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| *[[Wilfred Mott]] - [[Bernard Cribbins]] (''The End of Time'')
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| ===Secondary Cast=== | | ===Secondary Cast=== |
| =====[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]=====
| | *[[Martha Jones]] - [[Freema Agyeman]] |
| *[[Malcolm Taylor (Planet of the Dead)|Professor Malcolm Taylor]] - [[Lee Evans]]
| | *[[Rose Tyler]] - [[Billie Piper]] |
| *Captain [[Erisa Magambo]] - [[Norma Dumezweni]]
| | *[[Wilfred Mott]] - [[Bernard Cribbins]] |
| *[[Carmen (Planet of the Dead)|Carmen]] - [[Ellen Thomas]]
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| *[[Daniel Kaluuya]] - [[Barclay (Planet of the Dead) | Barclay]]
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| *[[David Ames]] - [[Nathan (Planet of the Dead) | Nathan]]
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| =====[[The Waters of Mars]]=====
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| *[[Ed Gold]] - [[Peter O'Brien]]
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| *[[Mia Bennett]] - [[Gemma Chan]]
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| *[[Yuri Kerenski]] - [[Aleksander Mikic]]
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| *[[Andy Stone (The Waters of Mars) | Andy Stone]] - [[Alan Ruscoe]]
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| *[[Tarak Ital]] - [[Chook Sibtain]]
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| =====[[The End of Time (TV story) | The End of Time]]=====
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| *[[Donna Noble]] - [[Catherine Tate]] | |
| *[[The Master]] - [[John Simm]] | |
| *[[Lucy Saxon]] - [[Alexandra Moen]] | |
| *[[Sylvia Noble]] - [[Jacqueline King]] | | *[[Sylvia Noble]] - [[Jacqueline King]] |
| *[[David Harewood]] - [[Joshua Naismith]]
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| ==Production== | | ===Guests=== |
| =====Filming=====
| | *[[Astrid Peth]] - [[Kylie Minogue]] |
| Filming of ''Planet of the Dead'' commenced in mid-January 2009 and concluded in February. Production of [[The Waters of Mars]] began late January 2009, and finished in mid February. Production of the final specials was completed by late spring 2009.
| | *[[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]] |
| | *[[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elisabeth Sladen]] |
| | *[[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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| =====Series Numbering===== | | ==Novels== |
| 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'.
| | [[Image:2_books.JPG|thumb|right|Two of the Series 4 Books]] |
| | *[[Ghosts of India]] |
| | *[[Shining Darkness]] |
| | *[[The Doctor Trap]] |
| | *[[Beautiful Chaos]] |
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| =====Writers===== | | ==Audiobooks== |
| [[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''. | | *[[Pest Control]] |
| | *[[The Forever Trap]] |
| | *[[The Nemonite Invasion]] |
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| ==Rumours, Myths and Announcements - For all Specials - Confirmed, Unconfirmed and also all those that ened up to be false. Announcements made by RTD and mebers of his crew. David Tennate also made announcemnts. BBC wordwide made some annoucemnts as well. Many fan speculations proved to be false.== | | == Aliens and Enemies == |
| =====Confirmed=====
| | *[[Cofelia|Matron Cofelia]] |
| *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 7days - Time Lord to land in Dubai] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref> | | *[[Adipose]] |
| * 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. | | *[[Lucius Petrus Dextrus]] |
| *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.
| | *[[Pyrovile]] |
| *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. | | *[[Ood]] |
| * 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, or possibly the [[Sycorax]] as they were involved in an incident regarding a British expedition to Mars in ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]''.{{fact}} | | *[[Klineman Halpen]] |
| * Similarly, rumours abound that [[Bernard Cribbins]] is reprising the role of [[Wilfred Mott]], with guest star [[Jessica Hynes]] in one of the later specials, although claims that they have been seen "on set" on 21 March would appear to be unfounded given that production of Special 2 did not even begin until March 30. On 3rd April [[John Simm]] was seen on set, leading many to speculate that [[The Master]] will return.{{fact}} Recent images released on several websites indicate that Simm will return, (though they do not confirm that he is returning as the Master,) as well as showing Timothy Dalton wearing garb reminiscent of the Time Lords.<ref>http://io9.com/5291509/your-first-look-at-doctor-whos-next-big-guest-stars</ref> | | *[[Staal]] |
| *On 17th May 2009, the newspaper News of the World reported that [[Billie Piper]] would reprise her role as [[Rose Tyler]] for the 2009 Christmas Special, and that episode would be the last one to feature [[David Tennant]] as [[The Doctor]]. That episode will air on New Years Day when [[Matt Smith]]'s tenure as the [[Eleventh Doctor]] will begin. The article can be seen on the link. [http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/showbiz/310009/David-Tennant-amp-Billie-Piper-reunited-on-set-of-Doctor-Who-for-Xmas-Special.html] | | *[[Luke Rattigan]] |
| *Timothy Dalton will appear in the final two episodes. He is rumoured to be playing [[The Monk]], as he was seen on set in Time Lord costume. | | *[[Sontaran]]s |
| *[[David Tennant]] has revealed that the [[The End of Time (TV story)|final two specials]] will be set not just on [[Earth]]. The [[Ood Sphere]] has been confirmed as one of these settings as the [[Children in Need]] preview is set on the Ood Sphere. [[Gallifrey]] is rumoured to be one of the other settings in this story. {{fact}} | | *[[Cobb|General Cobb]] |
| | *[[Hath]] |
| | *[[Vespiform]] |
| | *[[Vashta Nerada]] |
| | *[[Node]] |
| | *[[Midnight Entity]] |
| | *[[Sky Silvestry]] |
| | *[[Time Beetle]] |
| | *[[Fortune Teller]] |
| | *[[Davros]] |
| | *[[Dalek]]s |
| | *[[Dalek Caan]] |
| | *[[Cyber-Leader (Pete's World)|Cyber-Leader]] |
| | *[[Cyberman (Pete's World)|Cybermen]] |
| | *[[Mercy Hartigan]] |
| | *[[Cybershade]] |
| | *[[Cyber-King]] |
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| =====Unconfirmed===== | | ==Promotional trailers== |
| *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.{{fact}}
| | 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. |
| *Rumours of past characters returning (though most of these remain new series character) have extended to the rumour that, just like the Fourth and Fifth Regenerations, characters influential in the Tenth Doctor's life will make brief cameo returns, including a rumour of the Fifth Doctor in the (reconstructed) old TARDIS console room set. {{fact}}(In some previous regenerations, previous characters have returned and, in many cases, said "Doctor", either in flashback or cameo)
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| *Fans have speculated and it may have been said by the script writers (evidence needed) that River Song will witness the regeneration of David Tennant into Matt Smith. {{fact}}
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| *Given [[the Master]]'s psychic ability, and the appearance of the low-intelligence [[Ood]], a storyline may be that the Master has control of them, and is using them against the Doctor. The News of the World article, in the rumour above, shows a picture of the Doctor stumbling with [[Ood Sigma]], with [[red-eye]] standing nearby staring at the Doctor.
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| *Claire Bloom has been reported by some media as appearing as The Doctor's Mother in the final special, with her manager cited as one source. Members of [[The Doctor|The Doctor's]] family will return/appear. <ref>http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/5240633/Claire-Bloom-to-star-as-mother-of-Doctor-Who.html</ref><ref>http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/05/15/glamorous-star-who-has-been-romanced-by-icons-of-hollywood-91466-23628017/</ref>. As of late November 2009, the BBC has not confirmed this officially.
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| =====Proved to be False=====
| | 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''. |
| *''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.
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| *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.''
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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.{{fact}}
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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.{{fact}}
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| *The Sun newspaper has also reported that one of the specials would be entitled "[[Beautiful Chaos]]" and Bernard Cribbins would guest star; meaning that the [[Mandragora Helix]] could return in an apparent adaption of the novel.{{fact}}
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| *Media reports in mid-April 2009 stated that Gillian Anderson had been cast in either one of the specials, or possibly in one of the early Matt Smith episodes of Series 5.{{fact}}
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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.
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| ==Broadcast Dates== | | ==External Links== |
| =====UK Broadcast=====
| | [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/ BBC website page for series 4] |
| * The BBC did not announce a broadcast date for [[Planet of the Dead]] until 1 April, leading to some erroneous reports that it would air on 12 April; it ended up being scheduled for 11 April.
| | {{seasons}} |
| * ''[[The Waters of Mars]]'' aired on Sunday 15th November.
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| * Russell T Davies has indicated that the remaining [[The End of Time (TV story) | two specials]] will not air until Christmas 2009, and maybe New Year [[2010]].
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| =====International Broadcasts=====
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| * The American cable network [[BBC America]] announced in June 2009 that it had obtained the rights to broadcast ''The Next Doctor'' and the 2009 specials.
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| * The Australian broadcaster [[ABC1]], has aired the first two specials, ''The Next Doctor'' early January, ''Planet of the Dead'' after Easter, and ''The Waters of Mars'' is set to be aired early December. It is unknown when ''The End of Time'' will be aired.
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| * In Canada, broadcast of ''The Next Doctor'' occurred on March 14 on the cable broadcaster [[Space (TV channel)|Space]], marking a change in network for ''Doctor Who'', which previously had been shown on the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]. Space subsequently announced plans to air ''Planet of the Dead'' on June 20, 2009, and the remaining specials and Series 5 are expected to air on Space in due course as well.
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| ==Trailers==
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| =====[[Planet of the Dead (TV story) | Planet of the Dead]]=====
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| *A trailer for the first special, [[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]] was shown on BBC 1 on Wednesday 1st of April 2009 at 9pm, just before ''The Apprentice''.
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| =====[[The Waters of Mars]]=====
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| *The first trailer for [[The Waters of Mars]] was shown after the credits of Planet of the Dead
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| *A second trailer for The Waters of Mars was released on the internet on July 28th 2009.
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| *A TV trailer for The Waters of Mars was broadcasted on BBC 1 on Wednesday 4th November 2009.
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| =====[[The End of Time (TV story) | The End of Time]]=====
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| *A trailer for the final two specials was premiered during the 2009 Comic-Con Doctor Who panel, confirming the title ''The End of Time''.
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| *A preview of The End of Time was shown at 2009 Children in Need.
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| ==DVD Releases==
| | {{Series 4}} |
| =====UK Releases=====
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| *''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'' was released in the UK BBC DVD and Blu-ray on the 29th June 2009.
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| * It has been announced that ''The Waters of Mars'' and the finale two-parter are scheduled for release on DVD/Blu-Ray as one set on 11th January 2010.
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| =====International Releases=====
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| *''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'' was relased in North American release on 28th July.
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| * It has been announced that the four specials plus ''The Next Doctor'' will be released in North America on both DVD and Blu-Ray in a box set on 2nd February 2010.[http://gallifreynewsbase.blogspot.com/2009/10/waters-of-mars-american-airdates.html]
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| ==Footnotes==
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| {{reflist}}
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| {{seasons}}
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| {{2009 Specials}}
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| {{2009 Specials aliens}} | | {{series 4 aliens}} |
| [[Category:Doctor Who seasons]] | | [[Category:Doctor Who seasons]] |
