The History of the Doctor (TV story)

The History of the Doctor
Doctor:	Eleventh Doctor
Companion(s):	Clara
Main setting:	The TARDIS
Key crew
Writer:	Gareth Roberts
Director:	Tom Cohen
Producer:	Tom Cohen
Release details
Number of parts:	2
Premiere broadcast:	18 November 2013
Premiere network:	BBC Three
Part of:	The Ultimate Guide
Format:	2x8 minute minisodes

The History of the Doctor was the name of the 2013 mini Doctor Who episode that sandwiched the documentary The Ultimate Guide. The title aimed to stay with the "of the Doctor" theme of the time during the 2013 specials.

This article covers the in-universe minisode that bookended the documentary, as only those scenes are valid. For the documentary the minisode was broadcast with see The Ultimate Guide.

Synopsis

The Doctor has lost his memory, will reading his diary help him regain them or well he forget forever?

Plot

Clara arrives, bags in hand, ready to go on a holiday to a sun destination, only to find a very confused Eleventh Doctor in the TARDIS. She soon discovers that the Doctor has somehow erased most of his memories due to fiddling with the TARDIS' telepathic circuits. To help him restore them, she pulls the Doctor's 1200 Year Diary out of a storage compartment and together, the two begin reminiscing about his lives.

Finally, the Doctor's memories are restored thanks to the book, which leaves him saddened as he says it was easier not remembering the people he'd lost over the years. Clara reassures him that he is a man who never runs from danger and has helped save billions of lives. Cheered up, the Doctor puts the TARDIS in flight as they resume their holiday.

Cast

• Eleventh Doctor - Matt Smith
• Clara Oswald - Jenna Coleman

Crew

• Writer - Steven Moffat
• Director - Tom Cohen
• Producer - Tom Cohen

Continuity

• The Doctor has a 1200 Year Diary. (TV: The Power of the Daleks)
• Clara reminds the Doctor that he never runs from danger. (TV: The Rings of Akhatan)
• The Doctor quotes one the Seventh Doctor's first few lines "Who am I, where am I and who are you?". (TV: Time and the Rani) when he sees Clara.

Story notes

• This minisode was broadcast with The Ultimate Guide.