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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!] <small> accessed 8th April 2009</small></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/ 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> and [[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>. 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>. 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 the Doctor presumably regenerating in the second part.{{fact}}
| | 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. |
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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]] as Mickey Smith and [[Camille Coduri]] as Jackie Tyler 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".<ref name="scifipulse">[http://scifipulse.net/?p=6378 SciFiPulse.net - Producer Can’t Wait To Kill Tenth Doctor]<small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref> 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. In a subsequent BBC interview prior to broadcast of ''Planet of the Dead'', Davies stated the ''Waters of Mars'' special may air "November-ish", suggesting an earlier broadcast than indicated in ''SFX Magazine''; Davies' modified comment is supported by a statement by producer [[Julie Gardner]] in ''[[Doctor Who Confidential]]'' that ''Waters of Mars'' will air in the Autumn.
| | 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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| Although initially announced that the 2009 specials would constitute Tennant's final appearances as the Doctor, it was announced in May 2009 that he would also appear in two episodes of ''[[The Sarah Jane Adventures]]'', and also in an animated serial entitled ''[[Dreamland (TV story)|Dreamland]]''. It is not yet known whether ''Dreamland'' will be considered an addition to the specials, or a standalone similar to ''[[The Infinite Quest]]''.
| | 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. |
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| ==''[[The Next Doctor]]''==
| | 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. |
| 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) ("point-5" seasons - separated in production by months from the rest of the season - have been produced for other series, such as ''Battlestar Galactica''). According to Davies' interview with ''SFX Magazine''<ref name="scifipulse"/> 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==
| | 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. |
| ===Cast===
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| ====Primary Cast====
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| *[[David Tennant]] - [[The Tenth Doctor|The Doctor]]
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| *[[Michelle Ryan]] - [[Christina de Souza|Lady Christina De Souza]]
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| *[[Lindsay Duncan]] - [[Adelaide]]
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| *[[Bernard Cribbins]] - [[Wilfred Mott]]
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| ====Secondary Cast====
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| *[[Lee Evans]] - [[Malcolm Taylor (Planet of the Dead)|Professor Malcolm Taylor]]
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| *[[Norma Dumezweni]] - Captain [[Erisa Magambo]]
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| *[[Mia Bennett]] - [[Gemma Chan]]
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| *[[John Simm]] - [[The Master]]
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| ===Television stories===
| | 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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| *[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]] (11th April 2009)
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| *[[The Waters of Mars]] (November 2009)
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| *[[The End of Time (TV story)|Title TBA]] (First part of the 2009 Christmas Special)
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| *[[The End of Time (TV story)|The End of Time]] (Second part of the 2009 Christmas Special)
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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>
| | ==Television stories== |
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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 during the 2009 Comic-Con Doctor Who panel. | | ===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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| ===Casting=== | | ===Mini-episode=== |
| | *[[Music of the Spheres]] |
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| '''The End of Time'''
| | ==The Cast== |
| *[[Rose Tyler]] - [[Billie Piper]]
| | ===Primary Cast=== |
| *[[Captain Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]] | | *[[The Doctor]] - [[David Tennant]] |
| *[[Donna Noble]] - [[Catherine Tate]] | | *[[Donna Noble]] - [[Catherine Tate]] |
| *[[The Master]] - [[John Simm]]
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| *TBA - Claire Bloom
| | ===Secondary Cast=== |
| *[[Jackie Tyler]] - [[Camille Coduri]] | | *[[Martha Jones]] - [[Freema Agyeman]] |
| *TBA - Karl Collins
| | *[[Rose Tyler]] - [[Billie Piper]] |
| *[[Joshua Naismith]] - [[David Harewood]] | | *[[Jack Harkness]] - [[John Barrowman]] |
| *TBA - Barry Howard | |
| *Verity Newman - [[Jessica Hynes]]
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| *TBA - Sinead Keenan
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| *[[Sylvia Noble]] - [[Jacqueline King]]
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| *[[Luke Smith]] - [[Tommy Knight]]
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| *[[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elisabeth Sladen]] | | *[[Sarah Jane Smith]] - [[Elisabeth Sladen]] |
| *TBA - Russel Tovey
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| *Minne Hooper - June Whitfeld
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| *[[Eleventh Doctor]] - [[Matt Smith]] <ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/north_west/7964105.stm Dr Who producers in front of fans]</ref>
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| ===Production===
| | '''Guests''' |
| Filming of ''Planet of the Dead'' commenced in mid-January 2009 and concluded in February. Production of [[The Waters of Mars]] to began late January 2009, and finished in mid February.
| | *[[Astrid Peth]] - [[Kylie Minogue]] |
| | *[[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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| ===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]] |
| | *[[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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| ===Mini-episodes=== | | ==Audiobooks== |
| * 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. | | *[[Pest Control]] |
| * Also writing in DWM, Davies has hinted at the possibility another mini-episode featuring the Tenth Doctor may be produced before the end of 2009. Whether such a project is indeed undertaken remains unknown.
| | *[[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''. | | *[[Cofelia|Matron Cofelia]] |
| | *[[Adipose]] |
| | *[[Lucius Petrus Dextrus]] |
| | *[[Pyrovile]] |
| | *[[Ood]] |
| | *[[Klineman Halpen]] |
| | *[[Staal]] |
| | *[[Luke Rattigan]] |
| | *[[Sontaran]]s |
| | *[[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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| ===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.''
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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. <ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/audio/S0_05 BBC.co.uk: Doctor Who - The Next Doctor (audio commentary)] <small>accessed 12th April 2009</small></ref>
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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.{{fact}}
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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.{{fact}}
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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 7days - Time Lord to land in Dubai] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></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.{{fact}}
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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 The Sun.co.uk - It's Tate to be Back] <small>accessed 8th April 2009</small></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.<ref name="scifipulse"/>
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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, or possibly the [[Sycorax]] as they were involved in an incident regarding a British expedition to Mars in ''[[The Christmas Invasion]]''.{{fact}}
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| * In mid-March the tabloid ''The Sun'' reported rumours that [[Billie Piper]], [[Freema Agyeman]] and [[Catherine Tate]] are going to appear in the final special. This rumour has not been confirmed by any official source, and production of the finale isn't expected to begin for some months yet.{{fact}}
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| * 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>
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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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| *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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| *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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| *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]
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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 28th July, the BBC has not confirmed this officially.
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| *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.
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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''. |
| * 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.
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| * Russell T Davies has indicated that the remaining three specials will not air until near the end of 2009 and possibly into 2010.
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| ====International broadcasts==== | | ==External Links== |
| * 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. Previously the [[Sci Fi Channel]] had first broadcast rights for the series.
| | [http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/ BBC website page for series 4] |
| * 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. (Space also airs ''[[Torchwood]]'', another series it inherited from the CBC.)
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| ===Trailers===
| | {{Series 4}} |
| *According to BBC journalist Lizo Mzimba on Twitter, the first television trailer for the Planet of the Dead would air on BBC One on Wednesday 1st April at 9 pm, just prior to "The Apprentice".<ref>[http://twitter.com/lizo_mzimba/status/1417554635 Twitter / lizo mzimba] <small> accessed 8th April 2009</small></ref>
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| *A trailer for the second special aired after ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'' and revealed the title of the next special to be The Waters of Mars.
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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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| ==DVD releases==
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| * ''[[Planet of the Dead (TV story)|Planet of the Dead]]'' was be released on BBC DVD and Blu-ray on the 29th June 2009.
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| * As the remaining three specials are not expected to air until the end of 2009-early 2010, further DVD releases are not expected in Region 2 (UK) until early 2010.
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| * No DVD releases have as yet been announced for Region 1 (North America). It remains to be seen if the individual UK releases of ''The Next Doctor'' and ''Planet of the Dead'' will also be issued in Region 1 during 2009 or if BBC Video/2 Entertain will wait to release all the specials in one box set in 2010.
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| ==Footnotes==
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| {{reflist}}
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| {{seasons}} | | {{series 4 aliens}} |
| {{2009 Specials}}
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| {{2009 Specials aliens}}
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| [[Category:Doctor Who seasons]] | | [[Category:Doctor Who seasons]] |
