The Shakespeare Code (TV story)

The Shakespeare Code was the second episode of the third series of the revived Doctor Who. It was broadcast on the 7th of April 2007.

The Shakespeare Code
Doctor:	[[doctor::Tenth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Martha Jones
Main enemy:	Carrionites
Main setting:	1599
Key crew
Writer:	Gareth Roberts
Director:	Charles Palmer
Producer:	Susie Liggat
Release details
Release number:	184
Premiere broadcast:	7th April 2007
Format:	1 45-minute Episode
Production code:	184

Synopsis

to be added

Plot

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Cast

• The Doctor — David Tennant
• Martha Jones — Freema Agyeman
• William Shakespeare — Dean Lennox Kelly
• Lilith - Christina Cole
• Wiggins - Sam Marks
• Doomfinger - Amanda Lawrence
• Bloodtide - Linda Clarke
• Dick - Jalaal Hartley
• Kempe - David Westhead
• Dolly Bailey - Andree Bernard
• Lynley - Chris Larkin
• Jailer - Stephen Marcus
• Peter Streete - Matt King
• Preacher - Robert Demeger
• Queen Elizabeth - Angela Pleasence

Crew

to be added

References

• Lilith mentions the Eternals.
• The Doctor mentions the Sycorax.
• Psychic paper doesn't work on Shakespeare.

Culture

• There are numerous Harry Potter mentions and references; "Expelliarmus", as well as "Wait till you read the seventh book, I cried."
• The Doctor uses Back to the Future to explain time travel to Martha.

Story Notes

• The title appears to be a play on The Da Vinci Code, which is also a story based around a well-known figure of the Renaissance.

• This will be the second appearance of a famous writer in the newer series (the first being Charles Dickens in the episode The Unquiet Dead)

Ratings

• 7.22 million viewers - BARB final ratings
• 6.8 million viewers - Overnight ratings
• 1.039 million viewers - BBC3 Repeat ratings

Myths

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Location Filming

• Scenes for this episode were filmed in Coventry, Warwick and at the recreated Globe Theatre in London.

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

• Love's Labour's Won was already being featured on lists of Shakespeare's plays in 1598, the year before this story's setting.

Continuity

• Shakespeare has previously appeared: as a young boy in The Time of the Daleks, as an older man (who hitches a ride aboard the TARDIS) The Kingmaker and The Empire of Glass.

• The Doctor does his mind reading thing previous seen in; The Girl in the Fireplace and Fear Her.

DVD Releases

• Released alongside Smith and Jones and Gridlock.

See Also

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External Links

• Official BBC Website - Episode Guide: The Shakespeare Code