The Idiot's Lantern (TV story)

The Idiot's Lantern
Doctor:	[[doctor::Tenth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Rose Tyler
Main enemy:	The Wire
Main setting:	London; 1st June—2nd June 1953
Key crew
Writer:	Mark Gatiss
Director:	Euros Lyn
Producer:	Phil Collinson
Release details
Release number:	177
Premiere broadcast:	27th May 2006
Format:	1 45-minute Episode

"Are we sitting comfortably? Then will we begin"

Synopsis

In 1950s England, Tenth Doctor encounters an alien inteligence which travels along television broadcast airwaves.

Plot

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - David Tennant
• Rose Tyler - Billie Piper
• The Wire - Maureen Lipman
• Mr Magpie - Ron Cook
• Eddie - Jamie Foreman
• Rita - Debra Gillett
• Tommy - Rory Jennings
• Grandma Connolly - Margaret John
• Mrs Gallagher - Marie Lewis
• Bishop - Sam Cox
• Crabtree - Ieuan Rhys
• Betty - Jean Challis

Crew

to be added

References

• The Doctor quotes Kylie Minogue's song "Never Too Late."
• The Doctor and Rose try to arrive in 1956 to see Elvis Presley's performance on the Ed Sullivan Show in New York City, but arrive mistakenly in London, three years earlier.
• Torchwood is mentioned by the police officer (though the mention doesn't appear to be noticed by the Doctor).

Story Notes

to be added

Ratings

to be added

Myths

to be added

Location Filming

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

• How do the people survive without mouths/noses for air?

Continuity

• The portable TV turns up in an episode of Torchwood.
• Magpie Electronics apparently continues to exist. Martha Jones has a Magpie brand television in The Sound of Drums.

DVD Releases

• This was released on a vanilla DVD along side Rise of the Cybermen and The Age of Steel.
• It was also released as part of the Series 2 box set.

See Also

to be added

External Links

• The Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of The Idiot's Lantern
• The Whoniverse Discontinuity Guide to The Idiot's Lantern
• Outpost Gallifrey page