Season 1 (Doctor Who 2023)
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Season 1 is a series of Doctor Who produced by BBC in collaboration with Sony's Bad Wolf and Disney Branded Television for streaming on Disney+.
The season re-introduced the Christmas Special which was broadcast on 25 December 2023, with the full season premiering at midnight 11 May 2024, which was 10 May in some parts of the world. As a first, this season opened with two episodes broadcast back-to-back.[1]
Due to showrunner Russell T Davies announcing in Doctor Who Magazine #585 that the series would consist of only eight episodes plus a special, this series would have an identical number of episodes to the previous Series 13, which also consisted of a reduced episode count.[2]
Overview
Early announcements
In May 2017, it was announced that due to the terms of a deal between BBC Worldwide and SMG Pictures in China, the company had right of first refusal on the purchase for the Chinese market of past and future series of the programme, as well as spin-offs.[3][4]
In October 2019, it was revealed that due to the show heading to HBO Max, the network had struck a deal for additional series of the programme.[5]
On 29 July 2021, following the announcement of Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall's departure, the BBC noted, "We will announce plans for the new generation of Doctor Who in due course – watch this space!"[6]
It was announced in a big reveal by the BBC on 24 September 2021 that Russell T Davies would make his return in the 60th anniversary in 2023 and remain as head writer in "series beyond".[7][8] Like the preceding series 13[9], the series was announced as happening before the previous series had even begun broadcasting.
Promotion
- Main article: /Promotion
2022
Ncuti Gatwa was announced to have been cast as the new Doctor on 8 May 2022.[10]
On 23 October, The Power of the Doctor, Jodie Whittaker's finale as the Thirteenth Doctor, aired, featuring the Doctor's surprise regeneration into David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor at the end. Afterwards, it was announced that Gatwa's incarnation was in fact the Fifteenth Doctor.[11][12]
On 25 October, it was announced that the BBC had struck a deal with Disney Branded Television for Doctor Who to stream on Disney+ from the 60th Anniversary Specials, coming in November 2023, onwards. A new diamond-shaped logo was also unveiled.[13][14][15]
On 18 November, Millie Gibson was announced as new companion Ruby Sunday on Children in Need.[16]
On 8 December, Davies revealed in Doctor Who Magazine issue 585 that the season would consist of 8 episodes and a special.[2]
On 17 December, the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby's first costumes were unveiled.[17]
2023
On 9 January 2023, Jemma Redgrave was announced to be returning as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart alongside Aneurin Barnard as new character Roger ap Gwilliam.[18]
On 24 April, it was announced that former composer Murray Gold was returning to the show to score the 60th anniversary specials and beyond.[19]
On 5 May, Jonathan Groff was announced to have joined the cast.[20]
On 24 May, Indira Varma was announced as a villain called "the Duchess".[21]
On 7 June, it was announced that Bonnie Langford would reprise her role as former companion Melanie Bush.[22]
On 15 June, Lenny Rush was announced to have been cast as Morris.[23]
On 30 November, the Christmas Special was unveiled as The Church on Ruby Road, along with the casting of Michelle Greenidge as Carla Sunday, Angela Wynter as Cherry Sunday, and Anita Dobson as Mrs. Flood.[24]
The first trailer for the season accompanied the broadcast of The Church on Ruby Road on 25 December.[25]
2024
On 15 March, it was announced the season would be premiering 11 May with the first two episodes.[1]
On 19 March, it was announced that former showrunner Steven Moffat had returned to write an episode for the season. This came after Moffat had repeatedly denied rumours of his return.[26]
A second trailer was released on 22 March.[27]
The titles of the season's eight episodes were announced on 31 March on official social media channels,[28][29] accompanied by a new trailer.[30]
Broadcast
Release schedule
It was announced on 15 March that the season would be premiering on 11 May 2024 with the first two episodes at midnight British time on iPlayer and globally on Disney+, with the episodes later airing on primetime on BBC One. The remaining episodes would be released one at a time.[1]
Premiere events
A special blue carpet premiere for the new era was held near the London Eye on 12 December 2023 with a special screening of the Christmas Special, The Church on Ruby Road [+]Loading...["The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)"], held at the BFI Southbank cinema.
At the blue carpet a pult with a button on it was put up, which Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson pressed, activating a light show of blue, gold and purple on the Ferris wheel itself.
Attendees included, but was not limited to: Gatwa and Gibson themselves, Michelle Greenidge, Angela Wynter, Anita Dobson, Radio One presenter Yinka Bokinni, showrunner Russell T Davies, producers Phil Collinson and Joel Collins.[31][32]
A special blue carpet premiere was held on 25 April 2024, beginning with "The Routemaster", a big red double-decker bus, touring famed London locations, such as Royal Albert Hall, Westminster Bridge, the London Eye, Big Ben and more, picking up fans before landing at Regent Street Cinema to promote the new Season One, showing a special screening of double-bank season-opener Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"] and The Devil's Chord [+]Loading...["The Devil's Chord (TV story)"]. A Q&A was also held with Radio 1 presenter Nadia Jae.
Attendees included, but was not limited to: Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Anita Dobson, Michelle Greenidge, Sir Brian May, Russell T Davies, Steven Moffat, Christel Dee, Callie Cooke, Nicholas Briggs, Steffan Powell, Jemma Redgrave and more.
At the event, a jukebox was present as well as the TARDIS and posters on the walls. Food and popcorn was served at the event.[33]
In an interview with Radio Times, Gatwa revealed that he would "be around for a while".[34]
On 1 May, a special screening was held in the Chapter Arts Centre on Market Road in Canton, Cardiff. The first episode, Space Babies, was shown, followed by a Q&A panel with Joel Collins, Pam Downe, Phil Sims and Vicki Delow hosted by Steffan Powell.[35]
A special blue carpet event was held on 8 May 2024 at NeueHouse Hollywood in Los Angeles to promote the new Season One, showing a special screening of the second episode, The Devil's Chord.
Attendees included, but was not limited to; actors Ncuti Gatwa and Millie Gibson, producers Russell T Davies, Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner, Phil Collinson and more, Disney Branded Television President Ayo Davis as well as several Hollywood stars and influencers, such as; Teala Dunn, Dan Povenmire, Jules Aurora, Taya Miller, Sasha Anne, Ian Boggs, Ashley Nicole, Hilly and Hannah Hindi, Felicia Day, Victor Garibay, Kelsi Davies, Kari Byron, Ian Alexander, Alex Borstein, Rick and Becky Riordan and many more.
Just by the location itself, a bus was parked, which had been decorated with a Season One poster and a TARDIS entrance. NeueHouse Hollywood was decorated with a long blue carpet with a pink wall with Doctor Who logos and the front-piece of the TARDIS exterior, where attendees could take photos. There was also a costume department, showing off the character outfits from the two opening episodes and an afterparty area with a DJ stage. Attendees were served popcorn in TARDIS buckets and were able to order cocktails for themselves. The TARDIS in the time vortex was projected onto the side of the building.[36][37][38][39]
On 25 May a special screening was held at MCM London Comic Con in London. The fourth episode, 73 Yards, was shown, followed by a Q&A with Joel Collins, Dylan Holmes Williams, Pam Downe and Jemma Redgrave, hosted by Nadia Jae.[40][41][42]
Cast
Recurring
- Carla Sunday - Michelle Greenidge
- Cherry Sunday - Angela Wynter
- Mrs Flood - Anita Dobson
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart - Jemma Redgrave
- Melanie Bush - Bonnie Langford[22]
- Rose Noble - Yasmin Finney[43]
Guest
- Baby Ruby Sunday - TBA (uncredited)
- Ruby Sunday's mother - TBA (uncredited)
- Vicar - TBA (uncredited)
- Ruby Sunday's friend - TBA (uncredited)
- Davina McCall - Herself
- Denzel - Bobby Bradley
- Trudy - Mary Malone
- Woman, Gina Scalzi (uncredited)[44], Tea Lady, Ambulance, Hiker, Penny Pepper-Bean, The Portrait - Susan Twist[45][46]
- Woman with Pram - Belinda Owusu
- Policeman - Barney Wilkinson
- Abdul - Hemi Yeroham
- Lulubelle - TBA (uncredited)
- Ruth Lyons - Gemma Arrowsmith
- Goblin 1 - Rachelle Beinart
- Goblin 2 - Jess Judge
- Goblin 3 - Dilu Miah
- Goblin 4 - Giuseppe Lentini
- Goblin 5 - Andrew Francis
- Goblin 6 - Lukas DiSparrow
- Voice of Janis Goblin - Christina Rotondo (not credited in main "Cast" list)
- Jocelyn Sancerre - Golda Rosheuvel
- Eric - Mason McCumskey
- Voice of Eric - Sami Amber
- Poppy - Sienna-Robyn Mavanga-Phipps
- Voice of Poppy - Shola Ojitan-Ajiboye
- Voice of Sandra - Cadence Williams
- Voice of Marcel - Param Patel
- Voice of Adjani - Lonnee Archibong
- Rico Trieste - Jesus Reyes Ortiz
- Lucia Colasanto - Yasmine Bouabid
- Bogeyman - Robert Strange
- Maestro - Jinkx Monsoon
- Timothy Drake - Jeremy Limb
- Henry - Kit Rakusen
- Tea Trolley Lady - Sherinne Kayra Anderson
- George Martin - Ed White
- Paul McCartney - George Caple
- John Lennon - Chris Mason
- George Harrison - Philip Davies
- Ringo Starr - James Hoyles
- Studio Producer - Chan Shoker
- Cilla Black - Josie Sedgwick-Davies
- Vinnie - Simon Jason-Smith
- Elderly Woman - Laura June Hudson
- Himself - Murray Gold
- Herself - Shirley Ballas
- Himself - Johannes Radebe
- Dancers - Adam Tench, Adina Nyahwa, Alex Sturman, Anja Scot, Anna Head, Aristide Lyons, Celina Tomas, Christopher Jeffers, Ciro Meulens, Ediz Ibrahim, Elena Smith, Ellie Marsh, Ellis Trohear, Emily Rutter, Franky Attard, Fraser Leigh Green, Gareth Viader-Lloyd, Jack William Parry, Jenny Wickham, Katie Webb, Kyle Evans, Lana Williams, Myron Birch, Natasha Fenn, Nicholas Tredrea, Olivia Byard, Olivia Ferrari, Oliver Wheeler, Pia Driver, Roselynn Mbwembwe, Sean Moon, Shay Daniels, Sheehan Parsons, Stan West, Stephanie Wright, Wallace Cheverall, Zi Hong Mok
- John Francis Vater - Joe Anderson
- Carson - Majid Mehdizadeh-Valoujerdy
- Splice Alison Vater - Caoilinn Springall
- Mundy Flynn - Varada Sethu
- Canterbury James Olliphant - Bhav Joshi
- The Woman - Hilary Hobson
- Lowri Palin - Maxine Evans
- Enid Meadows - Siân Phillips
- Joshua Steele - Sion Pritchard
- Ifor Jones - Gwïon Morris Jones
- Thin Lucy - Elan Davies
- Eddie Jones - Glyn Pritchard
- Frank Hinchey - Graham Butler
- Sanjay Miah - Ali Ariale
- Rufus Bray - Albey Brookes
- Roger ap Gwilliam - Aneurin Barnard
- Craig Deloach - Miles Yekinni
- Amol Rajan - Himself
- Marti Bridges - Sophie Ablett
- Akhim Patil - Shane David-Joseph
- Groundsman - Jason May
- Security Officer - Dylan Baldwin
- Armed Policeman - David Constant
- Newsreader - Deeivya Meir
- Old Ruby - Amanda Walker
- Elizabeth Campbell - Rhyanna Alexander-Davis
- Nurse - Vee Vimolmal
- Lindy Pepper-Bean - Callie Cooke[45][47]
- Ricky September - Tom Rhys Harries[45]
- Cooper Mercy - Eilidh Loan[45][48]
- Harry Tendency - Aldous Ciokajlo Squire[45]
- Hoochy Pie - Niamh Lynch[45]
- Valerie Nook - Millie Kent[45]
- Blake Very Blue - Billy Brayshaw[45]
- Gothic Paul - Pete MacHale[45][48]
- Dr Pee - Max Boast[45]
- Rotterdam Twin 1 - Elloise Bennett[45]
- Rotterdam Twin 2 - Olivia Bennett[45]
- Weatherman Will - Jack Forsyth-Noble[45][49]
- Alan K Sullivan - Milo Callaghan[45]
- Suzie Pentecost - Ellie Grace Cashin[45]
- Brewster Cavendish - Jamie Barnard[45]
- Rogue - Jonathan Groff[20][46]
- Duchess of Pemberton - Indira Varma[21][46]
- Lord Barton - Paul Forman[46][50]
- Emily Beckett - Camilla Aiko[46][50]
- Lord Galpin - Maxim Ays[46]
- Housekeeper - Debra Baker[46]
- Butler - Ashley Campbell[46]
- Miss Talbot - Nancy Brabin-Platt[46]
- Mr Price - David Charles[46]
- "Finetime Head" - Lois Drage[51]
- Lady Emerson - Jennifer Castillo[52]
- Morris Gibbons - Lenny Rush[23][53]
- Opera Singer - Aubrey Parsons[54]
- TBA - Genesis Lynea[55][56][57]
- TBA - Milly Zero[27]
- Winston Chidozie - Tachia Newall[47]
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Production
On 2 November 2021, Bad Wolf had filed for a new subsidiary company run by Julie Gardner, called Whoniverse1 LTD.[58]
Crew
Producers
Russell T Davies made his "explosive return" to Doctor Who in the 60th anniversary and "series beyond".[7]
Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter also returned from the 60th specials as executive producers and were joined by Joel Collins.[59]
Returning from the 60th specials were also Vicki Delow, Chris May and Ellen Marsh.[59]
Phil Sims continued as the production designer and Scott Handcock as the script editor.[59]
Directors
Dylan Holmes Williams directed the first filming block[59] along with director of photography Sam Care,[60] which consisted of episodes 4 and 5.[28]
Mark Tonderai directed the second filming block along with DOP Miroslaw Baszak, which consisted of the Christmas Special. Gareth Tandy was first assistant director.[61]
Julie Anne Robinson directed the third filming block[61] along with DOP Tobias Datum,[62] consisting of episodes 1 and 3.[28]
Ben Chessell directed the fourth filming block[62] along with DOP Jamie Cairney,[63] which consisted of episodes 2 and 6.[28]
Jamie Donoughue directed the fifth filming block along with DOP Chas Bain, which consisted of episodes 7 and 8.[28]
Writers
Russell T Davies wrote the Christmas Special and episodes 1, 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8.[28]
Kate Herron and Briony Redman co-wrote episode 6.[28][64][65]
Steven Moffat wrote episode 3.[28]
Pre-production
On 12 August, The Hollywood Reporter stated that the series would begin filming in November.[66]
On 10 November it was revealed in Doctor Who Magazine #584 that pre-production on the series began on 26 September.[59]
Filming
Filming officially began on the series on 5 December 2022 in Wolf Studios in Cardiff, Wales[67] and continued on 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and ending on 12 December.[68]
Public filming then began and continued on 13, 14, 15 and 16 December at the White Cross Inn in Groeswen, Wales.[69][70]
Filming then went on to Cardiff Bay Barrage in Penarth, Wales, which went on until 17 December.[71]
On 3 January 2023, filming took place on Cardiff Queen Street and inside Capitol Shopping Centre in Cardiff, Wales.[72]
Filming moved on to Swansea University Bay Campus in Swansea, Wales on 4 January[73] where it continued on 5, 6 and 7 January.[69]
On 9 and 10 January filming took place at Newport Market, High Street and Victoria Place in Newport, Wales.[74]
Around mid-January, Millie Gibson's first scenes were filmed.[75]
Filming took to Cardiff City Stadium in Cardiff, Wales on 16 January.[76]
Filming went to Castle Arcade and its High Street in Cardiff, Wales on 17 January.[77]
On 18 January filming took place on moving train which left from Cardiff Central Railway Station in Central Square, Cardiff and travelled to Swansea Railway Station and back.[77]
Filming happened at Loudoun Square in Cardiff, Wales, both inside and outside the flats on 19 January.[78]
On 20 January filming travelled to Park Place, Bruton Place, Meridian Place and Frederick Place in Clifton, Bristol, England.[79][80][81][82][83][84]
On 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 January filming took place on the Coast Path at Giltar Point in Tenby, Pembrokeshire, Wales.[85][86][87][88][89]
On 1 February filming took place at Wolf Studios, Cardiff, Wales.[90]
On 7 February filming went back to Frederick Place in Bristol[91] and continued on 8 February and subsequently went to Kings Weston House, Bristol.[92]
On 9 February filming took place in the morning at the Golden Cross pub and later on moved to the Pryzm Nightclub, in Cardiff, Wales.[93]
Filming took place on 14, 15 and 16 February at the graveyard of the Church of St. Mary in Nash, Newport, Wales.[94]
On 21 February,[95] filming went back to Wolf Studios in Cardiff, Wales where it continued on 28 February,[96] 1,[97] 6,[98][99] 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25 March.[100][101][102][103]
On 20 and 21 April filming took place in Mellon Street in Newport, Wales.[104]
On 25 April filming went to Market Street in Newport, Wales.[105]
On 26 April filming took place at Frederick Place and Clifton College in Clifton, Bristol.[106]
On 8 May filming took place at The Parade in Cardiff, Wales.[107]
On 10, 11 and 12 May filming went to Tredegar House in Newport, Wales.[108][109]
On 15 May filming took place in Margam Park, Wales where it continued on 16, 17, 18, 19[110] and early morning 20 May.[111]
On 23, 24 and 25 May filming took place at Leigh Court in Bristol.[112][113][114][115]
On 30 and 31 May and 1, 2 June filming went back to The Parade in Cardiff, Wales.[116]
On 5, 6, 7 and 8 June filming went to the Sherman Theatre in Cardiff, Wales.[117]
Filming then took place on 9 June inside a building at One Central Square in Cardiff, Wales.[118]
Filming went to Fitzalan Road in Cardiff, Wales on 16 June.[119]
On 19 and 20 June, filming took place in Cardiff City Hall in Cardiff, Wales.[120][121]
On 25 and 26 June filming took place on Park Street in Cardiff, Wales.[122][123]
On 10 July filming took place near the Academy Espresso Bar in Barry, Wales.[124]
Lastly, filming went back to Wolf Studios, Wales on 14 July, wrapping up with a party at National Museum Cardiff on 15 July.[125]
Late pick-ups for the Christmas Special were filmed late in the evening on 18 September and continued into early morning 19 September around the intersection between St Marys Street and Wharton Street in Cardiff.[126]
More pickups were again filmed around the intersection between St Marys Street and Wharton Street in Cardiff late in the evening on 3 October until early morning on 4 October.[127]
Television stories
Christmas Special
| Episode Number |
Title | Writer | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | The Church on Ruby Road | Russell T Davies | Mark Tonderai | Return of Christmas Specials. Television debut of Ruby Sunday, Carla Sunday and Cherry Sunday. |
Regular series
| Episode Number |
Title | Writer | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Space Babies | Russell T Davies | Julie Anne Robinson | |
| 2 | The Devil's Chord | Ben Chessell | ||
| 3 | Boom | Steven Moffat | Julie Anne Robinson | |
| 4 | 73 Yards | Russell T Davies[28] | Dylan Holmes Williams[28] | |
| 5 | Dot and Bubble[128] | |||
| 6 | Rogue[129] | Kate Herron and Briony Redman[65] | Ben Chessell[28] | |
| 7 & 8 | The Legend of Ruby Sunday[130] / Empire of Death[131] | Russell T Davies[28] | Jamie Donoughue[28] |
Episode notes
- The Church on Ruby Road [+]Loading...["The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)"] marked the return of Christmas Specials, not seen since 2017 with Twice Upon a Time [+]Loading...["Twice Upon a Time (TV story)"].
- The official Doctor Who website has given three different designations for The Church on Ruby Road:
BBC vs Disney+ versions
There are slight differences between the version broadcast on BBC One and the one shown on Disney+:
- The Whoniverse ident was shown at the beginning of the episode on the BBC version. However, on the Disney+ version, the BBC ident was shown.
- The Disney ident was shown at the end of the episode on the Disney+ version.
- The Executive Producers' credits were shown after the title sequence in the BBC version, however, they were shown in the end credits in the Disney+ version.
- In the end board for the BBC version, the Bad Wolf logo was shown on the left and the BBC Studios Productions logo on the right. In the Disney+ version, they were switched.
- For The Church on Ruby Road [+]Loading...["The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)"], following the TARDIS reveal scene, in the BBC version the Cast credits appears, followed by the mid-credits scene and then the rest of the end credits roll. In the Disney+ version a new ident is shown after the TARDIS reveal scene which is then followed by the mid-credits scene and then the full end credits roll.
Aliens and enemies
- Goblins
- Bogeyman
- Maestro
- Harbinger
- Villengard algorithm / Villengard Corporation
- The Woman
- Roger ap Gwilliam
Rumours
- Billie Piper expressed a willingness to return as Rose Tyler at some point "if the circumstances and the story were right”.[135]
- According to The Mirror, the new era will get spin-offs focusing on villains such as the Daleks, Sontarans, Cybermen, Sea Devils and Weeping Angels, centering around what they get up to when the Doctor is not around.[136]
- Spin-offs happening was further supported by Katy Manning, who also hinted at "people returning".[137]
- Also according to The Sun, Ryan Gosling - co-star to Ncuti Gatwa in the 2023 $1 billion dollar-grossing hit film Barbie - could have been cast in the series.[138]
- Jonathan Groff could be a recast Captain Jack Harkness.[139]
Stories set during this season
Novels
Short stories
- First Day of the Doctor (Set sometime around The Church on Ruby Road [+]Loading...["The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)"])
Comics
- Mancopolis [+]Loading...["Mancopolis (comic story)"] (set sometime after The Church on Ruby Road [+]Loading...["The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)"] and Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"])[nb 1]
Webcasts
to be added
Reference books
- Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Universe (set sometime around The Church on Ruby Road [+]Loading...["The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)"])
Adaptations and merchandising
Novelisations
Footnotes
Notes
- ↑ The opening scene of Space Babies [+]Loading...["Space Babies (TV story)"] is a reprisal of the ending scene of The Church on Ruby Road [+]Loading...["The Church on Ruby Road (TV story)"], thus the comic cannot take place in-between.
