Series 5 (Doctor Who 2005)

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The logo for Series 5.

Series 5, also known as Season 31 for clarity over Season 5, will begin in Spring 2010. Following the 2009 Specials, there will be a full 13-episode season to be broadcast; filming began in July 2009.

In the spring of 2008, it was announced that Steven Moffat, who has written Hugo Award-winning or nominated scripts for the revived series in each of its first four seasons and whose association with Doctor Who dates back to his writing of the Comic Relief parody The Curse of Fatal Death in the early 1990s, will succeed Russell T Davies as head writer and producer of the series.[1] Davies has announced he will officially retire from involvement with the series after the 2009 specials are completed and at present has no plans to retain any direct connection to the series once Moffat's tenure begins. [2] However, Davies has announced that he plans to remain involved with production of Torchwood for the foreseeable future, and hopes to see further crossovers with Doctor Who, indicating he may not completely sever his ties with the parent show.[3]

According to Issue 410 of Doctor Who Magazine, the BBC intends to begin the numbering of seasons over again to reflect the change of production team; thus, as far as the BBC is concerned, the 2010 season will not be known as Series 5, but rather, once again, Series 1.[4] What this may mean for marketing and availability of the 2005 to 2008 seasons (particularly the previous "Series 1" starring Christopher Eccleston) remains to be seen. A December 2009 announcement by the BBC regarding the show filming in Croatia also refers to the upcoming season as Series 1.[5]

Also departing at the end of 2009 is co-executive producer Julie Gardner. She will be replaced by Piers Wenger. Beth Willis replaces Phil Collinson as the third executive producer.

During his acceptance speech for the award for Best Drama Performance at the National Television Awards on 29 October 2008, David Tennant announced that he would not return for the 5th series. On 3 January 2009, during a special episode of Doctor Who Confidential entitled "The Eleventh Doctor", the BBC announced that Matt Smith would be playing the Eleventh Doctor.[6]

File:Mattsmithcostume.jpg
The Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith.

Cast

Primary Cast

Secondary Cast

Confirmed Guest Stars

Notes

  • Karen Gillan's nine year old cousin Caitlin Blackwood will play an unknown role in the fifth series [12]. Her role will feature in the first episode of the new series [13].
  • Mike Skinner of The Streets fame updated his Twitter account stating the he had landed a role in the fifth series. It is not known of this is a simple rumour or if he has indeed landed a role [14]

Aliens and Enemies

Steven Moffat announced in the January 2010 addition of the Doctor Who Magazine that there would be no "classic monsters" returning, apparently not counting the Daleks (which are, in fact, returning, as can be seen in the trailer although the context of the Dalek's appearance in the trailer is as yet unknown). However, he did list several new species of monsters that are set to debut in the new series:

Production

Writers

Aside from Steven Moffat, who is writing six episodes of the season (Episodes 1, 2, 4, 5, 12 and 13): all other writers have been confirmed for Series 5 in DWM 417:

Notes
  • After Moffat was announced as new show-runner, speculation began to appear in the media about possible writers for Series 5. The most frequently published rumor was that Moffat had discussed the matter with noted fantasy author and graphic novelist Neil Gaiman. However, the list of writers confirmed by Doctor Who Magazine shows that Gaiman will not be writing an episode this series.

Filming

  • The BBC has confirmed that at least one episode will be filmed in Croatia.[7]
  • It was confirmed in DWM that this series will be known as series 1 from a production standpoint; it is unknown what it will be publicly known as, though it will likely be series 5 in order to avoid confusion with the fairly recent series 1. In DWM 417, Moffat says as far as he's concerned the season should be known as either Season 1 or Season 31.
  • A number of websites have reported a rumor that the BBC is considering splitting Series 5 into two halves, the first half to air in the spring of 2010, and the second half to air later in the year.[8]
  • According to the online resume of one of the show's crewpeople, part of one episode has been filmed in Croatia.[9]
  • Soon after production began on Series 5, images of the new cast on location began to appear in the British media, revealing the Eleventh Doctor's costume, and apparent exterior changes to the TARDIS (most notably the reinstatement of a St. John Ambulance logo which once adorned the TARDIS during the First Doctor era. The media also revealed in July 2009 that Alex Kingston will again portray River Song. It was later said that she will appear in two episodes. [10] It was announced in DWM #417 that she'll appear in episodes four and five
  • As of January 2009, five out of the series' seven filming blocks have been completed.
  • Adam Smith will direct one of the episodes block, Ashley Way will direct Chris Chibnall's two episodes (8 & 9)[11] and Jonny Campbell will direct one episode (episode 10) [12].

Episodes

  • Episode 1: Title TBA - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Adam Smith
  • Episode 2: Title TBA - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Andrew Gunn
  • Episode 3: Title TBA - Writer Mark Gatiss and Directed by Andrew Gunn
  • Episode 4: Title TBA (Part 1 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Adam Smith
  • Episode 5: Title TBA (Part 2 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Adam Smith
  • Episode 6: Vampires in Venice - Writer Toby Whithouse and Directed by Jonny Campbell [15]
  • Episode 7: Title TBA - Writer Simon Nye
  • Episode 8: Title TBA (Part 1 of 2) - Writer Chris Chibnall and Directed by Ashley Way
  • Episode 9: Title TBA (Part 2 of 2) - Writer Chris Chibnall and Directed by Ashley Way
  • Episode 10: Vincent and the Doctor - Writer Richard Curtis and Directed by Jonny Campbell [16]
  • Episode 11: Title TBA - Writer Gareth Roberts
  • Episode 12: Title TBA (Part 1 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Euros Lyn
  • Episode 13: Title TBA (Part 2 of 2) - Writer Steven Moffat and Directed by Euros Lyn

Notes

  • Rumoured titles for the series are: The Eleventh Hour for episode 1, The Dalek Project for episode 3, Time of Angels and Flesh and Stone for episodes 4 and 5 and Cold Blood for episode 9.
  • The opening episode seen filming, features Matt Smith in the Tenth Doctor's battered attire, with his sonic screwdriver and TARDIS. It is thought to deal with his post-regeneration trauma. The episode is set in the fictional location of Leadworth, and features Amy Pond in a police officers uniform.
  • Another episode penned by Mark Gatiss is set in World War II, and it is reported to feature Winston Churchill using the Daleks to fight off the Nazis. Although no official confirmation has been released to prove this storyline to be accurate, all available information at this point (the inclusion of the Daleks in a World War II environment in the trailer, as well as Mark Gatiss' involvement) would lead to believe this is correct. [13]
  • Alex Kingston was seen filming early on in production, and is confirmed to feature in two episodes. It is thought she will reprise her role as the mysterious Professor River Song.
  • One episode will feature Vincent van Gogh stabbing a yellow monster.
  • Another episode that has been filmed in Croatia is thought to feature Vampires. [14]
  • According to Steven Moffat, the Weeping Angels are to return. [15]
  • It was confirmed in the preview trailer on the BBC Doctor Who website that the Daleks will return, as well as vampires and Reptilian creatures.
  • In an interview in Doctor Who Magazine 417, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan talk about the "Scary" monster in episode one describing it as a "Face Tendril" and being used as a tennis ball on a stick in scenes, expressing them having to act scared with nothing scary there. This could mean the monster in episode one is computer generated.
  • No details regarding possible storylines have been revealed, although given the events of Series 4 there is widespread speculation about the possible return of Jenny (a character Moffat is known to have prevented from being killed off).
  • At the 2008 San Diego Comic Con, Moffat claimed that he had only started writing the season on the plane en route to the convention[16].

Broadcast dates

As of 18 January 2010 the BBC has not announced a date for first broadcast of Series 5. Given prior precedent dating back to 2005, it is assumed that no such announcement will be made until a few weeks prior to broadcast. However, as BBC Books has announced that it will be publishing the first three BBC New Series Adventures novels featuring the Eleventh Doctor in April, and the last Tenth Doctor novel (the Quick Reads novella Code of the Krillitanes) in March, a potential window of late March-early April emerges.

Series Changes

  • On 6th October 2009, the BBC unveiled a new series logo which will be launched with Series 5.
  • British tabloid media have reported rumours that Moffat plans a "radical redesign" of the TARDIS interior, both to mark the new era and also because of the show's switch to high-definition production.[17]

Rumours

  • Richard Curtis has stated that Series 5 (Series 1) will be broadcast in February but it has since been revealed that the series will be broadcast in spring 2010. 2010.[18]
  • In DWM Issue 397, Steven Moffat wrote the "Production Notes" feature. This consisted mainly of an anecdote about how he became the head writer but he also touched upon his plans for Series 5. In particular he wrote "Piers Wenger and I are hard at work on Series 5. I can tell you nothing of our plans (except, obviously, THEY'RE BACK!)". Some have interpreted "they" to refer to the Time Lords, who had been "killed off" as a race during the Davies era. However, others have interpreted this as simply referring to the Daleks, who have become notorious for returning at least once a series since the revival. In a radio interview on 15th December 2009, Steven Moffat confirmed the return of the Weeping Angel; whether these are the species in question that are back is unknown.
    • It could well mean Time Lords as they were brought back in The End of Time. Yet killed off near the end so it may just be referring to the Daleks return.
  • The speculation as to whether "They're back" refers to the Time Lords may intensify with the announcement in September 2009 of a Blue Peter contest in which entrants are being asked to design "a TARDIS console" to be used within the series, which could be interpreted as referring to a TARDIS other than the Doctor's.[19] At the time of the contest's launch in early October, however, the contest description suggested that the console should look like "something the Doctor put together" suggesting a different storyline possibility.[20]
  • Murray Gold confirmed in an interview that he would be staying on for Series 5, and that he would be composing a new theme.[21] He also revealed that Gareth Roberts and Mark Gatiss would be writing for Series 5.

Unconfirmed Rumours

  • It is unknown who will play the main villain for episode 12 and 13. Fans have speculated the villain could be mostly the Black Guardian or the Rani if Steven Moffat was lieing about no classic villains returning. Others have speculated The Monk, Omega and the original Cybermen. People have speculated these things for five years, and Steven Moffat has made clear that he currently has no intensions of bringing classic villaints back.
  • It is unknown if Jenny will return despite Moffat saving her from The Doctor's Daughter
  • Rumours have been spreading that Romana will come back possibly played by Catherine Tate or Gillian Anderson Highly unlikely due to Catherine Tate playing Donna Noble and Gillian Anderson widely rumoured to play the Rani over the years. Donna was also rumoured to be Romana herself, but this turned out to be untrue.

Novels 

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Official website's bulletin about Steven Moffat's accession
  2. ↑ BBC News Q&A session with RTD. 4 July 2008.
  3. ↑ Den of Geek: Torchwood Series 4 'Ready to Go', accessed 26th July 2009.
  4. ↑ "New Companion Confirmed!", Doctor Who Magazine #410 (22nd July 2009), p.5
  5. ↑ "Series One in Croatia", The Doctor Who News Page, 1 December 2009
  6. ↑ BBC: New Doctor actor is youngest ever
  7. ↑ "Series One in Croatia", The Doctor Who News Page, 1 December 2009
  8. ↑ SciFiPulse.net: Will the Beeb Split Season 5 of Doctor Who in Two?, 7 June 2009, accessed 2 August 2009.
  9. ↑ John Bennett CV (PDF file)
  10. ↑ Alex Kingston returns to 'Doctor Who'
  11. ↑ [1]
  12. ↑ [2]
  13. ↑ [3]
  14. ↑ [4]
  15. ↑ [5]
  16. ↑ Zap2It.com: Funny business for 'Doctor Who' and 'Torchwood' at Comic-Con
  17. ↑ Dr Who Tardis to get makeover
  18. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/s7/doctorwho/news/a181313/curtis-reveals-who-episode-details.html
  19. ↑ BBC Press Announcement
  20. ↑ Doctor Who News Page: More Details of Blue Peter Contest
  21. ↑ Music from the Movies interview with Murray Gold

External Links


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