Rose sighting confirmed (short story)
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Rose sighting confirmed was the fourth short story exclusively published on the Who is Doctor Who? website on 10 April 2005[1] by the BBC webteam to coincide with the broadcast of The Unquiet Dead. This story took place after an unspecified time jump, as the previous story, The Doctor Was Involved in the Dummy Massacre, was set on 2 April 2005 in the aftermath of the Dummy Massacre, and this story is seemingly set just prior to the events of Aliens of London, which was set on 6 March 2006, due to this story introducing MP Joseph Green, who was later revealed to be Jocrassa Fel-Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen wearing his skin.
Plot
The Who is Doctor Who? website is updated, sometime after the previous entry, where the webmaster shares a rare old picture of Charles Dickens in Cardiff 1869: the astounding part? Rose Tyler and the Ninth Doctor are visible in the background. The webmaster is reassured that Rose is still out there, even if she is out of reach, although the police didn't believe the picture was real.
The webmaster continues to another subject, about a potential government conspiracy, where MP Joseph Green has had a recent weight gain, and he is aware of the existence of reason for it.
The webmaster moves onto a more personal situation he is facing, where he reveals that the police have closed their "net of suspicion" around him, as they had just taken him in for questioning again, despite his attempts to them evidence that he wasn't involved. The webmaster fears being arrested again, this time for good.
At the end of the first two topics, the webmaster asks if they had seen Rose and for their theories about Joseph Green.
Entries
Rose entries
The collection of entries is arranged in order, oldest first
| # | Character | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | dalek | dalek saw the Doctor and Rose in London saying something about chips the last year. |
| 2 | Sarah Jane Smith | Sarah Jane says that he always knew the Doctor would be back, revealing that she had seen "both of him" several times back in the late 70s, "the older guy, and then all teeth and curls". She adds that she misses him. |
| 3 | Luci Ernaga | Luci's grandmother has an old photo of her dog she had as a kid, playing near a park bench in Portugal. Luci points out that behind the dog you can see the feet of someone sitting on the bench, a girl wearing a tracksuit and trainers, which she asks if they had in the 1920s. |
| 4 | Natasha Richardson | Natasha saw the Doctor and Rose under the clock in Guildford, adding that she nearly failed to recognise the Doctor as he had changed his jumper. |
| 5 | Trevor | Trevor believes that the photo of Dickens is real, but that the "enhanced" images of Rose and the Doctor must be fake. Claiming that in the whole photo the two people are so blurry no computer could enhance them, Trevor maintains that it is a sham. |
| 6 | Davros | Davros orders that the Doctor be brought to him if he is found. |
| 7 | rewboss | rewboss believes that the photo obviously must be a fake, pointing out that "this "Doctor" character" is wearing clothes straight from the 21st century, and that portraits of this type were impossible in 1869; an exposure lasted one or two seconds in broad daylight. In any case, rewboss asks how can the same man appear in photos right up to the present day, which would make him about 150 years old. Ridiculing the notion that the Doctor is some kind of time traveller, rewboss sarcastically suggests that he has met HG Wells and Leonardo da Vinci, going on to suggest that Mickey would like to tie him in with the disappearance of Susan Foreman in 1963. |
| 8 | Tracey | Tracey comments that Rose looks like a "young lady" who had gone missing from her departmental store with her Lotto money, lamenting that they could have been millionaires by now. |
| 9 | Cara and Matt | Cara and Matt spotted the Doctor and Rose whilst on holiday in Margate last year, making the "very odd" observation that they appeared to be investigating a large, suspicious-looking sand castle. |
| 10 | Reginald Jones | Reginald reports that the Doctor is sitting in the other room. Reginald has stalled the Doctor "but for who knows how long", having offered him a spot of tea. Reginald thinks that the Doctor is disconnecting his antenna from his television at the moment, adding that there is no sign of "Rose" and that he is "afraid to ask". |
| 11 | timetunnel | timetunnel saw the Doctor and Rose hanging around the great tower of london, reporting that the Doctor was looking around and reiterating that Rose was with him. |
| 12 | Polly | Polly saw the Doctor in Eastbourne, where he told her that she would not be there for long. Polly adds that she now lives in Cardiff. |
| 13 | suresh kumar | Suresh saw the Doctor and Rose ordering a hamburger at Tasy Bite on Kingsley Road in Hounslow. |
| 14 | Brandon Lightloafer | Brandon saw the Doctor and Rose at the Goat pub in the town of Berkhamsted, muttering something about saving the town castle from being destroyed. |
| 15 | nu | nu reports a sighting at Dundee. |
| 16 | Alex of Dundee | Alex saw the Doctor at the railway station today, saying that the train had not been this late since the the bridge fell down. |
| 17 | Richard Kyanka | The Doctor asked Richard if he had stairs in his house. Richard answered that he did not and the Doctor told Richard that he was protected. Richard still has no idea what he meant. |
| 18 | Markusdragon | Markusdragon comments that either being a fat-cat capitalist is finally affecting the Deputy Prime Minister's arteries, or that he's an alien and has been getting fat from eating people |
| 19 | kayley | kayley reports a sighting at Bognor Regis Pier. |
Joseph Green entries
The collection of entries is arranged in order, oldest first
| # | Character | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Murray | Murray observes that Green has gotten rather large all of a sudden, adding that it's almost like he's got a whole other person inside him. |
| 2 | aderack | aderack, who has heard that Green has a lot of enemies, suggests that he could just be wearing a pile of kevlar vests under his suit. |
| 3 | bobs | bobs suggests that someone, "quite cleary", has been eating a lot of pies. |
| 4 | Another Canuck | Another Canuck quips that Green has put on so much weight recently because, like all politicians, he is full of hot air. |
| 5 | robs | robs suggests that someone, "quite clearly", has been eating a lot of pies. |
| 6 | Andy | Andy observes that, being an MP "and all", Green has the weight of England to run on his shoulders. |
| 7 | Muntjac Man | Muntjac Man reports that Green was spotted in Somerfield supermarket in Halstead on 14 April buying 100 cans of insect repellent spray. |
| 8 | Chaz | Chaz writes "Rice Pudding for everyone". |
| 9 | icytrue | icytrue quips that Green's weight gain is down to inflation. |
| 10 | semp | semp attributes Green's weight gain to too much junk food and suggests he eat apples. |
| 11 | Glynn | Glynn agrees that it's just mean to attack Green for his weight problem, especially when his recent speechs have been so "unfocused". Glynn quotes "Our nation has nothing to fear at this time except... except the Big... Bad Wolf.", asking what that was about. |
| 12 | Charles | Charles observes that Mickey is going "all X-files just because an MP gained some weight. Asking where the mysterious Doctor fits into all of this, he facetiously suggests that he is Green's new dietician. Charles points out that Green is not the only one at Westminster gaining weight, suggesting that all of them are probably just getting some American burgers or something. |
| 13 | Concerned | Concerned asks that people be nice, suggesting that Green probably has some type of health condition. |
| 14 | JKDart | JKDart suggests, with a groan, that Green is just going in for being a political heavyweight. |
| 15 | Bert Digby | Bert is convinced that Green's weight gain is just a result of the usual luxuries at Westminster and that's nothing to get hot and bothered about. |
| 16 | Steve Kelley | Steve asks that Mickey includes details of the sighting of Green. Recalling that Green did look somewhat ill at a press conference that was broadcast last week, Steve observes that he kept adjusting his very ill-fitted suit, and taking drinks of water. At the time Steve only assumed that he was nervous for some reason, but believes that he did seem somewhat peculiar now that Mickey mentions it. Steve says that he will scan some news sites for more, and asks what he call the site owner now that Clive is gone. |
| 17 | key c | key c says that Green is a rare politician in that he's got guts. |
| 18 | Lorinda | Lorinda addresses the site, saying that these people are always trying to stir up trouble. It is obvious that it is just a strange camera angle, in the same way that all of the other conspiracy theories from Who is Doctor Who? are clearly forged. Lorinda does not believe that "this Rose girl" ever existed. |
| 19 | Hopeless | Hopeless thinks that the Doctor is merely a smokescreen to distract from the truth, though what that is is anyone's guess. |
| 20 | Jamie | Jamie thinks that there is no Doctor and the US government is using Green's condition as a distraction from their goal of global domination in an attempt to publicise mental health. |
| 21 | Harri | Harri believes in the Doctor but does not think that Green is fat because of him. |
| 12 | Government Offical | Government Offical orders Who is Doctor Who? to cease, insisting that "THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT CORRUPT. DO NOT CONTINUE. This is your first warning." |
| 13 | Graham | Green told Graham that it's glandular. Graham asks what's up with people, don't they believe their local MPs any more. |
| 14 | Dave Pashby | Dave says that Green is just another fat cat. |
| 15 | Dorothy | Dorothy suggests that there's a lot of Spirits in Green's body, all over 40 proof. |
| 16 | Access | Access says that he has no idea who Green is and that it's just mean ":P". |
| 17 | Michael H. | """This breakfast is Atkins, apart from that bread, that bagel, those beans, those Weetabixes, that toast, that marmalade..." |
| 18 | Phil Arnold | Phil says that it has to be aliens. |
| 19 | Dr P Ware | Dr P Ware says that it is "noting sinister", just wind. |
| 20 | Nu Wong | Nu Wong says that Green is feeding off the Prime Minister's lifeforce. |
| 21 | Mr Deacy | Mr Deacy says that Who is Doctor Who? are all conspiracy loonies and really should get out more and grow up, that Mr Green is doing a very good job indeed and could well do without this kind of nonsense. He says that they'll be saying next that he is really an alien. |
| 22 | Ben Swithen | Ben from Yorkshire says there they were recently warned of a worldwide banana shortage due to "unseasonal weather conditions". He suggests that the government have been warned and are stocking their stomachs up while food still lasts. He adds that people have a right to know. |
| 23 | Craig O. | Craig suggests that Green ate his nearest rival in the polls. |
| 24 | a friend | a friend suggests that it may not be just Green's spirit in his body. |
| 25 | Laurence | Laurence claims to have x-rayed Mr Green a while back and discovered that he had a parasite growing within him, which Laurence believes must be related to the Doctor. Saying that he must be quick, Laurence knows that by submitting this information the government will make him disappear, but that he has nothing to live for since the dummies killed his family. |
| 26 | PDT | PDT has a friend whose brother's fiancee works for the canteen at Westminster, reporting that Mr Green was the one who ate all the pies. |
| 27 | Andy Fawcettt | With a lol, Andy says that he thought it was obvious that all the MPs are full of hot air as there is an election coming up. |
Characters
(In order of appearance, oldest first)
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more to be added
Referenced only
to be added
Worldbuilding
- The webmaster believes the police need to open their eyes to the facts, that there is more going on than they realise.
- The photograph of Dickens was sent in by Dorothy Stokes of Llandaff House.
- The webmaster questions if the government is truly composed entirely of fat cats, and thinks it is time for a change.
- The webmaster has been told there is a reason for Joseph Green's weight gain, and that it wasn't because he was pregnant.
- In the webmaster's editorial, he mentions it is the support and belief in him from his readers that has kept him going, as it reassures him that he isn't alone.
- This is a small disclaimer about the photographs on the site not necessarily being in the webmaster's copyright, although no infringement is intended.
- There is a small icon for Campaign for Real Aliens and the "website of the month" distinction from Conspiracy GOLD.
Notes
- The photograph of Charles Dickins, with the Doctor and Rose in the background, makes no sense chronologically. The building in the background is Taliesin Lodge, which the Doctor and Rose entered in the beginning of The Unquiet Dead, to see Dickens's recitation of A Christmas Carol; therefore, he could not have been outside to have his picture taken as seen in this short story. The photograph could not have been taken later, either, as after the trio defeated the Gelth and left Sneed and Company, they did so in a group, and they would've been walking in the opposite direction.
- This story is presumably set between January and March 2006, given it leads into the events of Aliens of London, however nothing is directly said; Aliens of London mentions that the London UFO crash was a diversion to draw the government's attention away from a satellite detecting a signal coming from the North Sea on 3 March, however it is unclear about for how long the Slitheen were on Earth for before activating this signal. Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia posits that the Slitheen were on Earth "some months" before the London UFO crash, thus aligning with this story being set sometime in early 2006 and the next story Alien landing confirmed — set during Aliens of London — having Mickey mention "it feels like ages since I last posted."
- As with the previous story, this page of the website had links to seemingly clips of the Dummy Massacre, likely recycled footage from Rose, but the Web Archive wasn't able to archive the individual pages that hosted the footage properly, given the way the BBC set up the website, so the footage is lost media.
- This story, given that it is set just prior to Aliens of London, is set around February or early March 2006; however, the person who submitted the entry about Muntjac Man, as someone with no insight to the then-unaired details about Aliens of London, evidently didn't know about the one year time jump, so mentioned that Joseph Green visited a supermarket in Halstead on 14 April, however this can just easily be explained in-universe as Joseph Green visiting this supermarket prior to the Slitheen family's arrival on Earth.
- robs's and bobs's entries are likely an accidental duplication of the same submission.
Continuity
- This story is a sequel to The Unquiet Dead.
- This story is not only set before Aliens of London, but released before too, meaning that this story is the debut of Joseph Green, or more accurately Jocrassa Fel-Fotch Passameer-Day Slitheen, although this wouldn't be revealed until Aliens of London.
- The previous story, The Doctor Was Involved in the Dummy Massacre, included a user submission that mentioned that there existed a photograph from 1869 of Rose, a seeming coincidence with this story.
- This idea was also used in the short story Mickey's Blog, although that account is incompatible with this story despite the similarities.
- Rose and the Doctor were talking about chips in London in 2005. (TV: The End of the World)
- A reader by the name of Davros wishes to meet the Doctor. (TV: Genesis of the Daleks, Remembrance of the Daleks)
- An entry by rewboss was previously present in Have You Seen This Man?.
Gallery
A picture of Charles Dickens with a familiar duo in the background.
A computer-enhanced version.
Another enhanced version.
An image of Joseph Green.
Another image of Joseph Green.
External links
Footnotes
Notes
- ↑ While not revealed in this story, this character is later revealed to be Mickey Smith.
Sources
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