School Reunion (TV story)

School Reunion
Doctor:	[[doctor::Tenth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Rose Tyler, Sarah Jane Smith, K-9
Main enemy:	Krillitanes
Main setting:	2006
Key crew
Writer:	Toby Whithouse
Director:	James Hawes
Producer:	Phil Collinson
Release details
Release number:	174
Premiere broadcast:	29th April 2006
Format:	1 45-minute Episode
Production code:	174

Summary

Sarah Jane Smith and K-9 join the Tenth Doctor, Rose and Mickey to investigate sinister events at a modern-day comprehensive school, and take on the evil Krillitanes, a race that takes traits from the races they destroy. (Click here for a more detailed summary)

Cast & Characters

• The Doctor - David Tennant
• Rose Tyler - Billie Piper
• Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen
• Mr Finch - Anthony Stewart Head
• K9 - John Leeson
• Mickey Smith - Noel Clarke
• Mr Wagner - Eugene Washington
• Kenny — Joe Pickley
• Melissa — Lucinda Dryzek
• Nina — Heather Cameron
• Luke — Benjamin Smith
• Milo — Clem Tibber

Crew

To be added.

Notes

• Mickey Smith becomes a companion of the Doctor at the end of the episode
• According to an interview with writer Toby Whithouse in Doctor Who Magazine #367, this episode had the working title Black Ops. The original storyline submission for the episode involved the Doctor meeting Sarah while investigating events at an army base neighbouring an isolated village. The change of location to a school was suggested by Russell T. Davies
• This is the first time that companions from the original series of Doctor Who appear in the new series
• The K-9 prop used in the episode is one of the original props from the 1970s. The fake innards of the prop have been redesigned to match the style of Gallifreyan technology introduced in the new series
• Anthony Stewart Head's character was originally announced as the "Headmaster". This led to fan speculation that the Doctor's old enemy the Master might be making a return. On 28th August 2005 the fan site Outpost Gallifrey reported that these rumours were false
• Anthony Stewart Head auditioned for the role of the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who television movie

Influences

• Davies' first ever T.V. script, Dark Seasons, was set in a school, and featured sinister teachers brainwashing children with computers
• The Demon Headmaster a series of books and a hit CBBC television series also features a Headteacher who takes control of a school in a similar manner

Location Filming

• The primary location for the school filming was Duffryn High School in Newport

Cultural References

• Happy slapping - A current fad sweeping Europe in which people are attacked in the street while the incident is filmed on a mobile device
• Hoodie - A type of clothing often associated with Chav's and criminals by the UK press
• ASBO - An order made against those who engage in anti social behaviour
• Ring tone - The noise made by a mobile phone to indicate that someone is calling. The choice of ring tones available has increased dramatically in the last few years
• The eat more chips poster is in part a reference to Jamie's School Dinners which had a large impact on government policy towards school dinners. This reference is confirmed on the schools own website on which Mr Finch states "We didn't need a TV Chef to tell us what to do in our canteen"

Story Arcs

Torchwood Arc

More Info

• Story Synopsis
• Story Statistics
• Story in the Media
• School Reunion TARDISODE
• Doctor Who Confidential:Friends Reunited
• Totally Doctor Who Episode 3

Public Releases

• According to Doctor Who Magazine #366, this episode will be released as a "vanilla" DVD along with Tooth and Claw and The Girl in the Fireplace.