The Next Doctor (TV story)

	[[doctor::Tenth Doctor]]
	Cybermen
	Earth December 24 1851
	Russell T Davies
	Andy Goddard
	Susie Liggat
	Special
	December 25 2008
	1 60 minute special

The Next Doctor is the announced title of the 2008 Doctor Who Christmas episode. It is the first of five special episodes planned for 2008-09 prior to the launch of Series 5 in 2010.

Synopsis

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - David Tennant
• The Doctor - David Morrissey
• Miss Hartigan - Dervla Kirwan
• Rosita - Velile Tshabala
• Cybermen - Paul Kasey
• Cybermen voices - Nicholas Briggs

Production crew

to be added

References

to be added

Story notes

• The episode was filmed during production of Series 4, the first time a Christmas special has been rolled into production of the preceding series. This allowed the Series 4 finale, Journey's End to include a trailer for the episode.
• The Cybermen appear in the trailer, which included the onscreen caption Return of the Cybermen. That was confirmed as merely a tag-line rather than the title.
• This episode introduces the Cyberwraiths, which are believed to be mutated Cybermen, as seen in the teaser trailer at the end of Journey's End.
• Russell T Davies has guaranteed a twist ending so shocking that they might not show an early press screening, because they doubt that anyone will be able to keep it a secret.
• For Children in Need 2008, two minutes of this episode will be broadcast for the first time.

Ratings

to be added

Rumours

• Recurring press and fan rumours suggest that Tennant will regenerate in this story, despite producer Julie Gardner announcing that he is to appear in all the special episodes planned for 2009. Guest star David Morrissey is often referenced as being the next actor to play the Doctor, however as of September 2008 no information has been officially released regarding the nature of the character he plays beyond the fact that, for reasons yet to be revealed, he is referred to as The Doctor.
• The title of the story, The Next Doctor, was announced in late September 2008, and is expected to further fan the flames of speculation regarding the future of Tennant with the series. In Doctor Who Magazine No. 400 (October 2008), Tennant indicates that he is going to start filming the 2009 specials as of January 2009, suggesting he will continue in the role, which would make sense as the RSC production of Hamlet finishes around this time.
• The Sun newspaper in the UK has reported David Morrissey will be playing The Doctor in this episode with David Tennant taking the companion role.The BBC's official Doctor Who website, has confirmed that David Morrissey is playing a character that calls himself The Doctor.

Filming Locations

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

to be added

Continuity

to be added

DVD and Other releases

to be added

See also

to be added

External links

• BBC.co.uk - Step into the Tardis for Children in Need - Announcement of the title
• BBC.co.uk Doctor Who News - Who's In The Frame?