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The Next Doctor is the announced[1] 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, and will mark the beginning of the final set of episodes to feature David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, as well as producers Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner.
The opening pre-credits sequence of the episode was broadcast as a teaser during the 2008 Children in Need appeal in November 2008.
Synopsis
It's Christmas Eve in 1851 and Cybermen stalk the snow of Victorian London. The Doctor arrives and starts to investigate a spate of mysterious deaths. He's surprised to meet another Doctor . The 'other' Doctor has his own sonic screwdriver and Tardis... and his own companion, Rosita. But how is this even possible?
Soon the three must combine forces to defeat the ruthless Miss Hartigan. But are two Doctors enough to stop the rise of the CyberKing? Predictably, confusion reigns for the Time Lords. Apparently, the CyberKing is waiting to claim his throne and is using an army of Cybershades to do it. They seem to be working for the devious and dastardly Miss Hartigan. But what exactly is her plan? And who are all those mysterious-looking funeral director types?
Could the missing children be the secret to the Cybershades' existence? And can the new companions be trusted? Is the 'other' Doctor really who he claims to be? It's bound to get competitive with two Doctors in town, but the Doctors will have to work together to defeat this enemy. And they'll no doubt need some help. The Doctor must work with himself to get to the bottom of what's going on.
The 'other' Doctor seems a bit out of shape, but Miss Hartigan isn't an enemy to be underestimated. She's gathered a large number of Cybermen, Cybershades, and creepy looking funeral directors who have interesting, blue glowing, earpieces. Can the Doctor save the day and can he save his new friends? At the end of it all when the Cloister Bell sounds the Doctors have an appointment to keep...
Plot
On 15 November 2008, the BBC's Children in Need Appeal broadcast the pre-credits teaser sequence for this episode. The following is a description of that teaser:
The Doctor steps happily out of the TARDIS. He has recovered from the events of his latest adventure, and is surprised to find himself in London on Christmas Eve 1851.
As people mill and sing carols, The Doctor is suprised to hear a voice, screaming loudly for him. He begins to run only to find Rosita, a young, black woman down an alleyway screaming, a door stands in front of her, she continues to scream for the Doctor, much to the bewilderment of the Doctor, as another man runs to meet her. The Doctor asks the man who he is.
He replies: "I'm the Doctor. Simply the Doctor. The one. The only. And the best" Then he takes a regular screwdriver from the woman Rosita, calling it the Sonic Screwdriver and opens the door. A Cybershade pops out. Rosita stares as the two Doctors raise two sonic screwdrivers, look at each other, and simultaneously say: "Allons-y!", much to the Doctor's frantic irritation.
Cast
- The Doctor - David Tennant
- The Other Doctor - David Morrissey[2]
- Miss Hartigan - Dervla Kirwan
- Rosita - Velile Tshabalala
- Cybershade - Ruari Mears
- Cyberleader - Paul Kasey
- Mr Scoones - Edmund Kente
- Mr Cole - Michael Bertinshaw
- Jed - Neil McDermott
- Vicar - Jason Morell
- Lad - Ashley Horne
- Frederick - Tom Langford
Production crew
to be added
References
[1] Click here to watch the first two minutes of this episode.
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 Cybershades, which are believed to be mutated Cybermen.
- 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.
- The pre-credits sequence of the special were broadcast as a special preview during the 2008 Children in Need Appeal in November 2008.
- On the new trailer on the BBC's website it shows the 'Cybershades' who have a rusty Cyber head and a yeti like body. It also shows that Miss Hartigan knows the Cybermen.
- In the Children in Need preview David Morrissey had a regular screwdriver as opposed to the sonic screwdriver.
- The DVD release of Series 4 included an alternate ending for Journey's End that would have had a cliffhanger involving the Cybermen suddenly appearing inside the TARDIS. This idea was dropped before broadcast and the opening scene of this episode gives no indication of the Doctor being in peril.
- From what information has been released, this is the only Christmas Special so far in the series not to be set in the modern day.
- In an interview with Russell T Davies he has confirmed that Morrissey's Doctor is not a conman.
- Russell T Davies recently revealed to the Radio Times: "the Doctor finds himself staring at that inevitable day when his tenth incarnation must die..."
- Russell T Davies also gave the Radio Times a few hints about what's in store next year. We know that, for his first 2009 adventure, the Doctor will be left without the TARDIS. Russell also hinted that "dark forces are gathering. The Gate is waiting, and life will never be the same again."
- A trailer that premiered on 15th December portrayed the Tenth Doctor using a stethoscope, presumably on the Other Doctor. There was also a brief shot of the two Doctors embracing, rumours have thus circulated that the Other Doctor may be another time lord who is an old friend of the Doctor, furthered by the evidence of fob-watches.
- David Morrissey's Doctor has a TARDIS (Confirmed by press reports from the Press Launch)
- All 9 previous Doctors all make fleeting cameos (Confirmed by RTD on BBC Radio 5)
- In an interview on the Paul O'Grady show, 19th December, Dervla Kirwan stated that the Cybermen are working with Miss Hartigan, because she has something they want.
- The Title of the first 2009 special will be revealed during the credits of this episode.
Ratings
to be added
Rumours
- 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. During his acceptence speech for "Best Drama Performance" at the National Television Awards on 29/10/08, he announced that he would not return for Series 5. However it has been confirmed that he will appear in the four specials that will follow The Next Doctor.
- Mrs Hartigan is the Rani
- Prior to the official announcement, numerous "false alarm" titles for the episode were circulated among fans, the most common being Return of the Cybermen given this was the on-screen text seen during the Journey's End preview. However, in Doctor Who Magazine, Russell T Davies said:
"One thing I would like to point out is that the title is NOT 'The Return of the Cybermen'. Even though those were the words that appeared in the big, silver letters at the end of Journey's End, that was more of tagline than a title." Other speculative titles were circulated after Davies announced that the title of the special would consist of three words. One mistaken title was Ghosts in the Machines.
- The Sun[3] 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[4].
- The idea of a Pete's world Doctor seems to have been debunked as in the most recent issue of Doctor Who Magazine RTD explicitly said that Morrisey was playing a future incarnation of THE Doctor (I.E the one from "our" world) not a parallel world version or a con man claiming to be the Doctor (Like the one who appeared in the Big Finish audios) so would suggest that he maybe an alternate version the Doctor. The BBC website has the 'Fear Factor' which specifically states the Doctor recalls the night he regenerated (8th to 9th?), suggesting that it may have been less than straight forward, perhaps as a result of Time War and the eighth Doctor's involvement in it.
- Additionally a clip used by the BBC news shows both Doctors fighting Cybermen on a staircase, while the Doctor is trying to convince the Other Doctor that they are one and the same person suggesting that there is a alternative timeline which has been crossed.
- On the Doctor who website, there is a advent game that you can play to reveal a picture of The Next Doctor One of these is of The Other Doctor, and he has a fob-watch that could belong to The Master. Unlikely as the Doctor was seen to have a fob watch of his own in Human Nature/The Family of Blood.
Filming Locations
to be added
Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
Continuity
- This is the first time the Cybus Industries Cybermen have returned in the new series since DW: Doomsday, when the Cybermen were sucked into the void.
DVD and Other releases
The DVD will be released on the 19 January 2009. Will have the highlighted bonus features.
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?