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Shrek is an American animated comedy film series and multimedia franchise published by DreamWorks Animation.
- You may wish to consult
Shrek (disambiguation)for other, similarly-named pages.
Based on the 1990 children's book written and illustrated by William Steig, the series is set in a fairytale world in which classic characters from various stories exist, and follows the adventures of the titular character, a green ogre.
The original film was released in 2001, were it became a box office and cultural success, winning various accolades, and spawning an entire franchise consisting of three sequels and two spinoff films, as well as countless specials, video games, comics, theme park attractions, and a musical stage adaptation.
The Shrek franchise has a few notable connections to the Doctor Who universe, including a loose crossover, as well as in-universe references to the former from the latter, and a few shared cast and crew.
Crossover
As promotion for Shrek Forever After's British terrestrial television premiere on BBC One, Shrek himself appeared - albeit not visibly - in the Christmas ident It's Showtime, which also featured the Eleventh Doctor and the TARDIS. During the ident, Rob Brydon and Sarah Alexander, whilst overseeing preparations for Christmas at the BBC studio, go to see Shrek in his dressing room trailer on the studio lot. Alexander informs Brydon that Shrek has a cold, as the ogre sneezes, sending a projectile blob of green snot flying through his door that lands on a large painted portrait that is being carried past, after which he can be heard saying "Oh, sorry!"
Additionally, Shrek and Doctor Who were also represented together in Funko Pop! Blitz.
References to Shrek in the DWU
A poster for Shrek appears in the children's ward of St Helen's Hospital in the Torchwood episode Dead Man Walking.
Connections
Actors
John Cleese, who played Harrison Mandel in City of Death, voiced King Harold, the father of Princess Fiona, in Shrek 2, Shrek the Third, and Shrek Forever After.
Jennifer Saunders, who played a Silurian in her French and Saunders skit, The Silurian Disruption, voiced the Fairy Godmother, the main villain of Shrek 2.
Jonathan Ross, who played himself in The Doctor Drops In, and contributed to Behind the Sofa: Celebrity Memories of Doctor Who, voiced Doris the Ugly Stepsister in the UK release of Shrek 2. (Larry King originally voiced her in the US release)
Simon Cowell, who played himself in Looking for Pudsey also voiced himself in the Shrek 2 DVD short feature, Far Far Away Idol.
Olivia Colman, who played the mother whom Prisoner Zero took the form of in The Eleventh Hour, voiced Mama Bear in the spinoff film, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.
Shrek the Musical
A stage musical based on the first film, titled Shrek the Musical, opened in 2008 and has been performed in both the US and the UK.
In the 2011 West End production, Amanda Holden, who played herself in Dermot and the Doctor, played Fiona. Emilia Jones, who played Merry Gejelh in The Rings of Akhaten, also played a young Fiona.
Also in the West End production, Delroy Atkinson, a voice actor for Big Finish Productions, played the White Rabbit, and also served as an understudy for the role of Donkey.
In the 2014 UK tour, Ger Carey, who played Greg in the Torchwood episode, Meat, played Lord Farquaad. Neil McDermott, who played Jed in The Next Doctor, served as Carey's understudy.
Literature
The fortnightly magazine, Shrek's Quests, was published by GE Fabbri Ltd, who also published Doctor Who: Battles in Time
William Potter, the writer of the Short Trips: Christmas Around the World short story, Conscription, was a writer for the aforementioned magazine. This connection was referenced in Potter's entry of the anthology's "About the Authors" section, which refers to him as "putting words into the mouths of", among others, Shrek.
Stephen Cole, who wrote To the Slaughter, wrote DK Publications' Shrek: The Essential Guide, which was also referenced in the novel's writer biography.
Television broadcasts
The Shrek movies have all had their terrestrial television premieres on BBC One over the years, often on Christmas Day alongside the broadcasts of Doctor Who Christmas Specials.
After its initial premiere the previous Christmas Eve, a reshowing of the original Shrek made up a part of BBC One's Christmas Day schedule for 2005, alongside the premiere of Doctor Who's first yearly Christmas special, The Christmas Invasion.
The second film, Shrek 2, premiered on Christmas Day 2007, the same day as Voyage of the Damned was broadcast. Shrek's made-for-TV Christmas special, Shrek the Halls, also had it British premiere on the channel the previous day.
The third film, Shrek the Third, was broadcast on Christmas Day 2010, alongside A Christmas Carol.
The fourth film, Shrek Forever After, which It's Showtime promoted, was broadcast alongside The Snowmen on Christmas Day 2012. As part of the aforementioned It's Showtime campaign, one of the various continuity trails that preceded programmes featured Shrek dancing in front of the ident's red curtain. The animation of Shrek in question is actually lifted from Shrek the Third. Archival audio of Shrek's voice actor, Mike Myers, can be heard during the segment.
The first Puss in Boots film premiered on Christmas Day 2014 with the broadcast of Last Christmas.
Miscellaneous
The first Puss in Boots movie was the subject of an advertisement feature in issue 247 of Doctor Who Adventures, appearing on the Geronimo! pages.
Shrek was planned for the third year of franchises in LEGO Dimensions, which itself had Doctor Who material present at launch. This was ultimately cancelled, along with the rest of year 3.