The Giggle (TV story)
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The Giggle will be the third and final of the three 2023 specials of Doctor Who, broadcast on 9 December 2023[1] as part of the 60th anniversary celebrations.
It will see the final onscreen adventure of the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna Noble, the return of the Toymaker portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris, and the first televised appearance of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor.
Synopsis
The giggle of a mysterious puppet is driving the human race insane. When the Doctor discovers the return of the terrifying Toymaker, he faces a fight he can never win.[2]
Plot
to be added
Cast
- The Doctor - David Tennant
- Donna Noble - Catherine Tate
- The Toymaker - Neil Patrick Harris
- Kate Lethbridge-Stewart - Jemma Redgrave
- Shirley Bingham - Ruth Madeley
- Melanie Bush - Bonnie Langford
- Rose Noble - Yasmin Finney
- Sylvia Noble - Jacqueline King[3]
- Shaun Temple - Karl Collins[3]
- John Logie Baird - John McKay[4]
- Charles Banerjee - Charlie De Melo[4]
- Colonel Ibrahim - Alexander Devrient[3]
- Trinity Wells - Lachele Carl[3]
- Voice of the Vlinx - Nicholas Briggs[3]
- Voice of Stooky Sue - Leigh Lothian[3]
- Voice of Wilf (archive recordings) - Bernard Cribbins
And introducing Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor
Uncredited cast
- First Doctor (archive footage) - William Hartnell
- The Toymaker (archive footage) - Michael Gough
Crew
to be added
Worldbuilding
to be added
Notes
- This story's upcoming debut was mentioned alongside the other 2023 specials in the non-fiction feature Back in Business published in Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 on 7 September 2023.
- Russell T Davies was inspired, when researching John Logie Baird during the production of Nolly, to write an episode around the puppet. He later realized that a two-foot tall puppet wouldn't be the most intimidating foe, so decided to use the Toymaker as the antagonist.[5]
- Bernard Cribbins was originally intended to appear in this episode as Wilfred Mott. However, his health prevented him from doing so, making the previous episode his final acting performance prior to his death. Wilfred still appears briefly in the episode, through use of a stand-in actor and archive audio.
Myths
to be added
Filming locations
- Clare Street, Bristol[6]
- Broad Street, Bristol[6]
Ratings
to be added
Production errors
to be added
Continuity
- Doctor Who The Official Annual 2024 contained several works of fiction which teased some of the characters in The Giggle:
- The short story First Day of the Doctor contained an obscured snippet of a page of the Fifteenth Doctor's diary about his first adventure with a girl called Ruby S.
- The spot-the-difference puzzle Double Danger depicted the Doctor asking an individual for help with the then-unnamed version of the Toymaker portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris.
Home media releases
DVD and Blu-ray releases
This episode, along with The Star Beast [+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"] and Wild Blue Yonder [+]Loading...["Wild Blue Yonder (TV story)"], was released on Region 2 DVD, and Region B Blu-ray and steelbook on 18 December 2023.[7]
UK 2 DVD cover
UK Blu-ray cover
UK steelbook cover
Gallery
to be added
Footnotes
Notes
Footnotes
- ↑ @bbcdoctorwho on twitter.com
- ↑ The Giggle: BBC Confirms Timeslot and Synopsis for Third Doctor Who Special on tvzoneuk.com
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-the-giggle-full-cast-list
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 DWM 597 - Gallifrey Guardian, Page 5
- ↑ DWM 598 - Preview of The Giggle, Page 17
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Doctor Who in Bristol on google.com/maps
- ↑ Doctor Who 60th Anniversary specials available to pre-order on Steelbook, DVD and Blu-ray on doctorwho.tv
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