The Lazarus Experiment (5 May 2007)

The famous Dr Lazarus has appeared to discover the secret of eternal youth - but do his experiments hide a sinister secret?

Director:

Richard Clark

Writer:

Stephen Greenhorn

Stars:

David Tennant, Freema Agyeman, Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Freema Agyeman	...	Martha Jones
Gugu Mbatha-Raw	...	Tish Jones
Reggie Yates	...	Leo Jones
Adjoa Andoh	...	Francine Jones
Mark Gatiss	...	Lazarus
Thelma Barlow	...	Lady Thaw
Lucy O'Connell	...	Olive Woman
Bertie Carvel	...	Mysterious Man

Storyline

A 76 year old scientist, Doctor Lazarus of LazLabs, has created a device to restore youthfulness. However, the process doesn't go as planned. The Doctor and Martha must stop Lazarus before its too late.

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Plot Keywords:

reference to james bond

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi

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Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 2007 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Wells Cathedral, Wells, Somerset, England, UK

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (50 episodes)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

When The Doctor mentions, "It shouldn't take that long to reverse the polarity. I must be out of practice", it is a reference to Jon Pertwee, who played the Third incarnation of The Doctor, whose very frequent solution to problems was to yell (and then do) "Reverse the Polarity!"

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Goofs

When The Doctor and Martha are in Martha's apartment for the second time, a boom mic is visible in front of the police box, just above the 'Public Call' wording.

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Quotes

[Lazarus emerges from the machine, now a much younger man than when he stepped in]
Professor Richard Lazarus: Ladies and gentlemen, I am Richard Lazarus. I am seventy-six years old. And I am reborn!

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Connections

References This Is Spinal Tap (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Doctor Who Theme"
(uncredited)
Written by Ron Grainer
Arranged by Murray Gold
Performed by BBC National Orchestra of Wales

User Reviews

Threadbare Plot But Engaging Enough

Malcolm Hulke was the greatest writer on the classic show in my opinion and it was he who said " when you've got the series stuck on Earth this only allows two plots: invasion from outer space or mad scientist " . Maybe that's why I've not been too keen on the rather Earth bound format of Nu-Who ? The BBC has pulled out all the stops with the visual effects in this resurrection but for some strange reason RTD thinks council housing estates and the like are somewhat exotic . What's wrong with visiting planets that don't look like a quarry in Surrey ?

With a title like The Lazarus Experiment you know exactly what you're going to get in advance - a mad scientist trying to change the laws of nature . And this is exactly what happens in a plot rather similar to THE FLY or THE QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT . Stephen Greenhorn's script is rather threadbare but he does write some dramatic dialogue between Lazarus and the Doctor and Mark Gatiss does give a very good performance as the doomed eponymous victim/villain . By no means a classic episode this is still fairly engaging stuff for casual viewers and die hard fans alike