The Next Doctor (27 Jun. 2009)

The Doctor arrives in London on Christmas Eve in 1851 where he encounters the Cybermen and a man who claims he's a Time Lord called the Doctor.

Director:

Andy Goddard

Writers:

Russell T. Davies, Kit Pedler (characters: Cybermen),

Stars:

David Tennant, David Morrissey, Dervla Kirwan

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
David Tennant	...	Doctor Who
David Morrissey	...	Jackson Lake
Dervla Kirwan	...	Miss Hartigan
Velile Tshabalala	...	Rosita
Ruari Mears	...	Cybershade
Paul Kasey	...	Cyberleader
Edmund Kente	...	Mr Scoones
Michael Bertenshaw	...	Mr Cole
Jason Morell	...	Vicar
Neil McDermott	...	Jed
Ashley Horne	...	Lad
Tom Langford	...	Frederic
Jordan Southwell	...	Urchin
Matthew Allick	...	Docker
Nicholas Briggs	...	Cyber Voices (voice)

Storyline

The Doctor is in a seasonal mood when he arrives in London on Christmas Eve 1851. There are snowflakes in the air, carol singers in the market square and a generally festive air all around. When a woman in distress calls for him to help her, he arrives to find someone else answering her call and calling himself the doctor. The alternate Doctor seems to know more than he should, dresses like the real Doctor and even has a Tardis - though in his version, it's actually a hot air balloon. While The Doctor sorts out just who this impostor is and why they find themselves in the same time and place, Mercy Hartigan and the Cybermen are kidnapping children to work in building their weapon that will allow them to crown their King.

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | red dress | memory loss | cyberman | meeting future self | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Sci-Fi

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Details

Release Date:

27 June 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Wales

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min

Did You Know?

Trivia

The episode played on public expectations, as David Tennant's successor to The Doctor was soon to be announced. This was heightened by the fact that David Morrissey had apparently been in talks to play the Eleventh Doctor.

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Goofs

As the TARDIS (balloon) is ready to take off the assistant starts releasing the tether ropes. Despite being buoyant, the last tether tied to the post is still hanging loosely.

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Quotes

[Rosita is calling out for the Doctor]
The Doctor: It's alright, it's me, I'm here!
Rosita: [Looking at him] There can't be two of you!

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Crazy Credits

Credit at the end of "The Next Doctor": "Doctor Who will return in Planet of the Dead"

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Connections

Featured in Doctor Who Confidential: Episode #4.14 (2008)

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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

David Morrissey Astoundingly Good!

The Next Doctor as a whole was "okay". The script was very dull. The saving grace was David Morrissey playing the said 'Next Doctor'. His performance was astoundingly good - really exceptional - he gave it all he had; but definitely wasn't OTT (like his counterpart). Mr Morrissey exhibited a quality well above this production, and it blew me away. I shall certainly be looking out for him in future. The stand-out factor of the show was the giant robot at the end rising from the Thames and stomping on Olde Worlde London; it really did look fantastic and the CGI dept did a very fine job indeed. The big aspect of the show that genuinely upset me was their use of a REAL graveyard to shoot a Cyberman group attack scene; it was covered with paper snow and the actors were running/falling all over the graves, which for me personally isn't acceptable for any production. The graveyard could easily have been constructed in a studio, thus negating this most disrespectful behaviour. Overall, not a bad show; however it was just the talent of David Morrissey and the giant robot that saved it, otherwise it would have been totally forgettable.