If any programme looked certain to fail it had to be the return of 'Dr.Who' in 2005. Over the years, its very name had become a standing joke in comedians' acts i.e. "what's the show where the sets move more than the actors? Dr.Who!". Focus groups said the new show would flop. Even Russell T.Davies, its head writer and executive producer, appeared to have misgivings when interviewed by B.B.C. Wales just before the transmission of 'Rose'. It had another problem too - family entertainment was perceived to be a lost art form. With children playing computer games in their rooms, who would want to watch the Doctor's new adventures? As a letter writer to Teletext observed: "Kids aren't likely to be impressed by a disappearing police box when they can take photos with their mobile phones!".
With so much against it, the reaction to 'Rose' when finally transmitted was - despite its much-publicised leaking to the internet - nothing short of miraculous. Ten million people tuned in, reviews ( particularly Mark Lawson of 'The Guardian' ) were ecstatic, and a second season quickly commissioned. Happy days were indeed here again. Then a bombshell was dropped. Five days later, the press reported that Christopher Eccleston had quit the role of 'The Doctor'. Some papers treated the news like a major catastrophe. His reasons have never really become clear, although it seems most likely the actor was keen to avoid becoming typecast, particularly in a kids' sci-fi show. Whatever was behind his departure it threw a damper over fans' celebrations.
The second episode - The End Of The World' - is a quite different kettle of fish to its predecessor. The Doctor takes Rose into the far future, to a space station to witness the destruction of the Earth, the human race having long ago moved on. Also aboard are various exotic aliens such as Jabe ( Yasmin Bannerman ) who comes from a planet where the people are made of wood ( now we know where the cast of 'Neighbours' came from ), the Face of Boe ( a giant head in a jar ), the Moxx of Balhoun ( a Mekon-like creature with blue skin ), and, most bizarre of all, Cassandra ( voiced by Zoe Wanamaker ), the last human being, who has had so many face-lifts she now consists of a sheet of skin stretched across a vertical frame ( anticipating the possible derisive reaction of some viewers, Davies has the Doctor laughing his head off as one by one the creatures are introduced, while Rose stands rooted to the spot, looking shocked ).
Mechanical spiders are found scuttling about in the ventilation duct, deaths mount up, and the temperature aboard Platform 1 rises. The Doctor has to find a solution in the nick of time...
Like I said, a different type of story to 'Rose'. Less sprawling, more claustrophobic, reminiscent of old-style stories such as 'The Robots Of Death'. Wanamaker does a terrific job of voicing the evil 'Cassandra', while Piper's 'Rose' is mesmerising. But the acting honours go to Eccleston. Not wishing to denigrate David Tennant, but I do wish his predecessor had signed on for another run. His 'soccer hooligan' Doctor might not have appealed to fans of earlier, more dignified incarnations, but proved to be the shot in the arm the show badly needed. Nice use of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' and Britney Spears' 'Toxic' too!
The final scene, set back on Earth, in which the Doctor tells Rose he is the last of his kind, the Time Lords, is incredibly moving and sets the seal on a thoroughly entertaining adventure.
With so much against it, the reaction to 'Rose' when finally transmitted was - despite its much-publicised leaking to the internet - nothing short of miraculous. Ten million people tuned in, reviews ( particularly Mark Lawson of 'The Guardian' ) were ecstatic, and a second season quickly commissioned. Happy days were indeed here again. Then a bombshell was dropped. Five days later, the press reported that Christopher Eccleston had quit the role of 'The Doctor'. Some papers treated the news like a major catastrophe. His reasons have never really become clear, although it seems most likely the actor was keen to avoid becoming typecast, particularly in a kids' sci-fi show. Whatever was behind his departure it threw a damper over fans' celebrations.
The second episode - The End Of The World' - is a quite different kettle of fish to its predecessor. The Doctor takes Rose into the far future, to a space station to witness the destruction of the Earth, the human race having long ago moved on. Also aboard are various exotic aliens such as Jabe ( Yasmin Bannerman ) who comes from a planet where the people are made of wood ( now we know where the cast of 'Neighbours' came from ), the Face of Boe ( a giant head in a jar ), the Moxx of Balhoun ( a Mekon-like creature with blue skin ), and, most bizarre of all, Cassandra ( voiced by Zoe Wanamaker ), the last human being, who has had so many face-lifts she now consists of a sheet of skin stretched across a vertical frame ( anticipating the possible derisive reaction of some viewers, Davies has the Doctor laughing his head off as one by one the creatures are introduced, while Rose stands rooted to the spot, looking shocked ).
Mechanical spiders are found scuttling about in the ventilation duct, deaths mount up, and the temperature aboard Platform 1 rises. The Doctor has to find a solution in the nick of time...
Like I said, a different type of story to 'Rose'. Less sprawling, more claustrophobic, reminiscent of old-style stories such as 'The Robots Of Death'. Wanamaker does a terrific job of voicing the evil 'Cassandra', while Piper's 'Rose' is mesmerising. But the acting honours go to Eccleston. Not wishing to denigrate David Tennant, but I do wish his predecessor had signed on for another run. His 'soccer hooligan' Doctor might not have appealed to fans of earlier, more dignified incarnations, but proved to be the shot in the arm the show badly needed. Nice use of Soft Cell's 'Tainted Love' and Britney Spears' 'Toxic' too!
The final scene, set back on Earth, in which the Doctor tells Rose he is the last of his kind, the Time Lords, is incredibly moving and sets the seal on a thoroughly entertaining adventure.