The Unicorn and the Wasp 

With a 1926 dinner party turning into a murder mystery, The Doctor and Donna Noble get the chance to meet Agatha Christie on the eve of her well-known 9-days disappearance.

Director:

Graeme Harper

Writer:

Gareth Roberts

Stars:

David Tennant, Catherine Tate, Fenella Woolgar

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
David Tennant	...	The Doctor
Catherine Tate	...	Donna Noble
Fenella Woolgar	...	Agatha Christie
Felicity Kendal	...	Lady Eddison
Tom Goodman-Hill	...	Reverend Golightly
Christopher Benjamin	...	Colonel Hugh
Felicity Jones	...	Robina Redmond
Adam Rayner	...	Roger Curbishley
David Quilter	...	Greeves
Daniel King	...	Davenport
Ian Barritt	...	Professor Peach
Leena Dhingra	...	Miss Chandrakala
Charlotte Eaton	...	Mrs Hart

Storyline

The Doctor and Donna arrive at an English country estate in the 1920s and meet none other than the renowned murder mystery writer Agatha Christie. The Doctor also realizes the importance of the date - it's the day when Christie famously disappeared for 10 days creating headlines across the country and around the world. History records that she reappeared 10 days later claiming to have no memory of where she has been or what she has done. They no sooner arrive than there is a murder, which Donna can't help but find it amusing since the victim is Professor Peach who was killed in the library with a lead pipe. In true Agatha Christie's fashion, the solution to the murder and Agatha's disappearance is found in a false identity and events that occurred long ago.

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Plot Keywords:

1920s | murder mystery | tenth doctor | giant insect | year 1926 | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Family | Mystery | Sci-Fi

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [UK]

Release Date:

13 June 2008 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

BBC Wales

Technical Specs

Runtime:

45 min 45 min (50 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Dolby 5.1)

Did You Know?

Trivia

A Harvey Wallbanger is a mixed drink made with vodka, orange juice and Galliano (a liqueur). It is usually poured over ice and stirred, but it could be shaken instead. When the Doctor mimes a shaking motion (for salt), it is vaguely possible he could have been miming the preparation of a Harvey Wallbanger (as Donna incorrectly guessed). However the drink didn't first appear until the mid-20th century.

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Goofs

When the first murder is committed in the library we see the Vespiform but the shadow on the wall is of a human arm holding the lead pipe.

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Quotes

The Doctor: Agatha Christie! I was just talking about you the other day! I said 'I bet she's brilliant!' I'm the Doctor, this is Donna. Oh, I love your stuff! What a mind! You fool me every time! Well... almost every time. Well... once or twice... Well... once. But it was a good once!

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Connections

Featured in Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty (2013)

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Soundtracks

Love Is The Sweetest Thing
(uncredited)
By Ray Noble

User Reviews

The Body in the Library gets The Doctor and a giant Wasp

I'll admit to three of my pleasures in life, Agatha Christie, Starbucks coffee and of course Doctor Who. While 2 out of 3 are a frequent to have all three seemed like a dream come true!! but was it?

It's England 1926, mint and lime fill the air, Lady Eddington is giving a party to a range of socialites, where one guest turns out to be none other then Agatha Christie. We learn a jewel thief, the Unicorn is at large.

The Doctor informs Donna that it's the actual date that Agatha Christie did indeed disappear, and what was to follow would explain how she landed up in a Hotel in Harrogate.

There is some wonderful humour, The Doctor referring to Donna as the plucky young girl is so funny, I loved her reaction, and her referral to Dickens. The recollections of where the cast were too, The Captain's recollection is side splitting. The number of her books they reference is a nice feature too.

Stunning production, the house itself, the cars, the outfits, right down to the Royal Worcester Howard Blue china and Stuart Crystal Beaconsfield glasses. The attention to detail is glorious.

I've mentioned Catherine Tate's performances in each episode and had nothing but plaudits for her, again she's glorious. However, the plaudits in this one go to Fenella Woolgar, I've always been a huge fan of hers, and she is ridiculously good, so stiff upper lipped and British. Her summing up of the crime is just delightful.

I love the Unicorn and the Wasp, it's a total one off, it's clever, it's funny, it's different, it tries to answer a true life mystery, it's just glorious. It literally feels like a BBC Agatha Christie production which has been invaded by Doctor Who. Impossible to watch without smiling. The little acknowledgement of her brilliance was welcome 9/10