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172) RISE OF THE CYBERMEN/THE AGE OF STEEL

13 - 20 May 2006

Viewing Figures: 9.2M/7.6M

Plot

On a parallel Earth, John Lumic plans to upgrade the human race into Cybermen

Cast

David Tennant (The Doctor), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler), Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith/Ricky Smith)

Shaun Dingwall (Peter Tyler), Roger Lloyd Pack (John Lumic), Andrew Hayden-Smith (Jack Simmonds), Don Warrington (The President)

Mona Hammond (Rita-Anne), Helen Griffin (Mrs Moore), Colin Spaull (Mr Crane), Paul Antony-Barber (Dr Kendrick)

Adam Shaw (Morris), Andrew Ufondo (Soldier), Duncan Duff (Newsreader), Paul Kasey (Cyber-Leader), Nicholas Briggs (Cybermen Voices)

Uncredited Cast

Tom Munro (Crane's Driver), Lee Bradshaw, David Bremner, Marcus Campbell, Nigel Allen, Peter Brent, Peter Bremner, Tim Hodges

Simon Davey, Michael Green (Lumic's Guards), John Mallon, Chris Illston, Alan Bowen, Tim Warlock, William Adrian (Homless People)

Ruari Mears, Ken Hosking, Kevin Hudson, Joe White, Adam Sweet, Karl Greenwood, JJ Angel, Peter Symonds, Mathew Doman

Jon Davey, Teilo Trimble, Gethin Jones (Cybermen)

Crew

Tom MacRae (Writer), Phil Collinson (Producer), Graeme Harper (Director), Cybermen originally created by Kit Pelder and Gerry Davis

Clare Nicholson (1st Assistant Director), Steffan Morris (2nd Assistant Director), Lynsey Muir (3rd Assistant Director)

Lowri Thomas, Gareth Skelding (Location Managers), Rhys Griffiths (Unit Manager), Jess van Niekerk (Production Co-ordinator)

Claire Roberts (Production/Script Secretary), Victoria Wheel, Tim Hodges (Production Runners)

Debi Griffiths, Kath Blackman, Bonnie Clissold (A/Production Accountants), Non Eleri Hughes (Continuity)

Helen Raynor (Script Editor), Roger Pearce (Camera Operator), Terry Bartlett (Focus Pullers), John Robinson (Grip)

Penny Shipton (Camera Assistant), Jeff Welch, Bryn Thomas (Boom Operators), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer), Peter Chester (Best Boy)

Chris Davies, Clive Johnson (Electricians), Alisa Berk (Choreographer), Abbi Collins (Stunt Co-ordinator)

James O'Dee, Derek Lea, Shelly Benison (Stunt Performers), Stephen Nicholas (Supervising Art Director)

Jonathan Marquand Allison (Art Dept Production Manager), Nick Burnell (Standby Art Director)

James North (A/Supervising Art Director), Matthew Savage, Peter McKinstry, Rob Dicks, Al Roberts (Design Assistants)

Phill Shellard, Trystan Howell (Standby Props), Silas Williams (Standby Carpenter), Louise Bohling (Standby Scenic Artist)

Julian Luxton (Set Decorator), Adrian Anscombe (Property Master), Catherine Samuel (Production Buyer), Paul Aitken (Props Chargehand)

Stuart Woddisse (Props Storeman), Matthew North (Forward Dresser), Shaun Williams (Storyboard Artist), Albert James (Practical Electrician)

Patrick Deacy (Art Department Driver), Mark Cordory (Specialist Prop Maker), Penny Howarth (Prop Maker)

Matthew Hywel-Davies (Construction Manager), Allen Jones (Constrction Chargehand), BBC Wales Graphics (Graphics)

Marie Ormiston (Costume Supervisor), Lindsay Bonaccorsi, Barbara Harrington (Costume Assistants)

Anwen Davies, Steve Smith, Moria Thompson (Make-Up Artists), Rob Mayor (Prosthetics Supervisor)

Martin Rezard, Jo Glover (Prosphetics Technicians), Ben Ashmore (Special Effects Co-ordinator)

Mike Crowley, Paul Kelly (Special Effects Supervisor), Danny Hargreaves, Richard Magrin (Special Effects Technicians)

Andy Brierley (Casting Associate), Ceres Doyles (Assistant Editor), Chris Blatchford, Samantha Hall (Post Production Supervisors)

Marie Brown (Post Production Co-ordinator), Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer), Paul McFadden, Doug Sinclair (Sound Editors)

Paul Jefferies (Sound FX Editor), Richard Pugsley (Finance Manager), with thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Ron Grainer (Original Theme Music), Andy Pryor CDG (Casting Director), Endaf Emyr Williams (Production Accountant)

Simon Fraser (Sound Recordist), Louise Page (Costume Designer), Sheelagh Wells (Make-Up Designer), Murray Gold (Music)

The Mill (Visual Effects), Will Cohen (Visual FX Producer), Dave Houghton (Visual FX Supervisor), Any Effects (Special Effects)

Neill Gorton and Millennium FX (Porspethics), David Cresswell (Editor), Edward Thomas (Production Designer)

Ernie Vincze BSC (Director of Photography), Tracie Simpson (Production Manager), Helen Vallis (Associate Producer)

Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner (Executive Producers)  

Uncredited Crew

Susie Liggat (1st Assistant Director), Dan Parry, Phillip Easton, Rhian Salisbury (3rd Assistant Director), Pam Humphries (Continuity)

Joss Lowe, Paul Lang, Sian Elin Palfrey, Rory Taylor (Camera Operator), Steve Rees, Elly Harrowes, Mari Yamanura

Penny Shipton (Focus Puller), Adam Young, Peter Muncie (Grip), Jonathan Vidgeon, Steve Davies, Mari Yamanura

Mani Blaxter Paliwala (Camera Assistant), Rhyidan Yeoman, Richard Brooks (Boom Operators), Arwel Wyn Jones (Standby Art Director)

Angela Jones, Gemma Jones, Sheenagh O'Maragh, Marie Maxine Brown (Costume Assistans), Sara Griffiths, Neil Batt

Vicki Owen (Make-Up Artists), Rory Taylor (Director of Photography) 

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Lambeth Pier, Lambeth Palace Road, London

  • Battersea Power Station, London

  • MI5, London

  • Talygarn Manor & Country House, nr Pontyclun

  • South-Side Roath Dock, Cardiff Docks, Cardiff

  • Various Roads Cardiff Docks, Cardiff

  • UNIT Q2, Imperial Way, Newport

  • Riverfront Arts Centre, Bristol Packet Wharf, Newport

  • Uskmouth Power Station, West Nash Road, Newport

  • Veritair Aviation Limited, Cardiff Heliport, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff

  • Unit 7, Ely Papermill, Sanatorium Road, Cardiff

  • Riverside Theatre, Newport

  • St Nicholas, nr Cardiff

  • Unit G12, Bridge Road, Trefforest

  • Compton Street, Grangetown, Cardiff

  • Clarence Embankment, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff

  • Hamadryad Hospital, Cardiff

  • Grangemoor Park, off Cardiff Bay Retail Park, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff

  • Brackla Bunkers, Brackla, Bridgend

  • Imperial Way, Newport

  • Mount Stuart Square, Bute, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff

  • The Brewery, Wilcrick, Magor, Monmouthshire

  • Loudoun Square, But Street, Cardiff Bay, Cardiff

  • Unit 878 Picketson Site, RAF St Athan, Barry

  • Gwinnutt Ltd Electrical Engineers, Foreshore Road, Cardiff

Deaths

  • Ricky Smith [deleted by a Cyberman]

  • John Lumic [dies as the Cyber Controller]

  • The President [deleted by a Cyberman]

  • Mrs Moore [deleted by a Cyberman]

  • Mr Crane [deleted by a Cyberman]

  • Dr Kendrick [deleted by a Cyberman]

  • Morris [upgraded and later dies as a Cyberman]

  • Homeless People [upgraded and later die as Cybermen]

  • Party Guests [deleted by Cybermen]

  • Londoners [upgraded and later die as Cybermen]

  • Cybermen [die in many ways] 

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Production Days

  • 32 Days between Tuesday 1 November 2005 - Thursday 9 March 2006

Production Errors

  1. When Mickey visits his Gran a boom microphone operator can be seen reflect in her glasses

  2. When Pete pulls his car up at his house, the two registrations plates on the car are completely different

  3. All of the Part Guests are idiots. Not one, notices the several broken windows which could aid an escape 

  4. When attacked by the Cyberman on the Zeppelin, the first shot of the Cyberman shows it with its arm down, in the next shot its arm is up, and in the third shot its raising it arm to attack

  5. As Jake and Mickey drive off at the end, a road sign clearly states they are in Newport and not in London​​​​

Working Titles

  • Parallel World

Verdict

In many ways this two parter is perhaps the most topical even by today’s standard. A world where everyone downloads from the same network little realising the network could turn on them at given moment. The parallel world is a little underwhelming. The only aspects which suggest we are in a parallel world is, Pete Tyler still being alive, the zeppelins and the everyone going around with ear pods in their ears. The return of the Cybermen is built up to an incredible level – the use of close-ups and depth of filed help shield the metal menaces from younger viewers eyes and their full smashing reveal does not disappoint. John Lumic is a very robust villain, a dying man with an incredible mind who wishes to prolong his life by another means. This is exact how creator Kit Pedler envisioned the Cybermen which goes to show that the revived series does pay attention to its predecessor. The scripts have time to be both humorous and dark and have just enough time for The Doctor to do what he does best, finding out what is going on behind the scenes. Whilst it’s not an absolute fan favourite this two parter does belong in category best described as admirable Doctor Who. ****

Number of Production Days: 5

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