174) THE IMPOSSIBLE PLANET/THE SATAN PIT

3 - 10 June 2006

Viewing Figure: 6.32M/6.08M

Plot

On a planet orbiting a black hole a horrifying horned beast is beginning to stir deep below the surface

Cast

David Tennant (The Doctor), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Danny Webb (Mr Jefferson), Shaun Parkes (Zachary Cross Flane)

Claire Rushbrook (Ida Scott), Will Thorp (Toby Zed), Ronny Jhutti (Danny Bartock), MyAnna Buring (Scooti Manista), Paul Kasey (Ood)

Gabriel Woolf (Voice of the Beast), Silas Carson (Voice of the Ood)

Uncredited Cast

Ruari Mears, Karl Greenwood, Joe White, Adam Sweet, Mark Llewellyn-Thompson, Lewis Drew, Stephen Reynolds, Scott Baker

Andy Jones, Claudio Laurini, Richard Tunesi (Ood), Lianna Stewart (Female Guard), Kristian Arthur (Male Guard)

Ceres Doyle (Computer Door Voice)

Crew

Matt Jones (Writer), Phil Collinson (Producer), James Strong (Director), Gareth Williams (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 (A/Production Accountants), Non Eleri Hughes (Continuity)

Simon Winstone (Script Editor), Jamie Harcourt (Camera Operator), Terry Bartlett (Focus Pullers), John Robinson (Grip)

Jeff Welch, Rhydian Yeoman (Boom Operators), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer), Peter Chester (Best Boy), Alisa Berk (Choreographer)

Bill Davey (Stunt Co-ordinator), Stephen Nicholas (Supervising Art Director), Jonathan Marquand Allison (Art Dept Production Manager)

Arwel Wyn Jones (Standby Art Director), James North (A/Supervising Art Director), Peter McKinstry, Ian Bunting, Al Roberts (Design Assistants)

Phill Shellard, Laurie Guinee (Standby Props), Tim Dickel (Set Decorator), Adrian Anscombe (Property Master),

Catherine Samuel, Joelle Rumbelow (Production Buyer), Paul Aitken (Assiatant Prop Master), Matthew North (Art Department Co-ordinator)

Phil Lyons (Props Chargehand), Stuart Wooddisse (Props Storeman), Mark Cordory (Specialist Prop Maker)

Penny Howarth, Nicholas Robatto (Prop Maker), Matthew Hywel-Davies (Construction Manager), Allen Jones (Constrction Chargehand)

Shaun Williams (Storyboard Artist), BBC Wales Graphics (Graphics), Anna Lau (Costume Supervisor)

Lindsay Bonaccorsi, Kirsty Wilkinson (Costume Assistants), Anwen Davies, Steve Smith, Moria Thompson (Make-Up Artists)

Rob Mayor (Prosthetics Supervisor), Jo Glover, Martin Rezard (Prosphetics Technicians), Matthew Clarke (On Line Editor)

Mick Vincent (Colourist), Will Pryor, Mark Wallman, Matt McKinney, Serena Cacciato, Chris Petts, Chris Tucker, Paul Burton

Nick Webber, Jean Claude Deguara, Jean Yves Audouard, Nicholas Hernandez, Neil Roche, Adam Burnett (3D Artists), Simon Holden

Sara Bennett, Michael Harrison, Bronwyn Edwards, Joseph Courtis, Melissa Butler-Adams, Russell Horth, Sandra Roach (2D Artists)

Alex Fort, Ilyas Kaduji (Digital Matte Artists), Kim Phelan (Visual Effectd Co-ordinator), Andy Brierley (Casting Associate)

Ceres Doyles, Matt Mullins (Assistant Editors), Samantha Hall, Chris Blatchford (Post Production Supervisors)

Marie Brown (Post Production Co-ordinator), Mick Tucker (Model Unit Supervisor), 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), Richard Dyer (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)

Mike Jones (Editor), Edward Thomas (Production Designer), Ernie Vincze BSC (Director of Photography)

Tracie Simpson (Production Manager), Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner (Executive Producers)

Uncredited Cast

Susie Liggat, Francoise Valentine (1st Assistant Director), Tori Atkinson, Kate Borde, Sarah Davies (3rd Assistant Director), Joss Lowe

Sian Elin Palfrey, Steve Roach, Dave Brice, Julian Barber, Sam Garwood (Camera Operator), Marnie Orminston (Costume Assistant)

Betsan Dafydd, Alison Sing, Suzi Owen (Make-Up Artists), Tim White (Sound Recordist), Peter Tyler, Peter Thornton, Mike Valentine

(Director of Photography), Patrick Schweitzer (Production Manager)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

Wenvoe Quarry, Cemex, UK Ltd, Wenvoe
HTV Studios: Studios, Culverhouse Cross, Cardiff
UNIT Q2, Imperial Way, Newport
Clearwell Caves, nr Coleford, Gloucestershire
Enfys Television Studios, Unit 31, Portmanmoor Road, Cardiff
Johnsey Estates, Mamhilad Park Ind Estate South, Pontypool
Pinewood Studios, Iver Heath, Bucks
Ealing Studios, London

Deaths

Mr Jefferson [dies of oxygen starvation]
Toby Zed [sucked into space]
Scooti Manista [sucked into space]
Ood [shot and sucked into the black hole with Krop Tor]
Female Guard [killed with Ood translation sphere]
Male Guard [killed with Ood translation sphere]

Production Days

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

29 Days between Tuesday 28 February - Tuesday 11 April 2006

Production Errors

When descending to the core of Krop Tor, the screen charting their progress shows they have 39% oxygen left. After cutting to an overhead shot, the camera cuts back to the screen showing they know have 42% oxygen left.
Before being sucked into space, Scooti's communicator is on her left wrist and black bracelets are on her right. When floating in the vacuum, her communicator and black bracelets have switched places
During the scene, when Scooti is discovered, the two base guards are shown to enter the room. They subsequently appear and disappear between takes

Working Titles

[no known working titles]

Verdict

A top notch space adventure filled with an original alien race, a space station under threat, an alien planet which should not exist and an evil menace lurking beneath the surface. The base is one of the best designed the series will ever see – tight and compact for sinister, dark scenes and big and spacious to allow the world to be appreciated. The script is one which will never be been seen again, battling an enemy which according to science should not and cannot exist. The Beast is beyond all expectation the true and accurate embodiment of pure evil. Gabriel Woolf provides an incredible voice, and nothing less would be expected considering he played a similar role in Pyramids of Mars. The level of filming making techniques is out of this world and creates a level of danger which is unseen in any Doctor Who serial. The Ood are beyond incredible taking a topical issue – slavery – and adding a whole new level of originality on top. The script incorporates many themes which have also been used on many episodes beforehand – 59, 89 etc but uses them to create a dynamic world in which anyone no matter what faith or belief would find uncomfortable. The cinematography and camera movements are unbelievable, slow tracking shots behind someone shoulder to emphasize the evil lurking in every corner, slow tracking shots along the monsters to help build up their dominance and FX shots of the base under the watchful eye of the black hole to demonstrate how remote the setting is. The pacing is incredible moving from one area to another without forgetting about the importance of character development and story narrative. Gold continues to build himself up as a musician providing some of the best music of all time. His tracks can create a number of moods and emotions in a matter of seconds, something every good musician should learn to do. A great cast of characters especially the possessed, red-eyes, silent Toby Zed all add up to a wonderful piece of television. *****

Number of Production Days: 5