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200) PLANET OF THE DEAD

11 April 2009

Viewing Figure: 9.74M

Plot

Whilst travelling on a bus, The Doctor and his fellow passengers arrive on a barren planet that has been reduced to sand 

Cast

David Tennant (The Doctor), Michelle Ryan (Christina), Lee Evans (Malcolm), Noma Dumezweni (Captain Magambo), Adam James (DI McMillian)

Glenn Doherty (Sgt Dennison), Victoria Alcock (Angela), David Ames (Nathan), Ellen Thomas (Carmen), Reginald Tsiboe (Lou)

Daniel Kaluuya (Barclay), Keith Parry (Bus Driver), James Layton (Sgt Ian Jenner), Paul Kasey (Sorvin), Ruari Mears (Praygat)

​

Uncredited Cast

Ian Hilditch (Security Chief), Marcus Elliott, Jai Gomer, Alan Morton, George Onyeahasi (Security Guards)

Crew

Russell T Davies, Gareth Roberts (Writers), Tracie Simpson (Producer), James Strong (Director), John Bennett (1st Assistant Director)

James DeHaviland (2nd Assistant Director), Sarah Davies (3rd Assistant Director), Gareth Skelding (Location Manager)

Geraint Williams (Unit Manager), Jess van Niekerk (Production Co-ordinator), Kevin Myers (Production Secretary)

Nicola Brown (Floor Runner), Llinos Wyn Jones (Continuity), Lindsay Alford (Script Editor)

Joe Russell, James Leigh (Camera Operators), Jamie Southcott, Steve Rees (Focus Pullers), John Robinson (Grip)

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

Clive Johnson, Steve Slocombe (Electricians), Lee Sheward (Stunt Co-ordinator), Alisa Berk (Choreographer)

Stephen Nicholas (Supervising Art Director), James North (Associate Designer), Amy Pope (Art Deptment Co-ordinator)

Nick Murray (Standby Art Director), Phill Shellard, Jackson Pope (Standby Props), Julian Luxton (Set Decorator)

Paul Aitken (Propetry Master),  Matthew Hywel-Davies (Construction Manager), BBC Wales Graphics (Graphics)

Lindsay Bonaccorsi (Costume Supervisor), Rose Goodhart (Assistant Costume Designer)

Barbara Harrington, Louise Martin (Costume Assistants), Pam Mullins, Steve Smith, Morag Smith (Make-Up Artists)

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

Marie Brown (Post Prod Co-ordinator), Mick Vincent (Colourist), Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer)

Paul McFadden (Supervising Sound Editor), Paul Jefferies (Sound FX Editor). Matthew Cox (Dialogue Editor) 

with thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Ron Grainer (Original Theme Music), Andy Pryor CDG (Casting Director)

Julie Scott (Production Executive), Adam Olley Production Accountant), Julian Howarth (Sound Recordist)

Louise Page (Costume Designer), Barbara Southcott (Make-Up Designer), Murray Gold (Music), Any Effects (Special Effects)

Millennium FX (Porspethics), The Mill (Visual Effects), Mike Jones (Editor), Edward Thomas (Production Designer)

Rory Taylor (Director of Photography), Steffan Morris (Production Manager), Associate Producer (Production Manager),

Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner (Executive Producers)  

​

Uncredited Crew

Alon Hattingh (1st Assistant Director), Chris Buschek, Najeeb Tysir (Production Co-ordinators), Tom Evans, Alison Jones (Floor Runners)

Chris Reynolds (Focus Puller), Ben Griffiths, Jonathan Cox (Electricians), Jamie Edgell (Stunt Co-ordinator), Maria Franchi

Andie Mear (Costume Assistants), Cathy Davies, Ros Wilkins (Make-Up Artists), Carmen Roberts (Assistant Editor)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Welsh National Museum, Cathays Park, Cardiff

  • Butetown Tunnel, A4232 Butetown Link, Cardiff Bay

  • Principality House, Greyfriars Place, Cardiff City Centre

  • Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff Bay

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 1, Trefforest

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 2, Trefforest

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 5, Treforrest

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 6, Trefforest

  • St Mary Street, Cardiff

  • Mir Steel, Corporation Road, Newport

  • Margham, Dubai 

Deaths

  • Bus Driver [reduced to his skeleton]

  • Sorvin [eaten by a Tritovore]

  • Praygat [eaten by a Tritovore]

  • Tritovores [three are shot down by UNIT Soldiers]

Production Days

  • 21 Days between Monday 19 January 2009 - Wednesday 18 February 2009

Production Errors

  1. When the bus is originally introduced, its number plate reads W974GHM, but later on when the bus begins to fly, the number plate changes to RUA461W

  2. After Lady Christina steals the cup of Athelstan, she is still inside the museum, despite descending from the roof  

  3. After Malcolm closes the wormhole, the glass in the door of his trailer, is the wrong way. The UNIT sign spells T.I.N.U when read from the outside 

  4. At around the 20:48 mark, a fly can be seen landing and walking across The Doctor's tie, and flying off again when San Helios is supposed devoid of all life 

Working Titles

  • [no known working titles]

Verdict

A disappointing return to an alien planet is filled with terrible acting and one-dimension characters with so little going for them it’s very hard to care about them. The plot seem too interested in making you think Christina is going to join The Doctor by the end of the episode buts it’s so obvious they are not going to get together. So why bother fooling the audience for a botched moment at the end? The main plot does not arrive until halfway through when we're treated to a race of good looking aliens. If the scripts attempt was to be funny then the humour needs to be a lot more subtle than in your face funny or seriously toned down. UNIT are back and are at one of their most lowest points – the UNIT leader continues to be boring and Malcolm the scientist is one of the worst things ever to be seen on 'Doctor Who', right up there with the twins from The Twin Dilemma. Not the most exciting of affairs nor is it totally engaging or thrilling. Planet of the Dead has one purpose to inform viewers that The Tenth’s Doctor tenure is coming to an end. **​

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Number of Production Days: 5

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