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215) THE CURSE OF THE BLACK SPOT

7 May 2011

Viewing Figure: 7.85M

Plot

The crewmembers of a pirate ship are being hunted down by a beautiful siren whenever they hurt themselves

Cast

Matt Smith (The Doctor), Karen Gillan (Amy Pond), Arthur Darvill (Rory), Hugh Bonneville (Henry Avery), Oscar Lloyd (Toby Avery)

Lee Ross (The Boatswain), Michael Begley (Mulligan), Tony Lucken (De Florres), Chris Jarman (Dancer), Carl McCrystal (McGarth)

Lily Cole (The Siren)

​

Uncredited Cast

Charley Roberts Arnold, Malcolm Bevan, Luke Cecil, Josh Hall, Jeremy Havey, Claudio Laurini, Mark Nedin, Rufus Nugent

David Hutchings, John Hutch, Craig Evans, Sam Rego, Chris Potter (Bodies), Frances Barber (Eye Patch Lady)

Crew

Steve Thompson (Writer), Marcus Wilson (Producer), Jeremy Webb (Producer), Crispin Layfield (Stunt Coordinator)

Gordon Seed, Stephanie Carey (Stunt Performers), Nick Brown (1st Assistant Director), James DeHaviland (2nd Assistant Director)

Heddi-Joy Taylor-Welch (3rd Assistant Director), Janine H JonesMichael Curtis (Assistant Directors), Nicky James (Location Manager)

Rhys Griffiths (Unit Manager), Geriant Williams (Location Assistant), Steffan Morris (Production Manager)

Helen Blyth (Production Coordinator), Scott Handock (Production Secretary), Charlie Coombes (Production Assistant)

Rhys Evans (Asst Production Accountant), Lindsay Alford (Script Executive), Caroline Henry (Script Editor)

Caroline Holder (Script Supervisor), Joe Russell (Camea Operator), Steve Rees, Jonathan Vidgen (Focus Pullers), Gary Newman (Grip)

Simon Ridge, Svetlana Miko, Matthew Lepper (Camera Assistants), Owen Charnley (Assistnt Grip) 

Jeff Welch, Dafydd Parry (Sound Maintenance Engineers), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer), Pete Chester (Best Boy)

Ben Griffiths, Bob Milton, Stephen Slocombe, Alan Tippets (Electricians), Stephen Nicholas (Supervising Art Director)

Julian Luxton (Set Decorator), Ben Morris (Production Buyer), Ciaran Thompson (Standby Art Director)

Jackson Pope (Assistant Art Director), Richard Shaun Williams (Concept Artist), Paul Aitken (Props Master)

Adrian Anscombe (Props Buyer), Rhys Jones (Props Chargehand), Phill Shellard, Helen Atherton (Standby Props)

Tom Belton, Kristian Wilsher (Dressing Props), Christina Tom (Graphic Artist), Julia Jones (Draughtsman), Dan Martin (Design Assistant)

Kate Wilson (Petty Cash Buyer), Will Pope (Standby Carpenter), Bryan Griffiths (Standby Rigger), Jayne Davies (Store Person) 

Penny Howarth, Nicholas Robatto, Alan Hardy (Props Makers), Medard Mankos (Props Driver), Albert James (Practical Electrician)

Matthew Hywel-Davies (Construction Manager), Scott Fisher (Construction Chargehand), BBC Wales Graphics (Graphics) 

Samanatha Keeble (Assistant Costume Designer), Heather Leat (Costume Supervisor)

Jason Gill, Yasemin Kascioglu, Emma Jone (Costume Assistants), Pam Mullins (Make-Up Supervisor) 

Vivienne Simpson, Allison Sing (Make-Up Artists), Beewan Athwal (VFX Producer), Alice Purser (Casting Associate)

Becky Torman (Assistant Editor), Cat Gregory (VFX Editor), Nerys Davies (Post Prod Supervisor), Marie Brown (Post Prod Co-ordinator), 

Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer), Paul McFadden (Dialogue Editor), Paul Jefferies (Sound Effects Editor), Jamie Talbutt (Foley Editor)

Jeremy Lott (Online Editor), Mick Vincent (Colourist), Mark Bright (On-line Conform)

with thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted and orchesterated by Ben Fostermixed by Jake Jackson

recorded by Gerry O'Riordan, Ron Grainer (Original Theme Music), Andy Pryor CDG (Casting Director)

Julie Scott (Production Executive), Dyfed Thomas (Production Accountant), Bryn Thomas (Sound Recordist)

Barbara Kidd (Costume Designer), Barbara Southcott (Make-Up Designer), Murray Gold (Music), The Mill (Visual Effects)

Real SFX (Special Effects), Prosthetics (Millennium FX), Simon Reglar (Editor), Michael Pickwoad (Production Designer)

Dale McReady (Director of Photography), Denise Paul (Associate Producer), Diana Barton (Line Producer)

Steven Moffat, Piers Wenger, Beth Willis (Executive Producers)

​

Uncredited Crew

Julia Simpson, Marcus Wilson (Director), Tony Lucken (Stunt Performer), Sarah Davies (1st Assistant Director)

Jenny Morgan (3rd Assistant Director), Balazs Bolygo, Mark Waters (Camera Operators), Mani Paliwala-Blaxter (Focus Puller)

Cameron Lovegrove, Clive Baldwin, Alex Coverley (Grip), Katie Kardasz (Camera Assistant), Gareth Thomas (Standby Carpenter) 

Dave Mount Stephens, Ian Remond (Standby Rigger), Nicola Rodd (Costume Assistant), Cathy Davies, Victoria Curtis (Make-Up Artitsts)

Gareth Merion Thomas (Sound Recordist), Balazs Bolygo, Mark Waters (Director of Photography)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Fillcare, Lanelay Road, Pontyclun, Llantrisant

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 1

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 5

  • Square Sail, Charlestown Harbour, St Austell, Cornwall

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 2

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 3

  • Upper Boat Studios: Studio 6

  • Upper Boat Studios

Deaths

  • [death fails to follow The Doctor this time]

Production Days

  • 16 Days between Thursday 27 January - Friday 11 March 2011

Production Errors

  1. At the beginning of the episode, Amy's fingernail have clearly been manicured. However before she, The Doctor and Avery are transported to the alien ship, they are chipped. When the trio arrive on the alien ship, Amy's fingernails return to their manicured look again

  2. The Doctor puts on the hat from the disappeared pirate twice in the same scene

  3. Whilst swinging on the rope, Karen Gillan's protective stunt harness, are visible 

  4. When Toby is lying on his sickbay, his eyes can be seen moving, despite the fact that he is in stasis

Working Titles

  • Siren

Verdict

A decent episode that features a band of Pirates who are being hunted down by a Siren. The classic Siren mythology meets space aliens which works well to create a thrilling joy ride of swordfights and pirates doing pirate stuff. A top-notch supporting cast including Hugh Bonneville as the classic pirate captain who really has a heart of gold. Lily Cole plays the Siren with a graceful and agile personality and shines throughout. Claustrophobic sets on the pirate ship capture the danger the characters face and the spaceship sets are serviceable. A very unusual tale for 'Doctor Who' which is certainly an overall well executed production. ****​

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Number of Production Days: 5

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