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241) THE TIME OF THE DOCTOR

25 December 2013

Viewing Figure: 11.14M

Plot

The Time Lords are sending a message across the Universe for help and The Doctor must prevent another Time War

Cast

Matt Smith (The Doctor), Jenna-Louise Coleman (Clara), Orla Brady (Tasha Lem), James Buller (Dad), Elizabeth Rider (Linda)

Sheila Reid (Gran), Mark Anthony Brighton (Colonel Albero), Rob Jarvis (Abramal), Tessa Peake-Jones (Marta)

Jack Hollington (Barnable), Sonita Henry (Colonel Meme), Kayvan Novak (Voice of Handles), Tom Gibbons (Young Man)

Ken Bones (Voice), Aidan Cook (Cyberman), Nicholas Briggs (Voice of the Daleks/Cybermen), Barnaby Edwards (Dalek 1)

Nicholas Pegg (Dalek 2), Ross Mullan (Silent), Dan Starkey (Sontaran), Sarah Madison (Weeping Angel), Karen Gillan (Amy Pond)

Uncredited Cast

Mike Tucker, Jon Davey, Mat Doman, Claudio Laurini, Diarmuid O'Connor (Daleks), Andrew Cross, Chester Durrant

Peter Guiney, Marcus Jones, Darren Swain, Victoria Thomas, Yvonne Gordon, Ryan Courtney, Maruc Elliott, Nick Dunwell

Marc Llewellyn-Thompson, Justin Beaver, Barbara Fadden, Julian Blanch (Clerics), Howard Howell, Chris Wilkinson (Generals)

Simon Carew, Martin Challinor, Charlie Smith (Cybermen), Harrison Larner-Main, Jamie Hill (Silents), Louise Bowen (Weeping Angel)

and introducing Peter Capaldi as The Doctor

Crew

Steven Moffatt (Writer), Jamie Payne (Director), Marcus Wilson (Producer), Crispin Layfield (Stunt Coordinator)

Gordon Seed, Daz Parker, Lloyd Bass, Dani Biernat, Stephen Walsh (Stunt Performers) 

John Bennett (First Assistant Director), Heddi-Joy Taylor-Welch (Second Assistant Director), Danielle Richards (Third Assistant Director)

Gareth Jones, Louisa Cavell (Assistant Directors), Ian William George (Utility Stand In), Iwan Roberts (Location Manager)

Monty Till (Unit Manager), Gabriella Ricci (Production Coordinator), Sandra Cosfield (Assistant Production Coordinator)

Rachel Vipond (Production Secretary), Katie Player (Production Assistant), Bethan Griffiths (Assistant Accountant)

Simon Wheeler (Art Department Accountant), Steve Walker (Script Supervisor), Mark Mcquoid, Martin Stephens (Camera Operators)

Berndt Wise, Rich Turner (Focus Pullers), Damian Roberts (Grip), Pete Lowden, Kyle Brown, Natalie Brown (Camera Assistants)

Ryan Jarman (Assistant Grip), Tom Shoring, Christopher Goding (Sound Maintenance Engineers), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer)

Stephen Slocombe (Best Boy), Billy Harron, Bob Milton, Gafin Riley, Gareth Sheldon, Andrew Williams (Electrricians) 

Lucienne Suren (Supervising Art Director), Amy Pickwoad (Standby Art Director), Adrian Anscombe (Set Decorator)

Jayne Davies, May Johnson, Helen O'Leary (Production Buyers), Kartik Nagar (Draughtperson), Paul Smith (Props Master)

Liam Collins, Ian Davies, Ian Griffin, Jamie Farrell, Kyle Belmont, Roger Hendry, Ryan Milton (Prop Hands)

Jamie Southcott (Set Dresser), Chris Lees (Graphic Designer), Christina Tom (Graphic Artist), Paul Jones (Standby Carpenter)

Bryan Griffiths (Standby Rigger), Christian Davies (Practical Electrician), Alan Hardy, Jamie Thomas (Props Makers)

Gareth Fox (Prop Driver), Terry Horle (Construction Manager), Dean Tucker (Construction Chargehand), Clive Clarke (Scenic Artist)

Carly Griffith (Assistant Costume Designer), Clare Lynch (Costume Supervisor)

Katarina Cappallazzi, Gemma Evans, Charlotte Bestwick (Costume Assistants), Claire Pritchard-Jones (Make-Up Supervisor)

Emma Cowen, Clare Golds, Danny Marie Elias (Make-Up Artists), Alice Purser (Casting Associate), Katrina Aust (Assistant Editor)

Joel Skinner (VFX Editor), Samantha Price (Post Production Co-ordinator), Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer), Matthew Cox (ADR Editor)

Darran Clements (Dialogue Editor), Paul Jefferies (Effects Editor), Jamie Talbutt (Foley Editor), Peter Anderson Studio (Graphics)

Geraint Pari Huws (Online Editor), Gareth Spensley (Colourist), Daleks created by Terry Nation

Cybermen created by Kit Pedler & Gerry DavisSontarans created by Robert Holmes

with thanks to The BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted and orchestrated 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), Derek Ritchie (Script Editor), Nerys Davies (Post Production Supervisor)

Jeff Dunn (Production Accountant), Deian Llyr Humphreys (Sound Recordist), Howard Burden (Costume Designer)

Lin Davie (Make-Up Designer), Murray Gold (Music), Milk, BBC Wales Visual Effects (Visual Effects),

Real SFX (Special Effects), The Model Unit (Miniature Effects), Millennium FX (Prosthetics), St John O'Rorke (Editor)

Michael Pickwoad (Production Designer), Neville Kidd (Director of Photography), Des Hughes (Line Producer)

Steven Moffat, Brian Minchin (Executive Producers)  

Uncredited Crew

Marcus Wilson (Director), Gareth Webb, Kristie Bennett, Leon Williams, Rhun Llewellyn (Assistant Directors)

Ed Moore, Jason Ewart (Camera Operators), David Byrne (Focus Puller), Steve Manningham, Cameron Lovegrove (Grip)

Joe Douglas (Camera Assistant), Ben Moseley (Assistant Grip), Katie Crooks (Costume Assistant), Ed Moore (Director of Photography)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • BBC Roath Lock Studios: Studio 1

  • Lydstep Flats, Lydstep Crescent, Gabalfa

  • FIBUA, Sennybridge SENTA Camp, Sennybridge, Powys

  • Mamhilad Park Estate, Pontypool

  • Park Davies

  • Puzzlewood, nr Colesford, Royal Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire

  • BBC Roath Lock Studios: Studio 2

  • BBC Roath Lock Studios: Studio 3

  • BBC Roath Lock Studios: Studio 4

  • Halliford Film Studios: Stage A, Shepperton

Deaths

  • Commander Skarr [killed by the Papal Mainframe]

  • Sontaran [killed by the Papal Mainframe]

  • Handles [stops working when he runs out of power]

  • Colonel Meme [killed by The Daleks and covered into a Dalek puppet]

  • Colonel Albero [killed by The Daleks and covered into a Dalek puppet]

  • Tasha Lem [killed by The Daleks and covered into a Dalek puppet]

  • Cybermen [destroyed by The Doctor]

  • Daleks [destroyed by The Time Lords]​

Production Days

  • 24 Days between Sunday 8 September - Wednesday 16 October 2013

Production Errors

  1. Whilst The Doctor waits for Handles to confirm the planet's name, he turns his back to the camera, and his coat collar is turned up. In following shots, the collar is turned down 

  2. When The Doctor and Clara arrive at the Papel Mainframe, the right column of the Tardis is missing

  3. When The Doctor teleports onto the Dalek ship, he lowers his hood, and raises the Dalek eystalk twice 

  4. When the Tardis lands on Trenzalore, the telephone panel sign is nowhere to be seen 

  5. The Doctor's hairstyle changes during the final scene set in the Tardis 

  6. When The Doctor yells 'Never, ever, tell me the rules!" his walking stick in his left hand. However the walking stick is in his right hand shortly afterwards 

  7. When Clara exits the Tardis with the turkey, the back of the Tardis is visible 

Working Titles

  • [no known working titles]

Verdict

A good ending to the Matt Smith era which reflects on everything he has accomplished with the role over the last three years. The special, ties up all loose ends to previous series' arcs in a nice fashion whilst answering some previously unanswered questions from previous episodes. There is no straight plot as say but rather a straightforward tale about The Doctor defending a town from a series of attacks. There is a grand scale with the special and visual effects and a decent cast of characters. Matt Smith clearly puts everything into the episode and his regeneration is far better than Tennant's. The special finishes up  the Smith era nicely and sets up the Capaldi era in good light. ****​

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Number of Production Days: 5

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