Doctor Who: Children in Need Special (2005)

Country of Origin: UK
Date(s) of Broadcast: 18 November 2005
Running Times: 3.5 mins
Format: colour     digital video
Sound:

PRODUCTION
Production Company: BBC Wales (uncredited)
Executive Producers: Julie Gardner, Russell T. Davies (both (uncredited)
Producer: Phil Collinson (uncredited)

SCRIPT
Script: Russell T. Davies (uncredited)

DIRECTION
Director: Euros Lyn (uncredited)

CAST
David Tennant (The Doctor (uncredited))
Billie Piper (Rose Tyler (uncredited))

SUMMARY

The newly regenerated Doctor tries to win over a sceptical Rose, decides to take her home in time for Christmas, then finds that the regeneration is going wrong and in a fit of madness sends the TARDIS hurtling through time at a dangerous velocity.

CAPSULE REVIEW

After the brief recap of the previous episode, Parting of the Ways and the title sequence, Tennant only had a scant 5 minutes to make an impact - and he did it admirably. Mad in a Tom Baker sort of way and having some of the charming quirkiness of Patrick Troughton, he's a very different Doctor to Eccleston's more brooding, tormented incarnation and Tennant, a life long fan of the show, is clearly enjoying every second of his once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, full of infectious enthusiasm and energy. Kudos too to Piper (brilliant as ever, her reactions to the new Doctor are spot on) and Davies whose script is full of sparkling dialogue and even re-introduces the TARDIS' much loved (by fans at least) cloister bell!

AVAILABILITY

UK
Television Distributors: BBC

KEYWORDS

aliens, time travel

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009