BBC’s Special 50th Anniversary Dr Who Episode – 23rd November 2013
There is much buzz surrounding the 50th anniversary episode of Dr Who titled The Day of the Doctor, certain details have been released, but they are desperately trying to keep the story under wraps. So much so that the special will be broadcast around the world at the same time; it will be the biggest simulcast in history! British viewers will be able to watch the episode in many cinemas in the UK in 3D.
Much to the disgust of die-hard fans, American fans have seen a special sneak peak trailer that was shown at the San Diego Comic-Con. Steven Moffatt (writer and producer) has claimed that he has ‘lied until his pants burned’, in order to keep the true story a secret, so it’s possible it could all be different to what we believe so far…
The feature length episode will reunite former Doctor David Tennant and his companion and unrequited love Rose (Billie Piper) and they will team up with the current Doctor (Matt Smith) and his companion – Clara, our cover star Jenna Coleman. Will the Tardis be big enough for them both?
At the end of the last series a new character John Hurt was revealed as an unknown version of the Doctor. Howard Burden (costume designer) says he is a ‘dark’ Doctor fitting somewhere in-between Paul McGann (1990 TV Movie) and Christopher Eccleston. In between these two characters there was no ‘regeneration’ and John Hurt fills the gap as a past Doctor as opposed to a future Doctor.
No special episode would be complete without the Daleks and it is rumoured that the shape-shifting Zygons will also appear even though they have barely been glimpsed since their first appearance 40 years ago.
Steven Moffatt has squashed rumours that it would be a massive reunion of Doctors, in part because three are dead! But Peter Davison has confirmed he will be in the 50th anniversary show and implied that other former Doctors are also taking part.
Fans are hoping there will be a rematch between the Zygons and UNIT, this happened last in 1975 in ‘Terror of the Zygons’, Kate Stewart played by Jemma Redgrave – head of the scientific research of the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce will be returning to fight alongside a Doctor, so this might just happen.
Several 50th Special posters are now in the public domain, with many analysing the details to determine the direction of the story – a Time War between the Time Lords and the Daleks, an exploding Tardis, even Bad Wolf have cropped up in reference to the re-launched Dr Who first series… Something else getting close inspection is the sonic screwdriver. Incidentally a design team have created an exact replica of the sonic gadget used by David Tennant. They contacted him to borrow the prop when they realised the BBC did not have any. Using 3D scans of the original gadget they have created a replica that can control any infrared appliance, it has a built in motion sensor and has default movements that can be personalised. Various screwdrivers are now available from the Wand Company starting at a cost of £59.99 – Christmas present anyone?
Following the special episode, eyes will turn to the Christmas episode and of course the bowing out of Matt Smith as Doctor to make way for a new Doctor – Peter Capaldi. Moffat told EntertainmentWise: “It’s hard to let go – I was watching him on set and he’s so heartbreakingly good. You get all excited about the new Doctor and then you go back and see Matt on his first day back on set, and you think, ‘Oh my God, that’s what we’re losing’.”
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