 This is director Graeme Harper's first story in the revived show. He previously helmed Peter Davison's swansong 1984 story "The Caves of Androzani" as well as the 1985 story "Revelation of the Daleks". The first Doctor Who story that Director Graham Harper worked on, when he was a floor assistant, was "The Power of the Daleks".
This two part story features the long-awaited return of the Cybermen to the revived show. They were created by Doctor Who's unofficial scientific advisor Dr Kit Pedler and script editor Gerry Davis for the 1966 First Doctor story "The Tenth Planet". These Cybermen originated on Earth's twin planet, Mondas. An original Cyberman head (from "Revenge of the Cybermen") was also seen in the Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1) story "Dalek".
For the show's second-most famous monsters Russell T Davies, like the reintroduction of the Daleks, sought inspiration in the line of Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio stories by repeating their experiment with the Cybermen - in particular the 2002 Fifth Doctor story "Spare Parts" that was written by "Ghost Light" writer Marc Platt.
Shaun Dingwall reprises his role as Pete Tyler. He previously appeared in "Father's Day".
Colin Spaull, who played Mr Crane, previously appeared in "Revelation of the Daleks" as Lilt.
Don Warrington had never previously appeared in a television story of Doctor Who, but he has been involved with the show - playing the Time Lord's founder Rassilon in several audio adventures.
The name 'International Electromatics', as seen on the truck collecting humans for Cyber-conversion, is a reference to the company of the same name featured in the 1968 Cyberman adventure "The Invasion".
Jackie is the first woman to be seen converted into a Cyberman in the television show. After conversion female Cybermen don't appear to be physically any different to their male counterparts, and aren't referred to as 'Cyberwomen'. Until Torchwood, that is.
A Cybercontroller, recognisable by its larger than normal cranium, also featured in the 1967 Second Doctor story "The Tomb of the Cybermen" and in the 1985 Sixth Doctor story "Attack of the Cybermen".
The TARDIS previously suffered a complete power failure in 1974 Third Doctor story "Death to the Daleks". Also look out for the six oxygen masks that drop from the ceiling when the TARDIS crashes - an early indication that a TARDIS is designed to be manned by a crew of six. This is later confirmed in the story "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End".
The Doctor is heard to suggest attacking the Cybus factory in the Battersea Power station at three points: 'Above, between, below'. This is a reference to the ancient Gallifreyan nursery rhyme (citing three possible entrances to the Tomb of Rassilon) quoted by the Second Doctor in 1983 Twentieth Anniversary Special "The Five Doctors".
The second episode of this story features the departure of Noel Clarke as companion Mickey. He only officially became companion in the previous story. Despite this Mickey had, before becoming a companion, appeared in the show in 7 previous stories. As time would tell he would return.
The 53 second TARDISode for the first episode of this story took the form of a message from Gemini to the Preachers about the Ultimate Upgrade program, before being interrupted by an advertisement from Cybus Industries. The 42 second TARDISode for the second episode consisted of Lumic's order to his worldwide Cyberfactories to implement the Ultimate Upgrade initiative. Unlike TARDISodes these principally relied on footage shot for the story itself rather than on specially-filmed material, although Noel Clarke did appear as Ricky for a small amount of recording on 1st February 2006. As with all the other TARDISode's - all of which were written by Gareth Roberts - they could be downloaded from the BBC Doctor Who website or via a mobile phone a week before the broadcast of each episode.
Before the title sequence in episode two there is a brief recap of the main events that took place in the first episode.
Unlike the two-part stories from the Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1), the first episode of this story has no trailer for the next episode - only a title card reading "To be continued...", the first time this phrase has ever been used to end an episode in the programme's history. The second episode of this story does contain a trailer for the next story - This being "The Idiot's Lantern".
Following on immediately after each episode of this story, on BBC3, were the fifth and sixth chapters of the second series of Doctor Who Confidential. These being "Cybermen" and "From Zero to Hero". Both were presented by Mark Gatiss. As well as looking behind the scenes of each episode capter 5 looked into more detail the legacy of the Cybermen, while chapter 6 looked into the increasing role for Mickey Smith.
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The Firsts:
The first appearance of 'live' Cybermen in the revived television series and the first for 18 years - since the 1988 Seventh Doctor story "Silver Nemesis".
The first appearance of a CyberController in the revived television series and the first for 22 years - since the 1984 Sixth Doctor story "Attack of the Cybermen".
The first visit to a parallel universe in the revised show.
Jackie Tyler is the first woman to be seen converted into a Cyberman in the television series.
The first indication that a TARDIS is designed to be manned by a crew of six. This is later confirmed in the story "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End".
The first two part story, of the revised show, where the first episode does not include a trailer for the next episode.
The first time a story, with more than one episode, has a title card, reading "To be continued...", shown before the end credits of the current episode.
The first Doctor Who story to be written by Tom MacRae.
The first Doctor Who story to be directed by Graeme Harper.
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(Position = 6 out of 11)
(Position = 68 out of 200)
