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The Runaway Bride

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Synopsis

The Empress of Racnoss

Killer Santas, exploding baubles, an alien spaceship shaped like a giant star - Christmas with The Doctor is anything but a silent night…

Source: BBC DVD

General Information

Season:	Twenty Nine (New Series 3)
Production Code:	3-X
Story Number:	178 (New Series: 22)
Episode Number:	724 (New Series: 28)
Number of Episodes:	1
Percentage of Episodes Held:	100%
Production Dates:	July - August 2006
Broadcast Date:	25 December 2006
Colour Status:	Colour
Studio:	BBC Wales (Upper Boat, Pontypridd)
Location:	Thames Flood Barrier, Chiswick flyover & IPC Building (London), Cardiff Bay, Cardiff Millennium Centre, Pontypool and Newport Docks.

Writer:

Russell T Davies

Director:

Euros Lyn

Producer:

Phil Collinson

Executive Producers:

Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies

Script Editor:

Simon Winstone

Editor:

John Richards

Production Executive:

Julie Scott

Production Manager:

Tracie Simpson

Production Designer:

Edward Thomas

Director of Photography:

Rory Taylor

Casting Director:

Andy Pryor CDG

Costume Designer:

Louise Page

Make-Up Designer:

Barbara Southcott

Cameraman:

Siân Elin Palfrey (2nd Camera)

Visual Effects:

The Mill

Special Effects:

Any Effects

Prosthetics:

Millennium FX

Stunt Co-ordinator:

David Forman

Stunt Performers:

Gary Hoptrough, George Cottle, Nina Armstrong, Richard Hammett, Rob Hunt and Tina Amskell

Incidental Music:

Murray Gold

Special Sounds (SFX Editor):

Paul Jefferies

Sound Recordist:

Julian Howarth

Sound Supervisor:

Paul McFadden

Music Performed By:

The BBC National Orchestra of Wales

Title Music:

Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Arranged by Murray Gold

Number of Doctors:

The Doctor:

David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor)

Number of Companions: 1The Companion: Catherine Tate (Donna Noble) (Departs) Additional Cast: Sarah Parish (Empress), Don Gilet (Lance Bennett) Howard Attfield (Geoff Noble), Jacqueline King (Sylvia Noble), Trevor Georges (Vicar), Glen Wilson (Taxi Driver), Krystal Archer (Nerys), Rhodri Meilir (Rhodri), Zafirah Boateng (Little Girl), Paul Kasey (Robot Santa)Setting: London (2007) Villain: The Empress of Racnoss

The Episodes

No.	Episodes	Broadcast (UK)	Duration	Viewers (Millions)	In Archive
724	The Runaway Bride	25 December 2006	59'59"	9.4	Yes

Total Duration

60 Minutes

Audience Appreciation

Average Viewers (Millions)

9.4

Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2007)	68.10% (Position = 8 out of 10)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2009)	68.08% (Position = 115 out of 200)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2014)	67.70% (Position = 153 out of 241)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2023)	Position = 21 out of 36

Archives

This story exists and is held in the BBC's Film and Videotape Library.

Notes

Comedy actress Catherine Tate plays the part of The Runaway Bride - Donna Noble.

Sarah Parish, who plays the part of The Empress, previously co-starred with David Tennant in the BBC One dramas Blackpool (2004) and Recovery (2007).

This story includes brief flashback glimpses of Billie Piper as Rose Tyler, the return of the 'pilot fish' robots disguised as Santas from "The Christmas Invasion" as well as the Torchwood Institute.

This story was the first Doctor Who story to be filmed at the new Upper Boat studios in Pontypridd. The studio is also the home of Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures. Previous Doctor Who stories were filmed at Unit Q2 in Newport.

The scene with the ATM included mocked-up money. On the £10 bills has the face of David Tennant as The Doctor along with line 'I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of ten satsumas'. The £20 bills has producer Phil Collinson accompanied by a misquote of the beloved 'being grown up' line from "Robot".

This is the first time that The Doctor's home planet, Gallifrey, has been referred to by name since the show's revival in 2005. The first time the name was ever revealed was in 1973 in the Third Doctor story "The Time Warrior".

This is the first time an ancient form of energy known as Huon particles are referenced. These are an element of the heart of the TARDIS. Other substances and energies associated with the TARDIS include mercury ("The Daleks"), Artron enery ("The Deadly Assasin") and Zeiton 7 ("Vengeance on Varos").

Listen out in the scene when the tank commander recieves his orders to shoot down the Empress's ship. These come from a certain Mr Saxon - the first time this character is spoken about onscreen. Eagle-eyed viewers, however, will have spotted that Saxon was previously referenced in a newspaper headline in "Love & Monsters".

At the story's conclusion the TARDIS is seen to takes off vertically, like a rocket, rather than dematerilise. This hasn't happened since the 1968 Second Doctor story "Fury From the Deep". On that occassion, we only got to see the take-off from inside the TARDIS.

Following the precedent set with "Song For Ten" in "The Christmas Invasion", composer Murray Gold wrote a new original song for this special, "Love Don't Roam". The song was performed by Neil Hannon, frontman of the Divine Comedy. The Divine Comedy have also provided music for comedies Father Ted and The IT Crowd.

Like "The Christmas Invasion", this Christmas special was televised on Christmas Day as the lynchpin of the BBC's holiday line-up.

The end of this story contains clips of some of the stories due in Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3).

A special 60 minute chapter of Doctor Who Confidential, called "Music and Monsters" was broadcast on the Christmas Day. As well as covering the creation of the "Doctor Who: A Celebration" concert it contained behind the scenes footage from the making of "The Runaway Bride". It was presented by Anthony Head.

First and Last

The Firsts:

Though not technically part of Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3) this is the first real story of this season.

Catherine Tate's first full story as Donna Noble - though she would not be officially classed as a companion until the beginning of Season Thirty (New Series 4).

The first appearance of Jacqueline King, in the role of Sylvia Noble, before becoming a regular supporting character at the beginning of Season Thirty (New Series 4).

The first time that The Doctor's home planet, Gallifrey, has been referred to by name since the show's revival in 2005.

The first time an ancient form of energy known as Huon particles (an element at the heart of the TARDIS) are referenced

The first time The Master's alter-ego, Mr Saxon, is spoken about onscreen.

The first time the TARDIS is seen to take off vertically, like a rocket, rather than dematerilise since the Second Doctor 1968 story "Fury from the Deep".

The first Doctor Who story to be recorded at BBC Wales Upper Boat Studios in Pontypridd.

Barbara Southcott's first involvement in the show as Makeup Artist.

Story Images

Show Text

Donna Noble's Wedding

Being Whisked Away

A Startled Donna

The Doctor

Leaving the TARDIS

A 'Pilot Fish' Robot

High Speed Rescue

The Doctor and Donna

The Empress of Racnoss

Empress' Web Ship

Saying Goodbye

Quote of the Story

'I am not from Mars. My home planet is far away and long since gone. But it's name lives on: Gallifrey!'

The Doctor

Release Information

Format	Title	Release Date (UK)	Code Number	Cover Art	Remarks
DVD	The Runaway Bride	April 2007	BBCDVD 2380	Photo-montage
DVD	The Complete Third Series (Standard Version)	November 2007	BBCDVD 2579	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing all 11 stories
DVD	The Complete Third Series (Amazon Version)	November 2007	BBCDVD 2579	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing all 11 stories
DVD	The Complete Third Series (Woolworths Version)	November 2007	BBCDVD 2579	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing all 11 stories
CD	Original Television Soundtrack - Series 3	November 2007	SILCD1250	Photo-montage	Music by Murray Gold
DVD	Series 1 - 4 Box Set	October 2009	BBCDVD 3058		Boxed set containing all 43 stories on 23 Discs
Blu-Ray	The Complete Series 1-7 Box Set (Limited Edition)	December 2013	BBCBD 0242	Photo-montage	Limited Edition Blu-Ray boxed set containing all Series 1-7 stories at full 1080p high definition
CD	The 50th Anniversary Collection	December 2013		Photo-montage	Original Television Soundtracks
DVD	The Complete Third Series (2014 Re-release)	August 2014	BBCDVD 3967	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing all 11 stories
DVD	The Complete David Tennant Years Box Set	November 2014	BBCDVD 4000	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing all 37 stories on 26 Discs
Blu-Ray	The Complete Third Series Box Set	August 2015	BBCBD 0263	Photo-montage	Blu-Ray boxed set containing 11 stories
DVD	The Christmas Specials Box Set (Limited Edition)	October 2015	BBCDVD 4059	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing 10 Christmas stories
Blu-Ray	The Christmas Specials Box Set (Limited Edition)	October 2015	BBCBD 0314	Photo-montage	Blu-Ray boxed set containing 10 Christmas stories
Blu-Ray	The Complete Third Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)	May 2018	BBCBD 0436	Photo-montage	Limited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook boxed set containing 11 stories
Blu-Ray	Time Lord Victorious - Road To The Dark Times	November 2020	BBCBD 0518	Photo-montage	Blu-Ray set containing 7 stories containing legends of the Dark Times, the Dalek Empire and the Time Lord Victorious.
Blu-Ray	Series 1 - 4 & Specials Blu-Ray Collection	November 2023	BBCBD 0582	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing all Ninth and Tenth Doctor stories upscaled to high definition

In Print

No Book Release

Doctor Who Magazine - Preview	Issue 377 (Released: January 2007)
Doctor Who Magazine - After Image	Issue 379 (Released: February 2007)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team	Issue 455 (Released: January 2013)
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction	Issue 507 (Released: January 2017)
Doctor Who DVD Files	Volume 14 (Released: July 2009)

Photo Gallery

The Doctor and Companion

The Tenth Doctor

Donna Noble

On Release

DVD Cover

VIDEO

DVD Box Set
(Standard Version)

VIDEO

DVD Box Set
(Amazon Version)

VIDEO

DVD Box Set
(Woolworths Version)

VIDEO

Original Television Soundtrack Cover

AUDIO

Series 1-4 DVD Box Set

VIDEO

Complete Series 1-7 Ltd Edition Blu-Ray Box Set

VIDEO

The 50th Anniversary Collection Cover

AUDIO

Complete Series DVD Box Set<BR>(2014 Re-release)

Complete Series DVD Box Set
(2014 Re-release)

VIDEO

Complete David Tennant Years DVD Box Set

VIDEO

Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set

VIDEO

DVD Christmas Stories Box Set

VIDEO

Blu-Ray Christmas Stories Box Set

VIDEO

Complete Series Blu-Ray Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set

VIDEO

Time Lord Victorious Blu-Ray Cover

VIDEO

Series 1 - 4 & Specials Blu-Ray Collection Cover

VIDEO

Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 377

Doctor Who Magazine - After Image: Issue 379

Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 455

Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 507

Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 14

Who's Who

Who Me

Episodes of the
Tenth Doctor

Season 29 (New Series 3)

References

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