 Like previous stories that have started the season proper "Partners in Crime" does not include a pre-introductory credit sequence.
"Partners in Crime" is the first story of Season Thirty (New Series 4). It was broadcast on BBC One on 5 April 2008 at 6:20 pm - the earliest time since the show's revival in 2005.
This story reintroduces comedian Catherine Tate as Donna Noble, who previously appeared in "The Runaway Bride".
This story also features the return of three other principle characters: Jacqueline King reprises her role as Sylvia Noble from "The Runaway Bride". Bernard Cribbins reprises his role as Wilfred Mott from "Voyage of the Damned". Bernard Cribbins was recalled to replace the character of Geoff Noble, who appeared as Donna's father in "The Runaway Bride", after actor Howard Attfield died. Howard Attfield had filmed several scenes for this story, but not any of the scenes for the remainder of the season. The producers decided to ‘retire’ his character out of respect. Geoff Noble’s traits were therefore transferred to the originally unrelated character Wilfred Mott and who was made to become Donna's grandfather. Howard Attfield's scenes therefore had to be re-shot with Bernard Cribbins. This story includes a dedication to Howard Attfield in the closing credits.
The big surprise for this story was a brief scene of a former companion. Played by Billie Piper she briefly reprises her role as Rose Tyler for the first time since the Season Twenty Eight finale "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday", in a scene that was not included in the preview showings and press launch. This scene contains Rose's departure theme.
Guest star Sarah Lancashire is perhaps best known by UK audiences for playing Raquel in over 170 episodes of the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She also appeared alongside Christopher Eccleston and Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3) supervillain John Simm in the BBC drama Clocking Off.
This story has no clear antagonist – as the Adipose are in a different style to the regular "big and scary" monsters. They were created using the software Massive, commonly used for crowd sequences in fantasy and science fiction films including The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Miss Foster's Sonic Pen is the latest in a long line of sound-based devices to feature in Doctor Who. Others include Sarah Jane Smith's Sonic Lipstick, Captain Jack Harkness' Sonic Blaster and, of course, The Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver. The Doctor also used a sonic lance in 1985's "Attack of the Cybermen", while the Ice Warriors used Sonic Canons.
The name 'Adipose' comes from the name for the energy-storing fatty tissue found inside humans and animals.
Exterior shots of Adipose Industries were filmed at the Welsh Gas Board Building in Cardiff's city centre. For health and safety reasons, David Tennant was prohibited from performing his own stunts in the window cleaning platform.
The scene where Donna and The Doctor investigate Adipose took thirty shots to complete and was filmed in a loan company's call centre in Cardiff's outskirts on an early Sunday morning, with the company's telephonists serving as extras.
The end of this story contains a trailer for the next story "The Fires of Pompeii".
Following on immediately after this story, on BBC3, was the first chapter of the fourth series of Doctor Who Confidential, "A Noble Return" presented by Anthony Head.
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The Firsts:
The first true story of Season Thirty (New Series 4).
Catherine Tate's first full story as official companion, Donna Noble.
The official introduction of regular supporting character Wilfred Mott, as Donna Noble's grandfather, (played by Bernard Cribbins)
The official introduction of regular supporting character Sylvia Noble (played by Jacqueline King).
Billie Piper's first appearance in the show, as companion Rose Tyler, since she left at the end of Army of Ghosts/Doomsday.
First reference to "ATMOS".
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(Position = 9 out of 11)
(Position = 98 out of 200)
(Position = 106 out of 241)
