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David Tennant
The Christmas Invasion
Tenth Doctor Logo


Synopsis


The Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor
 It’s Christmas Eve and high above London, the alien Sycorax are holding the Earth to ransom.

 The Doctor must recover from his regeneration in time to save the Human Race from slavery,

Source: BBC DVD


General Information

Season: Twenty Eight (New Series 2)
Production Code: 2-X
Story Number: 167 (New Series: 11)
Episode Number:710 (New Series: 14)
Number of Episodes: 1
Percentage of Episodes Held:100%
Production Dates: July - November 2005
Broadcast Date: 25 December 2005
Colour Status: Colour
Studio: BBC Wales (Unit Q2, Newport)
Location: Wallis House (Brentford), Brandon Estate (Kennington), Clearwell Caves (Gloucestershire), Tower of London, Newport and Cardiff.
Writer:Russell T Davies
Director:James Hawes
Producer:Phil Collinson
Executive Producers:Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies
Associate Producer:Helen Vallis
Script Editor:Helen Raynor
Editor:Liana Del Giudice
Production Manager:Tracie Simpson
Production Designer:Edward Thomas
Director of Photography:Ernie Vincze BSC
Casting Director:Andy Pryor CDG
Costume Designer:Louise Page
Make-Up Designer:Sheelagh Wells
Cameraman:Julian Barber (Operator)
Visual Effects:The Mill
Special Effects:Any Effects
Prosthetics:Millennium Effects and Neill Gorton
Stunt Co-ordinator:Peter Brayham
Stunt Performers:Dani Biernat, Dean Foster, Kim McGarrity and Maurice Lee
Incidental Music:Murray Gold
Special Sounds (SFX Editor):Paul Jefferies
Sound Recordist:Simon Fraser
Sound Editors:Doug Sinclair and 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: 1
The Doctor: David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor) (Newly Regenerated)
Number of Companions: 1The Companion: Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) Number of Acquaintances: 2The Acquaintances: Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler) and Noel Clarke (Mickey Smith) Guest Cast: Penelope Wilton (Prime Minister Harriet Jones) Additional Cast: Adam Garcia (Alex Klein), Daniel Evans (Danny Llewellyn), Sean Gilder (Sycorax Leader), Anita Breim (Sally), Chu Ornambala (Major Blake), Sian McDowall (Sandra), Paul Anderson (Jason)Setting: London, Christmas (2006) Villain: The Sycorax

The Episodes

No. Episodes Broadcast
(UK)
Duration Viewers
(Millions)
In Archive
710The Christmas Invasion25 December 200558'54"9.4Yes

Total Duration 59 Minutes


Audience Appreciation

Average Viewers (Millions) 9.4
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2006)84.06%  (Position = 3 out of 11)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2009)77.68% Lower (Position = 48 out of 200)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2014)77.93% Higher (Position = 57 out of 241)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2023) Position = 17 out of 36


Archives


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



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Notes


This story though not technically part of Season Twenty Eight (New Series 2) it is the first real story of the Tenth Doctor's tenure and it was included with the DVD Box Set for this season.

This Christmas special is the first full story starring David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor. Before this story he has only made two brief appearances: The regeneration sequence at the end of "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways" and in the 7-minute "Children in Need Special" that was set between "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways" and "The Christmas Invasion" which was shown as part of the Children in Need charity telethon on 18 November 2005.

This story is the first Christmas Special since "The Feast of Steven" (episode 7 of the 12 part classic 1965 First Doctor story "The Daleks' Master Plan") and follows on directly from the "Children in Need Special" and also from the end of "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways". "The Christmas Invasion" is also the first story to premiere on a Sunday.

This story brings back Mickey Smith, Jackie Tyler and Harriet Jones (now Prime Minister and who was last seen in the two part Ninth Doctor story "Aliens of London/World War Three"). At the end of the this earlier story, The Doctor is heard to stated that she would at some point become Prime Minister, and by the time of "The Christmas Invasion" she has won a general election with a large majority.

Lachele Carl reappears as the reporter first seen in "Aliens of London/World War Three". She is later seen in the Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3) finale "The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords" and then during the following Season Thirty (New Series 4) stories: "The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky", "Turn Left" and "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End". She also appears, along with Elizabeth Sladen (as Sarah Jane Smith) and the Slitheen, in The Sarah Jane Adventures spin-off series story "Revenge of the Slitheen".

At the very start of this story, just before the opening credits, listen out for Jackie saying the line 'Doctor? Doctor who?', continuing this long-running in-joke.

Torchwood. The spin-off series from BBC Wales, is also seen in use for the first time (previously it was mentioned in "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways". There are also references to UNIT, indirectly about the Ice Warriors, past incarnations of The Doctors and Companions, The Doctor's continued defence of the Earth and Rose Tyler's recent encounters while travelling with the Ninth Doctor.

The Doctor's right hand is severed during the story's climactic swordfight, revealing a previously unknown Time Lord ability. It seems that they can fully restore damage to their new bodies within fifteen hours of their latest regeneration cycle. The severed hand later went on to cameo in spin-off series Torchwood, before returning home with Captain Jack Harkness in the Season Twenty Nine (New Series 3) story "Utopia".

The ability of the TARDIS to translate languages was first described as a 'Time Lord gift' by the Fourth Doctor in the 1976 story "The Masque of Mandragora".

Although not actually explained in this story, Mickey is presumably able to tap into the UNIT computers thanks to The Doctor's backdoor password, first used in "Aliens of London/World War Three".

Also look out for the scene showing Big Ben with scaffolding around it, presumable in the process of being rebuilt since the damage inflicted on it in "Aliens of London/World War Three" by The Slitheen.

The Doctor's remark that the human race is attracting extraterrestrial attention through its space probes echoes a similar speech by The Brigadier to Liz Shaw in the first Third Doctor story, "Spearhead From Space".

This storyline echoes early sections of the Fifth Doctor's first story "Castrovalva". Namely: Complications with regeneration, The Doctor spends much of the first half of the story unconscious, His companions carry him into the TARDIS to escape pursuers, He 'comes round' under the influence of fumes within the TARDIS.

Sycorax is the name of the witch in Shakespeare's play "The Tempest". In "The Shakespeare Code", The Doctor makes a brief reference to the Sycorax in front of the playwright, who decides to use the word somewhere in one of his plays.

While trying to bluff the Sycorax, Rose mentions: Article 15 of the Shadow Proclamation, The Slitheen Parliament of Raxicoricofallapatorius, the Gelth Confederacy, the Mighty Jagrafess and the Daleks.

This story's opening sequence is a repeat of the opening of "Rose", using a new arrangement of the same music.

The song playing during the wardrobe sequence, "Song for Ten" (named in reference to the Tenth Doctor), was composed by Murray Gold and sung by Tim Phillips. This is not the first time an original song has been written for the show. The first, and last time, was "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" in the 1966 First Doctor story "The Gunfighters". "Song for Ten" is also featured - as a slower, instrumental version - near the end of "School Reunion".

Various pieces of music featured in this story were released in December 2006 as part of the "Doctor Who Soundtrack" (produced by Silva Screen). These included the "Song for Ten", the music played behind Harriet Jones' speech and the music played as the spaceship arrives over London. The version of "Song for Ten" released on the soundtrack, however, is not the version from this story - but a newly recorded version with vocals sung by Neil Hannon and additional lyrics referring to the events of the season finale, "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday".

The closing credits had a new theme arrangement restoring the traditional "middle eight" section of the theme which had been omitted in the stories in Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1). This was performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by the revived show's composer Murray Gold.

At his request, David Tennant was credited as 'The Doctor' rather than as 'Doctor Who' as Christopher Eccleston had been in Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1), the first appearance of this credit since the Seventh Doctor story "Survival" in 1989.

The 'Coming Soon' trailer shown at the end of this story features brief clips from the forthcoming season (up to "Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel").

Immediately after the broadcast of this story, digital viewers were able to press their "red button" to view a special interactive story with the Tenth Doctor (without Rose), "Attack of the Graske" written by Gareth Roberts.

A special 60 minute chapter of Doctor Who Confidential, "One Year On" was broadcast, as part of the Dr Who Night on BBC3 on 6th April 2006. As well as covering the first season it contained behind the scenes footage from the making of this story. It was presented by Mark Gatiss.



First and Last

The Firsts:

 Though not technically part of Season Twenty Eight (New Series 2) this is the first real story of the Tenth Doctor's tenure.

 David Tennant's first full story as the Tenth Doctor.

 The first time, since episode seven of the 1965/66 First Doctor story "The Daleks' Master Plan", an episode is broadcast on Christmas Day - and the first purposely written Christmas story.

 The first story to premiere on a Sunday.

 The first appearance of the 'Pilot Fish' Robots disguised as Santas.

 The first time the TARDIS is seen flying through the air.

 The first time The Doctor is credited as such (rather than as "Doctor Who as had been during Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1)) in the closing titles and the first since the 1989 Seventh Doctor story "Survival".

 The first story, of the new series, to have an episode that is one hour long.

 Sheelagh Wells' first involvement in the show as Makeup Artist.

 Louise Page's first involvement in the show as Costume Designer.


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The Plot

WARNING: May Contain SpoilersHide Text
The Doctor Arrives
The Doctor Arrives

It’s Christmas Eve and both Rose Tyler’s mum, Jackie Tyler, and boyfriend, Mickey Smith, here the sound of the TARDIS arriving at the London Estate that they live in.

But they are shocked when the craft comes crashing down and then out steps a stranger – who seems to know them both but which they have never met before – before he passes out at their feet.

Luckily Rose appears from the TARDIS and explains that this stranger is in fact The Doctor but he has regenerated to save Rose’s life. The Doctor’s own life is now in danger in more ways the one. Not only is he unconscious and is somehow slipping away but there is an alien presence on the planet that seems to have an interest in his presence.

A Deadly Santa
A Deadly Santa

While Doctor sleeps and is being cared for by Jackie Rose and Mickey go Christmas shopping but are prevented from doing so by a musical band of Santas with guns as their instruments that nearly kill them before they are able to get away. But worse when they return to the flat they are all attacked by a Christmas tree which comes alive. Thankfully The Doctor awakes from his coma long enough to despatch the deadly tree with his screwdriver.

It seems that someone is following them is attracted to them – but why? Could they simply be precursors for an invasion of a much larger force?

The Doctor to the Rescue
The Doctor to the Rescue

Meanwhile, all of Britain is watching television reports on Guinevere One, Britain's newest Mars probe. But unbeknown to them Guinevere One never reaches Mars but instead encounters a massive space-borne craft that is heading towards the Earth.

Soon the whole population is aware of the large spacecraft and the aliens that are onboard. Then when a third of the human race are taken over by the aliens the British Government, lead by Harriet Jones - the new Prime Minister – and UNIT become desperate to find a solution to this invasion.

Soon Harriet Jones finds herself transported to the alien spaceship and joined by Rose – who is in the TARDIS when it to is teleported to the spaceship by the aliens. There they try to convince the Sycorax Leader to release the humans and to leave this planet alone but even Rose, with all her experience of travelling with The Doctor, is powerless to save the planet. It is not until The Doctor awakens – all thanks to a spilled thermos of tea - do events turn to the human’s advantage.

Deadly Santas
Deadly Santas

After The Doctor challenges the Sycorax leader to a duel, for control of the Earth – which The Doctor wins and so the Sycorax invaders are forced to leave the Earth and never return.

However, despite the departure of the Sycorax’s spaceship Harriet Jones still gives the go ahead to use a top secret defence project based on alien technology called Torchwood to destroy the parting spaceship.

As the embers of the Sycorax ship rain down on London, The Doctor, Rose, Mickey and Jackie enjoy Christmas dinner, and then The Doctor and Rose make their goodbyes... he ready to return to the great unknown out in space, and she now convinced that even with a different face and a different demeanour, he's still the same old Doctor she knows and loves.

 
Post Regeneration
Post Regeneration
Jackie and Rose
Jackie and Rose
The Sycorax Over London
The Sycorax Over London
The Sycorax Arrive
The Sycorax Arrive
 
Harriet Jones, The Prime Minister
Harriet Jones, The Prime Minister
The Sycorax
The Sycorax
The Tenth Doctor
The Tenth Doctor
The Sword Fight
The Sword Fight




Quote of the Story


 'Jackie, Mickey, blimey! No, no, no, no, hold on. Wait there! What was I going to say? I had something I had to tell you. Something important, what was it? No, hold on, hold on. Tch tch tch tch... Oh, I know! Merry Christmas!'

The Doctor



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Release Information

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)Code NumberCover ArtRemarks
Video
DVD
The Christmas Invasion - New EarthMay 2006BBCDVD 1960Photo-montage
Video
DVD
The Complete Second SeriesNovember 2006BBCDVD 2122Photo-montageBoxed set containing all 11 stories
Video
DVD
The Complete Second Series (Amazon Version)November 2006BBCDVD 2122Photo-montageLimited Edition 'Cyberman Head' box set containing all 11 stories
Audio
CD
Original Television SoundtrackDecember 2006SILCD1224Photo-montageMusic by Murray Gold
Audio
CD
Original Television Soundtrack - Series 1 and 22007Photo-montageMusic by Murray Gold
Video
DVD
Series 1 - 4 Box SetOctober 2009BBCDVD 3058Boxed set containing all 43 stories on 23 Discs
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete Series 1-7 Box Set (Limited Edition)December 2013BBCBD 0242Photo-montageLimited Edition Blu-Ray boxed set containing all Series 1-7 stories at full 1080p high definition
Video
DVD
The Complete Second Series (2014 Re-release)August 2014BBCDVD 3966Photo-montageBoxed set containing all 11 stories
Video
DVD
The Complete David Tennant Years Box SetNovember 2014BBCDVD 4000Photo-montageBoxed set containing all 37 stories on 26 Discs
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete Second Series Box SetAugust 2015BBCBD 0262Photo-montageBlu-Ray boxed set containing 11 stories
Video
DVD
The Christmas Specials Box Set (Limited Edition)October 2015BBCDVD 4059Photo-montageBoxed set containing 10 Christmas stories
Video
Blu-Ray
The Christmas Specials Box Set (Limited Edition)October 2015BBCBD 0314Photo-montageBlu-Ray boxed set containing 10 Christmas stories
Audio
LP
Original Television Soundtrack - Series 1 and 22016Photo-montageMusic by Murray Gold
Video
DVD
The Complete Second Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)July 2017BBCDVD 2317Photo-montageLimited Edition DVD Steelbook boxed set containing 10 stories (Amazon Exclusive)
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete Second Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)July 2017BBCBD 0393Photo-montageLimited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook boxed set containing 10 stories (Amazon Exclusive)
Video
Blu-Ray
Series 1 - 4 & Specials Blu-Ray CollectionNovember 2023BBCBD 0582Photo-montageBoxed set containing all Ninth and Tenth Doctor stories upscaled to high definition


In Print

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)PublisherAuthorCover ArtRemarks
Novel
Novel
The Christmas InvasionApril 2018BBC BooksJenny T ColganTarget Collection. ISBN: 978-1-78594-328-7
CD
CD
The Christmas InvasionApril 2018BBC AudioJenny T ColganAudio version of the BBC Books Target Novel read by Camille Coduri.
Doctor Who Magazine - PreviewIssue 364 (Released: January 2006)
Doctor Who Magazine - After ImageIssue 366 (Released: March 2006)
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of FictionIssue 416 (Released: January 2010)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 442 (Released: December 2011/January 2012)
Doctor Who DVD FilesVolume 7 (Released: April 2009)

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Photo Gallery


The Doctor and Companion/Acquaintances

 
David Tennant
The Tenth Doctor

   

Billie Piper
Rose Tyler
Camille Coduri
Jackie Tyler
Noel Clarke
Mickey Smith
   




On Release

DVD Cover
DVD Cover

BBC
VIDEO
Complete Series DVD Box Set
Complete Series DVD Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
DVD Box Set<BR>(Amazon Version)
DVD Box Set
(Amazon Version)

BBC
VIDEO
Original Television Soundtrack Cover
Original Television Soundtrack Cover

BBC
AUDIO
   
Original Television Soundtrack Silva Screen CD Cover
Original Television Soundtrack Silva Screen CD Cover

Silva Screen
AUDIO
Series 1-4 DVD Box Set
Series 1-4 DVD Box Set

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

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

BBC
VIDEO
   
Complete David Tennant Years DVD Box Set
Complete David Tennant Years DVD Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set
Complete Series Blu-Ray Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
DVD Christmas Stories Box Set
DVD Christmas Stories Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Blu-Ray Christmas Stories Box Set
Blu-Ray Christmas Stories Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
   
Original Television Soundtrack Vinyl Cover
Original Television Soundtrack Vinyl Cover

Silva Screen
AUDIO
Complete Series DVD Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set
Complete Series DVD Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Complete Series Blu-Ray Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set
Complete Series Blu-Ray Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set

BBC
VIDEO
Series 1 - 4 & Specials Blu-Ray Collection Cover
Series 1 - 4 & Specials Blu-Ray Collection Cover

BBC
VIDEO
   



In Print

BBC Books Target Collection Cover
BBC Books Target Collection Cover

BBC
NOVEL
 
BBC Audio CD Cover
BBC Audio CD Cover

BBC
CD
   


Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 364
Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 364

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - After Image: Issue 366
Doctor Who Magazine - After Image: Issue 366

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 416
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 416

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 442
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 442

Marvel Comics
   
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 7
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 7

GE Fabbri


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