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Christopher Eccleston
Aliens of London/World War Three
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Synopsis


The Slitheen
The Slitheen
 The Doctor takes Rose home. But when a spaceship crash-lands in the Thames, London is closed off, and the whole world goes on Red Alert. While The Doctor investigates the alien survivor, Rose discovers that her home is no longer a safe haven. Who are the Slitheen?

 Downing Street announces mankind’s first Interplanetary War. But the real danger is much closer to home.

 The Doctor, Rose and Harriet Jones race against time to unmask the villainous Slitheen, but only Rose’s boyfriend and mum hold the key to salvation. Can the missiles be stopped?

Source: BBC DVD


General Information

Season: Twenty Seven (New Series 1)
Production Code: 1-4/1-5
Story Number: 160 (New Series: 4)
Episode Numbers:700 - 701 (New Series: 4 - 5)
Number of Episodes: 2
Percentage of Episodes Held:100%
Working Titles:"Aliens of London, Part One" (episode 1), "Aliens of London, Part Two" and "10 Downing Street" (episode 2)
Production Dates: July - October 2004
Broadcast Started: 16 April 2005
Broadcast Finished: 23 April 2005
Colour Status: Colour
Studio: BBC Wales (Unit Q2, Newport)
Location: Cardiff Royal Infirmary (Cardiff), John Adams Street and Victoria Embankment (London) Brandon Estate (Kennington), Newport and Hensol Castle (Hensol).
Writer:Russell T Davies
Director:Keith Boak
Producer:Phil Collinson
Executive Producers:Julie Gardner, Mal Young and Russell T Davies
Associate Producer:Helen Vallis
Script Editor:Elwen Rowlands
Editor:Mike Jones
Production Manager:Tracie Simpson
Production Designer:Edward Thomas
Director of Photography:Ernie Vincze BSC
Casting Director:Andy Pryor CDG
Costume Designer:Lucinda Wright
Make-Up Designer:Davy Jones
Cameramen:Martin Stephens (Operator) and Mike Costelloe (Operator)
Visual Effects:The Mill
Special Effects:Any Effects
Prosthetics:Millennium Effects
Stunt Co-ordinator:Rod Woodruff
Incidental Music:Murray Gold
Special Sounds (SFX Editor):Paul Jefferies
Sound Recordist:Ian Richardson
Title Music:Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Arranged by Murray Gold
Number of Doctors: 1
The Doctor: Christopher Eccleston (The Ninth Doctor)
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 (Harriet Jones) Additional Cast: Corey Doabe (Spray Painter), Ceris Jones (Policeman), Jack Tarlton (Reporter), Lachele Carl (Reporter), Fiesta Mei Ling (Ru), Basil Chung (Bau), Matt Baker (Himself), Andrew Marr (Himself), Rupert Vansittart (General Asquith), David Verrey (Joseph Green), Navin Chowdhry (Indra Ganesh), Annette Badland (Margaret Blaine), Naoko Mori (Doctor. Sato), Eric Potts (Oliver Charles), Jimmy Vee (Alien), Steve Speirs (Strickland), Elizabeth Fost (Slitheen), Paul Kasey (Slitheen), Alan Ruscoe (Slitheen) and Morgan Hopkins (Sergeant Price)Setting: London (2006) Villain: Slitheen

The Episodes

No. Episodes Broadcast
(UK)
Duration Viewers
(Millions)
In Archive
700Aliens of London16 April 200545'02"7.6Yes
701World War Three23 April 200542'56"8.0Yes

Total Duration 1 Hour 28 Minutes


Audience Appreciation

Average Viewers (Millions) 7.8
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2005)68.96%  (Position = 8 out of 10)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2009)64.67% Lower (Position = 132 out of 200)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2014)63.04% Lower (Position = 173 out of 241)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2023) Position = 9 out of 10


Archives


 Both episodes exist and are held in the BBC's Film and Videotape Library.



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Notes


This story is the first two-parter of the revived show. Episode one was originally called "Aliens of London, Part One" before the second episode gained its own title of "World War Three". The working titles for the second episode were "Aliens of London, Part Two" and "10 Downing Street".

The external shots in episode one were actually the very first items of the revived show to be filmed.

BBC political reporter Andrew Marr and Blue Peter presenter Matt Baker appear as themselves. This story also marks the first appearance of reporter/newsreader Trinity Wells, played by Lachele Carl. She reappears in "The Christmas Invasion", "The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords", "The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky", "Turn Left", "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End" and also in episodes of childrens spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Harriet Jones reappears in "The Christmas Invasion", by which time she has been elected Prime Minister. Despite falling out with The Doctor, Harriet returns in "The Stolen Earth/Journey's End", where she is seen surrending herself to the Daleks in order to save mankind.

The government pathologist featured in this story, Dr Toshiko Sato (played by Naoko Mori), can also be seen in the spin-off series Torchwood.

As with the first story "Rose" it appears that The Doctor is well known - especially on the Internet. To counter this The Doctor is seen giving Mickey a CD containing a virus to eradicate any trace of himself online.

The Slitheen are revealed to be a family; it is their surname, the name of their actual race is never revealed.

In this story The Doctor reveals that he is 900 years old. The last time he mentioned his age was in the 1987 story "Time and The Rani", when the Seventh Doctor claimed that he was 953 years old.

The destruction and rebuilding of 10 Downing Street in this story is referenced in "The Sound of Drums/Last of the Time Lords", where The Master sets up in the newly-built office.

This isn't the first time that the TARDIS has been defaced. It was covered with chalk scribblings in the 1973 story "The Time Warrior" and then again in 1980 story "The Leisure Hive" and was painted flamboyant pink in the 1988 story "Happiness Patrol".

Before the title sequence in episode one there is a brief recap from "Rose" that leads directly into a pre-credits sequence.

The end of episode one contains a trailer for the second episode of this story. While the ending of episode two includes a trailer for the next story "Dalek".

Before the title sequence in episode two there is a brief recap of the main events that took place in the first episode.

Following on immediately after both episodes, on BBC3, were the third and fourth chapters of Doctor Who Confidential "I get a side-kick out of you" looked into what it takes to make the grade as The Doctor's companion. While "Why on Earth?" took a closer look at The Doctor's favourite planet.



First and Last

The Firsts:

 The first appearance of the Slitheen.

 The first appearance in the show of Harriet Jones played by Penelope Wilton.

 The first appearance of reporter/newsreader Trinity Wells played by Lachele Carl.

 The first two-part story of the revived television series.

 The very first items of the new series to be filmed were the external shots used in episode one.

 The first time the events of the previous episode are shown before the title sequence.


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Story Images

Show Text
Aliens of London/World War Three

The Aliens Arrive
The Aliens Arrive
Big Ben is Struck
Big Ben is Struck
The Doctor Watching Sato Examining the Alien Pig
The Doctor Watching Sato Examining the Alien Pig
Political Intrigue
Political Intrigue
 
The Doctor Under Attack
The Doctor Under Attack
The Slitheen
The Slitheen
The Doctor with Harriet Jones and Rose
The Doctor with Harriet Jones and Rose
Jackie and Mickey Smith
Jackie and Mickey Smith
 
The Slitheen
The Slitheen
The Slitheen
The Slitheen
Harriet Jones, MP
Harriet Jones, MP
Fighting Back
Fighting Back
 




Quote of the Story


 'Whoever these aliens are, they haven’t just arrived: they’ve been here for a while. Question is, what have they been doing...?'

The Doctor



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Release Information

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)Code NumberCover ArtRemarks
Video
DVD
Aliens of London - World War Three - DalekJune 2005BBCDVD 1756Photo-montage
Video
DVD
The Complete First SeriesNovember 2005BBCDVD 1770Photo-montageTARDIS Boxed Set containing all 10 stories
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 First Series (2014 Re-release)August 2014BBCDVD 3965Photo-montageBoxed set containing all 10 stories
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete First Series Box SetAugust 2015BBCBD 0261Photo-montageBlu-Ray boxed set containing 10 stories
Audio
LP
Original Television Soundtrack - Series 1 and 22016Photo-montageMusic by Murray Gold
Video
DVD
The Complete First Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)March 2017Photo-montageLimited Edition DVD Steelbook boxed set containing 10 stories (Amazon Exclusive)
Video
Blu-Ray
The Complete First Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)March 2017BBCBD 0343Photo-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

No Book Release
Doctor Who Magazine - PreviewIssue 355 (Released: April 2005)
Doctor Who Magazine - After ImageIssue 357 (Released: June 2005)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 433 (Released: May 2011)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 434 (Released: June 2011)
Doctor Who DVD FilesVolume 2 (Released: January 2009)
Doctor Who DVD FilesVolume 3 (Released: February 2009)

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Photo Gallery


The Doctor and Companion/Acquaintances

 
Christopher Eccleston
The Ninth 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
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 Series Blu-Ray Box Set
Complete Series Blu-Ray 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



Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 355
Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 355

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - After Image: Issue 357
Doctor Who Magazine - After Image: Issue 357

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 433
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 433

Marvel Comics
   
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 434
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 434

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 2
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 2

GE Fabbri
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 3
Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 3

GE Fabbri
   

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