Doctor Who - The Television Stories

Doctor Who - The Stories

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Love & Monsters

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Synopsis

The Abzorbaloff

An ordinary man becomes obsessed with The Doctor and Rose, and uncovers a world of living nightmares.

Source: BBC DVD

General Information

Season:	Twenty Eight (New Series 2)
Production Code:	2-10
Story Number:	175 (New Series: 19)
Episode Number:	720 (New Series: 24)
Number of Episodes:	1
Percentage of Episodes Held:	100%
Working Titles:	"I Love The Doctor"
Production Dates:	March 2006
Broadcast Date:	17 June 2006
Colour Status:	Colour
Studio:	BBC Wales (Unit Q2, Newport)
Location:	Corona Pop Factory (Porth), Heol Pentwyn Road (Whitchurch), Splott, Maelfa Shopping Square (Llanederyn), Newport Docks and Cardiff.

Writer:

Russell T Davies

Director:

Dan Zeff

Producer:

Phil Collinson

Executive Producers:

Julie Gardner and Russell T Davies

Script Editor:

Simon Winstone

Editor:

Alan Levy

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:

Sheelagh Wells

Visual Effects:

The Mill

Special Effects:

Any Effects

Prosthetics:

Millennium Effects and Neill Gorton

Stunt Co-ordinator:

Bill Davey

Incidental Music:

Murray Gold

Special Sounds (SFX Editor):

Paul Jefferies

Sound Recordist:

Jeff Matthews

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

Abzorbaloff Created By:

William Grantham

Number of Doctors:

The Doctor:

David Tennant (The Tenth Doctor)

Number of Companions: 1The Companion: Billie Piper (Rose Tyler) Number of Acquaintances: 1The Acquaintance: Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler) Guest Cast: Peter Kay (Victor Kennedy) Additional Cast: Marc Warren (Elton Pope), Shirley Henderson (Ursula Blake), Simon Greenall (Mr Skinner), Moya Brady (Bridget), Kathryn Drysdale (Bliss), Paul Kasey (The Hoix), Bella Emberg (Mrs Croot)Setting: London (2007) Villain: Abzorbaloff

The Episodes

No.	Episodes	Broadcast (UK)	Duration	Viewers (Millions)	In Archive
720	Love & Monsters	17 June 2006	45'05"	6.7	Yes

Total Duration

45 Minutes

Audience Appreciation

Average Viewers (Millions)

6.7

Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2006)	61.35% (Position = 10 out of 11)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2009)	61.21% (Position = 153 out of 200)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2014)	56.23% (Position = 220 out of 241)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2023)	Position = 34 out of 36

Archives

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

Notes

The title for this story contains the first use of an ampersand in a story title for Doctor Who.

This story is the first of what has come to be known as 'Doctor-lite' stories, "Love & Monsters" was filmed at the same time as "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit" a process known as 'double banking'. Other 'Doctor-lite' stories from the revived show include "Blink" and "Turn Left".

This story was the last to be recorded for this season and also Camille Coduri's contribution to the programme as Jackie Tyler - until her brief return in Season Thirty (New Series 4).

Shirley Henderson, who plays the part of Ursula, is more famous for her part as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films.

Comedian Peter Kay plays the part of both Victor Kennedy and the Abzorbaloff.

The Abzorbaloff was designed by nine-year-old William Grantham for a "Design a Doctor Who Monster" competition held by the BBC childrens show Blue Peter. Apparently, he'd intended it should be the size of a bus!

Clom is the sister planet of the Slitheen's homeworld Raxacoricofallapatorius.

The Hoix, the alien creature seen at the start of the story, was allegedly thrown together at the last minute by the Millennium FX Team. It is later seen briefly in the Torchwood story "Exit Wounds".

As well as a small amount of reused footage, scenes from "Rose", "Aliens of London/World War Three" and "The Christmas Invasion" were restaged to include Elton Pope.

Look out for the copy of The Daily Telegraph that the Abzorbaloff is reading - it has the headline "Saxon leads polls with 64 per cent" - the first mention of The Master's new alter-ego.

As well as L.I.N.D.A., Clive Finch ran a one-man quest to find out more about The Doctor from his shed in the Season Twenty Seven (New Series 1) opening story "Rose".

The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) tracks featured in this story are: "Mr. Blue Sky", "Don't Bring Me Down" and "Turn to Stone".

The 58 second TARDISode for this story featured Victor Kennedy (out of sight, as Peter Kay was not available for the recording) browsing the LINDA website and using it to locate the group's meeting place, before “abzorbing” his secretary. This was filmed on the 8th April 2006 at Insole Court in Cardiff. As with all the other TARDISode's - all of which were written by Gareth Roberts - it could be downloaded from the BBC Doctor Who website or via a mobile phone a week before the broadcast of the main story.

The ending of this story contains a trailer for the next story - "Fear Her".

Following on immediately after this story, on BBC3, was the tenth chapter of the second series of Doctor Who Confidential, "New World of Who" presented by Mark Gatiss.

First and Last

The Firsts:

The first use of an ampersand in a Doctor Who story title.

The first of what has come to be known as a 'Doctor-lite' story.

Camille Coduri's final contribution to the programme as Jackie Tyler - until her brief return at the of Season Thirty (New Series 4).

The Abzorbaloff (played by comedian Peter Kay) is the first monster to appear, in the revised show, that was designed by the winner of a competition held by the BBC children's show Blue Peter.

The first mention of The Master's new alter-ego; "Saxon".

The first time music from The Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) is heard in the show.

The first Doctor Who story to be directed by Dan Zeff.

The Lasts (Subject to Future Stories):

The last story to be recorded for Season Twenty Eight (New Series 2).

Story Images

Show Text

Elton Pope

Elton Discovers the TARDIS

Chasing Aliens

Members of L.I.N.D.A.

Ursula

Victor Kennedy Arrives

Victor Kennedy

Jackie Tyler

The Abzorbaloff

Mr Skinner Absorbed

Ursula Absorbed

The Doctor

Quote of the Story

'When you're a kid, they tell you it's all ... grow up. Get a job. Get married. Get a house. Have a kid, and that's it. But the truth is, the world is so much stranger than that. It's so much darker. And so much madder. And so much better.'

Elton Pope

Release Information

Format	Title	Release Date (UK)	Code Number	Cover Art	Remarks
DVD	The Impossible Planet - The Satan Pit - Love & Monsters	August 2006	BBCDVD 1963	Photo-montage
DVD	The Complete Second Series	November 2006	BBCDVD 2122	Photo-montage	Boxed set containing all 11 stories
DVD	The Complete Second Series (Amazon Version)	November 2006	BBCDVD 2122	Photo-montage	Limited Edition 'Cyberman Head' box set containing all 11 stories
CD	Original Television Soundtrack	December 2006	SILCD1224	Photo-montage	Music by Murray Gold
CD	Original Television Soundtrack - Series 1 and 2	2007		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
DVD	The Complete Second Series (2014 Re-release)	August 2014	BBCDVD 3966	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 Second Series Box Set	August 2015	BBCBD 0262	Photo-montage	Blu-Ray boxed set containing 11 stories
LP	Original Television Soundtrack - Series 1 and 2	2016		Photo-montage	Music by Murray Gold
DVD	The Complete Second Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)	July 2017	BBCDVD 2317	Photo-montage	Limited Edition DVD Steelbook boxed set containing 10 stories (Amazon Exclusive)
Blu-Ray	The Complete Second Series Box Set (Limited Edition Steelbook)	July 2017	BBCBD 0393	Photo-montage	Limited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook boxed set containing 10 stories (Amazon Exclusive)
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 370 (Released: June 2006)
Doctor Who Magazine - Article	Issue 371 (Released: July 2006)
Doctor Who Magazine - After Image	Issue 373 (Released: September 2006)
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction	Issue 443 (Released: February 2012)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team	Issue 450 (Released: September 2012)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team	Issue 535 (Released: March 2019)
Doctor Who DVD Files	Volume 12 (Released: June 2009)

Photo Gallery

The Doctor and Companion/Acquaintance

The Tenth Doctor

Rose Tyler

Jackie Tyler

On Release

DVD Cover

VIDEO

Complete Series DVD Box Set

VIDEO

DVD Box Set
(Amazon Version)

VIDEO

Original Television Soundtrack Cover

AUDIO

Original Television Soundtrack Silva Screen CD Cover

AUDIO

Series 1-4 DVD Box Set

VIDEO

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

VIDEO

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

Original Television Soundtrack Vinyl Cover

AUDIO

Complete Series DVD Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set

VIDEO

Complete Series Blu-Ray Limited Edition Steelbook Box Set

VIDEO

Series 1 - 4 & Specials Blu-Ray Collection Cover

VIDEO

Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine - Preview: Issue 370

Doctor Who Magazine - Article: Issue 371

Doctor Who Magazine - After Image: Issue 373

Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 443

Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 450

Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 535

Doctor Who DVD Files: Volume 12

Who's Who

Who Me

Episodes of the
Tenth Doctor

Season 28 (New Series 2)

References

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