 "The Fires of Pompeii" is heavily based on a moral question posed to The Doctor by Donna Noble: whether to warn the population of Pompeii, or to escape from the situation by quickly departing in the TARDIS.
This story was filmed, in September 2007, at the Cinecittą studios in Rome (previously home of the BBC/HBO drama series Rome). This was the first time the majority of a Doctor Who story, since the shows revival, has been filmed abroad, and the first time the cast had filmed abroad (pick-up shots were made in New York City for "Daleks in Manhattan/Evolution of the Daleks") and first time since "The Two Doctors" was recorded in Seville in 1985 (Although the 1996 television movie "Doctor Who: The Movie" had been filmed in Vancouver). Cinecittą had accepted the BBC's request despite the show's small budget to promote the studios. However, ironically due to the fiery subject matter of this story, several weeks before filming started, a fire disrupted the production team but the blaze didn't affect anything needed for this story.
Actress Francesca Fowler, who plays the part of the daughter Evelina, was no stranger to the set, having appeared in an episode of Series One of Rome.
The Pyrovile were originally called Pyrovillaxians and Pyrovellians. The Pyroviles are the second magma-based/lava creatures to feature in Doctor Who. In 1979, Douglas Adams created the Krargs for the Fourth Doctor story "Shada". Sadly, due to a strike, this story was never completed. An online version, starring Paul McGann, was subsequently produced for the Doctor Who website.
The Doctor refers to the eruption as 'volcano day', a phrase also used by Captain Jack Harkness and the Ninth Doctor in "The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances". The word 'volcano' comes from the Roman God Vulcan. Vulcan, the God of Fire, was worshiped every year on a day called Vulcanalia. Ironically, the actual eruption happened the day after Vulcanalia.
During this story The Doctor admits a minor responsibility for the Great Fire of Rome, which was depicted at the end of the 1965 First Doctor story "The Romans". Writer James Moran deliberately included it as a 'fun continuity thing'. Other 'Italian' stories that have been in Doctor Who is the 1976 Fourth Doctor story "The Masque of Mandragora". The Seventh Doctor also visited Pompeii during the time of the eruption in the Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio story "The Fires of Vulcan". So in theory two incarnations of The Doctor witnessed this tragic event.
The sale of the TARDIS as 'modern art' was included as a reference to the 1979 Fourth Doctor story "City of Death".
When The Doctor calls himself Spartacus, it's the first Roman-type name he can think of. Donna then says "So am I", as a joke, referring to the film Spartacus - the scene in which everyone stands up shouting "I'm Spartacus!"
The line 'Don't worry, she's from Barcelona' was a reference to an apologetic catchphrase from Fawlty Towers, attributed by the production team to Sybil Fawlty.
Some of the character names came from the Cambridge Latin course - Caecilius, Metella and Quintus. Except Evelina - they didn't have a daughter, so writer James Moran had to add her, and pick a suitable name. In the books, the family are killed in the eruption.
The Shadow Proclamation, an intergalactic code invoked in "Rose", "The Christmas Invasion", and "Partners in Crime" is used by The Doctor when speaking to the Pyrovile.
'Praesidium Arca,' the words written on the marble TARDIS at the end of this story, means 'Committee Box'. Not just any committee though - a committee to a higher power!
The end of this story contains a trailer for the next story "Planet of the Ood".
Following on immediately after this story, on BBC3, was the second chapter of the fourth series of Doctor Who Confidential, "The Italian Job" presented by Anthony Head.
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The Firsts:
The first trip in the TARDIS for companion Donna Noble played by Catherine Tate.
The first time the majority of a Doctor Who story, since the shows revival, has been filmed abroad, and the first time the cast has filmed abroad.
The first Doctor Who story to be written by James Moran.
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(Position = 6 out of 11)
(Position = 56 out of 200)
(Position = 71 out of 241)
