Secrets of the Whoniverse!
- Publication: TV Times
- Date: 2023-12-02
- Author:
- Page: 11
- Language: English
Showrunner RUSSELL T. DAVIES on bringing the Doctor's latest adventures to life
A malfunctioning TARDIS leads the 14th Time Lord (David Tennant) and companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) into the most desperate battle of their lives, as the Doctor Who both-anniversary specials continue this week.
'This episode is darker and genuinely weird,' says show boss Russell T. Davies of Wild Blue Yonder, the second in the trio of epic new stories. 'You'll see some pretty scary things - children should watch with an adult if they can!'
As we wait to find out the fate of the universe, here, Russell, 60, shares four secrets about making this miniseries...
SPACE TRAVELS
The TARDIS is famously bigger on the inside than it appears from the outside. But the Doctor's time machine has a new look for these specials that really pushes that concept.
'I described the TARDIS as "big and white" in the script,' says Russell, who originally helmed the sci-fi drama between 2005 and 2010 before returning for the birthday episodes. 'It was designed by Phil Sims and Joel Collins on our team, and you've got to be able to walk on all of the walkways. David Tennant loved it!'
PRETTY EVIL
Last week's opening story, The Star Beast, delivered a shock twist for viewers when cute and cuddly-looking alien the Meep (voiced by Miriam Margolyes) was revealed as a villain intent on world domination! Russell was delighted with how the scene turned out, but it wasn't always the plan to keep the softly-spoken creature's true identity concealed for quite so long...
'There were long debates about when to do it,' reveals Russell. 'But I think every child will be delighted when the Meep turns evil. It's a very funny creation, designed for children to love. Some will like its cuteness, others will like its evilness!'
ALIEN INVASION
The Star Beast also gave us a dramatic laser-gun showdown outside Donna Noble's London home, as the red-eyed Wrarth Warriors arrived to recapture the Meep. The scene was filmed on location in Cardiff, but getting permission to use a suitable street proved challenging.
'The making of Doctor Who is very much the same as it always was, with the crew on a freezing Cardiff street at 2am!' says Russell. 'That poor road that we used! So many other streets turned us down for that!'
STAR POWER
It's normally an easy sell to get a big-name star on board. But there was more explaining needed than usual to sign US film favourite Neil Patrick Harris, who starred in Russell's hit 2021 C4 drama It's a Sin, to play the menacing Toymaker, who appears in next week's final instalment, The Giggle.
'Possibly the only one who didn't [already know Doctor Who] is Neil, who, being American, is less versed in the history,' says Russell. 'He read the script, then said, "The Doctor's an alien, right?" But he loved it, and he wanted to work with David, so he said, "I'm in!"'
DOCTOR WHO is previewed on pages 36-37
Captions:
Sinister: The Toymaker
Reboot: David with the TARDIS
Hostile: The Meep
Road rage: The Wrarth Warriors
Dark days: Donna and the Doctor face a mysterious new threat
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- APA 6th ed.: (2023-12-02). Secrets of the Whoniverse!. TV Times p. 11.
- MLA 7th ed.: "Secrets of the Whoniverse!." TV Times [add city] 2023-12-02, 11. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: "Secrets of the Whoniverse!." TV Times, edition, sec., 2023-12-02
- Turabian: "Secrets of the Whoniverse!." TV Times, 2023-12-02, section, 11 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Secrets of the Whoniverse! | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Secrets_of_the_Whoniverse! | work=TV Times | pages=11 | date=2023-12-02 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 March 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Secrets of the Whoniverse! | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Secrets_of_the_Whoniverse! | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 March 2025}}</ref>
