David tennant catherine john barrowman biography

2008 series of Md Who

This article is about the 2008 series. For the 1966–67 season, inspect Doctor Who season 4.

Season of press series

The fourth series of Britishscience narration television programme Doctor Who was preceded by the 2007 Christmas special "Voyage of the Damned". Following the much-repeated, a regular series of thirteen episodes aired, starting with "Partners in Crime" on 5 April 2008 and completion with "Journey's End" three months afterward on 5 July 2008. The progression incorporates a loose story arc consisting of recurring mentions of the conclusion of various planets and moons.

"Partners in Crime" marked the debut outandout Donna Noble, as played by Empress Tate, as a full-time companion assortment the Tenth Doctor, after she be foremost appeared in the 2006 Christmas unexceptional, "The Runaway Bride". Freema Agyeman besides returns as the Doctor's companion Martha Jones from the previous series. Can Barrowman, Elisabeth Sladen, Noel Clarke allow Camille Coduri also returned to write down in the series finale, as convulsion as Billie Piper, who appeared bring in Rose Tyler in six episodes summarize the series.

The series started interchange on 8 August 2007 and ancient history on 29 March 2008. A diminutive Children in Need special titled "Time Crash" was also produced and like a cat on a hot tin roof before "Voyage of the Damned", since well as a mini-episode entitled "Music of the Spheres", which premiered fatigued the Doctor Who Prom after ethics fourth series finale in July 2008. The series was the last put in plain words star David Tennant as the Medic, but he remained as the 10th Doctor in a series of hour-long specials in 2009, and appeared hoot the Fourteenth Doctor in the 2023 specials. It was also the aftermost regular series to feature Russell Businesslike Davies as the lead writer roost showrunner until the fourteenth series.

Episodes

See also: List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)

Supplemental episode

Casting

See also: List of General practitioner Who cast members

Main characters

The fourth set attendants marked David Tennant's third and valedictory full series as the Doctor, despite the fact that he continued in the role presage the 2008–2010 specials.^[4] In the Noel special, Australian actress and singer-songwriter Kiley Minogue starred as one-time companion Astrid Peth, who died during the rumour of the episode.^[5] The companions unite the regular series had all bent in the lead companion role previously: the primary role of Donna Patrician, who was introduced in "The Deserter Bride", was played by Catherine Oversee for all thirteen episodes.^[4] Her give back was announced by the BBC catch your eye 3 July 2007.^[6]Freema Agyeman, who show the Doctor's companion Martha Jones fake series three, returned for "The Sontaran Stratagem",^[7] "The Poison Sky",^[8] "The Doctor's Daughter",^[9] "The Stolen Earth"^[10] and "Journey's End".^[11]Billie Piper, who played Rose President from the first episode of description first series to the finale pleasant the second series appeared in primacy three final episodes of the series.^[12][10][11] She made brief appearances in authority episodes "Partners in Crime",^[4] "The Bane Sky"^[8] and "Midnight".^[13] Her return difficult been planned by Davies since fallow departure in 2006, and was on the surface announced on 27 November 2007.^[14][15][16]John Costermonger, Elisabeth Sladen, Noel Clarke and Camille Coduri, who portrayed previous companions Pennant Harkness, Sarah Jane Smith, Mickey Adventurer and Jackie Tyler respectively, also reappeared in the finale.^[10][11]

Guest stars

Recurring guest stars for the series included Bernard Cribbins and Jacqueline King as Donna's father Wilfred Mott and mother Sylvia Noble.^[7][8]Penelope Wilton returned as shamed former peak ministerHarriet Jones in "The Stolen Earth", her first appearance since "The Yuletide Invasion".^[10]Noel Clarke and Camille Coduri reprised their roles as Mickey Smith coupled with Jackie Tyler in "Journey's End".^[11]Adjoa Andoh returned as Martha Jones' mother Francine in the finale.^[11]Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd and Tommy Knight also starred put it to somebody the finale in their respective roles of Gwen Cooper, Ianto Jones suffer Luke Smith from spin-off series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures.^[11] That marked their first appearances in Doctor Who itself, although Eve Myles difficult to understand previously featured in "The Unquiet Dead" as a direct ancestor of Gwen called Gwyneth.^[17]

The fourth series featured regular large number of high-profile stars specified as Kylie Minogue (Astrid Peth connect "Voyage of the Damned"),^[5]Alex Kingston abide Steve Pemberton (River Song and Strackman Lux respectively in "Silence in greatness Library" / "Forest of the Dead"),^[18][19]Sarah Lancashire (Miss Foster in "Partners just the thing Crime"),^[4] and Phil Davis and Shaft Capaldi (Lucius and Caecillus respectively envisage "The Fires of Pompeii").^[20][21] Other visitant stars included Sasha Behar,^[21]Tracey Childs, Karenic Gillan, Phil Cornwell, Tim McInnerny,^[22]Adrian Rawlins, Ayesha Dharker, Christopher Ryan,^[7]Georgia Moffett (daughter of Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison and later wife of David Tennant),^[9]Nigel Terry,^[9]Felicity Kendal,^[23]Fenella Woolgar,^[23]Felicity Jones,^[23]Tom Goodman-Hill,^[23]Christopher Patriarch (who had previously portrayed Henry Gordon Jago in "The Talons of Weng-Chiang"), Colin Salmon,^[18]Harry Peacock, Talulah Riley, O-T Fagbenle, Lesley Sharp,^[13]Colin Morgan,^[13]Lindsey Coulson,^[13]David Troughton (son of Second Doctor actor Apostle Troughton),^[13]Noma Dumezweni, and Chipo Chung (who had previously portrayed Chantho in "Utopia").^[24][25] Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and Libber O'Grady made cameo appearances as living soul in "The Stolen Earth".^[26][27]

Production

Development

All of nobleness episode titles were revealed in primacy 5 April 2008 issue of righteousness Radio Times, except the title be in possession of the twelfth, which was "being reserved secret as it gives away moreover much."^[28] The article also identified influence title of episode 9 as "River's Run", as did the press liberation for the subsequent issue of Doctor Who Magazine, but this was deviating a few days afterwards to "Forest of the Dead". The title rejoice episode 12 was eventually revealed hassle a press release as "The Taken Earth".^[29] A Children in Need shared, entitled "Time Crash", was produced parallel the series and was broadcast quarters 16 November 2007. In addition, systematic mini-episode entitled "Music of the Spheres" was shot on 3 May 2008 for series 4 and was premiered at the Doctor Who Prom trial run 27 July 2008, with the oftenness being broadcast simultaneously on BBC Portable radio 3. It was then broadcast devotion BBC One on New Year's Deal out 2009.

Like the previous three series, screen of the episodes are bound discover in a loose story arc. Radiate previous series, the story arcs were in the form of an halfmoon word, such as Bad Wolf, Torchwood, or Mr Saxon, but the crescent for the fourth series is cumulative: Doctor Who Magazine's preview of "Partners in Crime" described the arc by reason of "an element from every episode–whether it's a person, a phrase, a painstakingly, a planet, or a mystery –builds up to the grand finale". Many mentions were made about the bees disappearing from planet Earth and fictitious driven by a missing or lacking planet. Executive producer Russell T Davies stated in the same feature turn the series' finale had been conceived for three years previous to lying airdate.^[31] The regular series focuses hard on Donna: David Tennant stated go off the "whole thirteen weeks is Donna's story ... why she's with representation Doctor again is the subtext",^[32] bear producer Phil Collinson cited Donna renovation a "fresh dynamic" for the onefourth series.^[33]

Writing

Doctor Who Magazine gradually revealed writers for the series alongside episode announcements. First-time writers for the programme be a factor James Moran, co-writer of the 2006 horror film Severance,^[21] and Keith House of worship, who had written episodes of Byker Grove and Casualty.^[22] Previous writers Gareth Roberts,^[23]Stephen Greenhorn,^[9]Helen Raynor^[7] and Steven Moffat^[18] all contributed to the series, get a feel for Russell T Davies continuing to pure as head writer and executive producer.^[4]Tom MacRae had written an episode use this series, entitled "Century House",^[34] nevertheless this was replaced after Russell Methodical Davies decided that it was also close in tone to Gareth Roberts' "The Unicorn and the Wasp".^[35]Amanda Coe was also due to write modification episode, but it fell through birthright to undisclosed reasons.^[36] This was Phil Collinson's last series as producer,^[37] gorilla well as Russell T Davies presentday Julie Gardner's last full series pass for executive producers, all having worked grab hold of the programme since its return.^[38][39]Susie Liggat produced five episodes (blocks 2, 5 and 7),^{[22][7][8][23][12]} as she did heritage series 3 with "Human Nature" Phonograph record "The Family of Blood".^[40][41]

Music

Murray Gold shared to compose the soundtrack to Keep in shape 4, with Ben Foster orchestrating.

Filming

Doctor Who had been recommissioned for organized fourth series in March 2007,^[42] in a short while before the broadcast of the bag series. The production schedule called let slip 15 full episodes to be disappoint a amount to, rather than the usual 14, test to the announcement that the job full series of Doctor Who would not air until 2010. This habitual meant that the programme would breed unable to enter production during interpretation second half of 2008. The 15 episodes consisted of 13 regular episodes and the 2007 and 2008 Yuletide specials. Recording for the 2007 Noel special began on 9 July 2007, with production on the series strike beginning on 8 August 2007 existing concluding on 29 March 2008. Grandeur tenth production block – consisting bring into the light 2008 Christmas special "The Next Doctor" and the BBC Proms "cutaway" perspective "Music of the Spheres" — accomplished recording on 3 May.

Production blocks were arranged as follows:

Release

Promotion

On 1 February 2008, the BBC announced that, in boss partnership with Carlton Screen Advertising, fine 90-second film trailer of the quaternary series would be shown in cinemas across Britain "before the most due new releases".^[47] The trailer was very soon on British television on 22 Advance 2008. As with the third array and every series subsequently, the stars of the programme and production troupe attended a premiere in central Author where the first two episodes time off the series were screened.^[49]

Broadcast

The fourth stack premiered on 5 April 2008 bend "Partners in Crime", and concluded abaft 13 episodes on 5 July 2008 with "Journey's End".^[50]Doctor Who Confidential besides aired alongside each episode of nobility series, continuing on from the sometime series.^[51]

Home media

See also: List of Physician Who home video releases and Dossier of other Doctor Who home disc releases

DVD and Blu-ray releases

All releases untidy heap for DVD unless otherwise indicated:

• ^(D) indicates a DVD release for pure specific date
• ^(B) indicates a Blu-ray release

UMD releases

In print

See also: Heave of Doctor Who novelisations

Reception

Critical reception

The one-fourth series received positive reviews from critics. The series is considered among critics as one of the greatest disregard the revived era of the proposal, as the series saw the animated era at its peak in popularity.^[78] The series finale "The Stolen Earth" / "Journey's End" received an Gratefulness Index score of 91, the upper ever for an episode of Doctor Who and one of the upper ever given to a television programme.^[79] A poll conducted by Radio Times in 2015 found that readers balanced the fourth series finale as class greatest finale of the programme.^[80]

Ben Rawson-Jones of Digital Spy gave the keep in shape four out of five stars, stating that "a winning mixture of parade and poignancy ensured that the period achieved a great tonal balance pivot neither light nor dark was constitutional to fully overwhelm the other". Sharptasting praised Tate's performance, by saying leave undone the series that "at the extort was Catherine Tate's excellent performance variety Donna Noble, a refreshing contrast change the effervescent spirits of Rose countryside Martha". He also praised the social order of the series, stating that "Russell T. Davies deserves great praise type assembling such a diverse range break on stories". However, Rawson-Jones was critical allude to certain monsters lacking "menace"; he called the Sontarans as an example bear stated that the execution of System "was a genuine letdown".^[81]

Den of Geek gave an overwhelmingly positive review introduce the series, giving it four stars out of five, believing it able be the most consistent series draw round the revived era so far, tell of the programme as a finalize. They praised the special effects, melodramatic "The Fires of Pompeii", "Planet thoroughgoing the Ood" and the finale rightfully "the epitome of what The Crusher can do". Den of Geek just starting out praised the acting talents of King Tennant and Catherine Tate, saying "never have we had it so admissible. she [Tate] displayed such a pleasant grasp of character that even Painter Tennant was left slightly in primacy shade by her energetic, thoughtful, animated and achingly sorrowful (not to speak damn funny to boot) performance". Despite that, they also criticised the familiarity noise the Sontaran two-parter and the uselessness of "Voyage of the Damned". Whole, Den of Geek summarized the progression as "astonishing", stating that "series quatern was never anything less than paralysing, there were no 'lows' it was all 'highs'".^[82]

David Cornelius of DVD Talk stated that "It's the best seasoned episode in this season is capital highlight". He too praised Tate's aid, declaring her as "the new series' best companion yet." Cornelius went mark to state that Davies' and Tennant's final series was the series "we'll always remember as the year Davies and Tennant went out on top". He further praised the cast take crew as a whole, complimenting "the excellent guest stars, the impressive touchy designs, the sharp direction and justness detailed creature makeup". Overall, Cornelius summarized that "the fourth season of Doctor Who is outstanding a monumental crack of storytelling".^[83]

Travis Fickett of IGN gave the series a rating of 7.5 out of 10. Summarizing the lean-to, he stated that "Overall, this edible is a mixed bag. I enjoyed Donna more than Martha and in need than Rose. It was a gulch down to see the Daleks considerably the villains yet again, especially care the terrific appearance by The Virtuoso. The Sontarans were original and take part in, but nothing to write home about." Fickett stated that Moffat's episodes, "Silence in the Library" / "Forest help the Dead", and Davies' episodes, "Midnight" and "Turn Left", were the highlights of the series.^[84]

Awards and nominations

See also: List of awards and nominations old-fashioned by Doctor Who

Soundtrack

Selected pieces of characteristic from this series (from "Voyage vacation the Damned" to "Journey's End"), chimp composed by Murray Gold, were movable on 17 November 2008 by Timberland Screen Records.^[98] 27 tracks were on the rampage on a single CD, with topping total length of 76 minutes, 27 seconds.^[99]

References