Doctor Who: Rose

Written by: Russell T Davies
Directed by: Keith Boak
Starring: Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper
Duration: 44'10m
Broadcast Date: 26/3/2005
Ratings/Chart Pos: 10.81m/No.7
DVD Availability: Try sendit.com (region 2 only)
Images: See the Doctor Who: Rose Image Page

Cast (credits order): Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Camille Coduri (Jackie Tyler), Noel Clarke (Mickey), Mark Benton (Clive), Elli Garnett (Caroline), Adam McCoy (Clive’s Son), Alan Ruscoe, Paul Kasey, David Sant, Elizabeth Fost, Helen Otway (Autons) and Nicholas Briggs (Nestene Voice).

Crew & Credits: Autons originally created by Robert Holmes. George Gerwitz (1st Assistant Director), Steffan Morris (2nd Assistant Director), Dayfdd Rhys Parry (3rd Assistant Director), Clive Evans (Location Manager), Lowri Thomas (Unit Manager), Dathyl Evans (Production Co-ordinator), Debi Griffiths/Kath Blackman (Assistant Production Accountants), Sian Prosser (Continuity), Elwen Rowlands (Script Editor), Ailsa Altena-Berk (Choreography), Mike Costelloe/Martin Stephens (Camera Operators), Steve Lawes/Mark Isaac (Focus Pullers), John Robinson (Grip), Ian Richardson (Sound Recordist), Damian Richardson (Boom Operator), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer), Peter Chester (Best Boy), Rod Woodruff (Stunt Co-ordinator), Catherine Samuel (Production Buyer), Peter Walpole (Set Decorator), Stephen Nicholas (Supervising Art Director), Julian Luxton (Standby Art Director), Patrick Begley (Property Master), Andy Smith (Construction Manager), Yolanda Peart-Smith (Assistant Costume Designer), Linda Davie (Make-Up Supervisor), Sarah Wilson (Make-Up Artist), Kirsty Robertson (Casting Associate), Marie Brown (Post Production Supervisor), Matthew Clarke (On Line Editor), Karl van Beers (Colourist), Simon C. Holden/David Bowman/Sara Bennett/Alberto Montanes/Jennifer Herbett (2D VFX Artists), Andy Howell/Chris Tucker/Jean-Claude Deguara/Mark Wallman/Paul Burton/Chris Petts/Porl Perrot (3D VFX Artists), Alex Fort (Digital Matte Painter), Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer), Paul McFadden (Dialogue Editor), Paul Jeffries (Sound FX Editor), Ian Grutchfield (Brand Manager), Richard Pugsley (Business Manager), Brian Hitch (Concept Artist), Andy Pryor CDG (Casting Director), Tracie Simpson (Production Manager), Endaf Emyr Williams (Production Accountant), Lucinda Wright (Costume Designer), Davy Jones (Make Up Designer), Murray Gold (Music), The Mill (Visual Effects), Will Cohen (Visual FX Producer), Dave Houghton (Visual FX Supervisor), Any Effects (Special Effects), Millennium Effects (Prosthetics), Edward Thomas (Production Designer), Mike Jones (Editor), Ernie Vincze BSC (Director of Photography), Helen Vallis (Associate Producer), Russell T Davies/Julie Gardner/Mal Young (Executive Producers), Phil Collinson (Producer) and Keith Boak (Director). BBC Wales. c. BBC MMV.

Story: While at work at Henrick’s department store, Rose Tyler unwittingly stumbles upon an alien invasion plan. A race known as the Nestene are planning to take over Earth by creating Autons – creatures made of living plastic...

Trivia: The Autons from this story were first seen in the original Doctor Who series alongside Jon Pertwee, in two stories from 1970 and 1971. The Doctor notes that they arrived on Earth using "Warp Shunt" technology and conferes with them under "Convention Fifteen of the Shadow Proclamation".

Much of programme's previous mythology is explained in throwaway statements, cleverly not distancing first-time and casual viewers. Of his unseen regeneration, the Doctor notes when he looks in a mirror "Ah, could have been worse." He then grimaces "look at the ears!" Of the TARDIS's outer form, he smiles "it's a telephone box... from the 1950s. It's a disguise." In response to this last remark, Rose smiles incredulously.

A pre-finalised edit of the first episode, shown at press screenings, was infamously leaked onto the Internet three weeks before the UK television premiere.

The BBC television premiere in the England area was disrupted by sound bleed-through from a live broadcast on BBC3 of the programme "Strictly Come Dancing". For the first few minutes audience reaction and microphone cues could be heard intermittently. This problem didn't affect viewers in the Scotland region, who didn't get to see the 40 second trailer of the next episode before the end credits.

Viewpoint:
"Who are they then, students? Is this a student thing or what?"
"Why would they be students?"
"I don't know."
"Well you said it."

A vibrant and very modern take on the Doctor Who format, Rose sees Chris's interesting take on the character: a clearly half-insane, leather jacketted Mancunian who goes around blowing up buildings.

Billie Piper's a fine compliment, and while Noel Clarke wasn't happy with his own performance in his first episode, his over the top rendition is quite entertaining. Only real casting misstep is Mark Benton, who in fairness gets the worst lines.

The incidental music can jar a little, and there's a little too much postmodern silliness where Rose (Piper) doesn't realise her boyfriend Mickey (Clarke) has been turned into plastic, which stretches incredulity, even if the point is that she barely acknowledges the boyfriend she rather cruelly ditches at the end.

But all said, this is lively, fast-paced way to reintroduce the series to a brand new audience. The belching bin may not be to everyone's taste, but a fresh new generation of kids loved it...