Doctor Who: Boom Town

Written by: Russell T Davies
Directed by: Joe Ahearne
Starring: Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper
Duration: 43'17m
Broadcast Date: 5/6/2005
Ratings/Chart Pos: 7.68m/No. 18
DVD Availability: Try sendit.com (region 2 only)
Images: See the Doctor Who: boomtown's Day Image Page

Cast (credits order): Christopher Eccleston (Doctor Who), Billie Piper (Rose Tyler), Bruno Langley (Adam), Colin Prockter (Head Chef), Christine Adams (Cathica), Anna Maxwell-Martin (Suki), Simon Pegg (The Editor), Tamsin Greig (Nurse) and Judy Holt (Adam's Mum).

Crew & Credits: Gareth Williams (1st Assistant Director), Steffan Morris (2nd Assistant Director), Dan Mumford (3rd Assistant Director), Lowri Thomas (Location Manager*), Llyr Marus (Unit Manager), Jess van Niekerk (Production Co-ordinator), Debi Griffiths/Kath Blackman (A/Production Accountants), Pam Humprhies (Continuity), Elwen Rowlands (Script Editor), Martin Stephens (Camera Operator), Mark Isaac (Focus Puller), John Robinson (Grip), Damian Richardson (Boom Operator), Mark Hutchings (Gaffer), Peter Chester (Best Boy), Lee Sheward (Stunt Co-ordinator), Gwenllian Llwyd (Art Dept Co-ordinator), Bryan Hitch (Concept Artist), Catherine Samuel (Production Buyer), Liz Griffiths (Set Decorator), Stephen Nicholas (Supervising Art Director), Julian Luxton (Standby Art Director), Adrian Anscombe (Property Master), Andrew Smith (Construction Manager), Phill Shellard/Trystan Howell (Standby Props), Jenny Bowers (Graphic Artist), Yolanda Peart-Smith (Wardrobe Supervisor), Linda Davie (Make-Up Supervisor), Claire Pritchard/Steve Williams (Make-Up Artists*), Kirsty Robertson (Casting Associate), Ceres Doyle (Assistant Editor), Marie Brown (Post Production Supervisor), Matthew Clarke (On Line Editor), Kai van Beers (Colourist), David Bowman/Simon C. Holden/Astrid Busser-Casas/Jennifer Herbert/Alberto Montanes (2D VFX Artists), Chris Petts/Jean-Claude Deguara/Andy Howell/Mark Wallman/Nick Webber (3D VFX Artists), Alexander Fort (Digital Matte Painter), Tim Ricketts (Dubbing Mixer), Paul McFadden (Dialogue Editor), Paul Jeffries (Sound FX Editor), Richard Pugsley (Finance Manager), Ron Grainer (Original Theme Music), Andy Pryor CDG (Casting Director), Endaf Emyr Williams (Production Accountant), Ian Richardson (Sound Recordist), 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), MTFX (Special Effects), Millennium Effects (Prosthetics), John Richards (Editor), Edward Thomas (Production Designer), Ernie Vincze BSC (Director of Photography), Tracie Simpson (Production Manager), Helen Vallis (Associate Producer), Russell T Davies/Julie Gardner/Mal Young (Executive Producers), Phil Collinson (Producer) and Brian Grant (Director). BBC Wales. c. BBC MMV.
* - For the trivia-minded, then the credit for Lowri Thomas had her credit in the plural, suggesting she was two people. Once again, apologies for such anal attention to detail...



Story: When the TARDIS stops off in Cardiff, they discover that its new Mayor is one of the Slitheen they encountered in London. Determined to take her back to her home planet to face trial, the crew of the TARDIS must come to terms with the fact that she'll be executed and they'll be tantamount to her executioners...

Trivia: The following episode, The Empty Child, gets a 36 second trailer at the end of the episode...

Viewpoint:
"You butchered my family and then you run for the stars."

Often silly yet also amusing, Boom Town is strongly directed by Joe Ahearne and features an engaging performance from Annette Badland.

While initially a light-hearted episode, things soon change gears as the story examines the Doctor's sense of morality. Some of the dialogue could be seen to be overstating the writer's intent at times, yet carried by Badland it works well, and she and Chris have a fine pairing. Sadly, the implications that the episode leads towards - will the Doctor become a killer or not? - are sidestepped with a deus ex machina ending, something that presages the season finale itself. However, with strong performances from Chris, Badland and Noel Clarke then this offbeat episode is rewarding.