Doctor Who/Children in Need Special

Children in Need Special
Special 2
Airdate	November 18, 2005
Production Number	—
Written by	Russell T Davies
Directed by	Euros Lyn
← 27x13 The Parting of the Ways (2)	28x01 → The Christmas Invasion
Doctor Who — Season Twenty-Eight

Children in Need Special is a special episode of Doctor Who.

Rose is shocked when The Doctor transforms into a strange new shape. Before he can convince her that his new body isn't a trick, something goes wrong...

Guest Stars:

Plot Overview

Immediately following his transformation, the (new) Doctor sets the TARDIS on a course towards the planet Barcelona. Shocked and confused, Rose hangs on to the wall while the Doctor examines his new body.

When the new person claims to be the Doctor, Rose refuses to believe him. She thought the brightness of his transformation was a teleportation, and demands that the old Doctor be returned. The Doctor tries to explain how he saved his life by regenerating, then proves his identity by recounting how he and Rose first met. She does not respond very well.

The Doctor misinterprets Rose's hesitance as a desire to go home, so he redirects the TARDIS back to London on Christmas Eve. He tries to make Rose laugh with a few light jokes, but suddenly he shudders with a grimace. When Rose approaches, he exhales some of the energies of the time vortex and doubles over in pain.

In a sudden need for speed, the Doctor flips more switches. In between manic bursts of laughter, he manages to tell Rose that his transformation's gone wrong and he can't stop what he's doing. With a violent lurch, the TARDIS approaches Earth...

Arc Advancement

Happenings

• The Doctor's regeneration goes a bit wrong. In a manic fit, he pushes the TARDIS to the limit headed towards Earth.

Characters

• The Doctor declines to go back and pick up Captain Jack, saying Jack will be busy "rebuilding the Earth."

Trivia

The Show

• This prelude to the new season of Doctor Who was aired by the BBC as part of their annual "Children In Need" telethon. While it aired, the BCC ran the telephone number and the URL for the charity.
• The events of this episode immediately follow the Season 27 finale.
• David Tennant is added to the opening credits.
• No title for this mini-episode is given in the opening credits.
• Notice that although The Doctor takes Rose to Christmas Eve in London, he does not specify which year.

Quotes

• The Doctor: (examining his new body) I... have got... a mole! I can feel it! Between the shoulder blades, there's a mole! (wiggles his shoulders a bit) That's all right! Love the mole!

• The Doctor: (to Rose) The very first word I ever said to you. Trapped in that cellar, surrounded by shop window dummies, ooooh, such a long time ago. I took your hand, I said one word, just one word I said: Run!
  Rose: Doctor...
  The Doctor: (smiling) Hello.

• The Doctor: That one time we had to hop, do you remember? (bouncing on one foot) Hopping for our lives!

• Rose: Can you change back?
  The Doctor: Do you want me to?
  Rose: Yeah.
  The Doctor: Oh...
  Rose: Can you?
  The Doctor: No... Do you want to leave?
  Rose: Do you want me to leave?
  The Doctor: No!

• The Doctor: (examining a switch on the TARDIS control panel) Ooooh, haven't used this one in years!