As filming continues on Doctor Who Series Seven in Wales, we take a look at what we know about the first part of the Doctors new adventures, including the departures of Amy and Rory, a return for the Daleks, and of course the arrival of his new side-kick. Episode by episode, here is the rundown of what is known about the shows to be broadcast in 2012.
Episode 1
The return of the Daleks to Doctor Who will see possibly the largest gathering of the Doctors most famous enemy, and also Daleks from different eras of the shows history. While the lethal dustbins may have been a little bit samey in their last few appearances, Im not expecting it to be any run of the mill Dalek episode. All in all, sounds like a positive start to the new series.
Episode 2
Little is currently known about this episode, but it is written by Chris Chibnall and guest stars Mark Williams, David Bradley and Rupert Graves. According to reports in Doctor Who Magazine, part of the episode was shot at Bad Wolf Bay and the episode has one of the largest sets ever built for a Who episode.
Episode 3
Probably one of the most well documented new episodes, this is one set in a Wild West setting, and if the Daily Mail is to be believed it will be called Gunslingers. The Doctor takes on cyborg cowboys in the Wild West The episode was one of the first to be shot and features cyborg gunmen running amok in the Wild West. The Doctor once again gets to wear his Stetson, and this episode is one that featured heavily in the trailer for the series that was released a few months ago. Episode writer Toby Whithouse talking to BBC America about the stateside-shot instalment. He said,
My episode is in a genre Ive never written before frankly, no one has written in that genre for quite a while now. But I absolutely love it. Steven gives me a one-line pitch, and then Ill go away and put together a story and so on. And he gave me a great one-line pitch for this, so Im really excited about it. Doctor Who is always a joy to write. It never gets boring, it never gets dull, it never gets routine. Its an incredibly difficult show to write because its remarkably complex, but it also has to have such momentum and pace. And within that there has to be room for character and humour and so on. Its always a huge challenge but always extraordinary fun. Thats why I keep going back.
Episode 4
Another Chris Chibnall episode, this time guest starring Jemma Redgrave, Ruthie Henshall and Steven Berkoff.
Episode 5
The one that everyone wants to see and doesnt want to see at the same time, this is the Steven Moffat written swan song of Amy and Rory which features the newly-crowned Greatest Who Enemy, the Weeping Angels. Filming on the episode is due to take place in New York, and in the last month Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill were spotted filming in a Welsh graveyard along with Alex Kingston, who reprises her role as River Song.
Christmas Special
There have been a few teasers knocking around for this episode, which is probably the second most anticipated of the series after Episode 5, suggesting the possibility of another ghost story for the Christmas Season. What we do know is that this is the debut of the Doctors new companion, possibly named Clara and definitely played by Jenna-Louise Coleman. Steven Moffat, who has obviously taken writing duties on this pivotal episode, made the comment, Even by the Doctors standards, this isnt your usual boy meets girl. So there you have it? What? You want more? Well, youre just going to have to wait. Currently all we know about the 2013 episodes is that Neil Cross and Mark Gatiss will be joining Moffat in writing duties and there will be eight episodes broadcast in the second half of the series.
