10 Best Cliffhangers Of Modern Doctor Who
8. The Empty Child
The episode in which we realised just how scary and creepy little kids are packs one hell of a punch throughout, but none more so than at its gripping conclusion. The 8th episode of Christopher Ecclestone's era of the Doctor sees the timelord trying to work out why a physical plague has befallen a number of people, with the only lead being a little boy wearing a mask who is always asking who his Mummy is.
The final moments of the episode where the empty child approaches his 'sister' Nancy, while recanting "Are you my Mummy", is truly the stuff of nightmares. It's a hell of a cliffhanger, with the repetition of the same line by the boy and patients alike adding to its creepy nature. The ending is also extremely clever in hinting at the true identity of the child's mother, as the boy is asking Nancy directly, who is revealed to be his Mummy.
To add to the tension, the Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack are surrounded by a swarm of patients who have been infected by a mysterious 'illness' that sees them acting exactly like the little boy.
The acting is first rate, with Ecclestone brilliant as usual and bringing the scope of the situation to life. The resolution to the predicament is handled brilliantly in the following episode, The Doctor Dances, with Ecclestone brilliant once more.