page_title: The Christmas Invasion
section_title: Plot
hierarchical_section_title: The Christmas Invasion / Plot
caption_attribution_description: DSC_1000 Doctor Who Experience
context_page_description: "The Christmas Invasion" is a 60-minute special episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on BBC One on 25 December 2005. This episode features the first full-episode appearance of David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor and is also the first specially produced Doctor Who Christmas special in the programme's history.
  In the episode, principally set in London, the alien race the Sycorax invade Earth, demanding that either humanity surrenders or one third of them will die.
context_section_description: The newly regenerated Tenth Doctor, suffering side effects from his regeneration, crash lands the TARDIS in London. He exits to meet Jackie and Mickey, and collapses in front of them. They take him to Jackie's flat where they put him to bed. The Doctor tells them that his regeneration has gone wrong and theorises that the energy of his regeneration is luring an unseen foe to him. He passes out again and is returned to bed.
  The Mars space probe Guinevere One is intercepted by a giant spaceship heading for Earth. When the probe's broadcast is shown on Earth, the face of a Sycorax appears. He demands Earth's surrender and uses blood control to cause a third of the world's population to go into a hypnotic state. The Sycorax threatens to make these people commit suicide unless half of the world's population is given to the Sycorax as slaves. Harriet Jones, the Prime Minister, attempts further negotiations with the Sycorax, and finds herself teleported aboard the ship.
  Rose, Mickey, and Jackie evacuate the Doctor to the TARDIS as the Sycorax ship approaches London. Before Jackie can return with additional supplies, the TARDIS is detected by the Sycorax and is teleported aboard their ship. Rose buys enough time for the Doctor to finally recover, after inhaling the fumes from a dropped flask of tea. The Doctor shuts down the Sycorax blood control and then challenges the Sycorax leader to a  duel for the Earth, during which the leader severs the Doctor's hand. Since the Doctor is still within the first 15 hours of regeneration, he re-grows his hand and then forces the Sycorax leader to surrender. The leader attempts to attack the Doctor from behind. The Doctor hits a sensor with a satsuma he found, triggering part of the wing to fold and dropping the leader to his death.
  The Doctor orders the Sycorax to leave Earth and never return before taking Rose, Mickey, and Harriet back to Earth. As the Sycorax ship moves away, Harriet orders Torchwood to destroy the ship. The Doctor becomes furious with Harriet, who tries to justify her actions by reminding the Doctor that he is not always there to save them. The Doctor threatens to bring down her government with six words, before whispering to her aide: "Don't you think she looks tired?" 
  After choosing a new outfit, which includes a pinstripe suit and a brown duster coat, the Doctor joins Rose, Jackie, and Mickey for Christmas dinner. They watch Harriet on television fending off rumours about her health, with a vote of no confidence looming.
caption: The Pilot fish Santa, as shown at the Doctor Who Experience.
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