60th Anniversary Specials

The 60th Anniversary Specials were a trilogy of television episodes released in 2023 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who. Like the 20th anniversary special and the 50th Anniversary Specials, these specials are not considered to be part of a numbered season.
The trilogy began a new era of the programme as former showrunner and executive producer Russell T Davies made his return to the role he effectively started.https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?article=russell-t-davies-to-return-as-doctor-who-showrunner His return was announced on 24 September 2021.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/russell-t-davies-back-as-doctor-who-showrunner
Davies' initial run began with the series revival in 2005 with the Ninth Doctor and ended in 2010 with the Tenth Doctor's regeneration in . Thirteen years later, Davies' second era commenced in the 2022 Centenary Special ; in the story's closing moments, the Thirteenth Doctor regenerates into the Fourteenth Doctor, an incarnation who looks virtually identical to the Tenth Doctor.
The specials marked a huge change to business form as production of the show by the BBC became a collaboration with Bad Wolf,https://twitter.com/badwolf_tv/status/1441407974761635846?s=21 which had been acquired by Sony.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/sony-to-acquire-bad-wolf-in-60m-dealhttps://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/its-official-sony-pictures-television-acquires-future-doctor-who-producer-bad-wolf Furthermore, a deal was struck between the BBC and Disney Branded Television to have Doctor Who streaming on Disney+.https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/bbc-and-disney-branded-television-join-forces-on-doctor-who
The specials saw the return of David Tennant to the role of the Doctor, now portraying the Fourteenth Doctor, rather than returning as his former Tenth Doctor. Catherine Tate also reprised her role as former companion Donna Noble, with Bernard Cribbins, Jacqueline King and Karl Collins returning as Wilfred Mott, Sylvia Noble and Shaun Temple, respectively. In addition, several new cast members were prominently featured, including Yasmin Finney as Rose and Neil Patrick Harris as "the greatest enemy the Doctor has ever faced".https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-60th-trailer-christmas-day-newsupdate/Russell T Davies about Neil Patrick Harris' villain
== Overview ==
=== Early announcements ===
In May 2017, it was announced that due to the terms of a deal between BBC Worldwide and SMG Pictures in China, the company had right of first refusal on the purchase for the Chinese market of past and future series of the programme, as well as spin-offs.http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-06-03/the-bbc-is-already-preparing-for-at-least-five-more-series-of-doctor-whohttp://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/worldwide/2017/doctor-who-china
In October 2019, it was revealed that due to the show heading to HBO Max, the network had struck a deal for additional series of the programme.https://vocal.media/futurism/doctor-who-series-13-and-14-confirmed-hbo-max-reveals-but-will-whittaker-stick-around
=== Return of a showrunner ===
On 29 July 2021, following the announcement of Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall's departure, the BBC noted, "We will announce plans for the new generation of Doctor Who in due course – watch this space!"https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-next-doctor-showrunner-newsupdate/
The new series and Davies' return were first teased by Piers Wenger when he said an upcoming change for Doctor Who would be "radical" on 25 August.https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tvinsider.com/1010894/doctor-who-season-13-changes-jodie-whittaker-exit/amp/
It was noted in a big reveal by the BBC on 24 September 2021 that Russell T Davies would make his return in the 60th anniversary in 2023 and remain as head writer in "series beyond". Additionally, BBC Studios announced they were partnering with Bad Wolf to produce the new episodes, a production company founded by Davies' former Doctor Who collaborators Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter.
Davies hinted at the announcement earlier that same day, posting a humorous artwork on Instagram depicting his forehead in front of Gallifrey; in the post's caption, he alerted his followers to watch out for "News incoming 3.15pm". Like the preceding series 13https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-11-21/doctor-who-series-13-happening/ the specials were announced as happening before the previous series had even begun broadcast.
Following the announcement, Davies said that he was "beyond excited" to be returning to the show but that he remained a viewer for the rest of Whittaker's run.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/russell-t-davies-back-as-doctor-who-showrunner Chibnall said that it was fitting that "one of Britain's screenwriting diamonds" would be returning to Doctor Who for the 60th anniversary.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/russell-t-davies-back-as-doctor-who-showrunner
Speaking at a press event on 11 October, Wenger said the decision for Davies to return "was one of the least painful decisions I've ever had to make" and that Davies is "a man with a vision, for sure", but that it was way off for the time being, that they had "a whole year of Jodie [Whittaker] to go yet. And lots of adventures ahead for her".https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/russell-t-davies-doctor-who-vision-newsupdate/
Speaking at a Q&A at the Oxford Union on 10 December, former showrunner Steven Moffat insisted he was clueless as to the identity of the next Doctor, but said he nevertheless knew "a little bit" about Davies's future plans for the show, and was curious to see what it would be like.https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-russell-t-davies-steven-moffat-newsupdate/
Speaking to Radio Times on 14 February 2022 while talking about his show "It's a Sin", Davies said:
Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine issue 577 on 28 April, Chris Chibnall revealed that he only knew about Davies' return to the show 36 hours before the fans, having been told by Piers Wenger and Charlotte Moore, but made it clear that he "had a suspicion".https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-russell-t-davies-returning-36-hours-newsupdate/
===Promotion===
=== Broadcast ===
thumb|right|The TARDIS materialising near Battersea Power Station.
A special press screening of took place on 6 November 2023 at Battersea Power Station in advance of the broadcast of the 60th Anniversary Specials.
Dressed with an animatronic Beep the Meep, the TARDIS, UNIT soldiers, promotional standees and more, the event was attended by many familiar faces, including Russell T Davies, Ruth Madeley, Murray Gold, Sophie Aldred, Janet Fielding, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy, Carole Ann Ford, Jane Tranter, Julie Gardner, Katy Manning and many more.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/premieres/doctor-who-special-the-star-beast-screens-in-london
== Cast ==
* Fourteenth Doctor - David Tennant
* Donna Noble - Catherine Tate
=== Recurring ===
* Rose Noble - Yasmin Finney
* Shaun Temple - Karl Collins
* Shirley Anne Bingham - Ruth Madeley
* Sylvia Noble - Jacqueline King
* Wilfred Mott - Bernard Cribbins
* Kate Lethbridge-Stewart - Jemma Redgrave
* Melanie Bush - Bonnie Langford
=== Guest ===
* BBC Reporter - Matt Green
* Colonel Chan - Jamie Cho
* Lad - Harley McEvilly
* Lad - Max Fincham
* Fudge Merchandani - Dara Lall
* The Meep - Cecily Fay
* Meep Animatronics - Brian Herring, Phill Woodfine
* Wrarth Warrior 1 - Robert Strange
* Wrarth Warrior 2 - Stephen Love
* Wrarth Warrior 3 - Jordan Benjamin
* Wrarth Warrior 4 - Vassili Psaltopoulos
* Soldier - Isabella Carey
* Major Singh - Ronak Patani
* Voice of Zogroth - Ned Porteous
* Voice of Zreeg - John Hopkinson
* Chief Technician - Anna Martine Freeman
* Sergeant - Archie Backhouse
* Voice of the Meep - Miriam Margolyes
* Isaac Newton - Nathaniel Curtis
* Mrs Merridew - Susan Twist
* The Doctor Acting Double - Daniel Tuite
* The Doctor Beast Double - Ophir Raray
* The Doctor Contortionist Double - Tommaso Di Vincenzo
* Donna Acting Double - Helen Cripps
* Charles Banerjee - Charlie De Melo
* The Toymaker - Neil Patrick Harris
* John Logie Baird - John MacKay
* Middle Aged Man - Ross Gurney-Randall
* Colonel Ibrahim - Alexander Devrient
* Pilot - Glen Fox
* Edward Lawn Bridges - Tim Hudson
* The Vlinx - Aidan Cook
* Voice of the Vlinx - Nicholas Briggs
* Trinity Wells - Lachele Carl
* Voice of Stooky Sue - Leigh Lothian
* The Toymaker Dance Double - Luke Featherston
And Introducing Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor
== Production ==
As 2023 marked the return of Russell T Davies as showrunner, it also marked a change in studio-location, with the new studio, Wolf Studios, taking over from Roath Lock Studios as the company for in-house filming.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-to-move-its-filming-base-from-roath-lock-studios-to-wolf-studios This change came about as the company Bad Wolf was set to co-produce along with the BBC going forward.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/sony-to-acquire-bad-wolf-in-60m-deal
On 5 May, the BBC spoke to TV Zone UK about the move from Roath Lock Studios to Wolf Studios, hoping that there would be a continued flow of production business.https://www.tvzoneuk.com/post/drwho-roathlochrelocation
On 2 November 2021, Bad Wolf had further filed for a new subsidiary company, also run by Julie Gardner, called Whoniverse1 LTD, attached to Series 14.https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/13719629
On 3 May 2023, Bad Wolf filed for another new subsidiary company, again run by Gardner, called Whoniverse2 LTD, attached to Series 15.https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/14844052
In DWM 597, released on 9 November 2023, Russell T Davies revealed that he deliberately pushed the production of to the limit, including its budget, as he wanted to make the episode in a new way unlike his previous tenure. In particular, large physical sets were built which were bigger than any Davies had ever seen before.
=== Crew ===
==== Producers ====
Russell T Davies made his "explosive return" to Doctor Who in the 60th anniversary and "series beyond".
Phil Collinson, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter also returned to the show as executive producers and were joined by Joel Collins.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-series-14-production-and-crew-updates
Welcomed to the show as producers were Vicki Delow, Chris May and Ellen Marsh.
Phil Sims was the production designer and Scott Handcock was the script editor.
==== Director ====
Rachel Talalay directed the 1st 60th Anniversary special along with director of photography Matt Gray.https://www.instagram.com/p/CeBV8qoqJey/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
Tom Kingsley directed the 2nd 60th Anniversary Special along with DOP Nick Dance.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-60th-anniversary-specials-third-director-discovered
Chanya Button directed the 3rd 60th Anniversary Special along with DOP Mika Orasmaa.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-filming-in-bristol-continues-with-scenes-set-in-the-past
==== Writers ====
Russell T Davies wrote the 60th Anniversary specials.
=== Pre-production ===
On 19 January 2022, according to block producer Vicki Delow's CV, it stated that the new era was "currently in production”.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/russell-t-davies-doctor-who-currently-in-production
On 4 April, Jane Tranter stated in an interview with Variety that production would begin "later this year [2022]".https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/bad-wolfs-jane-tranter-affirms-doctor-who-will-go-into-production-later-this-year
=== Filming ===
Filming began for the 60th Anniversary Specials in Wolf Studios, Wales on 3 May 2022 (with likely continuation for a few days).https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/russell-t-davies-teases-doctor-who-announcements
Public filming began in front of the Cyberdog shop in Camden Market, Camden Town, Camden, London on 16 and 17 Mayhttps://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/david-tennant-and-catherine-tate-film-doctor-who-in-camden and continued on 18 May and concluded with a nightshoot in the early morning hours of the following day.https://twitter.com/doctorwhopn/status/1526701127898734592?s=21&t=D2QDDUyOw96OPgJVliicUg
Filming continued in the Gold Car Park at Lakeside Way near the Wembley Stadium in Wembley Park, Wembley, London on 19 and 20 May.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/unit-activity-spotted-at-doctor-who-filming-near-wembley-stadium
Filming took place at the Uskmouth Power Station in Newport, Wales on 25, 26 and 27 May.https://twitter.com/doctorwhopn/status/1531257050184957961?s=21&t=01mml1ptZFxXmMaCEwaA0Ahttps://twitter.com/doctorwhopn/status/1531369225729753091?s=21&t=01mml1ptZFxXmMaCEwaA0A Filming picked up again on 30, 31 May and 1 June.https://twitter.com/doctorwhopn/status/1531327779744120833?s=21&t=01mml1ptZFxXmMaCEwaA0A
Filming moved to Axminster Road, Cardiff on 3 June.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-filming-in-cardiff-with-david-tennant-catherine-tate-and-yasmin-finney Filming picked up again on 6 June and continued through 7, 8 and 9 June.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/doctor-who-night-shoot-in-cardiff-with-two-new-monstershttps://nation.cymru/culture/david-tennant-and-catherine-tate-back-filming-doctor-who-in-cardiff/ Filming also took place at the nearby The Sandies park on 9 June.https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-filming-spacecraft-in-cardiff
Filming continued in Old City, St Stephens Street, Broad Street, Clare Street, Baldwin Street, Marsh Street and Corn Street in Bristol, England on 15 and 16 June.https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/doctor-who-filming-bristol-hollywood-7209312https://chopsybaby.com/magazine/doctor-who-filming-bristol-2022/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-61813573https://cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/doctor-who-filming-neil-patrick-harris-david-tennant-and-catherine-tate-in-bristol
Filming went back to Wolf Studios, Wales on 27 June and continued on 28, 29 and 30 June and 1 July.https://twitter.com/doctorwhopn/status/1540758023160729600?s=21&t=PB9Yx1lCb-9lfwqFw7-B8Qhttps://twitter.com/doctorwhopn/status/1540780287239622666?s=21&t=PB9Yx1lCb-9lfwqFw7-B8Qhttps://twitter.com/doctorwhopn/status/1543292124073951237?s=21&t=PB9Yx1lCb-9lfwqFw7-B8Q
Filming for the 60th Anniversary Specials ended on 25 July.https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgb8g-0qiyw/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
== Television stories ==
=== Mini-episode ===
EpisodeNumber	Title	Writer 	Director 	Notes
N/A 	 	Russell T Davies	Jamie Donoghue	Return of Julian Bleach as Davros. First time an adult Davros appears prior to his disfigurement.
=== Anniversary specials ===
EpisodeNumber	Title 	Writer 	Director 	Notes
1-3 	Special One: 	Russell T Davies	Rachel Talalay	60th anniversary specialsTelevision debut of the Fourteenth DoctorDonna Noble, Wilfred Mott, Sylvia Noble, Shaun Temple and UNIT return, along with Kate Stewart. Isaac Newton appears. Wrarth Warriors and the Meep make their first onscreen appearances. The Toymaker makes his second ever onscreen appearance. John Logie Baird appears. Melanie Bush returns again. Television debut of the Fifteenth Doctor.
1-3 	Special Two: 	Russell T Davies	Tom Kingsley 	60th anniversary specialsTelevision debut of the Fourteenth DoctorDonna Noble, Wilfred Mott, Sylvia Noble, Shaun Temple and UNIT return, along with Kate Stewart. Isaac Newton appears. Wrarth Warriors and the Meep make their first onscreen appearances. The Toymaker makes his second ever onscreen appearance. John Logie Baird appears. Melanie Bush returns again. Television debut of the Fifteenth Doctor.
1-3 	Special Three:	Russell T Davies	Chanya Button 	60th anniversary specialsTelevision debut of the Fourteenth DoctorDonna Noble, Wilfred Mott, Sylvia Noble, Shaun Temple and UNIT return, along with Kate Stewart. Isaac Newton appears. Wrarth Warriors and the Meep make their first onscreen appearances. The Toymaker makes his second ever onscreen appearance. John Logie Baird appears. Melanie Bush returns again. Television debut of the Fifteenth Doctor.
=== Episode notes ===
* The large gap between the broadcast of (Series 13), released in October 2022, and the broadcast of the 60th Anniversary Specials, released in November 2023, marks the second time since the tradition began that a Winter Special has been omitted.
** The first time this happened was when the Series 12 opener Spyfall: Part One was broadcast on New Year's Day 2020 instead.
*** This is thus the first time since the tradition began that no new episode, special or otherwise, has aired over the festive period, on Christmas or New Year.
* The working title for all three Specials was The Bridge.https://twitter.com/andrewcreak/status/1574103831478149126?s=46&t=vK8lOXBj7VuVWxhYK0K2Uw
==== BBC vs Disney+ versions ====
For all 3 Specials, there are slight differences between the versions broadcast on BBC One and the ones shown on Disney+:
* For all 3 specials, the Whoniverse ident was shown at the beginning of the episode on the BBC version. However, on the Disney+ version, the BBC ident was shown.
* For all 3 specials, the Disney ident was shown at the end of the episode on the Disney+ version.
* For all 3 specials, the Executive Producers' credits were shown after the title sequence in the BBC version, however, they were shown in the end credits in the Disney+ version.
* For all 3 specials, in the end board for the BBC version, the Bad Wolf logo was shown on the left and the BBC Studios Productions logo on the right. In the Disney+ version, they were switched.
* Only for the Disney+ version, and only for , the Director's credit was shown before the Producer's credit.
== Aliens and enemies ==
* The Meep
* Wrarth Warriors
* Not-Things
* Equine species
** Captain
* The Toymaker
* Stooky family
** Stooky Sue
** Stooky Babies 
* The Master (essence in The Toymaker's gold tooth)
* Hand of a Woman
== Media set around these specials ==
=== Novels ===
to be added
=== Short stories ===
* A Letter from the Doctor (set between and Liberation of the Daleks)
* Under Control (set between and Into Control)
* First Day of the Doctor (set after )
* We Are Family (a teaser for )
=== Comics ===
* Liberation of the Daleks (set between /A Letter from the Doctor and )
* Into Control (set between Under Control and Doctor Who: The Bedtime Story)
* Untitled (set between and )
=== Television stories ===
* (set between Liberation of the Daleks and Under Control)
* Doctor Who: The Bedtime Story (set between Into Control and )
=== Audio ===
* Redemption (leads into )
=== Reference books ===
* Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse (set after )
== Adaptations and merchandising ==
to be added
== Footnotes ==
 
Category:Doctor Who seasons