Venusian Lullaby (TV Story)

***Venusian Lullaby*** was the fourth serial of Season 31 of *Doctor Who*. It was written by Paul Leonard, directed by Nicholas Mallett, and starred Richard Griffiths as the Eighth Doctor, Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield and Robert Llewellyn as Norman Manning.

## Synopsis

Venus is dying. When the Doctor, Barbara and Ian arrive they find an ancient and utterly alien civilization on the verge of oblivion. War is brewing between those who are determined to accept death, and those desperate for salvation whatever the cost.

Then a spacefaring race arrives, offering to rescue the Venusians by moving them all to Earth — three billion years before mankind is due to evolve. Are the newcomers' motives as pure as they appear? And will the Doctor allow them to save his oldest friends by sacrificing the future of humanity?

## Cast

* The Doctor - Richard Griffiths
* Bernice - Lisa Bowerman
* Norman - Robert Llewellyn
* Trikhobu - Lorraine Brunning
* Jellenhut - Helen Blizzard
* Havteg - David Barry
* Mrak-ecado - Michael Angelis
* Jignivi - Bryan Robson
* Professor Jofghil - Tony Caunter
* Kontojij - Richard Cordery
* Mrodtikdhil - Jeremy Northam
* Nefkhil - Pamela Jikiemi
* Ruribeg - Nigel Peever
* Soneghil - Aden Gillett
* Lighibu - Shaheen Khan
* Podsighil - Letitia Dean
* Vivojkhil - Wendy Richard
* Frinallenegu - Annabelle Apsion
* Gwebdhallut - Reece Dinsdale
* Pown(ow)ri - Edward Kelsey

## Worldbuilding

### The Doctor

* The Doctor is still adapting to life without his granddaughter Susan.

### The Doctor's items

* The Doctor carries everlasting matches.
* The Doctor cracks the code for the launch sequence of a Sou(ou)shi shuttle using an "unknown sonic device".

### Culture

* Norman knows of a Venusian lullaby.
* There were various factions, known as anti-Acceptancers, who tried to find alternatives to their civilisation's fate. These included the Below the Sun Believers, the Rocketeers, the Water-breathers, the Volcano People, the Magnetologists and the Cave-makers.

### TARDIS

* Trikhobu works out a method for piloting the TARDIS based on tracking individuals.

## Continuity

* Susan Foreman's departure from the TARDIS weighs heavily on the Doctor's mind. (TV: *The Dalek Invasion of Earth*)
* A Venusian lullaby was mentioned previously by the Third Doctor at Devil's End, the beginning of which went "Close your eyes, my darling, or three of them at least." (TV: *The Dæmons*)
* The Doctor uses his everlasting matches. (PROSE: *Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks*)
* Nightfish are used to power Venusian boats and are also used as a source of food. (PROSE: *Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks*)
* The Doctor asks Pown(ow)ri whether the Sou(ou)shi are related to the Great Vampires. (TV: *State of Decay*)

## Home Video & DVD Releases

### VHS

* This story was first released on VHS in 2000.

### DVD

* This story along with the other stories in Season 31 were released as *Doctor Who: The Complete Thirty-First Season* in 2007.

### Blu-ray

* This story along with the other stories in Season 31 were upscaled in 1080i50 high definition and were released as *Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 31* in the UK.