The Eleventh Hour (TV story)

The Eleventh Hour was the first episode of Matt Smith's first series. It featured the debut of Karen Gillan as new companion Amy Pond and Arthur Darvill as recurring character, Rory Williams.

Though not the first episode filmed of the 2010 series, it was nevertheless the public's first full exposure to a new production ethos, as shaped by then-new executive producers Steven Moffatt, Piers Wenger, and Beth Willis. It was also the public's first exposure to director Adam Smith's work on a Doctor Who universe programme.

The episode was extensively previewed prior to broadcast, with special screenings in several British cities as part of a special promotional tour at the end of March 2010, and a special US pre-screening at a major science-fiction convention. The first minute of the episode was released as a special preview on the digital Red Button service in the week prior to its first BBC One broadcast.

Synopsis
The Doctor has regenerated into a brand new man, but danger strikes before he can even recover. With the TARDIS wrecked, and the sonic screwdriver destroyed, the new Doctor has just 20 minutes to save the whole world - and only Amy Pond to help him.

Cast

 * The Doctor - Matt Smith
 * Amy Pond - Karen Gillan
 * Rory Williams - Arthur Darvill
 * Young Amy (Amelia) - Caitlin Blackwood
 * Mrs Angelo - Annette Crosbie
 * Barney Collins - Marcello Magni
 * Coma Patient - Peter Moyes
 * Mother - Olivia Colman
 * Mr Henderson - Arthur Fox
 * Ice-Cream Man - Perry Benson
 * Tenth Doctor - David Tennant
 * Dr Ramsden - Nina Wadia
 * Children - Eden Monteath, Merlin Monteath
 * TBA - Sir Patrick Moore

Crew
to be added

Story Notes

 * The opening scene, which was released on BBC Red Button, was actually a pick-up. Not originally included in the final shooting script of the episode, it was written months after principal photography had wrapped on the episode.  It technically had its own script, subtitled "Opening Sequence".  At least two drafts were written, with the second being dated 17th December 2009. (WC: Doctor Who Video Explorer)
 * According to Russell T. Davies in Doctor Who: The Writer's Tale, Moffat informed him in January 2008 that he had begun writing the first episode of Series 5.
 * This is the only televised story starring a single incarnation of the Doctor to refer to the number of that incarnation in its title.
 * The episode included a sequence showing all previous ten incarnations of the Doctor.
 * Early press reports speculated that Sir Patrick Moore's appearance in this episode indicated that he had a larger part to play within the context of entire series.

Ratings
to be added

Filming Locations

 * The White House, Llandaff, Cardiff
 * Old Cemetery, Rhymney, Gwent
 * The Vicarage, Rhymney, Gwent
 * Abertillery Hospital, Aberbeeg, Abertillery
 * The Cathedral Green, Llandaff, Cardiff

Production errors
to be added

Continuity
to be added

International Screenings
The Eleventh Hour received its international broadcast debut on 17th April 2010 when both BBC America in the US and Space in Canada broadcast it, followed by ABC1 in Australia on 18th April.

However, it was publicly released to pre-broadcast public screenings in North America prior to its official broadcast launch. On the west coast, it premiered on 3rd April at WonderCon in San Francisco. Its east coast debut was on 14th April 2007 at a the Village East Cinema in Manhattan. This latter screening was sponsored by BBC America, and it was attended by Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Steven Moffat, who also fielded questions from the audience.

DVD/Blu-Ray Release

 * BBC Video - Doctor Who Series Five - Volume One is scheduled for release on DVD and Blu-Ray on 7th June 2010 (UK only), featuring The Eleventh Hour, The Beast Below, Victory of the Daleks, and the featurette The Monster Diaries.
 * A Full Series Boxed Set is believed to be released on DVD & Blu-Ray later in the year.