The Star Beast (ODWP episode)

The Star Beast was the first episode of The Official Doctor Who Podcast, discussing The Star Beast. It was hosted by Tyrell Charles, Juno Dawson and Christel Dee and also included pre-recorded clips from Russell T Davies.

Publisher's summary
Join Christel Dee, Tyrell Charles and Juno Dawson as they discuss The Star Beast in the latest episode of The Official Doctor Who Podcast.

Reacting to the first episode of the 60th anniversary specials, with insightful interruptions from showrunner Russell T Davies, the team discuss the exciting return of David Tennant and Catherine Tate as the Doctor and Donna Noble, the introduction of the ever-so cute Meep, that brand-new TARDIS and much more!

Main subject
Discussion of The Star Beast.

Additional topics covered

 * David Tennant's return to the role of the Doctor.
 * Each hosts' favourite version of the Doctor.
 * The time that has passed between The Power of the Doctor and The Star Beast.
 * Juno Dawson confirms that the end of Series 2 of Redacted was supposed to tie into the beginning of The Star Beast.
 * The Meep.
 * The podcast hosts' prior knowledge of the Meep and opinions on being spoiled.
 * A pre-recorded clip of Russell T Davies in which he revealed that, in initial drafts of the script, the Meep revealed himself much earlier.
 * This was practically straight away in draft 1.
 * This was conveyed by the Meep turning to the camera and looking evil when Rose Noble wasn't looking.
 * The hosts then discuss their opinions on whether or not the Meep should have been revealed earlier.
 * The hosts' opinions on Donna Noble.
 * The hosts' opninions on the Temple-Nobles.
 * The hosts' opinions on the resolution to the meta-crisis and the DoctorDonna.
 * Sylvia Noble's tuna madras, including the hosts eating a tuna madras.
 * Another pre-recorded clip from Russell T Davies where he discusses deadnaming.
 * In particular, he explains that Rose's deadname, "Jason", means "healer" or "doctor", meaning that Donna subconsiously named her child after the Doctor.
 * The hosts', particuarly Juno Dawson's (who is transgender), opinions on deadnaming. Dawson explains that she thinks Davies handled it well and that there's no point "trying to sugar the pill", explaining that it felt accurate and honest.
 * Dawson goes on to discuss Sylvia's difficulty with pronouns, explaining that it was important and "felt honest".
 * The hosts' opinions on the new TARDIS interior.
 * How the way in which the Fourteenth Doctor ran around the new console room was David Tennant's idea.
 * Another pre-recorded clip from Davies where he discusses how he was inspired by other white TARDISes from the show, such as Clara's TARDIS and the Fugitive Doctor's TARDIS.
 * The hosts' thoughts on "the deal with the Fourteenth Doctor".
 * The hosts' thoughts on what the next episode, Wild Blue Yonder, will be about.

Crew

 * Featuring Tyrell Charles, Juno Dawson, Christel Dee and Russell T Davies
 * Camera: Johnny Ogle
 * Editor: Edward White
 * Dubbing Mixer: James Murray
 * Facilites Manager: Lucy Bell
 * Hair and Make-Up: Alice Theobald
 * Digital Team: Luke Spillane, Paddy Freeland and Liam Dryden
 * Producer: James Goss
 * Executive Producers: Julie Gardner, Russell T Davies, Chris Allen and Madi Woodstock
 * A BBC Studios Production

Releases
The episode was initially released on 25 November 2023 just following the broadcast of The Star Beast on YouTube, Apple Music, BBC Sounds and Spotify.