The Eleventh Hour (TV story)

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

Though not the first episode filmed of the 2010 series, it is 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 is also the public's first exposure to director Adam Smith's work on a Doctor Who universe programme.

The episode is scheduled to be extensively previewed prior to broadcast, with special screenings scheduled in several UK cities as part of a special promotional tour at the end of March, a special US pre-screening at a major science-fiction convention, and the BBC has announced that the first minute of the episode will be released as a special preview on the digital Red Button service from 24 March.

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.

Plot
The story starts as the TARDIS is shown flying over London in a destroyed state with The Doctor clinging on to the door.

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

 * According to the BBC trailer, this episode will be broadcast on Easter Saturday, 3 April 2010.
 * The opening episode seen filming, features Matt Smith in the Tenth Doctor's battered attire, with his sonic screwdriver and TARDIS. It is thought to deal with his post-regeneration trauma. The episode is set in the fictional location of Leadworth, and features Amy Pond in a police officers uniform.
 * In an interview in Doctor Who Magazine 417, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan talk about the "Scary" monster in episode one describing it as a "Face Tendril" and being used as a tennis ball on a stick in scenes, expressing them having to act scared with nothing scary there. This probably means the monster in episode one is computer generated. It was later revealed that the real name of the monster is the Atraxi. The creatures were described as "alien policemen".
 * 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 first episode to have an in-joke in it's title regarding the numbering of the Doctor's current incarnation.
 * The previous ten incarnations of the Doctor will be shown (in order) in some cameo form (similararly to the cameos in DW: The Next Doctor): http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/tvtoday/2010/03/first-look-doctor-who-series-5---the-eleventh-hour/
 * Continuing Steven Moffat's theme of basing enemy plots on childhood fears, a crack in a bedroom wall plays an important part in this story. (see above link for source)
 * Karen Gillan alluded to having filmed scenes with Caitlin Blackwood in a recent interview, this may mean that the past and present versions of Amy Pond will somehow meet during this episode.
 * Press reviews have mentioned that Sir Patrick Moore will make a cameo in this episode which hints at a larger story arc for the rest of the 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
It has been announced that The Eleventh Hour will receive its international broadcast debut on 17 April 2010 when both BBC America in the US and Space in Canada broadcast it, followed by ABC1 in Australia on 18 April.

However, the episode is scheduled to receive its North American premiere on 3 April, the same day as its UK broadcast, when it is screened during WonderCon in San Francisco.

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.