Dear John (short story)

Dear John was the eleventh short story in the Short Trips anthology Short Trips: The Centenarian. It was written by John Davies. It featured the Eighth Doctor, Gemma Griffin and Samson Griffin.

Summary
The Doctor, Gemma and Samson arrive at a country house to celebrate Edward Grainger's fiftieth birthday. The Doctor finds the Grainger family haunted by a ghost that expresses interest in Edward's young son John. The ghost reveals it is the spiritual embodiment of Edward's fiftieth year. At midnight, the ghost vanishes and the Doctor enjoys the rest of the party in peace.

Characters

 * Eighth Doctor
 * Gemma Griffin
 * Samson Griffin
 * Edward Grainger
 * John Grainger
 * Ronald Tillyard
 * Moira Tillyard
 * Angus McCloud
 * Eleanor Grainger

Worldbuilding

 * Gemma recalls the Ice Caves of Shabadabadon.
 * John pretends his imaginary friend is his teddy bear.
 * John and the Doctor fly a kite.
 * The Doctor and John play tag, cricket, leapfrog and I-spy.
 * Edward chain smokes several cigarettes during the party.
 * The Doctor looks at a record by George Formby.

Continuity

 * Gemma and Samson appear (having departed the TARDIS) in AUDIO: Terror Firma.
 * Gemma recalls seeing sentient trees. (PROSE: The Long Midwinter)
 * Edward remembers Helen Fitzmaurice and a graphaphone. (PROSE: Echoes)