Empress of Mars (TV story)

 was the ninth episode of the tenth series of Doctor Who produced by BBC Wales. This episode was notable for introducing in 2017 the first on-screen female Ice Warrior, the Ice Queen Iraxxa, 50 years since the species were introduced in 1967's The Ice Warriors.

Empress saw the return of two actors from classic Doctor Who: Ysanne Churchman, reprising the role of Alpha Centauri for the first time since in the 1974 story The Monster of Peladon, and Anthony Calf, who last appeared on televised Doctor Who in the 1982 serial, The Visitation.

Synopsis
When NASA discovers a message on Mars's surface, the Twelfth Doctor, Nardole, and Bill travel to the Red Planet to investigate it. On arrival, they find themselves embroiled in a conflict between the Ice Warriors and the Empress Iraxxa, and Victorian soldiers — who are determined to conquer Mars. It's just the same, only this time the humans are the ones invading. Now which side should the Doctor help: humans, or Ice Warriors? One thing is clear: the Doctor must choose fast, as the Martian hive awakens around them.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Peter Capaldi
 * Bill - Pearl Mackie
 * Nardole - Matt Lucas
 * - Michelle Gomez
 * Godsacre - Anthony Calf
 * Catchlove - Ferdinand Kingsley
 * Friday - Richard Ashton
 * Iraxxa - Adele Lynch
 * Sergeant Major Peach - Glenn Speers
 * Jackdaw - Ian Beattie
 * Vincey - Bayo Gbadamosi
 * Knibbs - Ian Hughes
 * Coolidge - Lesley Ewen
 * Voice of Alpha Centauri - Ysanne Churchman

Crew
to be added

Story notes

 * The read-through for Empress of Mars took place on 11 January 2017, and filming took place between 27 January and 22 February.

Ratings
to be added

Filming locations
to be added

Production errors
to be added

Continuity

 * The Doctor told Friday that he was an Honorary Guardian of the Tythonian Hive. (TV: The Creature from the Pit)
 * The Doctor sends a message to Alpha Centauri to start the new Ice Warriors' lives. (TV: The Curse of Peladon)
 * The Doctor had previously encountered an Ice Warrior who had been asleep for a very long time. (TV: Cold War)
 * The Doctor remarks on how he can't resist a countdown. He previously said similar of . (TV: Last of the Time Lords)
 * Bill mentions Neil Armstrong and the 1969 moon landing. The Tenth Doctor was present for it with companion Martha Jones (TV: Blink) while his eleventh incarnation witnessed the broadcast live of Armstrong live while interrupting the footage with the image of a Silent. (TV: Day of the Moon)

DVD releases
to be added

Blu-ray releases
to be added

Digital releases
to be added