Scotland was a constituent country of the United Kingdom.
According to the Eleventh Doctor, it "never conquered anywhere, [...] not even Shetland." (TV: Let's Kill Hitler [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011).) The capital of Scotland was Edinburgh, although the largest city was Glasgow, which was home to Torchwood Two. (PROSE: The Twilight Streets [+]Gary Russell, BBC Torchwood novels (BBC Books, 2008).) Another notable city was Aberdeen. (TV: The Lie of the Land [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 10 (BBC One, 2017).)
The Fourth Doctor once described Scottish as "haggis, bagpipes. Robbie Burns and deep-fried Mars Bars". (PROSE: The Very Last Picture Show [+]Andrew Collins, Short Trips: Farewells (Short Trips short stories, 2006).) The Twelfth Doctor described Scottish weather as changeable in the extreme. (COMIC: Terrorformer [+]Robbie Morrison, Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor (Titan Comics, 2014).) 2 January was a bank holiday in Scotland. (PROSE: Time Traveller's Diary [+]Chris Farnell, BBC Children's Books (2020).)
According to the Twelfth Doctor, Scotland was always seeking independence, no matter which planet they landed on. (TV: Smile [+]Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Doctor Who series 10 (BBC One, 2017).) Indeed, on leaving the Earth, they even took a separate ship from the Starship UK. (TV: The Beast Below [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).)
The Doctor and Scotland[]
A map of the North Sea. (TV: The Lie of the Land [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 10 (BBC One, 2017).)
It was referenced many times when the Eleventh Doctor, Rory Williams or Amy Pond herself were making jokes about Amy's personality. (TV: The Eleventh Hour [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010)., The Beast Below [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010)., A Good Man Goes to War [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011)., Let's Kill Hitler [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011)., Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).)
Both the Seventh and Twelfth Doctors had noticeable Scottish accents, with the latter making note of it as part of his persona following his regeneration. He initially complained about the accent of English company, namely Clara Oswald and Jenny Flint, describing it as infectious and incomprehensible. However, he was relieved when he found he could understand the accent of the Silurian, Vastra, saying that he finally found someone who was talking properly. Upon accidentally landing in Glasgow while attempting to take Clara home, she noted he would be right at home with his new persona. (TV: Deep Breath [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014).) Robin Hood later stated that the Doctor was pale as milk, since "Scots are strangers to vegetables." (TV: Robot of Sherwood [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014).) Bernice Summerfield observed that the Twelfth Doctor had more of a Glaswegian accent as opposed to the Seventh Doctor's Highlands accent. (PROSE: Big Bang Generation [+]Gary Russell, BBC New Series Adventures (BBC Books, 2015).) Missy, the incarnation of the Master contemporary to the Twelfth Doctor, also spoke with a Scottish accent. (TV: Death in Heaven [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014).)
The Tenth Doctor could easily mimic a Scottish accent, (TV: Tooth and Claw [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).) pleasing and impressing Ace who was his companion in his seventh incarnation. (AUDIO: Quantum of Axos [+]Roy Gill, Tenth Doctor Classic Companions (Big Finish Productions, 2022).) George Litefoot also detected "hints of Scots" in his natural Cockney English accent. (AUDIO: The Jago & Litefoot Revival [+]Jonathan Barnes, Short Trips (Big Finish Productions, 2017).)
The Fifteenth Doctor spoke with a unique Scottish-Rwandan accent. (TV: The Giggle [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Specials (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).) He also wore a kilt when he went dancing in a nightclub. (TV: The Church on Ruby Road [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2023 (BBC One and Disney+, 2023).)
Geography[]
Loch Lomond was located in Scotland, and located in it were Inchfad Isle, Inchconnachan Isle, and Aldochlay. (AUDIO: Wirrn Isle [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
Situated to the north of mainland Scotland were the Orkney Islands and the Shetland Islands. (TV: The Lie of the Land [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 10 (BBC One, 2017).)
History[]
Early history[]
The Twelfth Doctor and Nardole in Scotland (TV: The Eaters of Light [+]Rona Munro, Doctor Who series 10 (BBC One, 2017).)
The Twelfth Doctor, Nardole and Bill Potts visited Aberdeen in the 2nd century to settle an argument about the Ninth Legion of the Roman army. (TV: The Eaters of Light [+]Rona Munro, Doctor Who series 10 (BBC One, 2017).)
The Sixth Doctor sent the Borad back to Scotland in the 12th century implying he might end up as the Loch Ness Monster. (TV: Timelash [+]Glen McCoy, Doctor Who season 22 (BBC1, 1985).)
In the 13th century, Scotland took over Orkney. (AUDIO: The Revenants [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
The English seized the castle of Edinburgh from the Scottish, only for it to be retaken by Thomas Randolph in 1314. (PROSE: The Many Hands [+]Dale Smith, BBC New Series Adventures (BBC Books, 2008).)
In the mid-15th century, the Scottish Border Wars were a series of territory conflicts fought between Scotland and England. In 1447, a minor battle was fought in Alnwick which was won by a Scottish warlord. Iris Wildthyme visited Scotland and participated in a caber tossing contest. (PROSE: Iris at the V&A [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
In 1540, during the reign of James V, a "shooting star" carrying a Lupine Wavelength Haemovariform crashed in Scotland. (WC: Tardisode 2 [+]Gareth Roberts, Tardisodes series 2 (2006)., TV: Tooth and Claw [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).)
Mary, Queen of Scots was beheaded because her cousin, Elizabeth I of England, suspected that she was plotting against her. (PROSE: Girl Power! [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
17th century[]
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King James of Scotland and England. (TV: The Witchfinders [+]Joy Wilkinson, Doctor Who series 11 (BBC One, 2018).)
In 1603, King James VI of Scotland succeeded Elizabeth I, becoming King James I of England. He continued her Protestant reforms. According to the Eighth Doctor, his accent was so thick, members of his new English court required a translator. A close advisor to the new king was William Lethbridge-Stewart, an ancestor of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Lance Parkin, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1997)., Birthright [+]Nigel Robinson, Virgin New Adventures (Virgin Books, 1993).) Over his reign, James granted Royal Charters for various organisations such as universities. (PROSE: Girl Power! [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
An influential version of the Bible was ordered by him, and eventually bore his name. The First Doctor and Vicki Pallister once passed by the room where the translators were busy working on what would become the King James Bible. According to Barbara Wright, James' rule was characterised by relative religious tolerance. Though a staunch Protestant, he discouraged persecution of Catholics. Barbara claimed that he realised that "to govern well it made sense to unify people rather than drive them apart". (PROSE: The Plotters [+]Gareth Roberts, Virgin Missing Adventures (Virgin Books, 1996).)
On 5 November 1605, Guy Fawkes and other Catholic conspirators planned to blow up the Houses of Parliament and kill James and his sons, Henry and Charles, installing his daughter Elizabeth as a puppet queen, in what was known as the Gunpowder Plot. The attempt was thwarted by James's men (GAME: The Gunpowder Plot [+]Phil Ford, The Adventure Games (BBC Wales Interactive, 2011).) and Fawkes's failure was celebrated every year as Bonfire Night. (PROSE: The Night After Hallowe'en [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
Upon James' death in 1625, he was succeeded by his son Charles I, who ruled England, Scotland and Ireland.
For eleven years Charles ruled without regard for the Parliament, ultimately causing the English Civil War, which was fought from 1641 to 1651. The Civil War brought down the King and saw the rise of Oliver Cromwell. By December 1648, Charles Stuart was a prisoner on the Isle of Wight and then in the Hurst Castle. Despite his successful escape aided by Polly Wright, he was eventually executed. According to the Second Doctor, no mention of his escape was left in history and his trial was to happen on 20 January 1649. (PROSE: The Roundheads [+]Mark Gatiss, BBC Past Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 1997).)
James II was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution in November 1688. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution [+]Jonathan Morris, The Companion Chronicles (Big Finish Productions, 2009).)
The United Kingdom[]
18th century[]
Jamie McCrimmon in his native 18th century Scottish garb. (TV: The War Games [+]Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke, Doctor Who season 6 (BBC1, 1969).)
In 1705, the Alien Act was passed by the English Parliament. This forced the Scottish Parliament to negotiate full union with England. Later, the two countries' governments united to form the United Kingdom. This was opposed by Jacobite rebels.
On 16 April 1746, during the final battle of the Second Jacobite Rebellion, the Battle of Culloden, the Second Doctor first met his companion Jamie McCrimmon, a native Scot. By this point, George II was King of the United Kingdom. (TV: The Highlanders [+]Elwyn Jones and Gerry Davis, Doctor Who season 4 (BBC1, 1966-1967).) Originally from Hanover, George II was contemptuously referred to by Jamie as "a German king". (AUDIO: The Mouthless Dead [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) Ultimately, Jamie was returned to his own time by the Time Lords. (TV: The War Games [+]Terrance Dicks and Malcolm Hulke, Doctor Who season 6 (BBC1, 1969).)
Bound to England by the Act of Union, (PROSE: The Many Hands [+]Dale Smith, BBC New Series Adventures (BBC Books, 2008).) Scotland was drawn into battle against France in the Seven Years' War , a conflict which Slitheen disguised as Sir Edward Scott Cameron would describe as a prequel to World War I and "a glorious affair" that "spanned continents" and "consumed countless lives". (AUDIO: Death on the Mile [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) By 1759, Scotland's best soldiers were fighting the French across Europe. Those that were left on the Scottish home front were compared by the Tenth Doctor to Dad's Army. (PROSE: The Many Hands [+]Dale Smith, BBC New Series Adventures (BBC Books, 2008).)
The wearing of tartan was banned in Scotland after the Jacobite Rising. (AUDIO: Night's Black Agents [+]Marty Ross, The Companion Chronicles (2010).)
In 1788, a representative of the Celestial Intervention Agency visited Scotland and questioned Jamie about his involvement in the Glorious Revolution in 1688 after restoring his memories of his travels with the Second Doctor. (AUDIO: The Glorious Revolution [+]Jonathan Morris, The Companion Chronicles (Big Finish Productions, 2009).)
19th century[]
Torchwood House. (TV: Tooth and Claw [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).)
In 1879, the Tenth Doctor and Rose Tyler battled a werewolf at the Torchwood Estate in Scotland. Also present was Queen Victoria, who was inspired by the events to establish the Torchwood Institute. (TV: Tooth and Claw [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).) Among the branches of the Torchwood Institute was Torchwood Two, based in Glasgow. (TV: Everything Changes [+]Russell T Davies, Torchwood series 1 (BBC Three, 2006).)
20th century[]
Scottish Highland regiments were part of the British Army in World War I. The Highlanders gained a reputation as fierce soldiers in the conflict. The Germans called them "the devils in skirts" and "the ladies from hell". (AUDIO: The Mouthless Dead [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) Highland regiments were also a part of World War II. (AUDIO: Resistance [+]Steve Lyons, The Companion Chronicles (Big Finish Productions, 2009)., The Forsaken [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
In 1965, Torchwood agents, including Torchwood Three's Jack Harkness, gave twelve orphan children from near Arbroath to the 456 in exchange for an anti-virus. (TV: Children of Earth: Day Four [+]John Fay, Torchwood series 3 (BBC One, 2009).)
In 1970, the Third Doctor visited Professor Logan's space centre and castle home in Scotland. (COMIC: Doctor Who and the Rocks from Venus [+]Alan Fennell, TVC comic stories (Polystyle, 1970).)
In 1975, the Fourth Doctor encountered the Zygons and the fabled Loch Ness Monster in the north of Scotland, presumably near Inverness. (TV: Terror of the Zygons [+]Robert Banks Stewart, Doctor Who season 13 (BBC1, 1975).)
21st century[]
In 2003, Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart acted as an advisor to the newly established U.S. state of Malebolgia, due to the role he played in the recently devolved Scottish Parliament. (AUDIO: Minuet in Hell [+]Alan W. Lear and Gary Russell, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2001).) In 2007, a weatherman anticipated that ghosts would be spreading from London into Scotland. (TV: Army of Ghosts [+]Russell T Davies, Doctor Who series 2 (BBC One, 2006).)
In 2030, Scotland played England in the World Cup final in Wembley Stadium, with the Eleventh Doctor calling it "one of the greatest football matches in history!" He meant to take Amy Pond here, but instead they ended up on a space station. (COMIC: Apotheosis [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.) In 2066, Simon Bucks believed he spotted a Dalek spy in Lairg and feared it was an advance guard to an upcoming invasion. (PROSE: Have Daleks Invaded Scotland? [+]Simon Bucks, 21 stories (City Magazines, 1966).)
Later history[]
In 2119, an underwater mining base called the Drum had been built in Scotland. (TV: Under the Lake [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 9 (BBC One, 2015).)
Scotland was enslaved with the rest of the world during the 22nd century Dalek occupation of Earth, though pockets of resistance existed on the outer islands. The Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown visited occupied Scotland in 2163. (AUDIO: Masters of Earth [+]Mark Wright and Cavan Scott, Main Range (Big Finish Productions, 2014).)
On St Andrew's Day, 30 November 2814, Starship Scotland launched and declared independence from Starship UK (PROSE: Time Traveller's Diary [+]Chris Farnell, BBC Children's Books (2020).) as the nations of Earth were evacuating the planet due to solar flares. Scotland was still separate from Starship UK in the 33rd century. When Mandy Tanner noted that Amy Pond was Scottish, Amy replied that Scotland must "be here somewhere". Mandy replied Scotland didn't want to be part of Starship UK so instead, they built their own ship with its own engine. Amy approved of this and remarked that "nothing changes". (TV: The Beast Below [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).)
In the 162nd century, Scotland was home to the most northerly of Nerva City colonies, on the banks of Loch Lomond. The Sixth Doctor and Flip Jackson arrived on Inchfad Isle by transmat from Nerva City, where they helped colonists Veronica and Roger Buchman to defeat a Wirrn invasion of all the Earth colonies. (AUDIO: Wirrn Isle [+]Error: Code 2 - no data stored in variables, cache or SMW.)
Alternate timelines[]
In the Game of Napoleon and Wellington, the United Kingdom was among the nations which were conquered by France and thus incorporated into Napoléon Bonaparte's World Empire. When the Empire collapsed upon Napoleon's death, the conquered countries split up into separate mini-states, discreetly encouraged by the Players. "Revert[ing] to type", the United Kingdom split into the three separate kingdoms of England, Scotland and Wales, any two of them usually at war with the third. (PROSE: World Game [+]Terrance Dicks, BBC Past Doctor Adventures (BBC Books, 2005).)
References[]
According to Ian Chesterton, Susan Foreman thought Japan was a county in Scotland before she was tutored by Barbara Wright. (PROSE: Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks [+]David Whitaker, adapted from The Daleks (Terry Nation), Target novelisations (Frederick Muller Ltd, 1964).)
Behind the scenes[]
- The newly regenerated Twelfth Doctor finding solace in being able to understand Vastra's speech, as seen in Deep Breath [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 8 (BBC One, 2014)., is a reference to Vastra's actor, Neve McIntosh, who portrays the Silurian with her natural Scottish accent.
