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You may wish to consult Series 7 for other, similarly-named pages.

Series 7 of Doctor Who ran from 6 December 2011 to 24 September 2013. It starred Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams and Jenna Coleman as Clara Oswald. The regular series was preceded by The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 (BBC One, 2011)., opened with Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). and concluded with The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013)., with the gap between parts one and two of the series being bridged by The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012)..

Overview[]

It consisted of fifteen stories and episodes. This series was broadcast on BBC One between 2012 and 2013, and, like Series 6, it was split into two parts. The BBC first announced the new series, which contained fourteen episodes, on the official Doctor Who site on 8 June 2011 It was followed by a series of 2013 specials, in honour of the programme's 50th anniversary. This was the last full series with Matt Smith's Eleventh Doctor.

Series 7 has been described as being a series of "movies" squeezed into forty-five minutes, although The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012). was sixty minutes. The first half is about the Doctor deleting himself from the universe to hide from the deadly Silence, who attempted to assassinate him in series 6 to stop him from answering the Question. During this time, the Doctor regularly visits Amy Pond and Rory Williams and also meets his grandfather-in-law Brian Williams. The Doctor meets his wife, River Song, in the final episode of the first half of the series, which involved the Weeping Angels who separated him from Amy and Rory forever.

As established in The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013)., in Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). and The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012). and many other encounters with the Doctor before, echoes of Clara Oswald were sent through time with the purpose of saving the Doctor, dying in at least the lives in Asylum and The Snowmen. The Doctor, not knowing who Clara was, realised that both incarnations of her were the same woman and believed there would be more versions of her somewhere in the universe. He found and travelled with the original Clara from 2013, determined to solve the mystery of the "impossible girl". To save the Doctor from having his victories undone by the Great Intelligence, Clara followed the Intelligence into the wound of the Doctor's timeline from his tomb on Trenzalore, sacrificing herself to save the Doctor many times over, influencing the outcomes of his many battles, and even making sure he stole the right TARDIS from Gallifrey when he originally left.

Cast[]

Recurring[]

Guest[]

Production[]

Crew[]

Producers[]

Before the airing of series 7, it was announced that both Beth Willis and Piers Wenger would step down as executive producers. Willis' last credit was on The Wedding of River Song [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011).; however, Piers Wenger stayed for one episode longer, and produced The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 (BBC One, 2011)..

A new executive producer named Caroline Skinner joined Steven Moffat to produce The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe onwards, but it was announced before the broadcast of the spring half of series 7 that she was departing the show after just one season and would be replaced by BBC Wales Head of Drama, Faith Penhale.[1]

Writers[]

Head writer Steven Moffat wrote seven episodes. He has written the 2011 Christmas special, episodes one and five in the autumn run, the Children in Need mini-episode, the 2012 Christmas special, episodes six and thirteen of the spring run, and the 50th anniversary special.

Chris Chibnall and Toby Whithouse, who had both written episodes for multiple previous series of Doctor Who, returned to contribute scripts for the Autumn run. Chibnall wrote episodes two and four, while Whithouse wrote episode three.

Mark Gatiss also returned, writing episodes eight and eleven.

Another returning writer was Steve Thompson, who wrote episode ten.

Fantasy author Neil Gaiman (who previously wrote The Doctor's Wife [+]Neil Gaiman, Doctor Who series 6 (BBC One, 2011).), wrote episode twelve.

Luther creator Neil Cross made his Doctor Who debut with episode seven, as well as writing episode nine.

Directors[]

Returning director Nick Hurran directed episodes one and five. Douglas Mackinnon, another returning director directed episodes four and eight.

New director Farren Blackburn directed the 2011 Christmas special, as well as episode seven.

Saul Metzstein, another director new to Doctor Who, directed episodes two, three, eleven, thirteen and the 2012 Christmas special.

A handful of new directors directed one episode each in the spring half of the series. These are: Colm McCarthy, Jamie Payne, Mat King and Stephen Woolfenden, who directed episodes six, nine, ten and twelve respectively.

Filming[]

Filming for series 7 began on 20 February 2012.[2] Episode three was filmed in Spain,[3] as were some scenes for episode one. Filming for episode five saw the crew return to America. This time, they were filming in New York.[4] Filming for The Snowmen began 6 August.[5]

Television stories[]

Christmas special[]

Episode
Number
Title Writer Director Prequel Notes
N/A The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 (BBC One, 2011). Steven Moffat Farren Blackburn Prequel The Doctor reestablishes contact with Amy and Rory since faking his death.

Mini-episodes[]

Episode
Number
Title Writer Director Notes
N/A Good as Gold The Children of Ashdene School Saul Metzstein
N/A Pond Life Chris Chibnall Saul Metzstein Glimpse into the life of Amy and Rory.
N/A The History of the Doctor Gareth Roberts Tom Cohen

Regular series[]

Autumn half[]

Episode
Number
Title Writer Director Prequel Notes
1 Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). Steven Moffat Nick Hurran Pond Life and Asylum of the Daleks Prequel First appearance of Clara Oswald, in the form of Oswin Oswald.
2 Dinosaurs on a Spaceship [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). Chris Chibnall Saul Metzstein First appearance of Brian Williams.
3 A Town Called Mercy [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). Toby Whithouse The Making of the Gunslinger
4 The Power of Three [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). Chris Chibnall Douglas Mackinnon Reintroduction of Kate Stewart, and her first appearance in the television series.
5 The Angels Take Manhattan [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). Steven Moffat Nick Hurran Final regular appearances of Amy Pond, Rory Williams and River Song. A webcast, P.S., was later released, detailing an unfilmed scene, featuring the last appearance of Brian Williams.

Christmas special[]

Episode
Number
Title Writer Director Prequel Notes
N/A The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012). Steven Moffat Saul Metzstein The Great Detective, Vastra Investigates and The Battle of Demons Run: Two Days Later Reappearance of Clara as Clara Oswin Oswald, and cameo from Clara herself. Reintroduction of the Great Intelligence. Establishment of Vastra, Strax and Jenny Flint as the Paternoster Gang.

Spring half[]

The remaining eight episodes of series 7 began airing on 30 March, 2013.

Episode
Number
Title Writer Director Prequel Notes
6 The Bells of Saint John [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Steven Moffat Colm McCarthy The Bells of Saint John: A Prequel Debut of the Eleventh Doctor's purple costume. First appearance of Angie And Artie Maitland.
7 The Rings of Akhaten [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Neil Cross Farren Blackburn
8 Cold War [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Mark Gatiss Douglas Mackinnon Reintroduction of the Ice Warriors.
9 Hide [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Neil Cross Jamie Payne
10 Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS [+]Steve Thompson, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Steve Thompson Mat King Reintroduction to the Eye of Harmony.
11 The Crimson Horror [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Mark Gatiss Saul Metzstein 100th Episode of the Revived Series. Angie And Artie find out about Clara's life with the Doctor.
12 Nightmare in Silver [+]Neil Gaiman, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Neil Gaiman Stephen Woolfenden First appearance of the "weapons-grade" Cybermen. Reintroduction to the Cyber-Planner.
13 The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013). Steven Moffat Saul Metzstein She Said, He Said and Clarence and the Whispermen Introduction of the War Doctor. Explanation of Clara's multiple lives, giving resolution to the "Woman Twice Dead" arc.

DVD Box Set Mini-episodes[]

These three mini-episodes were released on the series 7 DVD boxset.

Episode
Number
Title Writer Director Notes
N/A Clara and the TARDIS Steven Moffat The Doctor does not appear.
N/A Rain Gods Neil Gaiman
N/A The Inforarium Steven Moffat Shows how the Doctor "deleted" himself from the universe.

Episode notes[]

  • This is the first series in the BBC Wales era of Doctor Who not to begin in the spring. In fact, the show would not see a spring series premiere again until Series 10.
  • The BBC justified the decision to split the series into two blocks starting in the fall by citing Steven Moffat's commitments to Sherlock as well as the upcoming 50th anniversary. Steven Moffat disputed this, insisting that Sherlock had nothing to do with the decision.[6]
  • This is the first series to have special "movie" posters made featuring titles, cast and credits.
  • For the first time in Doctor Who, this series had no two-parters in it. Asylum of the Daleks through The Angels Take Manhattan form a loose story arc involving Amy and Rory, whereas the mystery of Clara is a background arc contained in the remaining episodes of the season.
  • Series 7 stands as one of only three seasons in Doctor Who history in which each story of the season has consisted of the same number of episodes - with this series consisting entirely of one parters - the others being Season 18, with entirely four-part serials, and Series 11, with one-parters. If the unfinished Shada is discounted, then this number is raised to four, with Season 17 also entirely consisting of four-part serials.
  • During Series 7, Matt Smith appeared as the Doctor in a spoof titled One Born Every Minute, aired on 15 March 2013 as part of the annual Comic Relief appeal.
  • The series had two opening sequences. From Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012). to The Angels Take Manhattan [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012)., the opening sequence was the one used starting from The Eleventh Hour [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 5 (BBC One, 2010).. From The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012)., a different opening sequence was used and was used for the rest of Matt Smith's tenure.

Aliens and enemies[]

Adaptations and merchandising[]

Home media[]

DVD[]

This section's awfully stubby.

This section need to have information added as an opening paragraph, and images need to be added at the bottom.

Title Number and duration
of episodes
R2 release date R4 release date R1 release date
Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe
The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 (BBC One, 2011).
1 × 60 min. 16 January 2012 1 March 2012 14 February 2012
Doctor Who: Series 7, Part 1
Pond Life
Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
A Town Called Mercy [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Power of Three [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Angels Take Manhattan [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
1 x 50 min.
4 × 45 min.
1 x 5 min.
29 October 2012 14 November 2012 13 November 2012
Doctor Who: Series 7, Part 2
The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012).
The Bells of Saint John [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Rings of Akhaten [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Cold War [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Hide [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS [+]Steve Thompson, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Crimson Horror [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Nightmare in Silver [+]Neil Gaiman, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Clarence and the Whispermen
1 x 60 min.
8 x 45 min.
1 x 2 min.
27 May 2013 22 May 2013 28 May 2013
Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series
The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 (BBC One, 2011).
Pond Life
Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
A Town Called Mercy [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Power of Three [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Angels Take Manhattan [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012).
The Bells of Saint John [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Rings of Akhaten [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Cold War [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Hide [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS [+]Steve Thompson, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Crimson Horror [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Nightmare in Silver [+]Neil Gaiman, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Clara and the TARDIS
Rain Gods
The Inforarium
1 x 50 min.
2 x 60 min.
12 x 45 min.
1 x 5 min.
3 x 2 min.
28 October 2013 30 October 2013 28 September 2013

Blu-ray[]

This section's awfully stubby.

This section need to have information added as an opening paragraph, and images need to be added at the bottom.

Title Number and duration
of episodes
R2 release date R4 release date R1 release date
Doctor Who: The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe
The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 (BBC One, 2011).
1 × 60 min. 16 January 2012 1 March 2012 14 February 2012
Doctor Who: Series 7, Part 1
Pond Life
Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
A Town Called Mercy [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Power of Three [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Angels Take Manhattan [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
1 x 50 min.
4 × 45 min.
1 x 5 min.
29 October 2012 14 November 2012 13 November 2012
Doctor Who: Series 7, Part 2
The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012).
The Bells of Saint John [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Rings of Akhaten [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Cold War [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Hide [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS [+]Steve Thompson, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Crimson Horror [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Nightmare in Silver [+]Neil Gaiman, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
1 x 60 min.
8 x 45 min.
27 May 2013 22 May 2013 28 May 2013
Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series
The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2011 (BBC One, 2011).
Pond Life
Asylum of the Daleks [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
A Town Called Mercy [+]Toby Whithouse, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Power of Three [+]Chris Chibnall, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Angels Take Manhattan [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2012).
The Snowmen [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Christmas Special 2012 (BBC One, 2012).
The Bells of Saint John [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Rings of Akhaten [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Cold War [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Hide [+]Neil Cross, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS [+]Steve Thompson, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Crimson Horror [+]Mark Gatiss, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Nightmare in Silver [+]Neil Gaiman, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
The Name of the Doctor [+]Steven Moffat, Doctor Who series 7 (BBC One, 2013).
Clara and the TARDIS
Rain Gods
The Inforarium
1 x 50 min.
2 x 60 min.
12 x 45 min.
1 x 5 min.
3 x 2 min.
28 October 2013 30 October 2013 28 September 2013

Series 7 released on 21 November 2023 in a limited edition Blu-ray box set containing every "New Who" series up to Series 13.[7]

Stories set before this season[]

Webcasts[]

Stories set during this season[]

Novels[]

Audiobooks[]

Audio Drama[]

Webcasts[]

Footnotes[]

  1. Executive Producer Moves On. BBC - Doctor Who. Retrieved on 13 March 2013.
  2. Morgan Jeffery (9 February 2012). 'Doctor Who' to resume filming this month, Saul Metzstein to direct. Digital Spy. Retrieved on 23 August 2012.
  3. The Doctor Who Team (16 July 2012). New Series: Dinosaurs and Mercy!. BBC - Blogs - Doctor Who. Retrieved on 7 November 2012.
  4. "Marcus" (24 March 2012). Production: Convention News. Doctor Who News. Retrieved on 23 August 2012.
  5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/entries/71c567d9-d7c5-3758-a3bc-1bc095e4b829
  6. Guardian Article
  7. https://www.ign.com/articles/doctor-who-limited-edition-complete-new-who-blu-ray-set-is-up-for-preorder
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