The Pink Panther was a 20th century film starring Peter Sellers. According to the Eighth Doctor, Sellers nearly turned down this role, but the Doctor pleaded with him, saying, "If it's good enough for Ustinov, it's good enough for you." (AUDIO: Divine Intervention)
The Pink Panther was also the title of a film newly released, according to posters in a Cardiff supermarket at least, on 17 July, sometime in the 2000s. Date Movie was released alongside it. (TV: Out of Time)
Behind the scenes[]
The original Pink Panther film, released 1963, indeed starred Peter Sellers as Inspector Jacques Clouseau. The part was originally filled by Peter Ustinov, as the Doctor alludes to, who only left after Ava Gardner also left the project.
The 2006 remake of the same name is the film whose poster is glimpsed in Out of Time.
Doctor Who pastiches[]
The audio story The Veiled Leopard follows the same basic plot as The Pink Panther. In the same story, Lady Lillian Hawthorne mentions a "Sir Charles" in attendance at the ball, a reference to Sir Charles Litton, the character played by David Niven and Christopher Plummer in the series.