Unsung Heroes and Violent Death (CON episode)

Unsung Heroes and Violent Death
Broadcast on:	BBC Three
Broadcast with:	Boom Town
Series number:	1
Broadcast date:	4 June 2005 (full length) 5 June 2005 (Cut Down)
Runtime:	30 minutes (full length) 15 minutes (Cut Down)
Key crew
Narrator:	Simon Pegg
Memorable moment
Doctor Who Confidential
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Unsung Heroes and Violent Death was the episode of Doctor Who Confidential broadcast in conjunction with the Series 1 episode Boom Town.

Aspects of production covered

• The moral complexities of the plot of Boom Town.
• The decision to return Margaret the Slitheen.
• The presence of death within Doctor Who, and how that has played into emotional development of characters.
• The impact of Rose's frequent disappearing to travel in time and space upon Mickey.

Additional topics covered

• The history of violent death within the programme's history and a discussion of whether screen violence is to blame for real violence. Mary Whitehouse appears in an archive interview.

2005 promo image.

People interviewed

• Russell T Davies, Head Writer
• Clayton Hickman, Editor, Doctor Who Magazine
• Mary Whitehouse, Broadcasting Standards Campaigner, Talking on "The Late Show", 1993
• Colin Baker, The Sixth Doctor
• Peter Davison, The Fifth Doctor
• Christopher Eccleston, The Ninth Doctor
• Andrew Collins, Critic & Broadcaster
• Noel Clarke, Mickey
• Billie Piper, Rose Tyler
• Helen Raynor, Script Editor, Doctor Who
• Sylvester McCoy, The Seventh Doctor

Music list

• "To the End" by Blur, Album: Blur: The Best of
• "Blaze of Glory" by Bon Jovi, Album: Cross Road
• "Everybody's Changing" by Keane, Album: Hopes and Fears
• "Mass Destruction" by Faithless, Album: No Roots
• "Mas Que Nada" by Sérgio Mendes, Album: Brasil '66

Crew

• Camera - Mat Bryant, Paul Cox, Danny Dimitroff, Eric Huyton, Nick Jardine, Andy Smith
• Sound - Peter Eason, Steve Hoy, Kevin Meredith, Les Mowbray, Phil Turner, Roger Van K
• Runners - Nic Britz, Maxine Hughes, Lucy Lutman, Hannah Williams, Bethan Evans
• Junior Researcher - Alexander Gratton
• Researchers - Geoff Evans, Zoë Rushton, Stephen Thomas
• Production Co-ordinator - Hannah Simpson
• Production Managers - Catherine Gosling, Zoë Scott
• Editor - Tom Appleby
• Colourist - Jon Everett
• Dubbing - Peter Jeffreys
• Executive Producers for Dr Who - Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Mal Young
• Executive Producer - Mark Cossey
• Series Producer - Gillane Seaborne
• Produced & Directed by - Tony Lee

Elements retained in Cut Down

• The decision to return Margaret the Slitheen.
• The presence of death within Doctor Who, and how that has played into emotional development of characters. (significantly condensed, with all classic series material removed)
• The impact of Rose's frequent disappearing to travel in time and space upon Mickey. (condensed just to RTD and Noel's remarks on the matter.)
• The montage which featured violent deaths with the music of "Blaze of Glory" as sung by Jon Bon Jovi in the background was kept in the cut down.

Home video releases

Doctor Who: The Complete First Series DVD cover.

The "Cut Down" version of this episode was included on the Doctor Who: The Complete First Series DVD box set released on 21 November 2005.