Doctor Who (2022 specials)

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Doctor Who
2022 specials
Doctor Who 2022 Specials Promotional Poster.jpeg
Promotional image for the first special
Starring
Country of originUnited Kingdom
No. of stories1
No. of episodes1
Release
Original networkBBC One
Original release1 January 2022 (2022-01-01) –
present
Season chronology
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Series 13
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List of episodes

The 2022 specials of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who are three additional episodes that follow the programme's thirteenth series, and were first announced in July 2021. The first special aired on 1 January 2022, with the additional specials airing later the same year. They will be the final episodes to feature Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor and Chris Chibnall as showrunner. The specials also star Mandip Gill and John Bishop as the Doctor's travelling companions, Yasmin Khan and Dan Lewis, respectively.

The three specials were directed by Annetta Laufer, Haolu Wang and Jamie Magnus Stone respectively. Chibnall wrote all three specials, co-writing one episode with Ella Road, a new contributor to the programme. The first two specials were filmed alongside the thirteenth series, and were completed by August 2021, with the centenary special having completed filming by that October.

Episodes[]

See also: List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)
No.
story		No. in
specials		TitleDirected by [1]Written by [1]Original air dateUK viewers
(millions) [2]		AI [2]
2981"Eve of the Daleks"Annetta LauferChris Chibnall1 January 2022 (2022-01-01)4.3077
On New Year's Eve, Nick arrives at ELF storage to drop off a Monopoly board to the irritation of Sarah, the owner. Meanwhile, the Doctor, Yaz and Dan attempt to reset the TARDIS to remove damage and anomalies caused by the Flux, intending to spend time at a beach on another planet in the meantime. Instead, it lands in ELF storage and causes a time loop. Nick finishes in his storage unit, but as he exits he gets exterminated by a Dalek which then proceeds to kill Sarah and the TARDIS crew. The loop then resets as the crew start to suspect something strange. Together, they have to figure out how to escape the complex before the time loop closes as the Daleks hunt the Doctor; a Dalek execution squad assembles and advances their tactics with each loop. They encounter many of the strange things that Jeff, Sarah's employee, keeps in the complex, including multiple boxes of fireworks and high explosives. As the loop closes, the group move unpredictably to outsmart the Daleks until they trick them into shooting the boxes of fireworks, destroying the ELF facility and the Daleks whilst facilitating the Doctor's escape. They watch the ensuing firework display having survived the time loop.
2992"Legend of the Sea Devils"[3]Haolu WangChris Chibnall and Ella RoadEarly 2022 (2022)TBDTBA
3003TBAJamie Magnus StoneChris ChibnallLate 2022 (2022)TBDTBA

Casting[]

See also: List of Doctor Who cast members

Jodie Whittaker returns as the Thirteenth Doctor for the three episodes.[4] The final special will be the last episode to feature Whittaker in the role.[5][6] Mandip Gill and John Bishop also return as Yasmin Khan and Dan Lewis, respectively.[7][8] Aisling Bea and Adjani Salmon guest star in the New Year's special, which also features Pauline McLynn.[9] The second special will feature Crystal Yu as pirate queen Madame Ching, as well as Arthur Lee and Marlowe Chan-Reeves.[3] Bradley Walsh, who departed the series in "Revolution of the Daleks", will reprise the role of Graham O'Brien in the final special.[10]

Production[]

Development[]

On 29 July 2021, the BBC announced Jodie Whittaker, and Chris Chibnall, who serves as executive producer and showrunner of the series, would both depart the series after a run of specials in 2022.[11][12] Chibnall stated their departures were part of a "three series and out deal" he made with Whittaker prior to the eleventh series.[13] The first two episodes were produced as part of the eight episodes ordered for the thirteenth series, and were already set to be held for 2022.[14] A third feature-length special was later ordered to coincide with the centenary of the BBC and serve as Whittaker's regeneration episode.[15] The BBC describes the final episode as an "epic blockbuster special".[16] Executive producer Matt Strevens, who joined the series alongside Chibnall, is also set to depart once production is complete.[17] Chibnall later stated that post-production on the final special would continue into 2022 under the working title "the Centenary Special".[18] Emily Lawrence, the visual effects editor, confirmed digital effects work was still ongoing in January 2022.[19]

Writing[]

Chibnall continues as the head writer for the New Year's special episode, which features the Daleks in a loose trilogy that connects their appearances in the past New Year's specials, "Resolution" (2019) and "Revolution of the Daleks" (2021).[20] Chibnall also wrote the following specials, co-writing the second with Ella Road.[1] The second special features the Sea Devils in their first appearance since Warriors of the Deep (1984).[3]

Filming[]

The first two episodes were filmed in the same production run as the thirteenth series.[21] Annetta Laufer directed the first special, and Haolu Wang directed the second.[22][23] Filming for those specials concluded in August 2021.[23] The centenary special was filmed throughout September 2021, directed by Jamie Magnus Stone,[24] concluding on 13 October 2021.[8][25]

Production blocks were arranged as follows:[20][1][failed verification]

Block Episode(s) Director Writer(s) Producer
1 "Eve of the Daleks" Annetta Laufer Chris Chibnall Sheena Bucktowonsing
2 "Legend of the Sea Devils" Haolu Wang Chris Chibnall and Ella Road Nikki Wilson[26][27]
3 Special 3 Jamie Magnus Stone Chris Chibnall

Release[]

Promotion[]

Details of the New Year's Day special, "Eve of the Daleks", were revealed following the conclusion of "The Vanquishers", the finale of the thirteenth series.[20] Details of "Legend of the Sea Devils" were likewise released after "Eve of the Daleks" concluded.[3]

Broadcast[]

The first of the three specials aired on 1 January 2022 in the series' traditional New Year's Day time slot.[28] The second special is expected to air in early 2022, with the third and final special set to air in late 2022 as part of the BBC's Centenary celebrations.[29][30]

Reception[]

Ratings[]

No. Title Air date Overnight ratings Consolidated ratings Total
viewers
(millions)		 28-day
viewers
(millions)		 AI Ref(s)
Viewers
(millions)		 Rank Viewers
(millions)		 Rank
1 "Eve of the Daleks" 1 January 2022 3.21 6 1.09 25 4.299 4.755 77 [2][31][32]

Critical reception[]

On Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator website, 82% of 11 critics gave "Eve of the Daleks" a positive review, with an average rating of 7.20 out of 10. The site's consensus reads "Doctor Who scales back and is all the better for it with a New Year's special that finds fresh notes within a self-contained yarn."[33]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Laford, Andrea (16 December 2021). "Doctor Who 2022 Specials: news, writers and directors". CultBox. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "Ratings Guide". Doctor Who News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  3. ^ a b c d Jeffery, Morgan (1 January 2022). "The Sea Devils will return to Doctor Who in Spring 2022 special". Radio Times. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  4. ^ Jackson, Matthew (29 July 2021). "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker, Showrunner Chris Chibnall Set 2022 Exit with Trio of Specials". Syfy. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  5. ^ Piester, Lauren (29 July 2021). "Jodie Whittaker Is Leaving Doctor Who With Big Plans For Her Final Episodes". E! Online. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  6. ^ Mellor, Louisa (29 July 2021). "Doctor Who: BBC Confirms Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall To Leave in 2022". Den of Geek. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  7. ^ Laford, Andrea (15 October 2021). "Dan Lewis (and John Bishop) survive Doctor Who". Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  8. ^ a b Laford, Andrea (13 October 2021). "Jodie Whittaker wraps final filming on Doctor Who". CultBox. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  9. ^ "New Year's Day 2022 Special Synopsis & Guest Stars Revealed". Doctor Who TV. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  10. ^ Laford, Andrea (20 September 2021). "Doctor Who BBC Centenary Special: filming in Grange Gardens Cardiff". CultBox. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  11. ^ Kanter, Jane (29 July 2021). "'Doctor Who': Jodie Whittaker & Showrunner Chris Chibnall Are Leaving Iconic Sci-Fi Series, BBC Confirms". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall to leave Doctor Who in a trio of Specials in 2022". Doctor Who. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  13. ^ Ausiello, Michael (28 July 2021). "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker and Showrunner Chris Chibnall Out". TVLine. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  14. ^ Jeffery, Morgan (29 July 2021). "Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall confirmed to leave Doctor Who in 2022". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  15. ^ Cremona, Patrick (29 July 2021). "Doctor Who series 13 will be six episodes long – with trilogy of specials in 2022". Radio Times. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  16. ^ Purslow, Matt (29 July 2021). "Doctor Who: Jodie Whittaker Leaving, Along With Showrunner Chris Chibnall". IGN. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker to Leave "Doctor Who" in a Trio of Specials, Culminating in an Epic Blockbuster Special to Air in Fall 2022, as Part of the BBC's Centenary Celebrations" (Press release). AMC Networks. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
  18. ^ Carr, Flora (12 November 2021). "Chris Chibnall gives an update on 2022 Doctor Who specials". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  19. ^ Morris, Lauren (6 January 2022). "Doctor Who Centenary special will be visual effects "spectacular", says VFX boss". Radio Times. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  20. ^ a b c Mellor, Louisa (5 December 2021). "Doctor Who: It's Dalek Déjà Vu in 2022 with New Year Special 'Eve of the Daleks'". Den of Geek. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
  21. ^ Laford, Andrea (29 July 2021). "Jodie Whittaker and Chris Chibnall to leave Doctor Who after trio of 2022 Specials". Cultbox. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  22. ^ "Erline O'Donovan-Clarke".
  23. ^ a b Laford, Andrea (9 August 2021). "Doctor Who Series 13 and 2022 specials: directors and casting news". CultBox. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  24. ^ Laford, Andrea (17 September 2021). "Doctor Who BBC Centenary Special: filming at Hodge House in Cardiff". CultBox. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  25. ^ Morris, Lauren (11 November 2021). "Doctor Who boss says last scene Jodie Whittaker ever shot was regeneration". Radio Times. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  26. ^ "Mark Waters - Independent Talent". Retrieved 2 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Rebecca Trotman - Berlin Associates". Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  28. ^ Collis, Clark (29 July 2021). "Jodie Whittaker is leaving Doctor Who after 3 seasons". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  29. ^ Ritman, Alex (29 July 2021). "Jodie Whittaker Leaving 'Doctor Who' Alongside Showrunner Chris Chibnall". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  30. ^ "Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker to leave Doctor Who in a trio of Specials". BBC. 29 July 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2021.
  31. ^ Marcus (2 January 2022). "Eve of the Daleks - Overnight Viewing Figures". Doctor Who News. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  32. ^ "Top programmes report". Thinkbox. 10 January 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  33. ^ "Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
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