The Stolen Earth

201b – "The Stolen Earth"
Doctor Who episode
Cast
Doctor David Tennant (Tenth Doctor)
Companion Catherine Tate (Donna Noble)
Others Gareth David-Lloyd – Ianto Jones Eve Myles – Gwen Cooper Thomas Knight – Luke Smith Bernard Cribbins – Wilfred Mott Jacqueline King – Sylvia Noble Adjoa Andoh – Francine Jones Julian Bleach – Davros Michael Brandon – General Sanchez Andrea Harris – Suzanne Lachele Carl – Trinity Wells Richard Dawkins – Himself Paul O'Grady – Himself Marcus Cunningham – Drunk Man Jason Mohammad – Newsreader Paul Kasey – Judoon Kelly Hunter – Shadow Architect Amy Beth Hayes – Albino Servant Gary Milner – Scared Man Nicholas Briggs – Dalek voices Alexander Armstrong – Mr Smith
Production
Directed by	Graeme Harper
Written by	Russell T. Davies
Produced by	Phil Collinson
Executive producer(s)	Russell T. Davies Julie Gardner
Production code	4.12
Series	Series 4
Running time	50 mins
First broadcast	28 June 2008
Chronology
← Preceded by "Turn Left" Followed by → "Journey's End"

The Stolen Earth is the twelfth and penultimate episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was broadcast on BBC One on 28 June 2008 at 7:10pm. The title was withheld until two weeks before broadcast, as "it gives away too much." It was the second episode of the three-part finale.

The episode featured the return of many past characters, including the recurring villain Davros, his first TV appearance since the 1988 serial Remembrance of the Daleks. There were also several crossover elements from Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, with both characters and locations from these series featuring.

Plot

Synopsis

When the Earth is stolen from its orbit and placed in another galaxy with 26 other stolen planets, the Doctor's secret army of allies comes together to defend the Earth from the new Dalek Empire. With battles raging on the streets and in the sky, the Doctor and Donna confront the Shadow Proclamation to find the truth; however, a fearsome old enemy waits in the shadows. At the episodes' finale, the Doctor is exterminated by a stray Dalek causing him to re-generate in the closing moments; however, his new character was not revealed at this point.

Cast notes

The episode features the return of many actors and characters to the programme. Freema Agyeman reprises her role as Martha Jones for the second time in the series, and John Barrowman and Elisabeth Sladen return as Jack Harkness and Sarah Jane Smith, respectively. Adjoa Andoh returns as Francine Jones for the first time since "Last of the Time Lords". Julian Bleach assumes the role of Davros, after appearing as the "Ghostmaker" in the Torchwood episode "From Out of the Rain" earlier in 2008.

This episode is also the first fully-fledged crossover between Doctor Who and its spin-off series Torchwood and The Sarah Jane Adventures, with Gwen Cooper (Eve Myles), Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd), Luke Smith (Thomas Knight), and Mr Smith (Alexander Armstrong) all appearing in the parent program for the first time. Eve Myles previously played Gwyneth in the 2005 Doctor Who episode "The Unquiet Dead".

Penelope Wilton returns as Harriet Jones, former British Prime Minister. Jason Mohammad reprises his role as the newsreader from "Turn Left", and Lachele Carl also reappears as the recurring American newsreader from Doctor Who and The Sarah Jane Adventures, credited as "Trinity Wells" in series 4 after previously being named "Mal Loup" in an on-line video. Dalek Caan also returns in this episode for the first time since "Evolution of the Daleks", along with the Judoon from "Smith and Jones".

TV host Paul O'Grady and biologist Richard Dawkins also appear as themselves, continuing the pattern of celebrity appearances in the penultimate episode of every series since the show's revival in 2005. Dawkins is married to Lalla Ward, who played Romana II alongside Tom Baker's Doctor.

External links

• The Stolen Earth on Tardis Wiki, the Doctor Who Wiki
• "The Stolen Earth" at the BBC Doctor Who homepage