Doctor Who (series 6) - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

The sixth series of British

British television

Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channelsTaking the base Sky EPG TV Channels. A breakdown is impossible due to a) the number of...

science fiction television

Science fiction on television

Science fiction first appeared on a television program during the Golden Age of Science Fiction. Special effects and other production techniques allow creators to present a living visual image of an imaginary world not limited by the constraints of reality; this makes television an excellent medium...

series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...

was shown in two parts. The first seven episodes were broadcast from April to June 2011 and the final six episodes from August to October. Matt Smith, Karen Gillan

Karen Gillan

Karen Sheila Gillan is a Scottish actress and former model who is best known for her current portrayal of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.-Early life:...

and Arthur Darvill

Arthur Darvill

Thomas Arthur Darvill is an English actor, known professionally as Arthur Darvill. He is noted for his work in the plays Terre Haute and Swimming with Sharks , but is probably best known for his role as the Eleventh Doctor's Companion Rory Williams in the television series Doctor Who.-Early and...

continued their roles as The Doctor

Doctor (Doctor Who)

The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....

, Amy Pond

Amy Pond

Amelia Jessica 'Amy' Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...

and Rory Williams

Rory Williams

Rory Williams is a fictional character portrayed by Arthur Darvill in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Having been introduced at the start of the 5th series, Rory joins the Eleventh Doctor as a companion in the middle of Series 5...

. The series continues story threads from Series 5, investigating the mysterious Silence

Silence (Doctor Who)

The Silence is a fictional religious order or movement in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who.Executive producer Steven Moffat created the Silence, intending them to be "scarier" than past villains in Doctor Who...

that caused the TARDIS

TARDIS

The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...

to explode in "The Pandorica Opens

The Pandorica Opens

"The Pandorica Opens" is the twelfth episode, and first in a two-part story, in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who, broadcast on 19 June 2010. The Doctor's friends send him a warning; he deals with a message on a cliff, a mysterious box and a love story that...

" / "The Big Bang

The Big Bang (Doctor Who)

"The Big Bang" is the 13th and final episode in the fifth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It is the second part of a two-part season finale started with "The Pandorica Opens", at the end of which The Doctor is trapped, the TARDIS destroyed, and Amy Pond has been shot...

" and the identity of River Song

River Song (Doctor Who)

River Song is a fictional character played primarily by Alex Kingston in the British science-fiction series Doctor Who. River Song was introduced to the series as an experienced future companion of series protagonist the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time in his TARDIS...

Production

Production for Series 6 began in October 2010 and concluded on 11 June 2011. Peter Bennett remained as producer, but his counterpart Tracie Simpson was replaced by Sanne Wohlenberg, while departing production designer Edward Thomas was replaced by Michael Pickwoad. The two-part opening story, written by Steven Moffat and directed by Toby Haynes, was partially filmed in the United States, a first for the programme. During the production process the order of the third, fourth and ninth episodes was changed.

Casting

Matt Smith, Karen Gillan

Karen Gillan

Karen Sheila Gillan is a Scottish actress and former model who is best known for her current portrayal of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.-Early life:...

, and Arthur Darvill

Arthur Darvill

continued their roles as The Doctor

Doctor (Doctor Who)

, Amy Pond

Amy Pond

Amelia Jessica 'Amy' Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...

, and Rory Williams

Rory Williams

. Alex Kingston returned as River Song

River Song (Doctor Who)

. Other notable casting included Michael Sheen

Michael Sheen

Michael Christopher Sheen, OBE , is a Welsh stage and screen actor. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, England and made his professional debut opposite Vanessa Redgrave in When She Danced at the Globe Theatre in 1991...

(voice), Imelda Staunton

Imelda Staunton

Imelda Mary Philomena Bernadette Staunton, OBE is an English actress. She is perhaps best known for her performances in the British comedy television series Up the Garden Path, the Harry Potter film series and Vera Drake...

(voice), Suranne Jones

Suranne Jones

Suranne Jones is an English actress. She first rose to prominence playing the role of Karen McDonald in ITV1's soap opera Coronation Street over a period of four years...

, David Walliams

David Walliams

David Edward Walliams is an English comedian, writer and actor, known for his partnership with Matt Lucas on the TV sketch show Little Britain and its predecessor Rock Profile...

, Hugh Bonneville

Hugh Bonneville

Hugh Richard Bonneville Williams, known professionally as Hugh Bonneville , is an English stage, film, television and radio actor.-Education:...

, Mark Sheppard

Mark Sheppard

Mark Andreas Sheppard is an English actor and musician, born in London of an Irish-German background. He is often credited as "Mark A. Sheppard".-Personal life:Mark Sheppard is the son of actor W. Morgan Sheppard...

, James Corden

James Corden

James Kimberley Corden is an English actor, television writer, producer and presenter. He is co-creator and star of BBC comedy shows Gavin & Stacey and Horne & Corden, and acted in the 2009 film Lesbian Vampire Killers....

(returning as Craig Owens) and Simon Callow

Simon Callow

Simon Phillip Hugh Callow, CBE is an English actor, writer and theatre director. He is also currently a judge on Popstar to Operastar.-Early years:...

(returning as Charles Dickens after six years).

Filming blocks

Production blocks were arranged as follows:

Block	Episode Title	Director	Writer	Producer	Code	Filmed
X	Doctor Who Prom (2010) Doctor Who Prom (2010) The Doctor Who Prom 2010 was a concert showcasing incidental music from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, along with classical music, performed as part of the BBC's Proms series of concerts... scene "A Christmas Carol" "Space" / "Time"	Toby Haynes Toby Haynes Toby Haynes is a British television director, notable for his work on Doctor Who, Five Days, Being Human and M.I. High.He is a graduate of the National Film and Television School.-Credits:-External links:* at the Curtis Brown Agency... Richard Senior	Steven Moffat Steven Moffat Steven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his...	Sanne Wohlenberg Annabella Hurst-Brown	2.X -	July/August 2010
1	"Night Terrors Night Terrors (Doctor Who) "Night Terrors" is the ninth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One and BBC America on 3 September 2011.-Synopsis:... " "The Doctor's Wife The Doctor's Wife The Doctor's Wife, known in Japanese as , is a noted novel by Sawako Ariyoshi written in 1966.The partly historical novel is based on the life of noted male physician Hanaoka Seishū. Though much is based on fact, many events were added for dramatic purposes. The novel follows the protagonist, here... "	Richard Clark Richard Clark Richard Clark may refer to:Richard Clark , dermatologistRichard Clark , president of MerckRichard Clark , pilgrim on the MayflowerRichard Clark , British television director...	Mark Gatiss Mark Gatiss Mark Gatiss is an English actor, screenwriter and novelist. He is best known as a member of the comedy team The League of Gentlemen, and has both written for and acted in the TV series Doctor Who and Sherlock.... Neil Gaiman Neil Gaiman Neil Richard Gaiman born 10 November 1960)is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, graphic novels, audio theatre and films. His notable works include the comic book series The Sandman and novels Stardust, American Gods, Coraline, and The Graveyard Book...	Sanne Wohlenberg	2.4 2.3	September/October 2010
2	"The Impossible Astronaut The Impossible Astronaut "The Impossible Astronaut" is the first episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by show runner Steven Moffat, and directed by Toby Haynes, the episode was first broadcast on 23 April 2011 in the United Kingdom, as well as the United States... " "Day of the Moon Day of the Moon "Day of the Moon" is the second episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by show runner Steven Moffat, and directed by Toby Haynes, the episode was first broadcast on 30 April 2011 on BBC One in the United Kingdom and on BBC America in the... "	Toby Haynes Toby Haynes Toby Haynes is a British television director, notable for his work on Doctor Who, Five Days, Being Human and M.I. High.He is a graduate of the National Film and Television School.-Credits:-External links:* at the Curtis Brown Agency...	Steven Moffat Steven Moffat Steven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his...	Marcus Wilson Marcus Wilson Marcus Ali Dwayne Wilson is a retired professional basketball player, who played his career in a variety of places across the world including South America, several countries in Eastern and Western Europe and the United States...	2.1 2.2	October/November 2010
3	"The Rebel Flesh The Rebel Flesh "The Rebel Flesh" is the fifth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 21 May 2011 on BBC One and on BBC America in the United States... " "The Almost People The Almost People "The Almost People" is the sixth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 28 May 2011... "	Julian Simpson Julian Simpson Julian Simpson is a London-based writer and director working in film, TV and radio. He was educated at Felsted School.His credits include The Criminal, Superstorm, Murder Prevention, Spooks, New Tricks, Hustle and Doctor Who....	Matthew Graham Matthew Graham Matthew Graham is a British television writer, and the co-creator of the BBC/Kudos Film and Television science fiction series Life on Mars, which debuted in 2006 on BBC One and has received international critical acclaim....	Marcus Wilson	2.5 2.6	November/December 2010
4	"A Good Man Goes to War A Good Man Goes to War "A Good Man Goes to War" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 June 2011... " "The Curse of the Black Spot The Curse of the Black Spot "The Curse of the Black Spot" is the third episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by Stephen Thompson, and directed by Jeremy Webb, the episode was first broadcast on 7 May 2011 on BBC One in the United Kingdom and on BBC America in the... "	Peter Hoar Jeremy Webb	Steven Moffat Steven Moffat Steven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his... Stephen Thompson Stephen Thompson (writer) Stephen Thompson, born in 1966, sometimes credited as Steve Thompson, is a British playwright and screenwriter. He trained on the RADA playwrights' course, and his first play, Damages was performed at the Bush Theatre in 2004, winning the Arts Council's Meyer-Whitworth Award for new writing...	Marcus Wilson	2.7 2.9	January/February 2011
5	"The God Complex The God Complex "The God Complex" is the eleventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 17 September 2011.-Plot summary:... " "The Girl Who Waited The Girl Who Waited "The Girl Who Waited" is the tenth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One and BBC America on 10 September 2011.-Synopsis:... "	Nick Hurran Nick Hurran Nick Hurran is a British film and television director.Hurran is married to the television producer Michele Buck, with whom he has two children.- Film :* Remember Me? * Girls' Night * Virtual Sexuality...	Toby Whithouse Toby Whithouse Toby Whithouse is an English actor, stand-up comedian and screenwriter. His highest-profile work has been the creation of the BBC Three supernatural television series Being Human. He also created the Channel 4 television drama series No Angels , and has written for BBC One's Hotel Babylon and... Tom MacRae Tom MacRae Tom MacRae is a British television writer. He is the creator of Sky One’s Mile High. He has also written for Channel 4's No Angels and As If....	Marcus Wilson	2.11 2.10	February/March 2011
6	"Closing Time Closing Time (Doctor Who) "Closing Time" is the twelfth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 24 September 2011.-Plot summary:... "	Steve Hughes Steve Hughes Steve Hughes is an Australian musician and stand-up comedian.-Music career:In the early 1980s he formed the Sydney thrash metal band Slaughter Lord, who recorded some demos before disbanding. Hughes then joined Mortal Sin in 1989 and stayed with them until 1991...	Gareth Roberts Gareth Roberts (writer) Gareth John Pritchard Roberts is a British television screenwriter and novelist, best known for his work related to the science-fiction television series Doctor Who...	Denise Paul	2.12	March 2011
7	"Let's Kill Hitler Let's Kill Hitler "Let's Kill Hitler" is the eighth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, Space and BBC America on 27 August 2011. It is the second episode of a two-part story, continuing stories from "A Good Man Goes to War"... " "The Wedding of River Song The Wedding of River Song "The Wedding of River Song" is the thirteenth and final episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 1 October 2011.-Plot:... "	Richard Senior Jeremy Webb	Steven Moffat Steven Moffat Steven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his...	Marcus Wilson	2.8 2.13	March/April/July 2011

Trailers

The first trailer for Series 6 showed directly after the Christmas Special and showed reappearance of the Ood

Ood

The Ood are a fictional alien species with telepathic abilities from the long running science fiction series Doctor Who. In the series' narrative, they live in the distant future ....

, a person in a space suit

Space suit

A space suit is a garment worn to keep an astronaut alive in the harsh environment of outer space. Space suits are often worn inside spacecraft as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for extra-vehicular activity , work done outside spacecraft...

, evil dolls, characters from Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...

, the Doctor wearing a Stetson

Stetson

Stetsons are the brand of hat manufactured by the John B. Stetson Company of St. Joseph, Missouri.Stetson eventually became the world’s largest hat maker, producing over 3.3 million hats a year in a factory spread over . Today Stetson remains a family-owned concern...

, the interior of a craft resembling the timeship from "The Lodger

The Lodger (Doctor Who)

"The Lodger" is the eleventh episode of the fifth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast on BBC One on 12 June 2010...

", a scene with "A 51" on a wall, Suranne Jones

Suranne Jones

Suranne Jones is an English actress. She first rose to prominence playing the role of Karen McDonald in ITV1's soap opera Coronation Street over a period of four years...

' character of Idris, and several scenes filmed in Utah

Utah

Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...

's Monument Valley and Valley of the Gods

Valley of the Gods

Valley of the Gods is a scenic sandstone valley near Mexican Hat in San Juan County, southeastern Utah. It is north of Monument Valley across the San Juan River , and has similar rock formations...

. In December 2010, BBC America began airing promotions for the new series featuring Smith, Gillan, Darvill, and Kingston, filmed in Monument Valley and announcing the US locations. A 15-second teaser trailer was shown on BBC One at 9pm, 22 March 2011. A 1-minute trailer was shown on BBC 1, on 30 March 2011 showing, among other scenes, River Song

River Song (Doctor Who)

kissing the Doctor and the interior of the Ninth and Tenth Doctors' TARDIS. An alternative version of the trailer was also shown, with the scene of the TARDIS console exploding replaced with a close-up of a Silent. A different 30-second trailer was shown on BBC America on the same day, with a full 60-second trailer being shown two days later. Both these trailers show a scene with a group of three of the Silence from the alternative UK trailer.

The trailer for the second half of Series 6 premiered during the Comic-Con event for BBC America

BBC America

BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...

. Scenes include the reappearance of Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...

, the return of Craig Owens from "The Lodger

The Lodger (Doctor Who)

"The Lodger" is the eleventh episode of the fifth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast on BBC One on 12 June 2010...

", an unidentified alien with a blue eye, an older version of Amy, Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born German politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , commonly referred to as the Nazi Party). He was Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945, and head of state from 1934 to 1945...

and Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany

, River Song

River Song (Doctor Who)

wearing a similar patch as Madame Kovarian, the appearances of the Silence, Cybermen, Weeping Angels, evil dolls, white robots and the Gibbis which is to be seen in "The God Complex," a Viking, the TARDIS crashing through the Reichstag, and the revisit of the Doctor's death at Lake Silencio in Utah

Utah

. Another 40-second trailer was released on 4 August 2011 and features a pterodactyl, a pyramid with the images of an American flag and "Area 52", and the Doctor in a Stetson, telling the TARDIS, "One last trip, eh?" A 30-second trailer from BBC America was released on 12 August 2011. An alternative trailer from the 40-second trailer aired on CBBC

CBBC

CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...

on 16 August 2011 and included two new scenes.

Prequels

On 25 March 2011, a short exclusive scene serving as a "prequel" for the first two episodes was released on the show's official website. The prequel depicts Richard Nixon

Richard Nixon

Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...

(portrayed by Stuart Milligan

Stuart Milligan

Stuart Milligan is an American actor based primarily in Britain, best known for his recurring role as Adam Klaus in Jonathan Creek.He attended South High School in Denver, Colorado...

) receiving a recorded phone call of a girl's voice while sitting in the Oval Office

Oval Office

The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...

. The girl, whose voice the president appears to recognize from a previous call, begs him to "look behind you", warning him that there is something there. The president angrily refuses and tells the girl that "there are no monsters in the Oval Office." He hangs up; the camera then pans around him to show a blurred, but visibly alien, figure standing to the president's right wearing a black suit and tie.

The second prequel for the episode "The Curse of the Black Spot

The Curse of the Black Spot

"The Curse of the Black Spot" is the third episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by Stephen Thompson, and directed by Jeremy Webb, the episode was first broadcast on 7 May 2011 on BBC One in the United Kingdom and on BBC America in the...

", shows a ship's captain writing in his log. His ship is in dead water with no wind. Exhaustion of fear will take over the crew, and every night 'she' keeps appearing. The captain believes that everyone on board will die.

On 28 May 2011, BBC released the third prequel for "A Good Man Goes to War

A Good Man Goes to War

"A Good Man Goes to War" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 June 2011...

." Dorium, talking to two Headless Monks, gives them the brain of a Judoon

Judoon

The Judoon are a fictional extraterrestrial species of mercenary police from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and its spin-offs. They first appeared in the episode Smith and Jones in 2007....

, which contains a security protocol the monks need. Dorium tells them that he knows what they are up to, as he hears a lot of rumours around the area. He asks them, "All this, to imprison one child? Oh, I know what you're up to, I hear everything in this place. I even hear rumours about whose child you've taken. Are you mad? You know the stories about the Doctor? The things that man has done? God help us if you make him angry!"

The prequel to "Let's Kill Hitler

Let's Kill Hitler

"Let's Kill Hitler" is the eighth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, Space and BBC America on 27 August 2011. It is the second episode of a two-part story, continuing stories from "A Good Man Goes to War"...

" was released on 15 August 2011. Amy leaves a message for the Doctor on the TARDIS' answering phone, pleading for him to find Melody and bring her home, having trusted him to do so. The Doctor is then shown standing by the console, upset.

The final prequel to "The Wedding of River Song

The Wedding of River Song

"The Wedding of River Song" is the thirteenth and final episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 1 October 2011.-Plot:...

" was released after the airing of "Closing Time

Closing Time (Doctor Who)

"Closing Time" is the twelfth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One, BBC America and Space on 24 September 2011.-Plot summary:...

".
The prequel shows Area 52, with a clock stuck at the time of the Doctor's death, Silence

Silence (Doctor Who)

kept in stasis and River Song wearing an eye patch in the same fashion as Madame Kovarian. As all of this is happening, there is a voice-over of the children, the same as that from "Night Terrors

Night Terrors (Doctor Who)

"Night Terrors" is the ninth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One and BBC America on 3 September 2011.-Synopsis:...

" and the conclusion of "Closing Time

Closing Time (Doctor Who)

". They sing "Tick tock goes the clock" three times, and then "Doctor, brave and good, he turned away from violence. When he understood the falling of the silence."

List of episodes

The first seven episodes started in April 2011 and the final six began in August, after the mid-series finale.

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%; margin-right: 0;"
|-
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| Story No.
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| Episode
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| Title
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| Directed by
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| Written by
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| UK viewers
(million)
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| AI

Appreciation Index

The Audience Appreciation Index is a score out of 100 which is used as an indicator of the public's appreciation for a television or radio programme, or broadcast service, in the United Kingdom. Until 2002, the AI of a programme was calculated by BARB, the organisation that compiles television...

! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| Original air date
! style="background:#9F2F85; color:#FFF;"| Production
code
|-
|}

Supplemental episodes and specials

Two, three minute mini-episodes titled: "Space" and "Time", directed by Richard Senior, were released on 18 March 2011, filmed under the sixth series' production cycle as part of BBC One

BBC One

BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...

's Red Nose Day telethon for the charity Comic Relief

Comic Relief

Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...

. The episodes form a two-part story, set entirely within the TARDIS

TARDIS

The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...

, starring Matt Smith as The Doctor, Karen Gillan

Karen Gillan

Karen Sheila Gillan is a Scottish actress and former model who is best known for her current portrayal of Amy Pond in the British science fiction series Doctor Who.-Early life:...

as Amy Pond

Amy Pond

Amelia Jessica 'Amy' Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...

and Arthur Darvill

Arthur Darvill

as Rory Williams

Rory Williams

, and were written by the programme's head writer Steven Moffat

Steven Moffat

Steven Moffat is a Scottish television writer and producer.Moffat's first television work was the teen drama series Press Gang. His first sitcom, Joking Apart, was inspired by the breakdown of his first marriage; conversely, his later sitcom Coupling was based upon the development of his...

. In addition to these mini-episodes, the yearly Christmas Special was also released for on Christmas Day, 2010 entitled "A Christmas Carol" which was Doctor Who's take on the famous Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens

Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...

novel A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol

A Christmas Carol is a novella by English author Charles Dickens first published by Chapman & Hall on 17 December 1843. The story tells of sour and stingy Ebenezer Scrooge's ideological, ethical, and emotional transformation after the supernatural visits of Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of...

. >

Title	Directed by	Written by	UK viewers (million)	Original air date	Production code

International broadcast

In the US, it began airing on BBC America

BBC America

on 23 April.
The first episode was broadcast in Australia on ABC1

ABC1

ABC1 was a United Kingdom based television channel from Disney using the branding of the Disney owned American network, ABC.The channel initially launched exclusively on the British digital terrestrial television platform Freeview on 27 September 2004. On 10 December 2004 it was launched on...

on 30 April.
SPACE aired the premiere on 23 April for Canadian viewers.
Series Six started screening in New Zealand

New Zealand

New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...

on Prime (New Zealand) on 19 May in a later timeslot of 8.30pm.

DVD and Blu-ray release

All of the episodes from the first half of the series ("The Impossible Astronaut

The Impossible Astronaut

"The Impossible Astronaut" is the first episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by show runner Steven Moffat, and directed by Toby Haynes, the episode was first broadcast on 23 April 2011 in the United Kingdom, as well as the United States...

" to "A Good Man Goes to War

A Good Man Goes to War

"A Good Man Goes to War" is the seventh episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, and was first broadcast on BBC One on 4 June 2011...

") were released on 11 July 2011 as a set, entitled Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 1. Doctor Who: Series Six, Part 2, covering episodes from "Let's Kill Hitler

Let's Kill Hitler

" to "The Wedding of River Song

The Wedding of River Song

", was released on 10 October 2011. A 6-disc boxset containing all 13 episodes of the series and "A Christmas Carol" was released on 21 November 2011. A limited edition box set was also released with a lifted image of a Silent

Silence (Doctor Who)

on the cover and including four lenticular prints.

Soundtrack

Selected pieces of score from this series (from "The Impossible Astronaut" to "The Wedding of River Song"), as composed by Murray Gold

Murray Gold

Murray Gold is an English composer for stage, film, and television and a dramatist for both theatre and radio.-Television:Gold has been nominated for a BAFTA four times in the category Best Original Television Music, for Vanity Fair , Queer as Folk , Casanova and Doctor Who...

, will be released on 19 December 2011 by Silva Screen Records.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.