Doctor Who series 2#Promotion

{{Short description|2006 season of British sci-fi TV series}}

{{good article}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2024}}

{{About|the 2006 series|the 1964–1965 season|Doctor Who season 2{{!}}Doctor Who season 2|the 2025 series marketed as "season 2"|Doctor Who series 15{{!}}Doctor Who series 15}}

{{Infobox television season

| bgcolour = #0F4D92

| image = Doctor Who Series 2.jpg

| image_size = 200px

| image_alt = David Tennant and Billie Piper back to back in front of a blue background with a police box in a corner and text reading, "Doctor Who, the complete second season"

| caption = DVD box set cover art

| showrunner = Russell T Davies

| starring = {{Unbulleted list|David Tennant|Billie Piper}}

| num_stories = 10

| num_episodes = 13 (+1 special)

| network = BBC One

| first_aired = {{Start date|2006|4|15|df=y}}

| last_aired = {{End date|2006|7|8|df=y}}

| episode_list = List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)

}}

The second series of British science fiction programme Doctor Who began on 25 December 2005 with the Christmas special "The Christmas Invasion". A regular series of thirteen episodes was broadcast weekly in 2006, starting with "New Earth" on 15 April and concluding with "Doomsday" on 8 July. In addition, two short special episodes were produced; a Children in Need special and an interactive episode, as well as thirteen minisodes titled Tardisodes. It is the second series of the revival of the show, and the twenty-eighth season overall.

It is the first series to feature David Tennant as the tenth incarnation of the Doctor, an alien Time Lord who travels through time and space in his TARDIS, which appears to be a British police box on the outside. The Doctor continues to travel with his companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), with whom he has grown increasingly attached. They also briefly travel with Rose's boyfriend Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke), and Rose's mother Jackie (Camille Coduri). The series is connected by a loose story arc consisting of the recurring word "Torchwood". This is also the first series to be preceded by a Christmas special, the success of "The Christmas Invasion" led to the Christmas special becoming an annual tradition.

Russell T Davies returned as head writer of the series. Phil Collinson produced all episodes, with Julie Gardner serving as executive producer. Music for the series was composed by Murray Gold. A majority of filming took place in Cardiff, Wales. The series was acclaimed by critics and won multiple awards, including five at the BAFTA Cymru Awards.

{{TOC left}}

{{Clear}}

Episodes

{{See also|List of Doctor Who episodes (2005–present)}}

{{Episode table

|background = #0F4D92

|overall = 6 |series = 6 |title = 20 |director = 14 |writer = 18 |airdate = 16 |prodcode = 5 |viewers = 9 |aux4 = 6 |country = UK

|overallT = {{Abbr|No.|Number}}
story

|aux4T = Appreciation Index

|aux4R = {{Sfn|Pixley|2006|pp=21, 29, 35, 42, 50, 61, 69, 79, 85, 91, 101 }}

|viewersR =

|episodes =

{{Episode table/part|subtitle=Special|c=#0F4D92}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 167

| EpisodeNumber2 = –

| Title = The Christmas Invasion

| DirectedBy = James Hawes

| WrittenBy = Russell T Davies

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|12|25|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2X

| Viewers = 9.84{{Cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4560594.stm | website=BBC News | title=BBC Wins Christmas TV Ratings War | date=26 December 2005 | access-date=13 December 2023 | archive-date=31 August 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831135949/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4560594.stm | url-status=live }}

| Aux4 = 84

| ShortSummary = Rose Tyler and the newly regenerated Tenth Doctor return to her mother Jackie's flat, where her mother and former boyfriend Mickey Smith carry the Doctor inside to rest. When out shopping, Rose and Mickey are attacked by Santa robots; the Doctor theorises that energy from his regeneration has lured them there. Prime Minister Harriet Jones is threatened by the leader of the Sycorax to give them half of the Earth's population as slaves; Harriet tries to negotiate and is teleported onto their ship. The Sycorax detect the TARDIS and transport it to their ship, with Rose, Mickey, and the Doctor inside. After the Doctor has fully recovered, he challenges the Sycorax leader to a sword fight for the future of the Earth, which he eventually wins. However, the Sycorax ship is destroyed against the Doctor's wishes by Harriet Jones, who had called Torchwood on the matter.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode table/part|subtitle=Series|c=#0F4D92}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 168

| EpisodeNumber2 = 1

| Title = New Earth

| DirectedBy = James Hawes

| WrittenBy = Russell T Davies

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|4|15|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.1

| Viewers = 8.62

| Aux4 = 85

| ShortSummary = The Doctor and Rose travel to New Earth, the planet which humanity inhabited after the Earth's destruction by the Sun.{{refn|group=N|As depicted in the 2005 episode "The End of the World"}} They go into a luxury hospital in New New York, where Rose meets the villain Cassandra again. Cassandra possesses Rose's body as she is in need of one. The Doctor and Cassandra discover that the hospital holds hundreds of artificially-grown humans that have been infected with diseases so the Sisters of Plenitude can find their cures. Cassandra releases several of the humans as a distraction, but they release others and a zombie-like attack begins. The Doctor sprays the infected humans with an intravenous solution using a disinfectant shower, curing them. The Doctor orders Cassandra out of Rose and she transfers her consciousness to her servant Chip, but his cloned body fails and Cassandra accepts her death.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 169

| EpisodeNumber2 = 2

| Title = Tooth and Claw

| DirectedBy = Euros Lyn

| WrittenBy = Russell T Davies

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|4|22|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.2

| Viewers = 9.24

| Aux4 = 83

| ShortSummary = The Doctor and Rose arrive in Scotland in 1879, where Queen Victoria invites them to the Torchwood Estate. Unknown to them, the estate has been captured by a group of monks who have brought a werewolf in hopes to infect Queen Victoria and establish an "Empire of the Wolf". The Doctor notices the trap and tries to shield himself, Victoria, and Rose from the werewolf. He learns that the estate was designed as a trap for the werewolf as it contains a large telescope which, with Victoria's Koh-i-Noor diamond and full moonlight, can kill the werewolf. Though they save her, Queen Victoria is unnerved by the Doctor and Rose's modern eccentricities and founds the Torchwood Institute to defend Britain from further alien attacks.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 170

| EpisodeNumber2 = 3

| Title = School Reunion

| DirectedBy = James Hawes

| WrittenBy = Toby Whithouse

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|4|29|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.3

| Viewers = 8.31

| Aux4 = 85

| ShortSummary = The Doctor works undercover as a teacher in a school which Mickey believes is suspicious. Rose, working as a dinner lady, notices the cafeteria's chips have an adverse effect on other members of the kitchen staff, while the Doctor notes the chips seem to make the students more intelligent. The success of headmaster Mr Finch has aroused media attention; investigative journalist Sarah Jane Smith, the Doctor's former companion, arrives at the school and discovers the TARDIS. She and her robotic dog K9 join up with the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey. Together, they discover that the teachers are actually Krillitanes and the chips are coated with Krillitane oil, intended to make the children intelligent enough to decode the "Skasis Paradigm", a theory of everything, giving the Krillitanes full control of time and space. The Doctor refuses to join the Krillitanes and evacuates the children. K9 detonates the chip oil container, destroying the Krillitanes, the school, and K9 himself. Sarah Jane declines the Doctor's offer to travel with him, suggesting Mickey do so instead. Departing, the Doctor gives her a brand new model of K9.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 171

| EpisodeNumber2 = 4

| Title = The Girl in the Fireplace

| DirectedBy = Euros Lyn

| WrittenBy = Steven Moffat

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|6|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.4

| Viewers = 7.90

| Aux4 = 84

| ShortSummary = The Doctor, Rose, and Mickey arrive on an abandoned spaceship which contains several "time windows" into the life of Madame de Pompadour, known as "Reinette". The Doctor first enters her bedroom in Paris through an 18th-century fireplace when she is seven years old, and saves her from a clockwork man. On the ship, the Doctor and his companions discover more time windows into Reinette's life in 18th-century Versailles and see that the clockwork droids continue stalking her, but do not consider her "complete". The Doctor discovers that the droids murdered the ship's human crew and recycled some of their organs for use in the ship but still needs Reinette's brain to be fully functional. The brain must be 37 years old, the age of the ship; it is actually named after Madame de Pompadour. The Doctor manages to arrive at some point after her 37th birthday, and saves her from the droids, who shut down because they have no way of returning to their ship. With Reinette safe, the Doctor uses the fireplace to travel to the spaceship. When he returns, he discovers that seven years have passed, and Reinette has died. Downhearted, the Doctor and his companions depart in the TARDIS.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 172a{{anchor|ep172}}

| EpisodeNumber2 = 5

| Title = Rise of the Cybermen

| DirectedBy = Graeme Harper

| WrittenBy = Tom MacRae

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|13|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.5

| Viewers = 9.22

| Aux4 = 86

| ShortSummary = A major problem with the TARDIS causes the Doctor, Rose, and Mickey to reach a parallel universe, with no way of getting back home for 24 hours. In the parallel universe, Rose's father Pete is still alive and most of humanity wears EarPods that feed information directly into the wearer's brain. The EarPods are designed by John Lumic, who is trying to give them an "upgrade" which will ultimately turn the humans into Cybermen. Though he has not received permission to do this, he has been abducting and converting numerous homeless people. Mickey is mistaken for his parallel universe self Ricky and is taken by Jake Simmonds, a member of a gang called the "Preachers" who are aware of the dangers of the EarPods. Cybermen begin attacking a birthday party at which the Doctor and Rose are posing as waiters. They, along with Pete, escape and run into Mickey and the Preachers, but the Cybermen close in on them.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 172b

| EpisodeNumber2 = 6

| Title = The Age of Steel

| DirectedBy = Graeme Harper

| WrittenBy = Tom MacRae

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|20|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.6

| Viewers = 7.63

| Aux4 = 86

| ShortSummary = Escaping from the Cybermen, the group go to Battersea Power Station, where Lumic uses a transmitter to control London's EarPod-wearing population and send them to be converted into Cybermen. On the way, Ricky is killed by the Cybermen. The group splits into three smaller groups to stop the conversion. Eventually, Mrs Moore is killed and the Doctor, Rose, and Pete are captured by the Cybermen and taken to Lumic, who has become the Cyber Controller. Mickey and Jake disable the transmitter on the zeppelin, freeing the humans who had not been converted. Mickey hacks Lumic's database to find the code to cancel every Cyberman's emotional inhibitor and sends it to Rose's phone; the Doctor plugs the phone into the computer systems which changes the signal and sends the Cybermen into despair. They escape the exploding factory on the zeppelin and Pete cuts the ladder Lumic is climbing up, sending him to his death. Mickey decides to stay and help fix the parallel universe with Jake and take care of Ricky's grandmother, as he understands Rose prefers the Doctor.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 173

| EpisodeNumber2 = 7

| Title = The Idiot's Lantern

| DirectedBy = Euros Lyn

| WrittenBy = Mark Gatiss

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|27|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.7

| Viewers = 6.76

| Aux4 = 84

| ShortSummary = The Doctor and Rose land in London in 1953 on the day before Queen Elizabeth II's coronation. The Doctor befriends teenager Tommy Connolly, whose grandmother is hidden because she lacks any facial features and has no brain activity, a phenomenon that is common with those who have purchased television sets sold cheap for the coronation from Magpie Electricals, owned by Mr Magpie. Rose, investigating the shop, finds that Mr Magpie is under the influence of an entity known as "the Wire", a fugitive who has converted herself to an electrical form and is using the televisions—and intends to use the upcoming coronation—to consume enough minds to rebuild its body; she takes Rose's face as well. In discovery of this, the Doctor is outraged and foils the Wire's plan with a device he creates, and those whose minds and faces were consumed are returned and London can safely watch the coronation.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 174a{{anchor|ep174}}

| EpisodeNumber2 = 8

| Title = The Impossible Planet

| DirectedBy = James Strong

| WrittenBy = Matt Jones

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|3|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.8

| Viewers = 6.32

| Aux4 = 85

| ShortSummary = The Doctor and Rose arrive on a base on a planet which is impossibly orbiting a black hole. The crew of the base are there on an expedition to drill to the middle of the planet. A race of aliens known as the Ood serve them. A quake strikes the planet, causing several sections of the base, including the one where the TARDIS was, to fall into the planet. As the drill nears the planet's centre, the Ood begin foretelling the awakening of a "Beast", which possesses archaeologist Toby Zed and later the Ood. The drilling finishes, and the Doctor offers to go with Ida Scott to the depths of the planet, where they discover a disc with unreadable markings found on the base and the possessed Toby's face. The Doctor believes the disc to be a door, and as it begins to open the possessed Toby tells Rose that the planet has begun to fall into the black hole and the voice of the Beast announces that he is free.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 174b

| EpisodeNumber2 = 9

| Title = The Satan Pit

| DirectedBy = James Strong

| WrittenBy = Matt Jones

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|10|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.9

| Viewers = 6.08

| Aux4 = 86

| ShortSummary = Ida and the Doctor investigate the door and Rose and the other members of the crew witness a force leaving Toby's body and assume that he is no longer possessed. The Doctor descends into the dark pit and the Beast speaks to him, revealing he is the epitome of evil of several religions and has been sealed inside the planet, but is seeking to escape. The Doctor runs out of rope and believes he can survive the drop and falls, the news of which distresses Rose. Most of the crew and Rose escape from the Ood and board and launch an escape rocket. The Doctor survives the crash and finds the physical form of the Beast. The Doctor realises his consciousness has managed to escape. Having faith in Rose, the Doctor triggers the sequence for the Beast and the planet to fall into the black hole, but as the Beast's consciousness is inside Toby the rocket begins to pull toward the black hole. Rose realises this and releases Toby from the rocket, and the Doctor finds the TARDIS in the pit and uses it to rescue Rose.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 175

| EpisodeNumber2 = 10

| Title = Love & Monsters

| DirectedBy = Dan Zeff

| WrittenBy = Russell T Davies

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|17|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.10

| Viewers = 6.66

| Aux4 = 76

| ShortSummary = Elton Pope, Ursula, and three other people who have had encounters with the Doctor, form a group called LINDA to discuss these encounters, but their meetings soon become more social. One day a man known as Victor Kennedy interrupts a meeting and reinvigorates LINDA's purpose to locate the Doctor. Later, two members of the group mysteriously go missing, and one day Ursula and Elton return to the meeting room, where Kennedy reveals himself to be an Abzorbaloff, who has absorbed the other three LINDA members. Ursula receives the same fate and the Abzorbaloff corners Elton, but the TARDIS appears and the Doctor confronts the Abzorbaloff. He discovers that the Abzorbaloff's cane is a field generator and Elton breaks it, destroying the creature. The Doctor manages to preserve Ursula in a paving slab, which Elton takes home.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 176

| EpisodeNumber2 = 11

| Title = Fear Her

| DirectedBy = Euros Lyn

| WrittenBy = Matthew Graham

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|24|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.11

| Viewers = 7.14

| Aux4 = 83

| ShortSummary = The Doctor and Rose arrive in a London neighbourhood just prior to the start of the 2012 Olympic Games. Children have been disappearing and the Doctor and Rose discover the source is a 12-year-old girl named Chloe Webber, who can cause people to disappear by drawing them. The Doctor finds that she is possessed by an Isolus, an alien life form that has crashed on Earth and can relate to Chloe's loneliness. For the Isolus to leave Chloe's body, they must find the Isolus's pod and give it power; Rose finds it under just-poured tar in the street and is able to power it by throwing it into the Olympic Torch as it comes by the street, giving the pod heat and emotional strength. As the missing children reappear, the demon-like drawing of Chloe's violent and dead father comes to life, but Chloe's mother calms Chloe's fears. The Isolus peacefully leaves Chloe's body.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 177a{{anchor|ep177}}

| EpisodeNumber2 = 12

| Title = Army of Ghosts

| DirectedBy = Graeme Harper

| WrittenBy = Russell T Davies

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|7|1|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.12

| Viewers = 8.19

| Aux4 = 86

| ShortSummary = The Doctor and Rose visit Jackie and learn that for a few months the Earth has experienced silhouettes which appear at a certain time each day around the world. The public have accepted these as ghosts. However, the Doctor thinks they are the impressions of something forcing its way into the universe and tracks the source to the headquarters of a secret organisation known as Torchwood, hidden in Canary Wharf. Torchwood's director Yvonne Hartman reveals that the ghosts are a result of a breach in the universe created by a spherical "void ship", which is being studied at Torchwood. Three employees of Torchwood are manipulated to open the breach, which breaks down and causes millions of the ghosts to appear worldwide and shift into their true form: the Cybermen from the parallel universe. However, the Cybermen merely followed the void ship through the breach, and the ship is revealed to contain four Daleks.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list/sublist|Doctor Who series 2

| EpisodeNumber = 177b

| EpisodeNumber2 = 13

| Title = Doomsday

| DirectedBy = Graeme Harper

| WrittenBy = Russell T Davies

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|7|8|df=y}}

| ProdCode = 2.13

| Viewers = 8.22

| Aux4 = 89

| ShortSummary = The four Daleks, later identified as the Cult of Skaro, have brought a device known as the Genesis Ark through the breach and declare war on the Cybermen and the two races begin fighting worldwide. Meanwhile, the Doctor has discovered that Jake Simmonds, Pete Tyler, and Mickey—who masqueraded as a Torchwood employee and is with Rose and the Daleks—have been able to travel between the universes. The Cult of Skaro is keeping Rose and Mickey alive because they, being time travellers, would activate the Genesis Ark, which the Daleks are incapable of as it is stolen Time Lord technology. The Doctor plans to open the breach, which will pull in anyone who has crossed the Void including the Daleks, Cybermen, and Rose's family, and then close the breach. Rose refuses to reside in the parallel universe and stays to help the Doctor, but she is unable to hold on and becomes marooned in the parallel universe. The Doctor is able to transmit his image through one of the final breaches, and the two share a tearful goodbye before a mysterious woman in a wedding dress appears in the TARDIS.{{refn|group=N|Credited as "the Bride" and unidentified on screen, this character is named Donna Noble in the following episode "The Runaway Bride".}}

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

}}

=Supplemental episodes=

Two mini-episodes were also recorded: "Doctor Who: Children in Need" was produced for the 2005 Children in Need appeal,{{Cite web |last=Sargeant |first=Rebecca |date=18 March 2024 |title=All 13 Doctor Who Comedy & Charity Specials, Ranked |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-comedy-charity-ranked-comic-relief-children-in-need/ |access-date=14 April 2024 |website=Screen Rant |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906065952/https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-comedy-charity-ranked-comic-relief-children-in-need/ |url-status=live }} and interactive episode "Attack of the Graske" was recorded for digital television following the broadcast of "The Christmas Invasion".

{{Episode table |background = #0F4D92 |overall = 6 |title = 26 |director = 14 |writer = 18 |airdate = 17 |prodcode = 5 |viewers = 14 |country = UK |episodes =

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| Title = Doctor Who: Children in Need

| DirectedBy = Euros Lyn

| WrittenBy = Russell T Davies

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|11|18|df=y}}

| ProdCode = CIN

| Viewers = 10.8{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=11}}

| ShortSummary = Newly regenerated, the Doctor examines his new appearance and convinces Rose that he is the same man.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| Title = Attack of the Graske

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2005|12|25|df=y}}

| ProdCode = {{TableTBA|N/A}}

| Viewers =

| ShortSummary = An interactive mini-episode debuting on the BBC Red Button service, in which the human race is in danger of being replaced by aliens.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

}}

= ''Tardisodes'' =

Thirteen Tardisodes, ranging from lengths of 40–55 seconds, were produced to serve as prequels to each episode. All episodes were filmed as part of the second series' production cycle.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=101}}{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=22}}

{{Episode table |background=#0F4D92 |overall=6 |title=26 |director=14 |writer=18 |airdate=16 |aux4=20 |aux4T=Related episode |anchor=Tardisode |episodes=

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 1

| Title = New Earth

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|4|1|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "New Earth"

| ShortSummary = In an advertisement on New Earth, a patient with terminal Autrey syndrome instantly regains her full health, before someone calls for help.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 2

| Title = Tooth and Claw

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|4|15|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "Tooth and Claw"

| ShortSummary = An unidentified object falls from space 300 years before a crofter (Alan Dorrington) is attacked by a werewolf.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 3

| Title = School Reunion

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|4|22|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "School Reunion"

| ShortSummary = After being halted by a Torchwood function, Mickey calls Rose to summon her and the Doctor to investigate lights in the sky and strange events at a school.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 4

| Title = The Girl in the Fireplace

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|4|29|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "The Girl in the Fireplace"

| ShortSummary = Two pilots of an unidentified spaceship are caught in an ion storm. Something ticking approaches one of them as she screams.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 5

| Title = Rise of the Cybermen

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|6|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "Rise of the Cybermen"

| ShortSummary = A mission briefing calls all agents into action, describing the disappearance of thousands at the hands of John Lumic, the head of Cybus Industries, and his latest "upgrade": the Cybermen.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 6

| Title = The Age of Steel

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|13|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "The Age of Steel"

| ShortSummary = A video from John Lumic orders the "upgrade" of humans to Cybermen to commence around the world, and to delete incompatible versions.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 7

| Title = The Idiot's Lantern

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|20|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "The Idiot's Lantern"

| ShortSummary = Grandma Connolly has her new television installed. She thinks it is malfunctioning before she is attacked by it. The station advertises the Queen's coronation.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 8

| Title = The Impossible Planet

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|5|27|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "The Impossible Planet"

| ShortSummary = Captain Walker is informed about a black hole called "K37 Jem 5", which is orbited by a planet. He is given a book with ancient writings before a nearby Ood declares that the Beast shall rise from the pit.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 9

| Title = The Satan Pit

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|3|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "The Satan Pit"

| ShortSummary = On sanctuary base, Captain Walker is dead and an Ood delivers his belongings to a man, who is marked by the Beast after Walker's book suddenly bursts into flames.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 10

| Title = Love & Monsters

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|10|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "Love & Monsters"

| ShortSummary = A mysterious figure investigates an organisation called LINDA and the Doctor. He easily tracks their location before attacking his tea lady.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 11

| Title = Fear Her

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|17|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "Fear Her"

| ShortSummary = An advertisement from Crime Crackers reports on the disappearances of two children, before a cabinet is opened containing a being with red eyes.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 12

| Title = Army of Ghosts

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|6|24|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "Army of Ghosts"

| ShortSummary = A journalist tells his editor about the story of the century: Torchwood. His editor reports the journalist to Torchwood, after finding out the truth about "the Ghosts".

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

{{Episode list

| EpisodeNumber = 13

| Title = Doomsday

| DirectedBy = Ashley Way

| WrittenBy = Gareth Roberts

| OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2006|7|1|df=y}}

| Aux4 = "Doomsday"

| ShortSummary = As the Cybermen attack, a female news reporter informs the viewer that the country is in a state of emergency. She pleads anyone watching to run from them before the Daleks appear in her studio.

| LineColor = 0F4D92

}}

}}

Casting

{{See also|List of Doctor Who cast members}}

=Main characters=

Series 2 was Tennant's first in the role of the Doctor; his casting was announced on 16 April 2005.{{cite web |date=16 April 2005 |title=Actor David Tennant conquers TV |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4396961.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229164915/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4396961.stm |archive-date=29 December 2008 |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News }}{{cite web |date=16 April 2005 |title=David Tennant is tenth Doctor Who |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/04_april/16/tennant.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206071854/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/4_april/16/tennant.shtml |archive-date=6 December 2008 |access-date=23 August 2014 |publisher=BBC }}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4450285.stm|title=Tennant to take over the Tardis|work=BBC News|date=16 April 2005|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070223070626/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4450285.stm|archive-date=23 February 2007|url-status=live}} Following his brief appearance in the closing moments of "The Parting of the Ways" he was next seen in the Children in Need special, broadcast on 18 November 2005. "The Christmas Invasion", broadcast one month later, marked his first episode.{{citation |title=Charity Extra |date=7 December 2005 |periodical=Doctor Who Magazine |issue=363 |page=7}} In 2005, Tennant had starred in Casanova, written by Russell T Davies and produced by Julie Gardner, when he was offered an audition as the Doctor, which surprised him as it had not yet been publicly announced that Christopher Eccleston would not be returning to the role. He was offered the role at Davies's home, and was initially concerned that if the series was not recommissioned he would become known as "the person who played the Doctor for 35 seconds".{{Cite web |last=Fullerton |first=Huw |date=18 June 2019 |title=Doctor Who David Tennant casting story: Why David Tennant was worried he wouldn't play the Doctor for more than one episode |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/david-tennant-i-was-worried-my-doctor-wouldnt-make-it-past-his-first-regeneration-scene/ |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=Radio Times |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070101/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/david-tennant-i-was-worried-my-doctor-wouldnt-make-it-past-his-first-regeneration-scene/ |url-status=live }}

File:Billie Piper (16) edited.jpg's companion in the first series.{{cite press release |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/05_may/24/billie_piper.shtml |title=Billie Piper is Doctor Who companion |date=24 May 2004 |publisher=BBC |access-date=2 July 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103122939/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/5_may/24/billie_piper.shtml |archive-date=3 January 2007}}|alt=Billie Piper in a red shirt against a blue background]]

Billie Piper continued her role as companion Rose Tyler, for her second and final series.{{cite web |date=15 June 2006 |title=Billie Piper to leave Doctor Who |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5082668.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115105155/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5082668.stm |archive-date=15 January 2016 |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News }} Piper departed as a regular following "Doomsday".{{Cite web |last=Griffin |first=Louise |date=8 July 2021 |title=It's been 15 years since Billie Piper left Doctor Who and we've never recovered |url=https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/08/doctor-who-fans-mark-15-years-since-billie-piper-left-in-doomsday-14895212/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Metro |language=en |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512205450/https://metro.co.uk/2021/07/08/doctor-who-fans-mark-15-years-since-billie-piper-left-in-doomsday-14895212/ |url-status=live }} She would return as a regular in the 2008 series,{{cite news |date=27 November 2007 |title=Entertainment {{pipe}} Billie Piper to return to Dr Who |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7114699.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327033058/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7114699.stm |archive-date=27 March 2009 |access-date=12 May 2024 |work=BBC News}}{{Cite web |date=28 November 2007 |title=Billie Piper Returns to Doctor Who |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/28/billie-piper-returns-to-doctor-who |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906065952/https://www.ign.com/articles/2007/11/28/billie-piper-returns-to-doctor-who |url-status=live }} and in a cameo in "The End of Time".{{Cite web |last=Graham-Lowery |first=Nathan |date=20 December 2022 |title=Doctor Who's Rose Tyler Actor Would've Changed Her Character's Ending |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-rose-tyler-ending-billie-piper-reflection/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Screen Rant |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070054/https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-rose-tyler-ending-billie-piper-reflection/ |url-status=live }} She later explained that her decision was due to the unexpected success of the revival. Piper said that she "didn't like the responsibility of being a role model".{{Cite web |last1=Gladman |first1=Andrew |last2=Iacobucci |first2=Jordan |date=10 October 2023 |title=Why Did Billie Piper's Rose Tyler Leave Doctor Who? |url=https://www.cbr.com/why-billie-piper-left-doctor-who/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=CBR |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906065953/https://www.cbr.com/why-billie-piper-left-doctor-who/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Lauren |date=10 May 2021 |title=Billie Piper on why she left Doctor Who: "I didn't like the responsibility of being a role model" |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-billie-piper-left-role-model-newsupdate/ |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512205456/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-billie-piper-left-role-model-newsupdate/ |url-status=live }}

=Guest stars=

Camille Coduri continued to guest in the series as recurring character Jackie Tyler.{{Cite web |last=Ruediger |first=Ross |date=8 December 2006 |title=Doctor Who Recap: Season 2, Episode 10: "Love & Monsters" |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/doctor-who-season-two-ep-10-love-monsters/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071028/https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/doctor-who-season-two-ep-10-love-monsters/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), Series 2, Doomsday |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074frg |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070103/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074frg |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), Series 2, The Age of Steel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074fnh |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501164557/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0074fnh |url-status=live }} Shaun Dingwall returned for several episodes as Pete Tyler and Penelope Wilton reprised her role as Harriet Jones for the Christmas special.{{citation |title=Hello Again, Harriet! |date=14 September 2005 |periodical=Doctor Who Magazine |issue=360 |page=7}}{{citation |last=Knight |first=Lewis |title=Solid Silver |date=4 January 2006 |periodical=Doctor Who Magazine |issue=364 |pages=4–5}} Noel Clarke's character Mickey Smith, a recurring guest character during the first series, featured in several episodes as a companion of the Doctor.{{citation |title=The Urban Spaceman |date=29 March 2006 |periodical=Doctor Who Magazine |issue=367 |page=14}}

Elisabeth Sladen featured in the episode "School Reunion", returning to the character of Sarah Jane Smith, companion of the Third and Fourth Doctors.{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Lewis |date=2 December 2023 |title=Doctor Who companions in order: From Susan Foreman to Ruby Sunday |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-companions-in-order/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221114224305/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-companions-in-order/ |archive-date=14 November 2022 |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Haque |first=Ahsan |date=16 October 2006 |title=Doctor Who: "School Reunion" Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/16/doctor-who-school-reunion-review |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=7 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231007121503/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/10/16/doctor-who-school-reunion-review |url-status=live }} Following this episode, Sladen was asked to reprise her role in a spin-off series titled The Sarah Jane Adventures.{{Cite web |last= |date=5 November 2006 |title=Doctor Who: Ongoing adventures for Elisabeth Sladen |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2006/10/30/doctor_who_elisabeth_sladen_oct06_feature.shtml |access-date=6 March 2024 |website=BBC Norfolk |language=en-gb |archive-date=28 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211128150318/https://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2006/10/30/doctor_who_elisabeth_sladen_oct06_feature.shtml |url-status=live }} John Leeson also featured in this episode as the voice of K9.

Other guest stars included Adam Garcia and Daniel Evans in "The Christmas Invasion",{{Cite web |title=SPECIALS 2005 {{!}} EP 1 The Christmas Invasion |url=https://www.doctorwho.tv/stories/the-christmas-invasion |access-date=8 December 2023 |website=Doctor Who TV |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906065955/https://www.doctorwho.tv/stories/the-christmas-invasion |url-status=live }} Anna Hope and Adjoa Andoh in "New Earth",{{Cite web |last=Jeffery |first=Morgan |date=5 January 2019 |title=8 actors who played more than one role in Doctor Who |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a857385/doctor-who-actors-recast-returned/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Fullerton |first=Huw |date=1 June 2020 |title=Doctor Who: Russell T Davies hints at new regeneration twist in David Tennant mini-scene |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-animal-regeneration/ |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070517/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-animal-regeneration/ |url-status=live }} Anthony Head in "School Reunion", Roger Lloyd-Pack in "Rise of the Cybermen" / "The Age of Steel",{{Cite web |date=16 January 2014 |title=Roger Lloyd-Pack: Character actor who will be forever remembered as |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/roger-lloydpack-character-actor-who-will-be-forever-remembered-as-the-lugubrious-but-lovable-trigger-in-only-fools-and-horses-9065509.html |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Independent |language=en |archive-date=17 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140117001339/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/roger-lloydpack-character-actor-who-will-be-forever-remembered-as-the-lugubrious-but-lovable-trigger-in-only-fools-and-horses-9065509.html |url-status=live }} Rory Jennings, Margaret John, and Maureen Lipman in "The Idiot's Lantern",{{Cite web |last=Warner |first=Sam |date=27 July 2017 |title=Nicholas Hoult missed out on Doctor Who role in 2006 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a834152/doctor-who-nicholas-hoult-episode-mark-gatiss/ |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070520/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a834152/doctor-who-nicholas-hoult-episode-mark-gatiss/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2 February 2011 |title=Gavin and Stacey star Margaret John dies |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/gavin-and-stacey-star-margaret-john-dies-2201949.html |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Independent |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Jacob |first=Llana |date=3 August 2021 |title=Doctor Who cast: From Huddersfield actress Jodie Whittaker to Leeds actor John Simm - which actors from the sci-fi series are from Yorkshire? |url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/doctor-who-cast-which-of-the-sci-fi-series-actors-hail-from-gods-own-country-3333155 |access-date=12 May 2024 |website=The Yorkshire Post |archive-date=12 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240512210236/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/people/doctor-who-cast-which-of-the-sci-fi-series-actors-hail-from-gods-own-country-3333155 |url-status=live }} Claire Rushbrook in "The Impossible Planet" / "The Satan Pit",{{Cite web |title=Nicola Walker "would love" to play Doctor Who's Liv Chenka on television |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/nicola-walker-doctor-who-television-exclusive-newsupdate/ |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070556/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/nicola-walker-doctor-who-television-exclusive-newsupdate/ |url-status=live }} Nina Sosanya in "Fear Her",{{Cite web |last=Vickers-Green |first=Laura |date=28 July 2023 |title=Good Omens Season 2 Cast: Meet the New Characters Joining David Tennant & Michael Sheen |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/good-omens-season-2-cast-new-characters-david-tennant-michael-sheen/ |access-date=14 December 2023 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070521/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/good-omens-season-2-cast-new-characters-david-tennant-michael-sheen/ |url-status=live }} and Raji James and Barbara Windsor in "Army of Ghosts" / "Doomsday".{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=David |date=29 October 2018 |title=Ash Ferreira from EastEnders is on Coronation Street tonight - all you need to know about Raji James |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/ash-ferreira-from-eastenders-is-on-coronation-street-tonight-all-you-need-to-know-about-raji-james/ |access-date=31 March 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070631/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/ash-ferreira-from-eastenders-is-on-coronation-street-tonight-all-you-need-to-know-about-raji-james/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Hughes |first=Johnathon |date=20 September 202 |title=Doctor Who and soap crossovers you'd forgotten about |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/doctor-who-soap-crossovers/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070523/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/doctor-who-soap-crossovers/ |url-status=live }} Freema Agyeman, who appeared briefly in "Doomsday", would later return to co-star as Martha Jones in the following series.{{cite web |title=Freema Agyeman is new companion to Doctor Who |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/07_july/05/agyeman2.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080310052230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/7_july/05/agyeman2.shtml |archive-date=10 March 2008 |access-date=23 August 2014 |publisher=BBC }} Andoh returned for Series 3 but was recast as Martha's mother. Pauline Collins, who appeared in "Tooth and Claw" as Queen Victoria, had previously appeared in The Faceless Ones (1967) as Samantha Briggs.{{Cite news |last=Hattenstone |first=Simon |date=11 December 2012 |title=Pauline Collins: from Shirley Valentine to Dustin Hoffman |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/11/pauline-collins-quartet-interview |access-date=25 March 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906070523/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/dec/11/pauline-collins-quartet-interview |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Ruediger |first=Ross |date=6 October 2006 |title=Doctor Who Recap: Season 2, Episode 2, "Tooth and Claw" |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/doctor-who-season-two-ep-2-tooth-and-claw/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US}} Nicholas Hoult was considered for the role that went to Jennings.

Production

File:2009 07 31 David Tennant smile 09.jpg replaced Christopher Eccleston who left after one series.{{Cite web |last=Gearan |first=Hannah |date=14 December 2023 |title=Christopher Eccleston Gives New Details On Doctor Who Exit As Billie Piper Reveals She Almost Quit |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-ninth-doctor-actor-candid-tenure-response/ |access-date=1 March 2024 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}}|alt=David Tennant at a comic-con panel, in front of a microphone]]

=Development=

Following the success of the opening episode of the first series, the BBC announced that Doctor Who had been recommissioned for both a second series and a Christmas special on 30 March 2005.{{cite web | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2005/03/30/18213.shtml | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060303023301/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2005/03/30/18213.shtml|archive-date=3 March 2006| title = Second season is go! | publisher=BBC |date=30 March 2005 | access-date = 4 July 2008}} The series was the first series of Doctor Who to be preceded by a Christmas special.{{Cite web |last=Britt |first=Ryan |date=6 November 2023 |title=6 Years Later, 'Doctor Who' Is Giving Fans What They Want — But There's a Catch |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/doctor-who-christmas-special-2023-season-14-reboot-2024 |access-date=12 March 2024 |website=Inverse |language=en |archive-date=12 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312154237/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/doctor-who-christmas-special-2023-season-14-reboot-2024 |url-status=live }} The success of the Christmas special led to it becoming an annual tradition.{{Cite web |date=18 December 2023 |title=The definitive Doctor Who Christmas specials ranking |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a816678/doctor-who-christmas-specials-ranked/ |access-date=12 March 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240606081229/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a816678/doctor-who-christmas-specials-ranked/ |url-status=live }} Production on the series began on 1 August 2005 and concluding on 31 March 2006.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=71}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=25}} Phil Collinson produced all episodes, with Julie Gardner acting as executive producer.{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Lauren |date=20 January 2022 |title=Doctor Who brings back producer Phil Collinson alongside Russell T Davies |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-phil-collinson-season-14-newsupdate/ |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}

=Writing=

Russell T Davies continued to act as head writer and executive producer, contributing several episodes of the series.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=12}} New writers for the show included Toby Whithouse,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=36}} Tom MacRae,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=53}} Matt Jones,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=71}} and Matthew Graham.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=86}} Returning writers Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat also contributed episodes to the series.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=62}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=44}} Stephen Fry was due to write the eleventh episode, but was forced to withdraw as he could not complete the script in time.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=86}}{{cite web |date=24 June 2005 |title=Fry in talks to write Doctor Who |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4620407.stm |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News}}{{cite web |last=Oatts |first=Joanne |date=15 March 2007 |title=Fry denies 'Doctor Who' rumours |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a43973/fry-denies-doctor-who-rumours.html#~oNiXf8Gk7hRn1u |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427105157/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a43973/fry-denies-doctor-who-rumours.html#~oNiXf8Gk7hRn1u |archive-date=27 April 2014 |access-date=23 August 2014 |website=Digital Spy }} Davies consequently hired Graham, who he had been trying to hire for series three, to write "Fear Her".{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=9}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=86}} The villain of the episode "Love & Monsters", the Abzorbaloff, was designed by the winner of a Blue Peter contest.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=76}}

"The Runaway Bride", which was supposed to be the midway point of the original line-up, was moved early on to be the Christmas special for the next series, and was replaced by "Tooth and Claw", which had its roots in a story about "Queen Victoria and a werewolf", something Davies had been contemplating since 2004.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=8}}{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=6}} The order of the first few episodes moved around a bit while being written, and were only finalised after the early scripts were partially done, in order to find the best way to develop Tennant's Doctor, especially for those viewers confused by the regeneration.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=6}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=7}}

The series is primarily set on Earth (though not as much as the first series was) due to the cost involved in creating another planet, Davies stated; only two stories were set on another planet.{{Cite web |date=19 September 2006 |title=Cost 'keeps Doctor Who on earth' |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5359552.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818085122/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5359552.stm |archive-date=18 August 2007 |access-date=17 June 2017 |website=BBC News |publisher=}} However, the team had learnt from the first series about the specific challenges faced by a sci-fi series; instead of last-minute changes to reduce CGI, plots were written in mind to use shots needing less CGI: gardens and concrete plazas, such as those employed in the then-recently released Battlestar Galactica show, which allowed an equitable budgetary distribution between stories.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|pp=5-10}} The second series came about quite differently from the first, not having to present every single detail to the BBC: discussions and plot changes happened as much in coffeehouses and on phone as it did in writing, and therefore the first outline had much more detail than the first series, allowing for a more connected series.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=4}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=5}}

Just like the first series, the second series saw the return of another classic enemy, the Cybermen. Presented with the opportunity to re-introduce Cybermen to a whole new generation, Davies' prime objective for these Cybermen was to erase the word "silver" and to instead choose to stress the terms "metal" and "steel", emphasising the loss of their humanity as a source of their monstrosity.{{cite web|last=Ruediger|first=Ross|date=27 October 2006|title=Doctor Who Recap: Season 2, Episode 5: "Rise of the Cybermen"|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/doctor-who-season-two-ep-5-rise-of-the-cybermen/|access-date=21 August 2024|publisher=Slant Magazine|archive-date=6 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071610/https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/doctor-who-season-two-ep-5-rise-of-the-cybermen/|url-status=live}}

The mythology of Torchwood is built across the series, though it did not feature in any of the early outlines or drafts for series 2 until its reveal in the finale{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=4}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=14}} even though it had first appeared in the 2005 episode "Bad Wolf".{{citation |title=Jumping Jack! |date=7 December 2005 |periodical=Doctor Who Magazine |issue=363 |pages=4–5}} In "The Christmas Invasion", it is revealed to be a secret organisation which possesses alien technology,{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Matt |date=19 December 2022 |title=Doctor Who: Torchwood Was What UNIT Should Have Been |url=https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-torchwood-unit-dark-forgotten/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=Screen Rant |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071610/https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-torchwood-unit-dark-forgotten/ |url-status=live }} and its establishment is shown in "Tooth and Claw", whose late addition to the series allowed Davies to fix it in British history by associating it with Queen Victoria .{{Cite web |last=McCoy |first=Joshua Kristian |date=21 September 2023 |title=Doctor Who: The History Of Torchwood, Explained |url=https://gamerant.com/doctor-who-torchwood-history/ |access-date=1 December 2023 |website=Game Rant |language=en}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=10}} References then gradually started appearing in the script of every episode: blocked websites, mentions of buildings and archives owned by Torchwood and so on.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=4}} Contemporary Torchwood is finally visited by the Doctor and Rose in "Army of Ghosts" / "Doomsday", at which point it is situated within London's Canary Wharf and accidentally allows the invasion of the Cybermen and, subsequently, the Daleks.

=Filming=

The series was directed by James Hawes,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=14}} Euros Lyn,{{Cite web |title=BBC One - Doctor Who (2005–2022), Series 2, The Girl in the Fireplace, The Girl in the Fireplace: Behind the Scenes - Making The Girl in the Fireplace |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01vkzf4/p01vks1s |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071610/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01vkzf4/p01vks1s |url-status=live }} James Strong,{{Cite news |last=Crawford |first=Lillian |date=21 November 2023 |title='Matt Smith and I twiddle knobs. I am 12 again!' Stars share their best Doctor Who moments – part two |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/nov/21/60-years-doctor-who-bbc-part-two |access-date=16 April 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=30 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240130163839/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/nov/21/60-years-doctor-who-bbc-part-two |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Jeffery |first=Morgan |date=19 August 2022 |title=Doctor Who director James Strong has had "conversations" about returning |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-james-strong-return-exclusive-newsupdate/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=1 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240501175729/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-james-strong-return-exclusive-newsupdate/ |url-status=live }} Dan Zeff,{{Cite web |title=Dan Zeff - Director |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/confidential/10/director.shtml |access-date=16 April 2024 |website=BBC |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071613/https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/confidential/10/director.shtml |url-status=live }} and Graeme Harper.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=54}} Harper had previously worked on the show's original run, which included directing The Caves of Androzani (1984) and Revelation of the Daleks (1985) in the show's original run.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=54}}{{cite news |date=21 November 2013 |title=Peter Davison: 'I was quicker than most Doctors' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24989543 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131123191628/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24989543 |archive-date=23 November 2013 |access-date=24 November 2013 |work=BBC News}}

Recording for the Christmas special began on 23 July 2005.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=13}}{{cite web |date=1 August 2005 |title='Daunted' Dr Who begins filming |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4735049.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170725035633/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4735049.stm |archive-date=25 July 2017 |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News }} The Clearwell Caves were used twice: the interior of the Sycorax ship, and the Beast's Pit in "The Satan Pit".{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=17}}{{Cite web |last=Reeves |first=Megan |date=4 March 2016 |title=14 Doctor Who locations that were recycled for new episodes |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/14-doctor-who-locations-that-were-recycled-for-new-episodes/ |access-date=20 May 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=16 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240516184426/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/entertainment/14-doctor-who-locations-that-were-recycled-for-new-episodes/ |url-status=live }} Production blocks were scheduled around the directors.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=12}} The majority of filming took place in Wales, particularly in Cardiff.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=15}}{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=53}}{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=62}} Parts of "New Earth" were shot at the Wales Millennium Centre, which was used during promotion of the series. "Tooth and Claw" was originally part of block one, but production issues pushed it to block two.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=28}} The episode was shot in Llansannor Court. The building was later reused for "The Unicorn and the Wasp". "The Girl in the Fireplace" used the Dyffryn Gardens for both the gardens and palace of Louis XV. The gardens were used for various other episodes, including "Deep Breath" and "The Wedding of River Song".

A Stella Artois brewery was used for the upgrading chamber in "Army of Ghosts".{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=59}} The Coedarhydyglyn House was used for Jackie and Pete's mansion in the episode. The house was later used in "The Angels Take Manhattan". Southerndown Beach was used for the beach where the Doctor and Rose say goodbye in "Doomsday". The beach was later reused in "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship". The first two weeks of filming on block four were spent entirely on "Fear Her".{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=61}} Maureen Lipman appeared in "The Idiot's Lantern", but due to scheduling conflicts, recorded her scenes remotely in London. Lipman finished her recording in under a day.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=61}} Block six, the final block, contained only one episode, "Love & Monsters", which was directed by Zeff.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=80}}

Production blocks were arranged as follows:{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|pp=11, 14, 22, 30, 54, 64, 72, 81 }}

class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin-right:0;"
style="width:8%" | BlockEpisode(s)DirectorWriter(s)Producer(s)Code
rowspan="3" | 1

| Christmas special: "The Christmas Invasion"

| rowspan="3" | James Hawes

| Russell T Davies

| rowspan="9" | Phil Collinson

| 2X

Episode 3: "School Reunion"

| Toby Whithouse

| 2.3

Episode 1: "New Earth"

| rowspan="2" | Russell T Davies

| 2.1

rowspan="2" | 2

| Episode 2: "Tooth and Claw"

| rowspan="2" | Euros Lyn

| 2.2

Episode 4: "The Girl in the Fireplace"

| Steven Moffat

| 2.4

rowspan="6" | 3

| Episode 5: "Rise of the Cybermen"

| rowspan="4" | Graeme Harper

| rowspan="2" | Tom MacRae

| 2.5

Episode 6: "The Age of Steel"

| 2.6

Episode 12: "Army of Ghosts"

| rowspan="2" | Russell T Davies

| 2.12

Episode 13: "Doomsday"

| 2.13

Minisode: "Attack of the Graske"

| Ashley Way

| Gareth Roberts

| Jo Pearce, Sophie Fante & Andrew Whithouse

| {{n/a}}

Minisode: "Doctor Who: Children in Need"

| rowspan="3" |Euros Lyn

| Russell T Davies

| rowspan="6" |Phil Collinson

| CIN

rowspan="2" |4

| Episode 11: "Fear Her"

| Matthew Graham

| 2.11

Episode 7: "The Idiot's Lantern"

| Mark Gatiss

| 2.7

rowspan="2" | 5

| Episode 8: "The Impossible Planet"

| rowspan="2" | James Strong

| rowspan="2" | Matt Jones

| 2.8

Episode 9: "The Satan Pit"

| 2.9

6

| Episode 10: "Love & Monsters"

| Dan Zeff

| Russell T Davies

| 2.10

= Soundtrack =

{{transcluded section|source=Doctor Who (series 1)#Soundtrack|title=Doctor Who (series 1) § Soundtrack}}

{{#section:Doctor Who series 1|soundtrackInfobox}}

Murray Gold returned to compose the music for the second series.{{cite book |last=Russell |first=Gary |author-link=Gary Russell |title=Doctor Who: The Inside Story |publisher=BBC Books |year=2006 |isbn=0-563-48649-X |location=London |pages=129–132}} Parts of the soundtrack were performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and orchestrated by Ben Foster, unlike in the first series, which relied almost completely on orchestral samples.{{cite web |title=BBC National Orchestra of Wales: Discography |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/now/sites/content/pages/discography.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211164134/https://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/now/sites/content/pages/discography.shtml |archive-date=11 February 2010 |access-date=28 March 2007 |work=BBC}}{{cite web |last=Matt |first=Bell |date=1 June 2007 |title=Murray Gold: Composing For Doctor Who |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/people/murray-gold-composing-doctor-who |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410231302/https://www.soundonsound.com/people/murray-gold-composing-doctor-who |archive-date=10 April 2023 |access-date=10 April 2023 |work=Sound on Sound}}

{{#section:Doctor Who series 1|soundtrack}}

Release

=Broadcast=

The second series premiered on 15 April 2006 with "New Earth", and concluded after thirteen episodes on 8 July 2006 with "Doomsday".{{sfn|Pixley|2006}} Doctor Who Confidential also aired alongside each episode of the series, continuing on from the previous series.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=103}}

A Children in Need special and an interactive episode, entitled "Attack of the Graske", were both released alongside the series.{{citation |title=Interactive! |date=7 December 2005 |periodical=Doctor Who Magazine |issue=363 |page=5}} A series of thirteen Tardisodes were also produced.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/03_march/30/who.shtml|title=Doctor Who TARDISODES|publisher=BBC – Press Office|date=30 March 2006|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060619202042/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/03_march/30/who.shtml|archive-date=19 June 2006|url-status=live}} These mini-episodes (approximately 60 seconds in length) served as prequels to each forthcoming episode, and were available for download to mobile phones and viewable at the official Doctor Who website. The Tardisodes were recorded intermittently from 31 January to 8 April 2006.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=101}}{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=22}}

Downloads of the Tardisodes to mobile telephones were less popular than expected: around 40,000 downloads, averaging 3,000 per episode.{{cite news |last=Bulkley |first=Kate |date=16 October 2006 |title='Tardisode' audience fails to materialise |url=http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1923678,00.html |access-date=16 October 2006 |work=The Guardian |location=UK |archive-date=15 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081015122123/http://media.guardian.co.uk/broadcast/story/0,,1923678,00.html |url-status=live }} Downloads to personal computers were much more common, with 2.6 million downloads.{{cite web |date=10 September 2006 |title=IBC Daily Sunday 10 September 2006; Conference Analysis: New forms of interaction |url=http://ibc.org/cgi-bin/ibc_dailynews_cms.cgi?db_id=23620&issue=4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001123215/http://www.ibc.org/cgi-bin/ibc_dailynews_cms.cgi?db_id=23620&issue=4 |archive-date=1 October 2006 |access-date=11 September 2006 |publisher=International Broadcasting Convention}} Iain Tweedale, new media editor for BBC Wales, suggested two reasons for the low number of telephone downloads: although the BBC provided the episodes free, most users had to pay a fee to their mobile network, and many telephones were not compatible with the broadcasts.

In the United States, the second series aired on The Sci Fi Channel (now known as SyFy).{{cite web |date=10 August 2006 |title=SCI FI Gets Who Season Two |url=http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=2&id=37456 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821053602/http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=2&id=37456 |archive-date=21 August 2006 |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=SciFi.com |publisher=Sci Fi}}{{cite web |last=Sullivan |first=Brian Ford |date=23 January 2007 |title=Breaking News – Mixed Results for USA, Sci Fi Winter Launches |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=7274 |access-date=15 April 2024 |publisher=The Futon Critic}} In Canada, the series aired through the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation won a Constellation Award for their assistance and contributions to the series. In France, the series aired on France 4.{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=37}}

= Promotion =

The press launch for the series began on 27 March at the Wales Millennium Centre.{{Cite web |title=Doctor Who Series Two Press Launch |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/03/30/doctor_who_press_launch_feature.shtml |access-date=6 May 2024 |website=BBC Wiltshire |archive-date=12 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231012160934/https://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/content/articles/2006/03/30/doctor_who_press_launch_feature.shtml |url-status=live }} A special trailer for the series was produced by Red Bee Media. The trailer included both clips from the series and special footage shot for it.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=72}} Various episodes received screening prior to their official release, including a Glasgow-based screening for "Tooth and Claw" and a Cardiff-based one for "The Christmas Invasion".{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=20}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=35}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=76}}

The promotion of the second series also took other forms: interviews with cast and crew on such prestigious channels like BBC1 and ITV1;{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=20}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=29}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=42}} rumours and reports and the occasional interview in tabloids and newspapers such as The Independent, The Sun, The Daily Mirror, The Sunday Herald and so on;{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=20}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=21}} discussions about the series, sometimes with the crew, on Radio 1, Virgin Radio, Radio 4, and Radio Wales.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=21}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=42}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=50}}

The BBC promoted the series using their various holdings: CBBC used the theme with the broadcast of their programme,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=29}} fictional websites, such as those of Mickey and UNIT, were updated before the associated episodes,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=20}} the real website saw the release of mini-episodes of 2-3 mins, called Tardisodes,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=28}} as prologues for every episode, along with the rare banner using in-universe references to ask viewers to check out the current episode.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=20}}

The major promoter for the series, aside from the BBC, was Radio Times: they released their first programme-specific Christmas double issue in 16 years, instead of the usual generic issue, for the release of The Christmas Invasion,{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=20}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=21}} a special section called "Doctor Who Watch",{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=29}}{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=42}} and covers and interviews with cast and crew throughout the run of the series.{{sfn|Pixley|2006|p=42}}

= Home media =

{{See also|List of Doctor Who home video releases}}The second series of Doctor Who was first released on DVD in five volumes, with the first volume being released in Region 2 on 1 May 2006 and the final volume on 25 September 2006. The five volumes were also released in Region 4, invariably two months after the Region 2 release. The entire series was subsequently released in a boxset on 20 November 2006 in Region 2. {{#lst:List of Doctor Who home video releases|Series2}}

= In print =

{{see also|List of Doctor Who novelisations}}

"The Christmas Invasion" was adapted into a novel by Jenny Colgan. The novel was subsequently produced as an audio book, narrated by Camille Coduri.{{Cite book |last=Colgan |first=Jenny |title=Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion |url=https://www.audible.com/pd/B07BBXF9S3?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp |access-date=17 April 2024 |publisher=Audible |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071611/https://www.audible.com/pd/Doctor-Who-The-Christmas-Invasion-Audiobook/B07BBXF9S3?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=pdp |url-status=live }}

{{#lst:List of Doctor Who novelisations|Series2}}

Reception

= Ratings =

File:Doctor Who Series 2.png

The second series of Doctor Who was watched by an average of 7.5 million viewers, which was slightly down from the previous series, which was watched by 7.9 million viewers.{{cite web |last=Bray |first=Stephen |date=4 July 2010 |title=Doctor Who ratings: putting things straight |url=http://www.denofgeek.com/television/529040/doctor_who_ratings_putting_things_straight.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212035917/http://www.denofgeek.com/television/529040/doctor_who_ratings_putting_things_straight.html |archive-date=12 February 2012 |access-date=13 November 2011 |publisher=Den of Geek}} Doctor Who{{'s}} first Christmas special, "The Christmas Invasion", was watched by 9.84 million viewers upon its premiere on 25 December 2005, and, as of 2010, was the ninth-highest figure for an episode of Doctor Who since its 2005 revival.{{cite web |last=Golder |first=Dave |date=13 April 2010 |title=Final Viewing Figures Add 2 Million To "Eleventh Hour" |url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/04/13/final-viewing-figures-add-2-million-to-%e2%80%9celeventh-hour%e2%80%9d/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722080010/http://www.sfx.co.uk/2010/04/13/final-viewing-figures-add-2-million-to-%E2%80%9Celeventh-hour%E2%80%9D/ |archive-date=22 July 2011 |access-date=6 November 2011 |work=SFX}} The series' finale "Doomsday" was watched by 8.2 million total viewers, beating a World Cup match between Portugal and Germany by over a million viewers.{{cite web |last=Hoskyn |first=Jane |title=World Cup streaming fails to score |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/14/geektv_14_july/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131061658/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/14/geektv_14_july/ |archive-date=31 January 2012 |access-date=17 April 2024 |publisher=The Register}} The series high was "Tooth and Claw" with 9.24 million viewers, while the series low was "The Satan Pit" with 6.08 million viewers.

The series finale, "Doomsday", garnered the highest Appreciation Index (AI) rating of 89,{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=101}} while the tenth episode in the series, "Love & Monsters", garnered the lowest AI rating, at 76,{{Sfn|Pixley|2006|p=85}} seven units lower than the second-lowest AI rating. The US release of the series averaged a household rating of 1.05 million viewers.

= Critical reception =

Doctor Who{{'}}s second series received positive reviews from critics. Series 2 holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with an average score of 9/10, based on eight critic reviews.{{cite Rotten Tomatoes|title=Doctor Who: Season 2|id=doctor-who/s02/ |access-date=11 April 2023 |type=tv}} Many considered the finale "Doomsday" one of the best episodes{{Cite web |title=Army of Ghosts / Doomsday ★★★★★ |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/army-of-ghostsdoomsday/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928031044/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/army-of-ghostsdoomsday/ |archive-date=28 September 2023 |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Haque |first=Ahsan |date=23 December 2006 |title=Doctor Who: "Doomsday" Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/23/doctor-who-doomsday-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230928031044/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/23/doctor-who-doomsday-review |archive-date=28 September 2023 |access-date=22 September 2023 |website=IGN |language=en}} and "Fear Her" one of the worst,{{cite web |last=Haque |first=Ahsan |date=18 December 2006 |title=Doctor Who: "Fear Her" Review |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2006/12/18/doctor-who-fear-her-review |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=IGN |publisher= |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227183909/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2006/12/18/doctor-who-fear-her-review |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Blumburg |first=Arnold T |date=29 June 2006 |title=Doctor Who: Series 2 – "Fear Her" |url=http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4080/47/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060703213215/http://www.nowplayingmag.com/content/view/4080/47/ |archive-date=3 July 2006 |access-date=3 May 2024 |work=Now Playing}} with one reviewer calling the series full of intense highs and lows for both the characters and the plot. Critics praised the Tennant and Piper's performance and romantic tension.{{cite web |last=Haque |first=Ahsan |date=4 December 2006 |title=Doctor Who: "The Satan Pit" Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/04/doctor-who-the-satan-pit-review |access-date=3 May 2024 |publisher=IGN |archive-date=25 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125005019/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/12/04/doctor-who-the-satan-pit-review |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Fullerton |first=Huw |date=27 May 2020 |title=Doctor Who: Why David Tennant's lap of honour is still the fans' favourite series |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-best-series-tennant/ |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB |archive-date=17 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220517021718/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-best-series-tennant/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Tantimedh |first=Adi |date=3 June 2023 |title=Doctor Who & The Companions: It Was Always a Love Story |url=https://bleedingcool.com/tv/doctor-who-the-companions-it-was-always-a-love-story/ |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Bleeding Cool |language=en |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071612/https://bleedingcool.com/tv/doctor-who-the-companions-it-was-always-a-love-story/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Pantozzi |first=Jill |date=17 March 2015 |title=David Tennant Calls Doctor Who Rose 10th Doctor's Girlfriend |url=https://www.themarysue.com/david-tennant-calls-rose-girlfriend/ |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=The Mary Sue |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071617/https://www.themarysue.com/david-tennant-calls-rose-girlfriend/ |url-status=live }} The series' CGI, the Torchwood reveal, and use of cliffhangers also received praise,{{Cite web |last=Ruediger |first=Ross |date=23 December 2006 |title=Doctor Who Recap: Season 2, Episodes 12 & 13: "Army of Ghosts" & "Doomsday" |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/doctor-who-season-two-eps-12-13-army-of-ghosts-doomsday/ |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=Slant Magazine |language=en-US |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906071721/https://www.slantmagazine.com/tv/doctor-who-season-two-eps-12-13-army-of-ghosts-doomsday/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Braxton |first=Mark |date=15 October 2013 |title=Tooth and Claw ★★★★ |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/tooth-and-claw/ |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}} as did Murray Gold's soundtrack, the series' dynamic nature, and the varying settings.

Reviewing the two-part finale, Slant Magazine{{'}}s Ross Ruediger and The A.V. Club{{'}}s Alasdair Wilkins both found the first part intense with "a great cliffhanger", with Wilkins additionally stating it was not afraid of dealing with "some large thematic questions". However, Ruediger characterised the second part as being "full of fanboy silliness", and Wilkins criticised it for how fast the situation changes with the arrival of the foes, a direct results of human interference, stating the show seems "incapable of placing the Doctor in a morally ambiguous situation". Though finding the episode "dramatic" and "soulful", they both concluded that, for a Doctor Who story, humans are mere supporting characters, with a narrative that Wilkins found "requires the Doctor to be the hero".{{Cite web |last=Wilkins |first=Alasdair |date=2 March 2014 |title=Doctor Who: "Army Of Ghosts"/"Doomsday" |url=https://www.avclub.com/doctor-who-army-of-ghosts-doomsday-1798179689 |access-date=6 May 2024 |website=The A.V. Club |language=en |archive-date=31 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230331193547/https://www.avclub.com/doctor-who-army-of-ghosts-doomsday-1798179689 |url-status=live }} However, they both still found the finale enjoyable: Wilkins calling it "supremely entertaining television", and Ruediger stating "it makes no attempts to play by any rules other than its own" and provides a "gut-wrenching farewell" for Rose.

The finale was characterised by IGN{{'}}s Ahsan Haque as "an intense epic" still being "led by character-driven drama", and by Radio Times{{'}}s Mark Braxton as a story where the strength of the show's two biggest foes combined is contrasted with "a poignant story about loss". In addition, IGN{{'}}s Haque, while finding "the denouement to be the clear emotional highlight", also found the dialogue "funny and witty" and adding to "the memorability of the finale". Together with "the great writing and beautiful acting", he called it more entertaining than entire seasons of many shows and "sci-fi television at its finest". Similarly, Radio Times{{'}}s Braxton praised the show for finding "ways to think big" since its revival while also sometimes delivering on this scale "with such devastating intimacy".

Screen Rant{{'}}s Edward Cleary ranked the series sixth of thirteen, and felt the chemistry between Tennant and Piper—one of Doctor Who{{'}}s best duos—overshadowed any problems; he described "The Impossible Planet" / "The Satan Pit" as one of the "best two-parters ever".{{Cite web |last=Cleary |first=Edward |date=29 October 2022 |title=Every Modern Doctor Who Season Ranked From Worst To Best |url=https://screenrant.com/modern-doctor-who-seasons-ranked-worst-best/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516035137/https://screenrant.com/modern-doctor-who-seasons-ranked-worst-best/ |archive-date=16 May 2023 |access-date=16 May 2023 |website=Screen Rant |language=en}} In 2021, Comic Book Resources{{'}}s Gabriela Delgado noted the series was the second-highest rated on IMDb of Doctor Who{{'}}s modern run, behind only the fourth. Delgado praised "Doomsday" as "heart wrenching" and "tragic".{{Cite web |last=Delgado |first=Gabriela |date=20 June 2021 |title=Doctor Who: Every Modern Season, Ranked By IMDb |url=https://www.cbr.com/doctor-who-modern-seasons-ranked-imdb/ |access-date=16 May 2023 |website=CBR |language=en |archive-date=16 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516135513/https://www.cbr.com/doctor-who-modern-seasons-ranked-imdb/ |url-status=live }} Digital Spy{{'}}s Morgan Jeffery and Rebecca Cook ranked the series fourth, praising Tennant's performance; they believed the series brought new levels of success by increasing the show's popularity and securing its future.{{Cite web |last1=Jeffery |first1=Morgan |last2=Cook |first2=Rebecca |date=7 August 2023 |title=All 13 series of Doctor Who, ranked - from 2005 to 2021 |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a776343/doctor-who-series-ranked/ |access-date=25 March 2024 |website=Digital Spy |language=en-GB |archive-date=19 January 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240119035442/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/cult/a776343/doctor-who-series-ranked/ |url-status=live }} Den of Geek{{'}}s Andrew Blair placed the series nineteenth overall, the lowest of Tennant's run, and believed it was a "comedown" in quality from its predecessor.{{Cite web |last=Blair |first=Andrew |date=14 November 2023 |title=Every Doctor Who Series Ranked |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/every-doctor-who-series-ranked/ |access-date=3 May 2024 |website=Den of Geek |language=en-US |archive-date=17 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240417091843/https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/every-doctor-who-series-ranked/ |url-status=live }}

= Awards and nominations =

{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by Doctor Who|l1=List of awards and nominations received by Doctor Who}}

class="wikitable sortable"
Year

! Award

! Category

! Nominee(s)

! Result

! {{abbr|Ref(s)|Reference(s)}}

rowspan="16" | 2006

| rowspan="6" | BAFTA Cymru Awards

| Best Actor

| data-sort-value="Tennant, David" | David Tennant for "Doomsday"

| {{won}}

| rowspan="6" | {{cite web |date=28 April 2007 |title=Dr Who sweeps Bafta Cymru board |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6604115.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002074313/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6604115.stm |archive-date=2 October 2007 |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News }}{{cite web |date=28 April 2007 |title=Sci-fi leads Bafta Cymru nominees |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6602043.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910124750/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/6602043.stm |archive-date=10 September 2007 |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News}}

Best Screenplay

| data-sort-value="Davies, Russell T" | Russell T Davies for "Doomsday"

| {{won}}

Best Actress

| data-sort-value="Piper, Billie" | Billie Piper for "Doomsday"

| {{nom}}

Best Costume

| data-sort-value="Page, Louise" | Louise Page

| {{won}}

Best Make-up

| data-sort-value="Gorton, Neill" | Neill Gorton and Sheelagh Wells for "The Girl in the Fireplace"

| {{won}}

Best Editor

| data-sort-value="Green, Crispin" | Crispin Green for "Tooth and Claw"

| {{won}}

Nebula Awards

| Nebula Award for Best Script

| data-sort-value="Moffat Steven" | Steven Moffat for "The Girl in the Fireplace"

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web|url=http://www.sfwa.org/awards/2007/NebFinal2006.html |title=2006 Final Nebula Award Ballot |publisher=Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America |access-date=12 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322221159/http://www.sfwa.org/awards/2007/NebFinal2006.html |archive-date=22 March 2007 }}

rowspan="5" | Royal Television Society Programme Awards

| Best Drama Series

| Doctor Who

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="5" | {{Cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2006|title=RTS Programme Awards 2006|publisher=Royal Television Society|website=rts.org.uk|date=14 March 2011|language=en|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119045540/https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-programme-awards-2006|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-and-design-winners-2006|title=RTS Craft and Design Winners 2006|publisher=Royal Television Society|website=rts.org.uk|date=24 January 2011|language=en|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207122318/https://rts.org.uk/award/rts-craft-and-design-winners-2006|archive-date=7 February 2018|url-status=live}}

Best Production Design

| data-sort-value="Thomas, Edward" | Edward Thomas

| {{nom}}

Best Costume Design – Drama

| data-sort-value="Page, Louise" | Louise Page

| {{nom}}

Best Make Up Design – Drama

| data-sort-value="Gorton, Neill" | Neill Gorton and Sheelagh Wells

| {{nom}}

Best Visual Effects – Digital Effects

| Doctor Who

| {{nom}}

Scream Award

| Best TV Show

| Doctor Who

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web |title=Breaking News - Get Yer Scream On! Categories and Nominees Announced for Spike TV's Scream Awards 2006 |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2006/07/21/get-yer-scream-on-categories-and-nominees-announced-for-spike-tvs-scream-awards-2006--21857/20060721spiketv01/ |access-date=8 March 2024 |website=The Futon Critic |archive-date=9 January 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190109010413/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2006/07/21/get-yer-scream-on-categories-and-nominees-announced-for-spike-tvs-scream-awards-2006--21857/20060721spiketv01/ |url-status=live }}

rowspan="3" | TV Quick

| Best Loved Drama

| Doctor Who

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3" | {{cite web |date=5 September 2006 |title=Doctor Who lands three TV awards |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5314890.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204150112/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5314890.stm |archive-date=4 February 2009 |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News }}

Best Actor

| data-sort-value="Tennant, David" | David Tennant

| {{won}}

Best Actress

| data-sort-value="Piper Billie" | Billie Piper

| {{won}}

rowspan="14" | 2007

| rowspan="2" | British Academy Television Awards

| Best Editing Fiction/Entertainment

| data-sort-value="Green, Crispin" | Crispin Green

| {{nom}}

| rowspan="2" | {{Cite web |date=28 September 2007 |title=Television Craft Awards Winners in 2007 |url=http://www.bafta.org/television/craft-awards/television-craft-awards-winners-in-2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308014152/http://www.bafta.org/television/craft-awards/television-craft-awards-winners-in-2007 |archive-date=8 March 2016 |access-date=17 June 2017 |publisher=BAFTA |language=en}}

Best Visual Effects

| data-sort-value="Mill, The" | The Mill

| {{nom}}

rowspan="3" | Constellation Awards

| Best Science Fiction Television Series

| Doctor Who

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3" | {{cite web |url=http://constellations.tcon.ca/2007.shtml#W |title=The Constellation Awards – A Canadian Award for Excellence in Film & Television Science Fiction |publisher=Constellations.tcon.ca |date=8 July 2014 |access-date=23 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029153616/http://constellations.tcon.ca/2007.shtml#W |archive-date=29 October 2015 |url-status=dead }}

Best Male Performance in a 2006 Science Fiction Television Episode

| data-sort-value="Tennant, David" | David Tennant for "The Girl in the Fireplace"

| {{won}}

Outstanding Canadian Contribution to Science Fiction Film or Television in 2006

| Canadian Broadcasting Corporation

| {{won}}

rowspan="3" | Hugo Awards

| rowspan="3" | Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation

| data-sort-value="Girl in the Fireplace, The" | "The Girl in the Fireplace"

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3" |{{cite web |url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2007-hugo-awards/ |title=2007 Hugo Awards |work=The Hugo Awards |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164811/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2007-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=7 May 2011 }}

"School Reunion"

| {{nom}}

"Army of Ghosts" / "Doomsday

| {{nom}}

rowspan="3" | National Television Awards

| Most Popular Drama

| Doctor Who

| {{won}}

| rowspan="3" | {{cite web |date=31 October 2006 |title=Dr Who scores TV awards hat-trick |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6104048.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408071805/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6104048.stm |archive-date=8 April 2009 |access-date=23 August 2014 |work=BBC News }}

Most Popular Actor

| data-sort-value="Tennant, David" | David Tennant

| {{won}}

Most Popular Actress

| data-sort-value="Piper, Billie" | Billie Piper

| {{won}}

rowspan="2" | Saturn Awards

| Best Syndicated/Cable Television Series

| Doctor Who

| {{nom}}

| {{cite magazine |last=Cohen |first=David S |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/awards/saturns-fly-high-with-superman-1117959901/ |title=Saturns fly high with 'Superman' |magazine=Variety |date=21 February 2007 |access-date=15 April 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114160149/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117959901?refcatid=14 |archive-date=14 November 2012}}

Best Television DVD Release

| Doctor Who

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web |last=Martell |first=Erin |date=20 February 2006 |title=Lost receives seven Saturn Award nominations |url=http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/20/lost-receives-seven-saturn-award-nominations/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529080537/http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/02/20/lost-receives-seven-saturn-award-nominations/ |archive-date=29 May 2008 |access-date=22 March 2008 |website=TV Squad}}

Visual Effects Society Awards

| Outstanding Performance by an Animated Character in a Live Action Broadcast Program, Commercial, or Music Video

| data-sort-value="Hernandez, Nicholas" | Nicholas Hernandez, Jean-Claude Deguara, Neil Roche and Jean-Yves Audouard for "Tooth and Claw"

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web |date=24 March 2015 |title=5th Annual VES Awards |url=https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ayear/5th-annual-ves-awards |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107031750/https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/ayear/5th-annual-ves-awards |archive-date=7 November 2017 |access-date=17 June 2017 |website=Visual Effects Society |publisher= |language=en}}

Notes

{{Reflist|group=N}}

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/?_s=4 |title=Weekly Top 30 Programmes |publisher=Barb Audiences |access-date=19 August 2024 |archive-date=6 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240906065953/https://www.barb.co.uk/viewing-data/weekly-top-30/?_s=4 |url-status=live }} (No permanent link available. Search for relevant dates.)

}}

= Bibliography =

{{Refbegin}}

  • {{Cite magazine |title=Series Two Companion |magazine=Doctor Who Magazine |last=Pixley |first=Andrew |date=9 November 2006 |issue=14 – Special Edition}}

{{Refend}}