Doctor Who - The Fires Of Pompeii

Doctor Who – The Fires Of Pompeii Ep 2/13
Saturday 12 April
Time to be confirmed BBC ONE
www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho

Source: BBC

The Doctor and Donna travel back into ancient history, in tonight's episode of Russell T Davies's Bafta Award-winning time-travelling drama. When they arrive in 79AD, however, they discover psychic powers and beasts of stone running riot in the streets of old Pompeii. The time-travellers face their greatest challenge yet – can established history be changed, or must the Doctor let everyone die?

In one of the most ambitious episodes to date, the Doctor, played by David Tennant, and Donna (Catherine Tate) arrive in Pompeii in AD 79, on the eve of the historic eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

The Time Lord and his companion are posed with an immediate dilemma – should they warn the residents of Pompeii of the forthcoming catastrophe or leave them to fend for themselves?

The Thick Of It actor Peter Capaldi guest stars as Caecillius and is joined by Quadrophenia and Rose And Maloney actor Phil Davis who stars as Lucius. Further guest stars include Howard's Way and Born And Bred actress Tracey Childs who plays Metella.

The filming of the episode took place at Cinecitta studios in Rome, which the Doctor Who team expertly transformed into Pompeii for a week of filming in September of last year.

Doctor Who's Executive Producer and Head Writer Russell T Davies says: "Arriving in Pompeii marks the start of another exciting adventure for the Doctor and Donna. Donna is stunned to find herself in the midst of history's most famous volcanic eruption.

"Viewers can expect many more ambitious storylines and a whole host of guest stars in 2008."The start of the new series will see Donna tracking down the Time Lord during an alien emergency in modern day London.

The couple are destined to experience a series of wonderful adventures throughout the new series including meeting one of Doctor Who's most popular aliens, The Ood, in a brand new episode, Planet Of The Ood.

Donna and the Doctor will also be travelling through time for an encounter with the legendary murder mystery novelist, Agatha Christie.

Award-winning actress Tate is reprising her role as Donna, the runaway bride who featured in last year's Doctor Who Christmas special. Tate will star alongside David Tennant for the complete 13-week new season run.

Freema Agyeman who played Martha Jones, the Doctor's companion throughout the critically-acclaimed third series, will return to the show to join the Doctor and Donna mid-series.

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