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'{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2015}} {{Use British English|date=January 2015}} {{DISPLAYTITLE:Voyage of the Damned (''Doctor Who'')}} {{Infobox Doctor Who episode | number = 188 | type = episode | show = DW | serial_name = Voyage of the Damned | image = [[File:Voyage of the Damned.jpg|275px]] | caption = The interstellar cruise ship ''Titanic'', the main setting of the episode, orbits above Earth on Christmas Eve. | doctor = [[David Tennant]] ([[Tenth Doctor]]) | companion = [[Kylie Minogue]] ([[Astrid Peth]]) | guests = * [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]] &ndash; [[List of Doctor Who henchmen#Captain Hardaker|Captain Hardaker]] * [[Russell Tovey]] &ndash; Midshipman Alonso Frame * [[George Costigan]] &ndash; [[List of Doctor Who villains#Max Capricorn|Max Capricorn]] * [[Gray O'Brien]] &ndash; Rickston Slade * [[Andrew Havill]] &ndash; Chief Steward * [[Bruce Lawrence]] &ndash; Engineer * [[Debbie Chazen]] &ndash; Foon Van Hoff * [[Clive Rowe]] &ndash; Morvin Van Hoff * [[Clive Swift]] &ndash; Mr Copper * [[Jimmy Vee]] &ndash; Bannakaffalatta * [[Bernard Cribbins]] &ndash; [[Wilfred Mott]] * [[Nicholas Witchell]] &ndash; Himself * [[Paul Kasey]] &ndash; [[List of Doctor Who robots#H|The Host]] * Stefan Davis &ndash; Kitchen Hand * [[Jason Mohammed]] &ndash; Newsreader * [[Colin McFarlane]] &ndash; Alien Voices * [[Ewan Bailey]] &ndash; Alien Voices * [[Jessica Martin]] &ndash; Voice of [[Queen Elizabeth II|The Queen]] | writer = [[Russell T Davies]] | director = [[James Strong (director)|James Strong]] | producer = [[Phil Collinson]] | executive_producer = [[Russell T Davies]] <br /> [[Julie Gardner]] | script_editor=Brian Minchin |composer=[[Murray Gold]] | production_code = 4.X | length = 72 minutes | date = 25 December 2007 | preceding = "[[Time Crash]]" (mini-episode)<br/>"[[Last of the Time Lords]]" (episode) | following = "[[Partners in Crime (Doctor Who)|Partners in Crime]]" | series = [[Doctor Who (series 4)|Series 4]] | series_link = Specials (2007) }} "'''Voyage of the Damned'''" is an episode of the British [[science fiction television]] program ''[[Doctor Who]]''. First broadcast on 25 December 2007, it is 72&nbsp;minutes long and the third Christmas special since the show's revival in 2005. The narrative continues from the final scenes of both "[[Last of the Time Lords]]" and the mini-episode "[[Time Crash]]", when a luxury space liner called the ''Titanic'', a [[pastiche]] of the [[RMS Titanic|historical ocean liner]], breached the walls of the [[TARDIS]]. The ship's captain, Hardaker ([[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]]), sabotages the ship shortly after the ''Titanic''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s collision with the TARDIS. [[Tenth Doctor a.k.a the one who made you cry|The Doctor]] ([[David Tennant]]) works with a waitress named [[Astrid Peth]] ([[Kylie Minogue]]) to prevent an imminent collision with Earth. The episode features the only performance in ''Doctor Who'' by the Australian singer and actress [[Kylie Minogue]]. Executive producer and writer [[Russell T Davies]] described her casting as a "very exceptional case", having written the part of Astrid specifically for Minogue. On its original airdate, "Voyage of the Damned" was watched by 13.31&nbsp;million viewers, the highest viewing figure for ''Doctor Who'' since the 1979 serial ''[[City of Death]]'' and as of October 2015 it still has the highest viewership of any episode since the show's revival. It was the second most-watched programme of 2007, beaten only by the episode of ''[[EastEnders]]'' which aired immediately after it. Critical opinion about the episode was divided; the writing and Minogue's performance were both praised and criticised. ==Synopsis== The episode opens immediately following the events of "[[Time Crash]]", with the bow of the ''Titanic'' crashing into the [[TARDIS]]. The Doctor manages to reverse time and repair the damage before landing the TARDIS on the ship. He discovers it's not the famed RMS ''[[RMS Titanic|Titanic]]'', but instead is a starliner hailing from the planet [[Sontar|Sto]]. The ''Titanic'' is orbiting present day Earth to observe the traditions of primitive cultures, specifically Christmas. The Doctor dons a tuxedo and joins the reception on board, meeting waitress Astrid Peth. The Doctor convinces Astrid to join him on a brief excursion to the surface of Earth. They are accompanied by married couple Morvin and Foon Van Hoff, a Zocci named Bannakaffalatta, and historian and guide Mr. Copper. While on Earth, specifically a commercial district of London, the Doctor notes that London seems abandoned, and questions a man in a newspaper stand about it. The man, [[Wilfred Mott]], tells the Doctor that most people have left London because of the previous two years of alien activity in London on Christmas ("[[The Christmas Invasion]]" and "[[The Runaway Bride (Doctor Who)|The Runaway Bride]]"). Back on the ''Titanic'', Captain Hardaker dismisses the ship's officers from the bridge. Citing regulations, Midshipman Alonso Frame remains on the bridge. After the group returns from their excursion, Hardaker drops the vessel's protective shielding and magnetises the hull. This causes nearby meteors to be pulled toward the ship on a collision course. Midshipman Frame attempts to reactivate the shields but is shot by Hardaker as the meteors collide with the ship. The collision kills most of the 2,000 passengers and staff on board and causes the vessel to begin plunging toward the Earth. The Doctor makes contact with the wounded Midshipman Frame, who stabilises and maintains the power from the damaged engines. The Doctor and the rest of the excursion party attempt to reach the bridge but are repeatedly attacked by the ship's Angel Hosts, androids resembling angels who were programmed to supply information. Morvin falls off of a ledge into the ship's engine, and the rest of the group are surrounded by Angel Hosts. Bannakaffalatta reveals that he is a cyborg, and uses his internal [[electromagnetic pulse|EMP device]] to disable the Hosts. The EMP burst drains the Zocci's power cells and he dies. Mr. Copper takes the EMP device in the hopes that it can be recharged and used again. A lone Angel Host attacks them again, and Foon ties herself to it and throws them both into the ship's engine. The Doctor separates from the rest and attempts to reach Deck 31, where he hopes to find the controls for the Heavenly Hosts. He convinces the Hosts that he is a stowaway and the confused androids take him to see their operator, [[List of Doctor Who villains#Max Capricorn|Max Capricorn]]. Max explains that he planned the ''Titanic'''s inevitable collision with Earth to bankrupt the company that voted him out. To save the Doctor, Astrid uses a forklift to ram Max Capricorn and push him into the ship's engine. The forklift falls on top of him, seemingly killing Astrid as well. With Max Capricorn dead, the Heavenly Host divert to the next highest authority, the Doctor and aid him in quickly reaching the bridge. Together with Midshipman Frame, he uses the heat from the entry into the Earth's atmosphere to restart the ship's auxiliary engines. The ship stabilises and narrowly avoids a collision with [[Buckingham Palace]]. The Doctor then realizes that Astrid was wearing a teleport bracelet when she fell into the engine. In an emergency, the teleport bracelets were programmed to hold a person's molecular pattern in stasis until it can be recovered. The Doctor frantically attempts to retrieve Astrid's pattern, but the machine is too badly damaged. The Doctor reluctantly allows the ghostly remains of Astrid's atoms to dissipate into space. As the surviving passengers wait for rescue, the Doctor, and Mr. Copper who would otherwise be sent to prison for committing fraud in order to get a job with the company, teleport to Earth and find that the TARDIS landed unharmed, thrown from the ship after the collision. An estatic Mr. Copper is left to live on Earth with a credit card he preloaded with a million pounds, unaware of the conversion between [[pound sterling]] and Sto credits. ==Production== ===Casting=== [[File:Doctor and Astrid.jpg|thumb|Kylie Minogue, alongside David Tennant, wearing a "cigarette girl" costume, which she described as "the most comfortable [she] had worn in years"]] During the third series press launch in March 2007, the production team was approached by Will Baker, [[Kylie Minogue]]'s creative director, about her appearing in the show. Executive producer [[Julie Gardner]] replied that Minogue could guest star if her schedule was free.<ref name="companion">{{cite journal|last=Pixley|first=Andrew|date=2008-08-14|title=Voyage of the Damned|journal=[[Doctor Who Magazine]]|publisher=[[Panini Comics]]|location=[[Royal Tunbridge Wells]], [[Kent]]|volume=The Doctor Who Companion: Series Four|issue=Special Edition 20}}</ref> Minogue officially registered her interest on 26 March 2007 and was subsequently given a one-off role as the Doctor's [[companion (Doctor Who)|companion]].<ref name="companion" /><ref name="confidential" /> Minogue's appearance would allow the show to easily transfer the lead companion role from [[Martha Jones]] ([[Freema Agyeman]]) to "Penny"—the intended companion for the fourth series, eventually replaced by [[Catherine Tate]] as [[Donna Noble]]—and provide a "big name" star to appear in the Christmas special.<ref name="companion" /> Her casting was first reported in the ''[[News of the World]]'' in April 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=4-2007#newsitemEEZZkFkEFEfLWoOgnW|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080209113246/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=4-2007|archivedate=2008-02-09|title=Kylie Minogue cast?|date=2007-04-27|first=Paul|last=Hayes|accessdate=2007-07-01|publisher=[[Outpost Gallifrey]]}}</ref> Davies initially dismissed the story, but Baker and Minogue contemporaneously confirmed she would star in the show.<ref name="confidential" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=4-2007#newsitemEEZZyAkuyFYdszfwjy|title=Davies dismisses Kylie rumour|date=2007-04-27|accessdate=2007-07-01|first=Paul|last=Hayes|publisher=[[Outpost Gallifrey]] |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070911231115/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=4-2007#newsitemEEZZyAkuyFYdszfwjy <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=5-2007#newsitemEEZlAAkkupkdodRPUK|author=Marcus|title=Christmas Episode 2007|date=2007-05-12|accessdate=2007-07-01|publisher=[[Outpost Gallifrey]] |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070911231208/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=5-2007#newsitemEEZlAAkkupkdodRPUK <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-11}}</ref> Her role was officially confirmed on 3 July 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/07/02/46771.shtml|title=Step Back In Time|date=2007-07-03|accessdate=2007-07-03|publisher=BBC}}</ref> Both Minogue and ''Doctor Who'' had acknowledged each other before: "[[The Idiot's Lantern]]" mentions Minogue as a real person;<ref>{{cite episode |title=[[The Idiot's Lantern]] |series=[[Doctor Who]] |credits=Writer [[Mark Gatiss]], Director [[Euros Lyn]], Producer [[Phil Collinson]] |network=[[BBC]] |station=[[BBC One]] |city=Cardiff |airdate=2006-05-27}}</ref> and Baker, a fan of ''Doctor Who'', included aspects of the classic series in Minogue's tours: the [[Raston warrior robots|Raston Warriors]] (from ''[[The Five Doctors]]'') in the ''[[Fever (Kylie Minogue album)|Fever]]'' tour; and the [[Cybermen]] in the ''[[Showgirl - The Greatest Hits Tour|Showgirl]]'' tour.<ref name="confidential">{{cite episode|title=Confidential at Christmas|series=Doctor Who Confidential|serieslink=Doctor Who Confidential |network=[[BBC]]|station=[[BBC Three]]|airdate=2007-12-25|season=4|number=Special}}</ref> [[Clive Swift]] and [[Geoffrey Palmer (actor)|Geoffrey Palmer]] have had previous roles in ''Doctor Who''. Swift portrayed Jobel in ''[[Revelation of the Daleks]]'', while Palmer played Undersecretary Masters in ''[[Doctor Who and the Silurians]]'', and the Administrator in ''[[The Mutants]]''. [[Jessica Martin]] had played Mags in ''[[The Greatest Show in the Galaxy]]''. In addition, Bernard Cribbins played Tom Campbell in ''[[Daleks' Invasion Earth: 2150 A.D.]]'', the second ''Doctor Who'' feature-film adaptation starring [[Peter Cushing]] as well as Arnold Korns in the audio play ''[[Horror of Glam Rock]]''. [[Colin McFarlane]], who provided the voices of the Heavenly Host for the episode, went on to play General Pierce in ''[[Torchwood: Children of Earth]]'', before later reappearing in ''Doctor Who'' as Moran in "[[Under the Lake]]".<ref>{{cite web |url= http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/person.php?code=919|title= Doctor who Guide: Colin McFarlane|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= 12 May 2015|website= guide.doctorwhonews.net|publisher= Doctor Who Guide|access-date= 11 October 2015}}</ref> ===Minogue's costume=== Minogue met designer Louise Page four times during pre-production to discuss her costume. Page rejected a long dress because it was atypical to Minogue; she instead elected for a "[[cigarette girl (person)|cigarette girl]]" image, similar to a "1950s [...] cinema usherette". Five costumes were made for different scenes and Minogue's stunt doubles, and each part of each costume was made separately to keep Minogue's role secret. After filming, Minogue told Page that the costume was "the most comfortable [she] had worn in years".<ref name="confidential" /> ===Writing=== The episode was primarily written by Russell T Davies after Minogue was cast. Davies described his pitch to Minogue as "[[busking]]".<ref name="confidential" /> The character of [[Astrid Peth]] was written for Minogue. Davies later stated that Minogue was a "very exceptional case"; he considered writing a role specifically for one actor "dangerous territory" because the desired actor may be unavailable or decline the part.<ref name="BMG">{{cite journal |date=April 2008 |title=Be My Guest |journal=[[Radio Times]]|first=Russell |last=T Davies |authorlink=Russell T Davies |issue=5–11 April 2008 |page=p 17 |publisher=BBC }}</ref> In early drafts of the episode, Astrid did not die. Davies decided Astrid's death was necessary to allow Minogue focus on her musical career.<ref name="confidential" /> Davies described the original nature of her death—falling over a precipice during a fight with Capricorn—as "fleeting".<ref name="companion" /> He intensified the scene by changing Max from mobile to cybernetic and Astrid's attack from an altercation to a fork-lift truck.<ref name="companion" /> Davies felt the revised scene was "such a beautiful image" and romanticised Astrid's "ultimate sacrifice".<ref name="companion" /><ref name="confidential" /> Davies based the episode on the traditional [[disaster film]] format. He was highly influenced by the 1972 film ''[[The Poseidon Adventure (1972 film)|The Poseidon Adventure]]'': he considered "[turning] the spaceship upside down" before cutting the concept for monetary constraints;<ref name="companion" /> and the character of Foon Van Hoff ([[Debbie Chazen]]) was heavily based on Belle Rosen ([[Shelley Winters]]). He diverged from the trope in its climax; the format of ''Doctor Who'' dictated the requirement of an antagonist: Max Capricorn, whose plan was to sabotage the ship as part of an insurance scam.<ref name="confidential" /> Davies based the portrayal of [[Kansas]] in the 1939 film ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' as an analogue for Sto.<ref name="votdpod" /> The episode includes several references to outside the show's fictional universe: the episode is dedicated to [[Verity Lambert]], ''Doctor Who''{{'}}s founding producer, who died on 22 November 2007, a day before the show's forty-fourth anniversary;<ref name="DWFactFile" /> and the malfunctioning Host stuttering over the name "Max" is a reference to 1980s virtual presenter [[Max Headroom (character)|Max Headroom]];<ref name="DWFactFile">{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/episodes/2007/facts/fact_votd.shtml|title=Doctor Who - Fact File - Voyage of the Damned|publisher=BBC|date=2007-12-25|accessdate=2007-12-26}}</ref> Davies inserted references to other ''Doctor Who'' episodes in the script: he emphasised society's increasing awareness of aliens and the tradition of London's consecutive Christmas attacks in the script, describing the latter as "becoming a bit of an in-joke";<ref name="confidential"/> the Doctor's use of the catchphrase "''allons-y'' Alonso" in the episode when he helps Frame stabilise the ship continues a running gag originating in "[[Army of Ghosts]]";<ref name="companion"/><ref>{{cite episode|title=[[Army of Ghosts]]|series=Doctor Who|credits=WriterRussell T Davies, DirectorGraeme Harper, Producer Phil Collinson|network=BBC|station=BBC One|city=Cardiff|airdate=2006-07-01}}</ref> and the Host continue the thematic motif of angels. Angels previously appeared in "[[Blink (Doctor Who)|Blink]]", where the antagonists of the episode were [[Weeping Angels]], and in "[[The Sound of Drums]]" and "[[Last of the Time Lords]]", where the [[Master (Doctor Who)|Master]]'s communication network was called the "[[Archangel]] Network".<ref name="DWFactFile"/> Despite angels being the antagonist in two episodes that aired close to each other, which dismayed writer and executive producer [[Russell T Davies]] when he read [[Steven Moffat]]'s script for "Blink", the Host are functionally different as subordinate "robot [[butler]]s".<ref name="votdpod"/> ===Filming=== Filming primarily took place between 9 July and 11 August 2007;<ref name="companion" /> the first scene filmed depicted the group being accosted by the Host while crossing over the engines.<ref name="votdpod">{{cite podcast|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/40x_commentary?size=au&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1|title=Voyage of the Damned commentary (stream) |website=BBC.co.uk|host=Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner|date=2007-12-25|accessdate=2008-01-25}}</ref> On 12 July, Tennant's mother, Helen McDonald, began to succumb to her cancer. Filming was rescheduled to allow Tennant to be present when she died and was buried; she died on 15 July and was buried on 21 July.<ref name="companion" /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://icrenfrewshire.icnetwork.co.uk/pde/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=19486037%26siteid=63858-name_page.html|title=Tributes pour in for Helen|date=2007-07-20|accessdate=2007-07-21|publisher=''[[Paisley Daily Express]]''}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.syfyportal.com/news423922.html|title='Doctor Who' Filming Delayed This Weekend|first=Michael|last=Hinman|date=2007-07-20|accessdate=2007-07-21|publisher=''[[SyFy Portal]]'' |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070926224912/http://www.syfyportal.com/news423922.html |archivedate = 26 September 2007}}</ref> During Tennant's absence, scenes in the ''Titanic'''s reception area were filmed at the Exchange in [[Swansea]] and the [[Coal Exchange]] in [[Cardiff Bay]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/arts/sites/doctor-who-wales/alllocations/cardiff-coal-exchange-mount-stuart-square|title= Walesarts, Coal Exchange and Mount Stuart Square, Cardiff Bay|publisher = BBC |author = |date = |accessdate = 2010-05-30}}</ref> Tennant filmed his scenes in the area on 16 and 17 July.<ref name="companion" /> The last use of the Coal Exchange was on the 18th; scenes depicting the ship's collision with meteors were filmed on that day.<ref name="companion"/> One week of filming was conducted primarily at the old DuPont site in [[Pontypool]] which provided the sets for Deck 31—Capricorn's refuge and command centre, Much of the old extrusion machinery still in situ and their corresponding control "Thorn Drive" panels —and the various stairwells and corridors of the ship. Scenes on Deck 31 were filmed on 19 and 20 July. A double, Danielle de Costa, operated the fork-lift truck because Minogue didn't have the required license.<ref name="companion"/> Shooting was staggered as a result of Tennant's departure: 21 July focused on the supporting characters; and 23 July focused on Tennant. The aftermath of the meteor strike was filmed between 25 July and 27 July.<ref name="companion"/> Filming returned to the Exchange in Swansea to film two more scenes: The denouément of the episode was filmed on 28 July; and the pre-credits sequence on 30 July. The most important day of filming was on 31 July 2007: an evening location shoot of the party's arrival in London. Before filming commenced, Minogue covered her death scene above a [[chroma key]] mattress.<ref name="companion"/> The scene in London commenced filming at sunset in Cardiff city centre.<ref name="companion" /> For security concerns—specifically, protecting Minogue—the street was sealed off for the first time since the show's revival in 2005.<ref name="companion" /><ref name="confidential"/> Filming finished in the first two weeks of August 2007: the closing scene was filmed in Cardiff Docks on 1 August; Hardaker's death was filmed at Upper Boat on 2 August; scenes in the ship's kitchen was filmed on 3 August; and scenes on the bridge were filmed on 6—8 August. The last day of filming was on 21 August 2007; cameo scenes by BBC reporters [[Jason Mohammad]] and [[Nicholas Witchell]] were filmed at [[BBC]]'s [[Broadcasting House (Cardiff)|broadcasting houses in Llandaff]] and [[Broadcasting House|London]].<ref name="companion"/> ===Music=== {{Listen|filename=The Stowaway.ogg|title="The Stowaway"|description=The chorus of the song "The Stowaway", which was influenced by Irish folk music.|format=[[Ogg]]}} Composer [[Murray Gold]], arranger [[Ben Foster (orchestrator)|Ben Foster]], and singer Yamit Mamo make cameo appearances as part of the ship's band.<ref name="DWFactFile" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sfx.co.uk/page/sfx?entry=phil_collinson_on_doctor_who|title=Phil Collinson on Doctor Who|publisher=SFX|first=Ian|last=Berriman|date=2007-12-13|accessdate=2007-12-18}}</ref> Mamo, primarily a [[soul music|soul]] singer, was approached by Gold after his friends saw her performing, and she unconditionally accepted his offer.<ref name="confidential" /> She performed the songs "My Angel Put the Devil in Me" and "The Stowaway" on the [[Doctor Who: Original Television Soundtrack - Series 3|third series soundtrack]].<ref name="confidential" /><ref name="DWFactFile"/> The latter was specifically composed for this episode and was recorded in September 2007 at [[AIR Studios]] in [[London]]. The song features everyone who was present in the studios during recording as backing vocals. "The Stowaway" continues the tradition of a Christmas song from "[[The Christmas Invasion]]" ("Song for Ten") and "[[The Runaway Bride (Doctor Who)|The Runaway Bride]]" ("Love Don't Roam"). The song was influenced by [[Irish folk music]], and contrasts the upbeat "under deck" feeling with melancholy lyrics about unrequited love. The episode features a new version of the [[Doctor Who theme tune|theme tune]] during its credits, comparable to [[Peter Howell (musician)|Peter Howell]]'s version from the 1980s, which contains a new bass line, drums, and piano.<ref name="DWFactFile" /> ==Broadcast and reception== ===Broadcast=== Overnight figures estimated that the episode's Christmas Day broadcast was watched by 12.2&nbsp;million viewers. The final viewing figures were 13.31&nbsp;million viewers with a peak of 13.8&nbsp;million, the second highest audience for any programme during 2007: the episode of BBC soap ''[[EastEnders]]'' which aired after "Voyage of the Damned" was watched by 13.9&nbsp;million viewers.<ref>{{cite news|title=EastEnders pips Dr Who on Christmas|first=Avril|last=Ormsby|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUKL2633454620071226|publisher=Reuters|date=26 December 2007|accessdate=2007-12-26}}</ref><ref name="highin2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EkpppVZAyykciXVpDT&tmpl=newsrss&style=feedstyle|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080315212721/http://www.gallifreyone.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?id=EkpppVZAyykciXVpDT&tmpl=newsrss&style=feedstyle|archivedate=2008-03-15|title=Voyage – 2nd most watched programme in 2007|date=2008-01-11|accessdate=2008-01-11|publisher=Outpost Gallifrey|author=Marcus}}</ref> The viewing figure is the highest for the new series, exceeding the previous record set by "[[Rose (Doctor Who)|Rose]]". The figure is also the highest for ''Doctor Who'' overall since 1979, specifically, the final episode of "[[City of Death]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/cult/a82268/doctor-who-gets-best-ratings-since-1979.html|title='Doctor Who' gets best ratings since 1979|first=Neil|last=Wilkes|date=26 December 2007|publisher=Digital Spy|accessdate=2007-12-26}}</ref><ref name="Viewing figures">{{cite news|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/12/26/51751.shtml|title=Titanic Success!|date=2007-12-26|accessdate=2007-12-26|publisher=BBC|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071229121407/http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/news/cult/news/drwho/2007/12/26/51751.shtml <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archivedate=2007-12-29}}</ref> The episode's [[Appreciation Index]] rating was 86 ("excellent"), above the average score of 77 for drama programmes, and was the highest Index rating for any programme shown on [[Analogue terrestrial television in the United Kingdom|terrestrial television]] on Christmas Day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=12-2007#newsitemEEAlZVZllAMRHYWhnV|author=Marcus|date=2007-12-27|accessdate=2008-01-27|publisher=Outpost Gallifrey|title=Voyage - Appreciation Index |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071227081723/http://www.gallifreyone.com/news-archives.php?id=12-2007#newsitemEEAlZVZllAMRHYWhnV <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-12-27}}</ref> Although not filmed in HD, the BBC aired it on [[BBC HD|BBC One HD]], Wednesday 29 December 2010, having up-scaled the program to HD and also including Dolby Surround sound. This is the first Doctor Who episode, filmed in SD, to have been up-scaled to HD for broadcast on television, and the second episode, overall, to be up-scaled from SD to HD, the first being the 2008 Christmas Special, [[The Next Doctor]], for the Blu-ray release of the Complete Specials Boxset.<ref>{{citation | title = Voyage of the Damned | work = BBC | date = | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b008lyb2#broadcasts | accessdate = 2011-02-04 }}</ref> This special first aired in Canada on [[Space (TV channel)|Space]] in April 2010.<ref name="VoD">{{cite web|url=http://www.channelcanada.com/Article2990.html|title=BBC Worldwide and Space Wrap Up Sci-Fi|work=channelcanada.com|accessdate=2009-06-01}}</ref> ===Criticism and review=== [[File:Angelic Doctor.jpg|275px|thumb|A scene where the Doctor was lifted by the angelic Host to the ship's bridge was both criticised and praised for its religious imagery.]] The episode was criticised by [[Millvina Dean]], the last survivor of the 1912 ''Titanic'' sinking, who stated that it was "disrespectful to make entertainment of such a tragedy."<ref>{{cite news |title=Doctor Who Slammed By Titanic Survivor |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2007/12/22/doctor-who-slammed-by-titanic-survivor-86908-20262533/ |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |date=22 December 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-26 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20071225083739/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/entertainment-news/2007/12/22/doctor-who-slammed-by-titanic-survivor-86908-20262533/ |archivedate = 25 December 2007}}</ref> The organisation [[Christian Voice (UK)|Christian Voice]] expressed offence at the religious imagery of a scene in which the Doctor is lifted through the ship by robot angels, believing the [[messiah|messianic]] portrayal of the Doctor as "inappropriate";<ref>{{cite news |first=Adam |last=Sherwin |title=Christians protest as Doctor Who is portrayed as 'messiah' |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3080608.ece |work=[[The Times]] |date=21 December 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-26 | location=London}}</ref> however, in April 2008, vicars were encouraged to use the same scene to "illustrate themes of resurrection, redemption and evil" to young people.<ref>{{cite news | title = The church is ailing - send for Dr Who | publisher = The Daily Telegraph | date = 2008-05-04 | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/1925338/The-church-is-ailing---send-for-Dr-Who.html | accessdate=2008-05-04 | location=London | first1=Jonathan | last1=Wynne-Jones}}</ref> [[Gareth McLean]], who reviewed a preview screening for ''[[The Guardian]]''{{'}}s TV and radio weblog, appreciated the episode's use of "the disaster movie template" and came to a favourable overall conclusion: "For the most part, The Voyage of the Damned is absolutely smashing." Its main flaw, in his view, was the "blank and insipid" acting of Kylie Minogue.<ref>{{cite news |first=Gareth|last=McLean |authorlink=Gareth McLean |title=The Doctor Who disaster movie is a great success |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/tv/2007/12/dr_who.html |work=theblog: tv&radio |publisher=[[Guardian Unlimited]] |date=20 December 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-26 | location=London}}</ref> James Walton of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' gave the episode a positive review, summarising it as "a winning mixture of wild imagination and careful writerly calculation".<ref>{{cite news |first=James |last=Walton |title=Telegraph pick: Doctor Who (BBC1) |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/exclusions/tvondemand/nosplit/LNoTV/bvdoctor25.xml |work=[[telegraph.co.uk]] |date=26 December 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-26 | location=London}}</ref> Alex Clark of ''[[The Observer]]'' commented that the death toll was rather high, but he still thought the episode was "an oasis of cheeky nonsense and careless invention".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2233128,00.html|first=Alex|last=Clark|title=Feel the pain and pass the port|date=2007-12-30|accessdate=2008-03-15|publisher=The Observer | location=London}}</ref> Harry Venning of ''[[The Stage]]'' concluded his positive review of the episode by stating it "was well up to ''Doctor Who''{{'}}s impeccably high standards".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/19402/tv-review|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20120319145505/http://www.thestage.co.uk/features/feature.php/19402/tv-review|archivedate=2013-03-19|title=TV review|first=Harry|last=Venning|publisher=[[The Stage]]|date=2007-12-28|accessdate=2008-03-15}}</ref> ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'' placed two of the deaths in the episode in its list of the top 100 deaths in the history of the show. Bannakaffalatta's death, a self-sacrifice to save the Doctor's party, was placed in the "top 20 tearjerkers" category. Astrid's death was given the title of "''Doctor Who''{{'}}s all-time greatest death scene", commenting it "ticks boxes in all of our main categories [(gruesome, scary, self-sacrifice, tearjerking, surprising)]", and "her death would truly make a glass eye cry."<ref name="stardustmemories">{{cite journal |date=March 2008 |title=''Doctor Who''{{'}}s 100 Greatest Death Scenes|journal=[[Doctor Who Magazine]] |issue=393 |pages=18–30}}</ref> Tim Teeman of ''[[The Times]]'' gave the episode a negative review, stating that "It was boring, despite the endless dashing about and [[Computer-generated imagery|CGI]] flimflam."<ref>{{cite news |first=Tim|last= Teeman |title=Christmas Day TV: Doctor Who; EastEnders; Coronation Street |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110517074214/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3095298.ece| archivedate= 2011-05-17|url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3095298.ece |work=[[timesonline.co.uk]] |date=26 December 2007 |accessdate=2007-12-29 | location=London}}</ref> The ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' commented the episode had "some brilliant psychedelic [[Pink Floyd]]-esque imagery", "great baddies", and "neat jokes", but lamented that "the plot was a mess, consisting mostly of one hi-tech chase scene after another, and it descended into noise and bluster."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/12/27/eastenders-saves-the-day-89520-20266441/|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080227045929/http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/2007/12/27/eastenders-saves-the-day-89520-20266441/|archivedate=2008-02-27|title=EastEnders saves the day|publisher=[[Daily Mirror]]|first=Jim|last=Shelly|date=2007-12-17|accessdate=2008-01-27}}</ref> ===DVD release=== The ten Christmas specials between "[[The Christmas Invasion]]" and "[[Last Christmas (Doctor Who)|Last Christmas]]" inclusive will be released in a boxset titled ''Doctor Who – The Ten Christmas Specials'' on 19 October 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Doctor Who News: Doctor Who - The Ten Christmas Specials|url=http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2015/10/xmas-10-specials-011015170008.html|website=Doctor Who News|date=1 October 2015|accessdate=8 October 2015}}</ref> ==References== {{Reflist|2}} ==External links== {{wikiquote|Tenth Doctor#Voyage of the Damned .5B4.0.5D|"Voyage of the Damned"}} {{TardisIndexFile|Voyage of the Damned}} *{{BBCDWnew | year=2007 | id=votd | title=Voyage of the Damned }} *{{Brief|id=2007o|title=Voyage of the Damned|quotes=y}} *{{Doctor Who RG|id=who_tv32|title=Voyage of the Damned|quotes=y}} *{{imdb episode|1061123|Voyage of the Damned}} *[http://www.thewriterstale.com/pdfs/Doctor%20Who%204%20Ep.X%20-%20Shooting%20Script%20-%20%20Voyage%20of%20the%20Damned%20-%20%2020.07.07.pdf Shooting Script for "Voyage of the Damned"] ===Reviews=== *{{DWRG| id=voyagedamned | title=Voyage of the Damned | quotes=y}} - Fan reviews ===BBC trailers=== *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/40x_bbconetrail?size=16x9&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1 BBC Christmas 2007 publicity trailer] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/40x_trailer?size=16x9&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1 First teaser trailer] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/40x_cinema?size=16x9&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1 Cinematic trailer] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/40x_trailer2?size=16x9&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1 "Trailer A"] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/40x_trailer4?size=16x9&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1 "Trailer B"] *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/doctorwho/ram/40x_trailer3?size=16x9&bgc=CC0000&nbram=1&bbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1 20-second trailer] {{Doctor Who episodes|N4}} {{Doctor Who Christmas specials}} {{good article}} [[Category:Tenth Doctor episodes]] [[Category:British television specials]] [[Category:Christmas television episodes]] [[Category:2007 television episodes]] [[Category:Doctor Who stories set on Earth]] [[Category:Screenplays by Russell T Davies]] [[Category:2007 television specials]]'