2x07 The Idiot's Lantern - Doctor Who (UK) Episode Guide

Doctor Who (UK)

- Episode 02x07

Episode: 02x07
Title: The Idiot's Lantern
Type: Regular Episode
Production Code: 20
First Aired: May. 27, 2006

Season 2 » Episode #07 - The Idiot's Lantern

Doctor Who (UK) - 02x07 The Idiot's Lantern

Summary: In the 1950s, at the time of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the Earth is invaded by aliens using TV waves, taking advantage of the millions of people watching the coronation.

Who appeared in this episode?

Guest Stars:

The Wire	played by Maureen Lipman
Magpie	played by Ron Cook
Eddie Connolly	played by Jamie Foreman
Rita Connolly	played by Debra Gillett
Tommy Connolly	played by Rory Jennings
Grandma Connolly	played by Margaret John
Detective Inspector Bishop	played by Sam Cox
Crabtree	played by Ieuan Rhys
Aunty Betty	played by Jean Challis

Season 2 / Episode 7: - The Idiot's Lantern

The Doctor: "It's never too late", as a wise person once said. Kylie I think.

Season 2 / Episode 7: - The Idiot's Lantern

Eddie: [realizing that Doctor's getting information that he wants to keep confidential] Hold on a minute. Queen and country's one thing, but this is my house! What the... what the hell am I doing?

Eddie: [angry] Now listen here, Doctor. You may have fancy qualifications, but what goes on under my roof is my business!
The Doctor: A lot of people are being bundled...
Eddie: [fiercely] I am talking!
The Doctor: [stands up and matches Eddie] AND I'M NOT LISTENING! Now YOU, Mr Connolly, you are staring into a deep dark *pit* of trouble if you don't let me help! So I'm ordering you, SIR! Tell me what's going on!

[More Quotes]

MISTAKES/GOOFS

CREW: A camera and a crew member are reflected in the Doctor's and Rose's glasses whilst they are riding on the scooter shortly after the opening credits.
CONT: During the showdown at the transmitter tower, Tommy replaces the burnt out vacuum tube on the device and plugs it completely in. In the next shot, the plug is not completely in and Tommy's hand is seen plugging it in again.
FAKE: This episode take place between 1st and 2nd of June 1953, however it was filmed in a far colder month as steam can be seen emanating from Rose and The Doctor’s mouths when speaking their lines. This is most apparent during the moped scenes at the beginning of the episode.
FAKE: During the scene in which The Doctor is climbing the transmitter, there is a shot in which he is viewed from above and is then struck by lightning. In this shot, The Doctor's foot disappears briefly as it leaves the green screen on the ground under the actor.
DATE: This episode takes place on the day before and the day of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation (1 and 2 June 1953). However, at the start of the show (a scene set some time prior to the main events), the Connolly family are seen listening to an episode of BBC radio comedy series "Take It From Here" - an episode that was first broadcast on 15 June 1953, two weeks after the coronation.

TRIVIA

This episode was watched by 6.758 million viewers on its original transmission.
This story had working titles of: 'Mr Sandman', 'Sonic Doom' and 'The One-Eyed Monster'.
Maureen Lipman shot her role in half a day at Alexandra Place.
The Idiot's Lantern was originally to have been the ninth episode of Series 2.
The Doctor makes a reference to the song "Never Too Late" by Kylie Minogue. Ironically, Minogue herself later made a starring role in the episode "Doctor Who" (2005) {Voyage of the Damned (#4.0)}.