Doctor Who: The Interstellar Song Contest ★★★★★

“Did I just fly through space on a confetti cannon? Camp!” – the Doctor

803rd Interstellar Song Festival, Year 2925 – I couldn’t help but feel excited as my trusty Tardis materialized in Harmony Arena space station! The show kicked off, but the fun was cut short when a sinister plot unfolded. Suddenly, we were all thrust into the cold vacuum of space. It appears the culprit is Kid, a vengeful Hellion, who’s furious about his home world Hellia being plundered for poppy honey by the event’s corporate sponsors. His plan? To broadcast a deadly delta wave that would erase the minds of the three trillion viewers!

As The Doctor, I leap into action, but I find myself tormented by visions of my granddaughter Susan. I must act quickly to save the day and prevent this catastrophe!

First UK broadcastSaturday 17 May 2025

The actors:

* Ncuti Gatwa as The Doctor
* Varada Sethu as Belinda Chandra
* Carole Ann Ford as Susan
* Anita Dobson as Mrs Flood
* Archie Panjabi as The Rani
* Freddie Fox as Kid
* Kadiff Kirwan as Mike Gabbastone
* Charlie Condou as Gary Gabbastone
* Miriam-Teak Lee as Cora Saint Bavier
* Julie Dray as Sabine
* Kiruna Stamell as Nina Maxwell
* Iona Anderson as Wynn Aura-Kin
* Akemnji Ndifornyen as Len Kazah
* Christina Rotondo as Liz Lizardine
* Abdul Seesay as Jeddy Kine
* Imogen Kingsley Smith as Runner.

In this production, the script was penned by Juno Dawson, while Ben A Williams took on the directorial duties. The music was composed by Murray Gold, and it was produced by Vicky Delow. Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Jane Tranter, Joel Collins, and Phil Collinson served as executive producers.

RT review by Patrick Mulkern

Rylan doesn’t appeal to me, no matter how much love or money is involved, he’s a total turn-off on screen. However, his performances in Doctor Who have made me change my mind about him. This episode is so powerful that it’s convincing even the most skeptical viewers. I adore Graham Norton, and his holographic appearance here is a delightful response to those times when he unexpectedly appeared (due to BBC Presentation) in previous shows. Now, he serves as a precursor to the catastrophe that will strike Earth in 2025. In a way, this duo reminds me of Eurovision, and I was almost expecting the spirits of Terry Wogan and Katie Boyle to appear.

In this innovative, cosmic take on Eurovision, there’s nothing short of breathtaking beauty. From the grandiose stadium light display to the enthusiastic cheers of countless fans, to the catchy snippets of unusual tunes in the finals and the powerful anthem that Cora sings. Despite the occasional emotional overload due to the interspersed reactions from the star-struck cast, Miriam-Teak Lee delivers a stunning performance, her voice echoing far beyond the arena. Winner of the 2020 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for & Juliet, she’s an excellent choice for this role; and the new songwriting trio of Russell T Davies, Juno Dawson, and Murray Gold might just be the ideal representatives for the United Kingdom. The unexpected appearance of Bucks Fizz’s 1981 hit Making Your Mind Up during the rescue of the expelled crowds is absolutely hilarious.

Among other things, Ncuti Gatwa truly embodies The Doctor in this instance, displaying a rich complexity. He’s got a knack for being both charming and affectionate upon entering Harmony Arena, but can turn chilling when meting out harsh retribution to the tormented Kid. Moreover, he leaves everyone he encounters in awe with his unwavering confidence. This episode showcases Gatwa at his best yet, displaying star-quality performances.

Next up is Susan. Recently filmed with a surreal quality, featuring Carole Ann Ford, an original star from Doctor Who in 1963 and 64, now in her eighties. After all the confusing clues last year regarding Susan Twist, it’s delightful to see the return of Susan in Doctor Who. She enters the Doctor’s mind and addresses him as “Grandfather”. I must admit that I’ve grown weary of the recurring mystery women in recent productions, but Susan is the original puzzle piece at the inception of Doctor Who. Truly legendary.