Season 38 (Doctor Who)

Season 38
Doctor	Tenth Doctor
Companion(s)	Sammy Thompson Lou Madison
Key Crew
Showrunner(s)	David Renwick Steven Moffat
Executive Producer(s)	David Renwick
Producer(s)	Sue Vertue
Script Editor	Steven Moffat
Series Details
Start Date	22 September 2001
End Date	15 December 2001
Premier Network	BBC One
Format	13x45 minute episodes
← Previous	Season 37
Next →	Season 39

The following article is written from an Out of Universe perspective.

Season 38 aired between 22 September 2001 and 15 December 2001. It starred Richard E. Grant in his first season as The Doctor with Laurie Holden as Sammy Thompson who departed at the end of the first story, and Gillian Kearney as Lou Madison who left at the end of the season.

Overview

Doctor Number Ten

This season was significant for being the first to feature Richard E. Grant as The Doctor, now in his tenth incarnation. In contrast to some of the more recent iterations of the Doctor, his version would be more light-hearted whilst also retaining the coldness as this would play out throughout his era.

Parting friends

There were significant rumours at first that Sammy Thompson may not appear throughout the entire season. The BBC later confirmed that Sammy would depart at the end of the first story for 'realistic reasons', showing how regeneration can be unexpected among the Doctor's companions and the consequences. Gillian Kearney also revealed for Season 38 to be her last as well, but unlike Laurie Holden, she would stay on throughout and leave in the final story.

Additionally behind the scenes, Sue Vertue and Steven Moffat announced that Season 38 would also be their last in charge. On the other hand, executive producer David Renwick remained on and would continue.

Stories

The main events included the debut of Leftover to the show as well as the return of the Weeping Angels, The Rani, The Rogue and the Daleks as well as: an alien race feeding on the past, Queen Victoria and an invasion in New York.

Small tweaks

As there was a new Doctor, it was expected for the title sequence to change. But instead of making a whole new title sequence, it had been slightly revamped to save money as well as fans still warming to the titles introduced in Season 35. The minor changes included the space dust background recoloured to a brown-yellow styled look which gave the show a more age feel which was what Vertue and Renwick were looking for. Obvious other changes included Grant's name and face included.

Cast

Regular

• The Doctor - Richard E. Grant
• Sammy Thompson - Laurie Holden
• Lou Madison - Gillian Kearney

Recurring

• The Rogue - Derek Jacobi
• The Rani - Kate O'Mara

Guest

To be added.

Television Stories

Main Season

Serial	#	Title	Writer	Director	Air Date
1	1	Night of the Angels	Steven Moffat	Hettie MacDonald	22 September 2001
	2				29 September 2001
	3				6 October 2001
2	4	The Dance of the Devil	Terrance Dicks	Julie Edwards	13 October 2001
3	5	Metamorphosis	Russell T Davies		20 October 2001
4	6	Invaders from Mars	Mark Gatiss	Euros Lyn	27 October 2001
	7				3 November 2001
5	8	State of Change	Christopher Bulis	Joe Ahearne	10 November 2001
	9				17 November 2001
6	10	Rogue Who	Nicholas Meyer		24 November 2001
7	11	The Time of the Daleks	Justin Richards	David Tucker	1 December 2001
	12				8 December 2001
	13				15 December 2001

Mini-Episode

Title	Writer	Director	Air Date
WhoEnders	Colin Brake	Sue Dunderdale	16 November 2001

Home Media

To be added