The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (2013) Plot Summary Explained

Davison deletes Russell T Davies' voicemail because he recognizes an opportunity to keep his secret plan contained. Russell T Davies, the former Doctor Who executive producer, was calling to offer his help and ask for a part in Davison's scheme. However, Davison likely wanted to avoid involving another former producer who might complicate the already risky plan or leak information to Steven Moffat. This moment underscores the secretive and improvised nature of the former Doctors' mission to appear in the 50th anniversary special.

• russell t davies
• peter davison
• voicemail
• deleted
• doctor who production

They infiltrate Roath Lock Studios with help from David Tennant, who is Davison's son-in-law and serves as the inside contact. Tennant provides them access to observe filming of The Day of the Doctor. The three former Doctors enter the Doctor Who Experience, retrieve their old costumes, then use Tennant's connections to sneak into the studio lot. Once inside, they take the place of three Dalek operators after locking the real operators in their room, allowing them to observe the filming firsthand.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Davison mentions having a contact who could help with the plan, which turns out to be Tennant.

• david tennant
• roath lock studios
• infiltration
• costumes
• daleks

John Barrowman, while passing by the BBC Television Centre, spots the three former Doctors picketing outside and decides to help them. In a comedic twist, he abandons his secret wife and children to chauffeur the trio to Cardiff, where Doctor Who's production is centered. The film presents this as a humorous, exaggerated moment that fits the whimsical tone, Barrowman is portrayed as so enthusiastic about helping the Doctors that he dramatically leaves his family behind without hesitation.

• john barrowman
• cardiff
• bbc television centre
• picketing
• doctor who production

Steven Moffat deletes the scene featuring the three former Doctors operating Daleks because he did not want the classic Doctors to appear in the 50th anniversary special. This aligns with the running joke throughout the film that the current production team, led by Moffat, is actively avoiding including the older actors. However, the editor discovers footage from the Under Gallery sequence showing the former Doctors hiding under shrouds to evade guards, and he chooses to keep this hidden from Moffat to ensure they ultimately appear in the final cut.

Foreshadowing: The film's earlier tension builds from the repeated rejections the former Doctors face from Moffat.

• steven moffat
• dalek scene
• post-production
• deleted
• editor
• under gallery

Sylvester McCoy leaves The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey production in New Zealand because he grows bored with the waiting involved in film acting. Despite being part of a major Hollywood production, the downtime prompts him to abandon the shoot and return to England to join Peter Davison and Colin Baker in their plan to infiltrate the Doctor Who 50th anniversary special. The film treats this as a comedic exaggeration of an actor's impatience, with Ian McKellen even telling director Peter Jackson that McCoy's absence might be "a slight improvement."

• sylvester mccoy
• the hobbit
• new zealand
• ian mckellen
• peter jackson

Tom Baker, the Fourth Doctor, is referenced but never actually appears in person. When the former Doctors consider bringing him into their plan, they discover through his voicemail that he is once again stuck in the Time Vortex, a reference to his famous catchphrase "It's a total stranger!" This comedic explanation serves as a convenient plot device to explain why Tom Baker cannot join their scheme, adding another layer of Doctor Who lore humor to the film.

• tom baker
• time vortex
• fourth doctor
• voicemail
• doctor who lore

The former Doctors picket outside the BBC Television Centre as a desperate scheme to gain attention from the production team. Since their calls to Steven Moffat are being ignored and their voicemails deleted, they hope that public pressure through picketing might force the production to include them in the 50th anniversary special. The plan is short-lived when John Barrowman happens to pass by and offers to drive them to Cardiff instead.

• picket
• bbc television centre
• protest
• steven moffat
• former doctors

After swapping places with Dalek operators and narrowly avoiding security guards, the former Doctors hide back on the Doctor Who set to avoid detection. They manage to escape by catching a bus back to London, completing their covert mission without being officially caught or identified by the production team. Their successful escape allows them to avoid consequences while still achieving their goal of observing the filming firsthand.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, they lock the real Dalek operators in their room, which creates a tense moment when security approaches.

• escape
• security
• roath lock studios
• dalek operators
• bus

The Under Gallery sequence is footage from the actual Doctor Who 50th anniversary special where the Doctors hide under shrouds to evade Weeping Angels or similar creatures. In the film's meta-narrative, the editor reviewing footage notices that the three former Doctors are visible in this scene, hiding under shrouds to avoid guards. Realizing this would reveal their presence, the editor deliberately conceals this footage from Steven Moffat, ensuring the former Doctors appear in the final cut of The Day of the Doctor.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, the former Doctors hide under shrouds on set to avoid security guards.

• under gallery
• editor
• hidden footage
• steven moffat
• the day of the doctor

David Tennant helps the former Doctors because he is Peter Davison's son-in-law, married to Tennant's real-life wife Georgia. This family connection makes him the perfect inside contact for their scheme. Tennant provides crucial assistance by allowing them access to Roath Lock Studios and enabling them to observe the filming of The Day of the Doctor. His involvement is kept secret from Steven Moffat and the rest of the production team throughout the film.

• david tennant
• peter davison
• son-in-law
• inside contact
• cardiff production

The former Doctors, Peter Davison, Colin Baker, and Sylvester McCoy, are desperate to be included in the 50th anniversary special because it represents a historic celebration of Doctor Who's legacy. Watching the 2012 Christmas episode "The Snowmen" with his sons sparks Davison's desire to be part of this milestone. Their desperation is amplified by the fear that the production team only wants the two most recent Doctors (David Tennant and Matt Smith), leading them to take increasingly drastic measures to ensure they aren't left out of the celebration.

• 50th anniversary
• desperation
• former doctors
• david tennant
• matt smith
• special

Steven Moffat ignores the former Doctors' calls and deletes their voicemails because, as the film's comedic premise suggests, he does not want them to appear in the 50th anniversary special. The production team, led by Moffat, is portrayed as preferring to focus on the modern era of Doctor Who with Tennant and Smith rather than including the classic series actors. This rejection drives the former Doctors to resort to increasingly desperate and comedic measures to sneak into the production.

Foreshadowing: Davison's nightmare features Janet Fielding warning him that the production team doesn't want the old Doctors back.

• steven moffat
• rejected
• calls
• voicemail
• production team
• former doctors