Beyond Season 4

The season 4 Episode guide has now got enormous and I've noticed that we're now starting to get entries in it pertaining to the Christmas special, which traditionally we've always considered part of the next season. So I think possibly a new thread to collate the rumours and snippets we are getting about Beyond Season 4 (not sure we can call it season 5 as that is 2010).

The first post is spoiler tagged for plot elements, and the following 9 are spoiler free, so you can keep up with the shape of things to come without learning plot details. I will keep the first post up to date as a reference. But newer posts on the end may not be so well protected.

Here's what we know so far, or is rumoured so far...

General Info about 2008/2009

2009 is a light year for Doctor Who, it was originally announced there would be 3 specials in 2009, but now it appears there may be 4, with the Christmas 2009 possibly being bumped up to two parts. With the lite year taking place David Tennant is able to have a sabbatical to do some Shakespeare. Then at the end of 2009 we should get the start of season 5 production proper with a Christmas Special and a full season following in Spring 2010.

Children in Need 2008

Chances are we will have something for Children in Need this year as November 2008 is the 45th Anniversary of Doctor Who.

4B-00 Christmas Special 2008
Possible plot elements follow in spoiler tags
***SPOILER***

I've heard a possible title of "Ghosts in the Machines" and Cybermen are confirmed as as being involved. There may also be some form of "alternate Cyberman" or "Cyber Wraith" as something robed in black feathers, with a definite "cyber like face" has been seen. The face is bronze with a diamond shaped face and the handles are set at 45 degrees to the vertical, joining to the top of the head.

David Morrisey has been spotted in location filming of this episode, as has Dervla Kirwin (playing Mrs Hartigan, Hartinger or something similar in sound). There is also a rather striking young dark skinned woman with long curly black hair that appears to be a major character, possibly called Rosita.

Cast Trailer Door labels have been spotted bearing the legends "Hot Scottie Tottie" and "The Other Doctor".

The episode appears to be set in Victorian Times around the time of the Great Exhibition in 1851 (a poster can be seen advertising the event). It should be noted that in The Eighth Doctor visited the exhibition in the Big Finsh story "Other Lives".

It would appear the Doctor finally gets real snow at Christmas, albeit faked for filming.

Advertisments for Ironmongers feature in set dressing at more than one location. There is also a poster offer four guineas reward for someone named Emily Price.

Locations used -
***SPOILER***

9-10 Apr - St Woolos Cemetary (as seen in Blink)
14 Apr - Cardiff Maltings (as seen in Gridlock)
16 Apr - Tredegar House (as seen in The Christmas Invasion)
20-23 Apr - Gloucester (Miller's Green, the Cathedral, Berkerley Street)
24-25 Apr - The Shire Hall, Monmouth

4B-01 Mid Year Special 1 2009

Nothing much known about the mid year specials yet.

4B-02 Mid Year Special 2 2009

5-00 Christmas Special 2009

Nothing much known about this yet, though after season 4 wrapped when David Tennant was asked about how long he would be staying in the role he said he's only been asked to do 4 specials and nothing beyond that yet. Well this would be the last of those 4. However, recent announcements indicate there are now 4 episodes in 2009 in addition to the 2008 Christmas Special, so the Christmas Special may be a two parter.

Season 5

Expected to start production part way through 2009, season 5 will be the first season of NuHu without Russell T Davies at the helm, with Steven Moffatt taking over as show runner and Executive Producer.