Series 1 (2005)
Episode title: Aliens of LondonFeaturing: Ninth Doctor
Companions: Rose Tyler
First shown: 16th April 2005
Related articles: Slitheen, Mickey Smith
Guide: The Doctor decides that it’s time for Rose to go home, and tries to land the TARDIS back in London, 12 hours after they first set off after the Auton attack in Rose (Series 1 : Episode 1). However, after a slight miscalculation, the TARDIS lands 12 months after they first took flight, and as a result Jackie Tyler, Rose’s mum, is distraught with worry after not seeing her daughter for 12 months. Mickey is also upset as he was suspected of murdering Rose for a short time after her disappearance. In the process of arguing, Jackie slaps the Doctor. As Rose gets frustrated at being unable to tell her mother where she’s been or what she’s done since she left, she and the Doctor witness a spaceship crash into Big Ben and land in the River Thames. Everyone becomes excited at witnessing humans first contact with aliens as Central London is shut down to allow the army to take control, but the Doctor suspects foul play is involved. Using the TARDIS, the Doctor goes to the hospital where the alien on board the spaceship is being examined by army medical personnel. However, along with Doctor Sato, the Doctor discovers that the supposed alien is nothing more than an Earth pig that has been modified with alien technology, and works out that the spaceship itself was launched from Earth before its crash.
In Downing Street, the government is unable to locate the Prime Minister in the confusion surrounding the crash, so Joseph Green, MP for Hartley Dale, is drafted in as acting Prime Minster at number 10 Downing Street. However, Green is revealed to be a member of the Slitheen family from Raxacoricofallapatorius, along with other high ranking officials of the UK government, including Margaret Blaine, head of MI5, and Oliver Charles, head of Transport Liaison. During their celebrations of successfully luring in the human race into their made up spaceship crash, they are spied on by government backbencher, Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North.
The Doctor returns to Rose, where Jackie phones the alien hotline to report the Doctor. The Doctor and Rose are arrested and escorted to 10 Downing Street, where the Doctor is asked to join a panel of experts on aliens, which include the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce (UNIT), while Rose is escorted into Downing Street by Harriet Jones.
Harriet informs Rose about the Slitheen, and the pair discovers the dead body of the previous Prime Minister in a cupboard. As they go to reveal the body to everyone, Blaine unzips herself and prepares to kill them both. Downstairs, the Doctor is working to convince the alien experts that the whole crash was faked, but Green simply sends an electrical shock through the assembled group of experts, including the Doctor. The episode ends on this cliff-hanger.
This episode was the first part of a two parter. You can find the episode guide to the second part by clicking here.