Trivia / Doctor Who S27 E8 "Father's Day"

---

• Creator's Favourite Episode: Billie Piper named this as her favourite episode.
• Dawson Casting: Camille Coduri still plays Jackie in her twenties.
• Executive Meddling: The story originally didn't have any monsters in it. The Reapers were suggested by the higher-ups.
• Never Work with Children or Animals: Billie Piper was scared of holding the baby.
• Recycled Set: The set of the Tylers' flat was redressed for the time period.
• Similarly Named Works: There are also episodes of Ma Fille, Phineas and Ferb, and Superman: The Animated Series titled "Father's Day".
• What Could Have Been:
  • Simon Pegg was originally cast as Pete Tyler. Because of scheduling conflicts, he chose the role of the Editor in "The Long Game".
  • The Reapers were supposed to have a more traditionally Grim Reaper-like look, but it was thought too similar to costumes in "The End of the World". There was also some questioning on whether the creatures should be more animalistic or even fly, which resulted in the final product.
  • Christopher Eccleston's father was undergoing surgery at the time of filming, with the actor travelling back and forth between the set and hospital. An alternative version in case Eccleston had to take time off would have seen the Doctor taken out of the action much sooner, communicating with Rose as a disembodied voice.
  • One scene excised from the script would have featured younger versions of Jackie's Chinese neighbours, Bau and Ru, who had appeared in "Aliens of London".
  • The Doctor opening the TARDIS doors and discovering just a police box interior was supposed to fall apart, but it was thought as too expensive.
  • Pete was going to take a swig of wine before sacrificing himself, but a connection between alcohol and bravery was not thought to be a positive message.
• Working Title: Wounded Time.
• Write Who You Know: Paul Cornell stated that Pete Tyler was based on his own father, who worked several jobs before finding success with a betting shop. One of Pete's lines "I'm your dad, it's my job for it to be my fault" is something Cornell’s father once said to him.

---