When the Doctor decides to investigate odd goings-on at an old people’s home, he knows there’s only one person for the job. Unfortunately he’s not available… but his daughter is…

James Goss pens yet another Doctor Who story that encapsulates the era in which it’s set – where emotions and tone can turn on a sixpence, and the most outlandish ideas make perfect sense as the story progresses. Jacqueline King is centre stage as Sylvia Noble, almost with the Doctor as her companion as they try to discover the secret behind some disappearances, with Sylvia’s lack of self-knowledge and very solipsistic (you could even say selfish) view of the world contrasting with the Doctor’s desire to help everyone.

Jacob Dudman’s Tennant is spot-on during this, particularly in the sequences where the Doctor isn’t quite sure what’s going on, and director Helen Goldwyn ensures the pitch of the narration is at the right level, quickening the tempo when required, but ensuring that it feels like it’s helping the listener envisage the scene rather than just describing what’s going on. That particularly applies at one point where it’s the Doctor’s actions that speak rather than his words.

Verdict: It’s back to teatime in 2008 for a great entry in the 10th Doctor annals. 9/10

Paul Simpson