The world of Finetime seems happy and harmonious but an awful terror is preying on the citizens. Can the Doctor and Ruby make them see the truth before it’s too late?

This is not the episode I expected from the synopsis, and is much better for it. On the surface, it looked like it was going to be a cautionary Black Mirror-style cautionary tale about the perils of technology, but it ends up being much more than that, proving to be Russell T Davies’ best script this year.

Lindy Pepper-Bean is one of those self-obsessed and entitled members of Gen Z, that lives in their own little bubble. She’s wonderfully brought to life in a performance by Callie Cooke that initially engenders your sympathy when her friends start being devoured by carnivorous seven-foot-ball slugs… but then other stuff happens.

It’s another Doctor-light episode and coming right after 73 Yards in the scheduling means that the new Doctor has been largely absent for two shows. Not that he’s missed too much, as Cooke does all the heavy lifting and running away from the slimy beasts. But it’s the ending that the show will be best remembered for, and I’ll say no more, other than bravo – what an unexpected punch to the gut .

Verdict: An unexpected contender for one of the best episodes this year, proving that this 60-year-old show still has the power to catch you off guard. 9/10

Nick Joy