The Doctor and Ruby land in 1813, where guests at a duchess’s party are being murdered and a mysterious bounty hunter called Rogue is about to change the Doctor’s life forever.

Was ever there an episode of Doctor Who where the plot could be summarised so simply? It’s the Doctor does Bridgerton! But Kate Herron and Briony Redman’s tale of Regency scandals and love isn’t just saying ‘It’s like Bridgerton, because of the setting’, the popular Netflix drama actually informs the actions of the episode’s baddies.

We find the Doctor and Ruby living their best lives, attending the Duchess’ (Indira Varma, Obi-Wan) society ball in Bath, where they spot the dashing Rogue (Jonathan Groff, Frozen). Meanwhile, party members are being replicated by avian shapeshifters.

It’s a fun 45 minutes, and after two Doctor-light episodes it’s a treat to have Ncuti back centre stage and having a ball (literally). The spark between his character and that of Rogue is palpable, so much so that the Doctor is temporarily distracted from his wider responsibilities, leading to some unexpected twists and significant decisions with big consequences.

This is the sort of prestige episode where the bigger budget allows the use of impressive locations, a large supporting cast, some beautiful costumes and great guest leads. Indira Varma is a hoot as the leader of the spiteful Chulder, a gathering of nasty creatures that put me in mind of the Family of Blood, while Jonathan Groff’s Rogue feels like an instant classic, and I hope we see him again.

Verdict: A welcome spotlight on the Doctor and a chance for him to experience some temporary joy before the coming storm. 9/10

Nick Joy