Doctor Who

The Ark in Space - S12-E2

Continuity mistake: When the Doctor and Harry arrive in the cryogenic chamber, they walk around for some time inspecting the chamber and talking. Towards the end, they notice a green slime trail newly appeared on the floor. But the trail was visible in the very first overhead shot of the chamber.

Robot - S12-E1

Revealing mistake: Perhaps criticizing the special effects is unfair, but the extremely obvious use of toy tanks and a rag-doll Sarah in certain scenes is one of the worst examples in the history of the show.

Genesis of the Daleks - S12-E4

Continuity mistake: In episode 6, when the lead Dalek is saying 'Pity? I have no understanding of the word' the lights on the top of its dome stop working. They start working again in the following shot. (00:21:00)

Daz

Genesis of the Daleks - S12-E4

Continuity mistake: When Sarah falls from the scaffolding, a plank of wood saves her from death. Trouble is, she fell a foot from the outside of the scaffolding and most of the plank was inside the scaffolding, therefore her feet would have hit it and she could only have landed with her head pointing inwards. But when we see her, her head is pointing outwards. (00:01:25)

Daz

Robot - S12-E1

Continuity mistake: At one point in the story, the Doctor hurriedly types out a letter to leave for the Brigadier and Sarah Jane, and pins it to the TARDIS. Later when Sarah Jane reads the note, you can see it's been handwritten.

Robot - S12-E1

Plot hole: The linchpin of the plot makes no sense whatsoever. In an effort to diffuse international tension, the superpowers would allow Britain to publish the codes that would allow anyone in the world to launch their nuclear missiles? And then, after going through the drama of not one but two countdowns, it's revealed that the superpowers can just activate safety over-rides to prevent the launch. So how in Hades did the SRS have any threat whatsoever to wield over them and issue their demands?

Genesis of the Daleks - S12-E4

Revealing mistake: During the Doctor's early conversation with the Time Lord, there is fog swirling around them. When the Doctor agrees to take on the mission, it suddenly appears very concentrated around the tip of the rocks behind them, as if generated from a source behind the rocks. Normal fog would not do this, and it's clear that dry ice was used as the fog effect (DVD commentary confirms this). (00:02:45)

Daz

The Ark in Space - S12-E2

Revealing mistake: As the cast move through the transom of the space station, observe the starscape through the lower windows. At certain points you can see a thin strip of light where the black curtain used for the stellar backdrop meets the studio floor.

Robot - S12-E1

Audio problem: When the Doctor chops a brick in half, you can tell that the brick is really made from balsa wood by listening to the sound it makes when it hits the ground.

Revenge of the Cybermen - S12-E5

Plot hole: The Vogans live on a planet made of gold. They helped develop the gold weapons that defeated the Cybermen. They know the Cybermen are coming and live in a state of paranoia about that eventuality. So why in the world do they attack the Cybermen with useless projectile weapons instead of "glitter guns" or some other gold-based weapon?

Doctor Who mistake picture

Genesis of the Daleks - S12-E4

Deliberate mistake: Chief of Security Nyder wears an iron cross on his uniform which mysteriously disappears in episode 3 - apparently the producers felt it was too close a reference to Nazism so it was removed from the show. (Source: DVD commentary).

Daz

Revenge of the Cybermen - S12-E5

Continuity mistake: The use of gold against the Cybermen is wildly inconsistent in this episode. It is said that it suffocates them. Yet Cyberman have been seen functioning perfectly in vacuum ("The Moonbase" and "The Wheel in Space"), it affects the Cybermats, who are little more than metal drones, and it affects the Cybermen's radar, which does not breathe.

Terror of the Zygons - S13-E1

The Doctor: You can't rule the world in hiding. You've got to come out on the balcony sometimes and wave a tentacle, if you pardon the expression.

More quotes from Doctor Who

Planet of the Spiders - S11-E5

Trivia: The first thing the Third Doctor does on-screen is collapse out of the TARDIS, which is also the last thing he does in that incarnation.

More trivia for Doctor Who

Earthshock - S19-E6

Question: In Earthshock, season 19, at the end of episode 3, the Cyber Leader views his troops marching down the corridor. Each column is headed by a Cyber Leader. Is this a mistake, or is there more than one Cyber Leader allowed per army?

Answer: In 'The Five Doctors', three separate Cyberleaders are definitely used. So it's likely that Cyberleaders are like unit commanders, of which a fair-sized army might have several.

Daria Sigma

More questions & answers from Doctor Who

Join the mailing list

Separate from membership, this is to get updates about mistakes in recent releases. Addresses are not passed on to any third party, and are used solely for direct communication from this site. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Check out the mistake & trivia books, on Kindle and in paperback.