Doctor Who

The War Machines - S3-E10

Factual error: The story "The War Machines" is (probably) set in London in July 1966. At the time, England, and more specifically London, was hosting the F.I.F.A. World Cup Soccer Tournament. But you wouldn't know it from watching this Doctor Who story... Sir Charles Summers mentions July 12th (1966), which was the day after England played Uruguay at Wembley and the day before Mexico played France. The other matches involving those four were played in London during the time the events of "The War Machines" are supposed to take place, but no mention is made of the fact, there are no foreign football supporters roaming the streets and no flags or posters on display. Did the story take place in an "alternate reality" London of July 1966?

The War Machines - S3-E10

Factual error: This story is set in London in 1966 - the Post Office Tower was completed in October 1965). July 12th 1966 was a Saturday, not a Monday.

The War Machines - S3-E10

Plot hole: It is highly unlikely that the discovery of a dead down-and-out's body in an empty warehouse would be reported in a national newspaper, especially as the discovery had to have been made when the newspapers were already being printed.

Galaxy 4 - S3-E1

Plot hole: When Maaga has the Doctor and his crew in her power, why doesn't she demand that they take her off the planet in the TARDIS?

The Gunfighters - S3-E8

Factual error: Billy Claiborne, the only member of the Clanton gang to survive the O.K. Corrall shoot-out, is conspicuous by his total absence in this story. Maybe that's how he survived?

Doctor Who mistake picture

The Gunfighters - S3-E8

Visible crew/equipment: In the fourth part, as the mortally wounded fighter is falling against the back wheel of the cart, the camera is positioned low and its shot is panned upwards, revealing the top of the cyclorama, a large concave backcloth that has been pulled around the studio walls (presumably BBC Studio 1) to give the impression of daylight in these studio-shot but supposedly external scenes.

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 Giants - S2-E1

Trivia: This Doctor Who story was originally scripted and produced as a four-episode story, but, just two weeks before transmission, upon viewing the story, co-creators Sydney Newman and Donald Wilson felt that the final two episodes (Episode 3, 'Crisis'; and Episode 4, 'The Urge to Live') should be combined into a single episode. The new 'condensed' episode incorporated the opening titles of 'Crisis' with the closing credits of 'The Urge to Live'.

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.