Season 39 (Doctor Who)

Season 39 aired between 31 August 2002 and 30 November 2002. It contained eight stories, making up thirteen 45-minute episodes. It was the first season to be produced by Bill Shapter and script edited by Russell T Davies. It was also the second season of Richard E. Grant's run as The Tenth Doctor. Anna Hope was introduced and featured in this season as a new companion, Commander Sandra Armstrong.

A new era
Very few elements remained from the previous season; the only two being Richard E. Grant continuing as the Doctor and David Renwick as executive producer. Everything else, both in front and behind the cameras was a departure from recent years. Firstly, a new producer under sci-fi fanatic and experienced producer Bill Shapter as well as script editor, recurring writer Russell T Davies. Along with Renwick, the three devised this season to be completely radical and introduce a new style to the show. The main plan was for there to be a lot more sci-fi, thus came the idea of recurring alien races and planets.

Initial plans
Several changes took place during development of the season. Firstly, Sandra Armstrong was initially going to be played by Caroline Quentin, but was later recast having struggled with prosthetics during screen tests, with Anna Hope officially bagging the role shortly afterwards. Nicholas Meyer was also suggested to have been the script editor for the season during development, although he later declined to take on the full-time job, to which it was given to Russell T Davies.

Commanders of the future
This season is notable for introducing two new alien species, The Bellonsions and The Poplne, both of which recurred many times in the following years. It also introduced Do'nel, Bellonsion soldier played by Tucker Smallwood. He later became a recurring character in Seasons 41-43 of the show, series 1 and 2 of its spinoff Panopticon and the main character of another spinoff Rebel Zero. More importantly, the traits of these species were based on the new companion, Commander Sandra Armstrong from the year 3445, half-Bellonsion, half-human.

The season started a story arc of the war between Bellonsions and Poplne, in which the Doctor became involved by intervening on Space Station Exotract 42. However, as the season goes, it becomes less prominent although they appear to have more significance in the future.

In mid-2001, The Sun rumoured that Lou Madison would return as a companion, which was debunked by BBC a few months later.

Regular

 * The Doctor - Richard E. Grant
 * Sandra Armstrong - Anna Hope

Recurring

 * Do'nel - Tucker Smallwood
 * Duo Famsar - Alexander Balie
 * Duo Deathtrick - Alan Dale
 * Father Billard - William Bleach

Guest

 * Lieutenant Commander Jaszal - Donnelly Rhodes
 * Joseph Wirth - David Warner
 * Saddek-Danny John-Jules
 * Jaina Armstrong - Penelope Wilton
 * Kor - Alexander Siddig
 * Nacaof - Mark Gatiss
 * The General - Malcolm McDowell
 * Voice of Computers - Elisabeth Sladen

Home Media
To be added