Programme Index

An in-depth look behind the scenes of this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special, featuring interviews with Matt Smith, Michael Gambon, Katherine Jenkins and writer Steven Moffat. Show more

Contributors

The Doctor:: Matt Smith
Kazran Sardick:: Michael Gambon
Abigail:: Katherine Jenkins
Participant:: Steven Moffat
Producer:: Zoe Rushton
Series Producer:: Gillane Seaborne

Doctor Who (2005–2022)

A Christmas Carol

Duration: 1 hour, 2 minutes

Audio described

Signed

First broadcast: Sat 25^th Dec 2010, 18:00 on BBC One HDLatest broadcast: Sun 30^th Nov 2014, 20:00 on BBC Three HD

Available for years

Festive edition of the time-travelling drama. The Doctor has one hour to save a crashing spaceship and a miser's soul - but what lurks in the fog? Show more

Contributors

The Doctor:: Matt Smith
Amy Pond:: Karen Gillan
Rory:: Arthur Darvill
Kazran/Elliot Sardick:: Michael Gambon
Abigail:: Katherine Jenkins
Young Kazran:: Laurence Belcher
Adult Kazran:: Danny Horn
Captain:: Pooky Quesnel
Pilot:: Leo Bill
Co-Pilot:: Micah Balfour
Old Benjamin:: Steve North
Boy & Benjamin:: Bailey Pepper
Servant:: Tim Plester
Eric:: Nick Malinowski
Isabella:: Laura Rogers
Producer:: Sanne Wohlenberg
Writer:: Steven Moffat
Director:: Toby Haynes

Genres

DramaSciFi & Fantasy

Brand

Doctor Who (2005–2022)

The Singing Detective

Episode 2: Heat

Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes

First broadcast: Sun 23^rd Nov 1986, 21:10 on BBC One WestLatest broadcast: Thu 28^th Dec 2023, 00:00 on BBC Four

Available for 6 months

Dennis Potter's drama about a patient struggling to keep his sanity, with the help of his alter ego, the singing private eye. Marlow faces a talking cure with a psychologist. Show more

Contributors

Philip Marlow:: Michael Gambon
Mark Binney:: Patrick Malahide
Nurse Mills:: Joanne Whalley
Staff Nurse White:: Imelda Staunton
Mr Tomkey:: Leslie French
Nicola:: Janet Suzman
Mrs Marlow:: Alison Steadman
Dr Gibbon:: Bill Paterson
Mr Hall:: David Ryall
Reginald:: Gerard Horan
Mr Marlow:: Jim Carter
First Mysterious Man:: Ron Cook
Second Mysterious Man:: George Rossi
Night Nurse:: Sharon D Clarke
Dr Finlay:: Simon Chandler
George Adams:: Charles Simon
Registrar:: Thomas Wheatley
Porter:: Geff Francis
Sister Malone:: Mary MacLeod
Schoolteacher:: Janet Henfrey
Philip (aged 10):: Lyndon Davies
Grancher:: Richard Butler
Barman:: Trevor Cooper
Writer:: Dennis Potter
Director:: Jon Amiel
Producer:: John Harris
Producer:: Kenith Trodd

Genres

Series

The Singing Detective

Episode 3: Lovely Days

Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes

First broadcast: Sun 30^th Nov 1986, 21:00 on BBC One WestLatest broadcast: Thu 28^th Dec 2023, 01:10 on BBC Four

Available for 6 months

Dennis Potter's drama serial with music. Marlow thinks back to the war when he was a little boy and remembers seeing his mother having illicit sex in the Forest of Dean. Show more

Contributors

Philip Marlow:: Michael Gambon
Mark Binney:: Patrick Malahide
Nurse Mills:: Joanne Whalley
Staff Nurse White:: Imelda Staunton
Mr Tomkey:: Leslie French
Nicola:: Janet Suzman
Mrs Marlow/Lili:: Alison Steadman
Dr Gibbon:: Bill Paterson
Mr Hall:: David Ryall
Reginald:: Gerard Horan
Mr Marlow:: Jim Carter
First Mysterious Man:: Ron Cook
Second Mysterious Man:: George Rossi
Night Nurse:: Sharon D Clarke
Dr Finlay:: Simon Chandler
George Adams:: Charles Simon
Porter:: Geff Francis
Mary:: Angela Curran
Schoolteacher:: Janet Henfrey
Philip (aged 10):: Lyndon Davies
Uncle John:: Ken Stott
Cloth Cap:: Trevor Cooper
Aunt Emily:: Jo Cameron Brown
Writer:: Dennis Potter
Director:: Jon Amiel
Producer:: Kenith Trodd

Genres

Series

The Singing Detective

Episode 5: Pitter Patter

Duration: 1 hour

First broadcast: Sun 14^th Dec 1986, 21:25 on BBC One WestLatest broadcast: Fri 29^th Dec 2023, 00:15 on BBC Four

Available for 6 months

Dennis Potter's surreal drama with music. Marlow is getting better and the different strands of his fiction and reality begin to occupy the same time and place. Show more

Contributors

Philip Marlow:: Michael Gambon
Binney/Finney/Raymond:: Patrick Malahide
Nurse Mills:: Joanne Whalley
Mr Tomkey:: Leslie French
Writer:: Dennis Potter
Director:: Jon Amiel
Producer:: Kenith Trodd
Nicola:: Janet Suzman
Mrs Marlow:: Alison Steadman
Mr Hall:: David Ryall
Reginald:: Gerard Horan
Mr Marlow:: Jim Carter
First Mysterious Man:: Ron Cook
Second Mysterious Man:: George Rossi
Staff Nurse White:: Imelda Staunton
Schoolteacher:: Janet Henfrey
Young Philip:: Lyndon Davies
Sonia:: Kate McKenzie
Dr Gibbon:: Bill Paterson
Dance hall drummer:: John Sheraton
Mark Binney:: William Speakman

Genres

Series

The Singing Detective

Episode 1: Skin

Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes

First broadcast: Sun 16^th Nov 1986, 21:10 on BBC One WestLatest broadcast: Wed 27^th Dec 2023, 22:50 on BBC Four

Available for 6 months

Dennis Potter's classic drama serial with music about pulp thriller writer Philip Marlow, in hospital with psoriasis, tormented by his past and threatened by his future. Show more

Contributors

Philip Marlow:: Michael Gambon
Mark Binney:: Patrick Malahide
Nurse Mills:: Joanne Whalley
Staff Nurse White:: Imelda Staunton
Mr Tomkey:: Leslie French
Writer:: Dennis Potter
Director:: Jon Amiel

Genres

Series

The Singing Detective

Episode 4: Clues

Duration: 1 hour, 10 minutes

First broadcast: Sun 7^th Dec 1986, 21:05 on BBC One WestLatest broadcast: Thu 28^th Dec 2023, 02:15 on BBC Four

Available for 6 months

Dennis Potter's classic drama serial with music. Marlow as a child visits London, but is not impressed. A film option on Marlow's novel thickens the plot. Show more

Contributors

Philip Marlow:: Michael Gambon
Mark Binney:: Patrick Malahide
Nurse Mills:: Joanne Whalley
Mr Tomkey:: Leslie French
Writer:: Dennis Potter
Director:: Jon Amiel
Producer:: John Harris
Nicola:: Janet Suzman
Mrs Marlow:: Alison Steadman
Mr Hall:: David Ryall
Reginald:: Gerard Horan
Mr Marlow:: Jim Carter
First Mysterious Man:: Ron Cook
Second Mysterious Man:: George Rossi
George Adams:: Charles Simon
Schoolteacher:: Janet Henfrey
Philip (aged 10):: Lyndon Davies
Grandad Baxter:: Wally Thomas

Genres

Series

The Singing Detective

Episode 6: Who Done It

Duration: 1 hour, 15 minutes

First broadcast: Sun 21^st Dec 1986, 21:10 on BBC One WestLatest broadcast: Fri 29^th Dec 2023, 01:15 on BBC Four

Available for 6 months

In the final part of Dennis Potter's classic drama serial with music, as fiction and fact fight for the same space, the plots and narratives head to their conclusions. Show more

Contributors

Philip Marlow:: Michael Gambon
Mark Binney:: Patrick Malahide
Nurse Mills:: Joanne Whalley
Mr Tomkey:: Leslie French
Writer:: Dennis Potter
Director:: Jon Amiel
Producer:: Kenith Trodd
Nicola:: Janet Suzman
Mrs Marlow:: Alison Steadman
Mr Hall:: David Ryall
Reginald:: Gerard Horan
Mr Marlow:: Jim Carter
First Mysterious Man:: Ron Cook
Second Mysterious Man:: George Rossi
Staff Nurse White:: Imelda Staunton
Schoolteacher:: Janet Henfrey
Philip (aged 10):: Lyndon Davies
Barbara:: Sam Bryant
Dr Gibbon:: Bill Paterson
Mark Binney (aged 10):: William Speakman
Night Nurse:: Sharon D Clarke
First Soldier:: Niven Boyd
Second Soldier:: David Thewlis
Physiotherapist:: Tricia George
Policeman:: Malcolm Storry
Porter:: Geff Francis

Genres

Series

Desert Island Discs

Michael Gambon

BBC Radio 4

Duration: 40 minutes

First broadcast: Sun 24^th Apr 1988, 12:15 on BBC Radio 4 FMLatest broadcast: Fri 29^th Apr 1988, 09:05 on BBC Radio 4 LW

Available for over a year

Listen now

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor Sir Michael Gambon, in a programme first broadcast in 1988. Michael died in September 2023, aged 82. Show more

Contributors

Presenter:: Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest:: Michael Gambon

Genres

Brand

Desert Island Discs