42

Information

Writer: Chris Chibnall
Director: Graeme Harper
Script Editor: Simon Winstone
Producer: Phil Collinson
Executive Producer(s): Russell T. Davies, Julie Gardner

Originally Broadcast: 19th May 2007
Duration: 45 mins
Viewing Figures (in millions): 7.41m
Production Code: 3.7
Monsters/Villains: Sun-Possessed
Year Set: 42nd Century
Location: SS Pentallian, Torajii System


Synopsis

In a distant galaxy, a spaceship hurtles out of control towards a boiling sun with the Doctor and Martha trapped on board, as Russell T Davies's Doctor Who continues.

They've only got 42 minutes to uncover the saboteurs, but, with a mysterious force starting to possess the ship's crew, the Doctor is running out of time.


Cast

David Tennant – The Doctor

Freema Agyeman – Martha Jones

Adjoa Andoh – Francine Jones

Michelle Collins – Kath McDonnell

William Ash – Riley Vashtee

Anthony Flanagan – Orin Scannell

Matthew Chambers – Korwin

Vinette Robinson – Abi Lerner

Gary Powell – Dev Ashton

Rebecca Oldfield – Erina Lessak

Elize du Toit – Sinister Woman

Joshua Hill – Voice of countdown

Monster File: Sun-Possessed

Home Planet: Earth
Life Form: Human

On the SS Pentallian, the crew scooped out the sun's heart and used it as fuel. It was so furious that it possessed a crew member called Korwin McDonnell and gave them 42 minutes to fix what they had done. Korwin had the power of the sun inside him and could burn people by opening his eyes, while looking at them. He first killed Abi Learner and then Erina Lessak. He then found his best friend, Ashton, and turned him into a Sun Possessed by grabbing onto him. Ashton launched an escape pod with Martha and Riley Vashtee inside. Korwin was about to kill his wife, Kath McDonnell, until Orin Scannell froze him. As Ashton was about to burn the Doctor, he felt the pain of Korwin and walked on. The Doctor took a spacesuit and climbed outside of the SS Pentallian and magnetised the escape pod but it wasn't long until the sun possessed him too. Kath froze Ashton and killed him, but Korwin continued to move. The Doctor was brought to the stasis chamber by Martha and Kath and was frozen, but Korwin turned off the power. Kath sacrificed herself to kill Korwin and they hurtled towards the sun. Riley, Martha and Orin dumped the fuel and the Doctor turned to normal and the SS Pentallian flew away from the sun.

Preceded by: The Lazarus Experiment - Followed by: Human Nature