James Corden you will pay for your crimes one day

A marvellous bottle episode, as many of the best Doctor Who stories are. There’s a genuine heart to the story. A normal man and woman who are clumsily failing to fall in love, then an extraordinary man, The Doctor, clumsily failing to act like a human. Mixed together this makes a sweet combination, and without any companions for most of the episode, Matt Smith is given an opportunity to truly shine.

I am one of those people who can’t stand James Corden, but I have always acknowledged what an excellent actor he is. I wish he did more acting and less… everything else. Matt and James make a good double act. You can see why they were tempted by a sequel!

Gareth Roberts (another man with an unpleasant offscreen presents) delivers what is by far his best script so far, and given he’ll almost certainly never be employed again, I suspect this will always stand out as his best contribution to the main show.

It’s funny and sweet, which after the weight of Vincent and the Doctor and before the gravitas of a two-part finale, is what the show needs.