DOCTOR WHO IN DETAIL

Christmas Eve: Earth is waiting for the landing of British probe Guinevere One on Mars. Meanwhile, back on the Powell Estate both Jackie and Mickey hear the unique sound of the TARDIS materialising, and rush out into the estate to find it. Instead of the usual materialisation the TARDIS appears in mid air and, after hitting several buildings, skids to a halt near some rubbish bins. A strange man, wearing familiar clothes, who seems to know Jackie and Mickey, appears. He manages to wish them merry Christmas before collapsing.

Rose tells them that this stranger is the Doctor. Together they manage to get the Doctor into a spare bed (and spare set of pyjamas) in Jackie's flat. The Doctor's hearts are still beating, but he is unconscious.

While the Doctor is recovering Rose and Mickey head into town for last minute Christmas shopping. Mickey is fed up of hearing about the Doctor, and says somehow the Doctor always gets between them. Now the Doctor is out of the way he can have time with Rose - until they are attacked by musical Santas.

They make it back to Jackie's flat where Rose notices a new Christmas tree. Jackie assumed it was a present from Rose, and all three take cover as it comes alive. They run into the Doctor's room with the tree following, destroying the flat as it goes. Rose hands the Doctor the sonic screwdriver and asks for help. He recovers and activates the sonic screwdriver, destroying the tree.

The Doctor says that the Santas and the tree are 'pilot fish', before collapsing again. Mickey looks up pilot fish on the Internet and discovers that they are precursors to something much larger...

Across London the Guinevere One project are anxiously awaiting photographs of the Martian surface. However Guinevere One has been sucked inside a huge asteroid shaped spacecraft. The images received by Earth are not of Mars but of an alien race with sets Earth on alert, drawing the new Prime Minister, Harriet Jones, to UNIT headquarters. Using translation software the aliens' intention becomes clearer: they are the Sycorax and they have come to enslave the population of Earth. To demonstrate this they activate a device, and around 1/3 of the Earth's population sets off to find the highest point they can. Meanwhile, Harriet and other UNIT personnel are transported to the Sycorax ship.

Inside Jackie's flat Rose has no idea what to do, and says that they should all get in the TARDIS where they would be safe. It takes time, but eventually Mickey and Rose manage to get the Doctor in the TARDIS whilst Jackie, being more practical, decides to bring food and drink.

Whilst Harriet is trying to talk the Sycorax, the Sycorax detect the TARDIS and think that Harriet has been hiding things. The TARDIS is also transported to the ship.

Rose, wondering where her Mum is, leaves the TARDIS, and finds herself on the Sycorax ship. Her cry alerts Mickey, who rushes out, spilling a flash of tea.

Because she came out of the TARDIS the Sycorax leader says that Rose will speak for Earth. She starts making up a declaration using knowledge she has gained on her travels. The Sycroax think this is funny, and continue to call for the surrender of Earth. Things are not looking good, until the Sycorax starts speaking in English. The TARDIS had not been translating because the Doctor was unconscious, which meant...

Appearing in the TARDIS doorway is the Doctor. He knows he is the Doctor, but he does not know what kind of a person he is, or is going to be. He sees the Sycorax device that is controlling people on Earth using blood control. He calls their bluff, and presses a huge, tempting, red button, freeing the humans.

The Doctor the challenges the Sycorax leader to a sword fight - the winner gets Earth. The battle begins, and spills out onto the exterior of the ship. During the battle the Doctor loses a hand - but because he is still within fifteen hours of the regeneration the hand grows back. When Rose throws him a new sword he gets the upper hand. As the victor the Doctor orders the Sycorax to leave, which they agree to do. As the Doctor turns round the leader tries to charge at him. There is fruit in the Doctor's dressing gown, and he throws an orange which rebounds and unbalances the leader, who plummets of the side of the ship.

The remaining Sycorax send the Doctor, the TARDIS, and any humans back to Earth before leaving. As the Doctor watches a huge beam emits from Earth and destroys the ship. The mysterious Torchwood organisation had been contacted previously by Harriet Jones, and they had fired on the ship. The Doctor is furious. The Doctor turns to her aide and suggests she is looking tired. Later she faces a vote of no confidence...

During Christmas dinner, to which the Doctor is invited, now wearing a pin stripe suit, it appears to start snowing, until the Doctor informs them that it's ash. The Doctor is about to return to space travel, and, knowing Rose doesn't yet know him, gives Rose the chance to stay behind. She declines, and she and the Doctor set off again into time and space.