Season 2 continues on Saturday with... The Interstellar Song Contest. This time the episode is written by guest writer Juno Dawson, her first script for Doctor Who. She's no stranger to the Whoniverse though, having written the Doctor Who: Redacted podcast as well as some Torchwood audios for Big Finish. Not only that but she was meant to guest write for the second series of Class but that was disgustingly cancelled. This episode promises to be one of the biggest episodes the show has ever done with something very important happening in it.

The Doctor's quest to get Belinda back home to Earth leads to a space station hosting the famous song contest. But a harmless night of fun soon becomes a battle to survive.

8am on iPlayer, and 7:10pm on BBC One. However, the BBC One broadcast is dependent on whether the football goes into extra time, so it may end up airing on BBC Two at the same time.

Discuss the episode here ~

Looking forward to this one... although I'm guessing its going to be very marmite

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Firstly as an episode itself that was brilliant. I think it could've very easily went south and ended up being a total mess but it was high camp in all the right ways. A pretty good story even if I feel like they didn't go far enough with the revenge storyline. The motive for Kid doing what he was doing could've been drilled into a tiny bit more because I think it ended up coming across like they wanted to send a message with the episode but were kind of tinkering on the edge of not wanting to say too much. But overall I adored it. A really unique episode even with some of the same tropes as other episodes with genocidal maniacs. That moment with the glove was truly one of Ncuti's best, and when Belinda walked in on him, the look... wow.

Spoilers

HOWEVER... oh my GOD. I was not expecting the Susan visions. I was floored. Belinda has GOT to be Susan now surely? Either a bi-generated version of her and Carole Ann Ford will be back at some point, or she's used a fob watch at some point and Belinda just needs to be reactivated?

The credits started rolling and I was like... ???????? but oh my god that reveal. I knew Archie Panjabi was going to end up being super important given her CV said she was in an episode directed by Peter Hoar yet she didn't show up in The Robot Revolution or Lucky Day. Double trouble incoming or is Mrs Flood redundant now? Certainly seemed like Archie's incarnation is taking full control now I am so excited for the finale now though, and thank god we can have the constant online 'is she gonna be the Rani omg?' theories put to bed until next time.

Wow wow wow. Loved that episode so much. It felt like a classic from the early revival series! Belinda seeing that side of The Doctor was an absolute moment but it still didn't really phase her and shows how much she cares about him, they have a great relationship.

Spoiler

Oh my god at Susan appearing (so unexpected, I gasped!) and FINALLY we have The Rani. It's like we've now completed (bar Romana) a return of the last of the classic era characters. The Rani despite being only in a handful of stories has been a favourite villain of mine and a highlight of the 80s series, can't wait to see where this all goes. We are now going into a finale with absolutely no idea what to expect in the 2-parter but it's going to be amazing I'm sure.

Edited May 17May 17 by lewistgreen

That was crazy ride and some great reveals too!

Roll on the finale!

Going to be interesting to see what happens/ how this series pans out.

Also Rylan and Graham were great!

Fantastic twists fantastic episodes continuing the run of great episodes only downside was that threatened was resolved way too quick probably could of done with it being an hour episode as there was too much post threat resolution to let the main part of the story have breathing room

Another belter of an episode, so so good! The way the audience members were all thrown into space, about to freeze to death, was such a bleak sight. The guest cast were strong and I liked that we got 15 and Belinda separated for much of the episode to really see how they both tick. Love exploring this darker side of 15, interesting particularly after he was supposed to have gone through a kind of therapy as 14.

As for the twists... Susan had me GAGGED! Surely that's not the last time we'll be seeing her, either? Mrs Flood being the Rani was the most likely option in my head but I still had goosebumps at the reveal. The bigeneration was cool, I'm glad we're seeing another example of it after 14 and 15, and the new Rani making the old one her bitch was already giving maximum camp. I'm so excited for this finale! Please can it stick the landing!!!!!

Seems the risk of scheduling it between the football and Eurovision, and no competition on ITV, really helped the overnight ratings - it's the highest rated episode of the season on overnights and, like the other episodes, will surely see a big boost by the final ratings too. It's all good news!

Enjoyed Die Hard With a Song Contest much more than I expected to.

Nothing breaking new ground plot wise but it was a lot less cheesy than I expected and although the tone could have been a lot more serious for me to really like it there were enough moments to keep a decent balance. Given its scheduling right before Eurovision it was pitched about right for that audience.

Loved seeing Susan return even (and seemingly in a TARDIS) if I feel more could have been done to focus on The Doctor's state of mind in the build up. Something to show that under all the light hearted, high camp of this incarnation, there still exists a complex and sometimes dark character. But it is a start. More of this please.

I liked both the villains and would like to have seen a lot more of Kid. Would have made an interesting companion but I guess attempted mass murder is a step too far.

I still very much don't like Bi-generation and have not changed my mind over this one for The Rani - the least surprising plot twist ever. Fair play for her quotng the 4th Doctor though. Nice touch.

I would have preferred a whole episode devoted to Mrs Flood, just to really put some flesh on a bare bones character before the new version arrived. Somethng more akin to Derek Jacobi's The Master. Hopefully Archie Panjabi can deliver on a character that, in just three stories (two of which are utter trash), made such an impressive mark via the brilliant Kate O'Mara. Fingers crossed.

Lastly, Graham Norton makes his third appearance in the show only this time it was actually intentional.

I think that would've been quite an unremarkable filler episode if it weren't for that really quite shocking out of character moment from the Doctor, took me back to Nine and his PTSD-driven torturing of the lone Dalek. It was probably the best I've seen Gatwa, I think RTD has got him much better this season, his emotional outbursts feel more in line with the Doctor. This did otherwise suffer from the usual pacing issues and contrivances, but I loved the set up and wanted a bit more about the songs and the background of the villains. I would like to think amongst all the allegories that the poppy honey is a subtle jab to some very current issues occuring in the EBU, but I might be giving BBC too much credit xx

As with Sutekh, I don't have much view on the Rani as they were before my time, but here's hoping they are less of an anti-climax than he was!

Get it to #1 now please

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Doctor Who on Instagram: "You asked for it! Here’s the FU...

6,731 likes, 390 comments - bbcdoctorwho on May 21, 2025: "You asked for it! Here’s the FULL version of the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest finalist DUGGA DOO! 🗣️🎶 #DoctorWho".

Honestly I NEED them to put it on Spotify, it's been in my head all week

can someone send this to BJSC 176???

I refuse to listen to it or it will be steves lava chicken all over again for me 😅