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Doctor Who – 60th Anniversary Specials, Episode 1 The Star Beast

Play trailer Doctor Who – 60th Anniversary Specials, Episode 1 The Star Beast Aired Nov 25, 2023 Sci-Fi Fantasy Adventure Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
91% Tomatometer 32 Reviews
The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London; as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor's old friend, Donna.
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Doctor Who — 60th Anniversary Specials, Episode 1

Doctor Who — 60th Anniversary Specials, Episode 1

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Critics Consensus

A lively romp that reunites David Tennant and Catherine Tate, "The Star Beast" returns fan-favorite characters for a nostalgic adventure that hints at Doctor Who's broader reinvention.

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Cast & Crew

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David Tennant

The Doctor

Catherine Tate

Donna Noble

Yasmin Finney

Rose Temple-Noble

Karl Collins

Shaun Temple

Jacqueline King

Sylvia Noble

Ruth Madeley

Shirley Anne Bingham
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Doctor Who — 60th Anniversary Specials, Episode 1

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Critics Reviews

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Lauren Coates Chicago Reader 02/15/2024
2.5/5
“The Star Beast” is much more serviceable as a reentry point back into the Tennant/Tate/Davies world of Who than a powerful celebration of trans joy. Go to Full Review Andrew Harrison BBC.com 12/01/2023
4/5
Flaws and all, it's Who the way it used to be. It turns out you can go home again after all. Go to Full Review Hugo Rifkind The Times (UK) 12/01/2023
The great relief of Doctor Who: The Star Beast this week was that this was pretty much all I needed to know. David Tennant is back... Go to Full Review Emmet Asher-Perrin Reactor 07/28/2025
This has all the hallmarks of a Davies episode, for good and ill: It’s high camp; it’s high emotion; it’s queer af; it’s got deus ex machinas up the wazoo; the villain is just as comical as they are scary[...] Go to Full Review Michael Cook Geek Vibes Nation 07/19/2025
9/10
It’s a lighthearted, action-packed adventure in the best of ways. Go to Full Review William Tucker But Why Tho? 12/26/2023
8.5/10
Doctor Who has always been a mix of memories and movement, and this episode embodies that. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Episode Info

Synopsis The Doctor is caught in a fight to the death as a spaceship crash-lands in London; as the battle wreaks havoc, destiny is converging on the Doctor's old friend, Donna.
Director
Rachel Talalay
Executive Producer
Russell T. Davies, Phil Collinson, Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, Jane Tranter
Screenwriter
Russell T. Davies
Network
Disney+
Genre
Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Adventure, Drama
Original Language
British English
Release Date
Nov 25, 2023