Wish World

Written by Russell T Davies

"Tables don't do that..."

Traps are sprung and old enemies unite as the Doctor and Belinda finally arrive home to find a very different world. Can the Doctor see the truth before midnight arrives? 

Plot

May 23rd, 2025. The world is not as it once was, as the Rani has enacted her plan with the help of her bi-generated predecessor Mrs Flood. Harnessing the immense wish-granting power of the baby Desiderium, the Rani has enlisted Conrad Clark to reshape the world based on his own desires and imagination; creating a reality so tenuous that humanity’s collective doubt and wonder fuel its destruction. Colossal creatures known as ‘Bone Beasts’ walk across the landscape of this reality. As the Wish World’s ruler, Conrad broadcasts himself to this world with stories of the fictional adventures of “Doctor Who”. By Conrad’s decree, the people of the world prepare to celebrate the coming May Day on the 24th.

The Doctor and Belinda wake up in this reality as John and Belinda Smith, with their infant daughter Poppy. John works alongside Kate Lethbridge-Stewart and Christofer Ibrahim at the Unified National Insurance Team, a much more bureaucratic and low-tech firm compared to the real UNIT; but frequently catches himself in moments of wonder and doubt, which his colleagues chide him for. Belinda, spending her days as a housewife, struggles with the truth of her existence, as details of her motherhood fail to make sense.

Ruby Sunday, uniquely experienced in Conrad’s facade, is rejected by her family for expressing doubt. She seeks out the Doctor, but John and Belinda Smith shun her outright. With nowhere to go, Ruby finds herself joining Shirley Bingham amongst the world’s disabled and dispossessed, who share a camp in the middle of London. Falling outside of Conrad’s perspective, the camp's residents have all had ‘glimpses’ of a better world. With their new allies, Ruby and Shirley plot to bring down Conrad.

As midnight of May 24th approaches, John Smith’s doubt becomes all-encompassing when he receives a message from Rogue – the Doctor’s long-lost love interest. When Belinda reports her husband, Mrs Flood arrests them both, bringing them to the Rani’s Bone Palace. Reunited with her fellow Time Lord, the Rani pushes the Doctor to remember his true identity – and the subsequent doubt caused by this revelation splits the fabric of the world apart beneath them.  

The Rani reveals that the destruction of reality was intentional to access the Underverse, the world of legend that lies beneath. Using the Doctor’s Vindicator, she plans to seek out and recover the body of Omega – the original Time Lord. Determined to prevent the Doctor from interfering, the Rani traps him on a balcony of the Bone Palace and jettisons it into the collapsing world below. As midnight strikes on May 24th, the Doctor and his allies have never been more powerless; but only one name is on the Time Lord's mind as he falls – Poppy. 

Concept Art

Behind the Scenes

• Jonathan Groff appears as Rogue for this first time since Season 1’s Rogue. The actor filmed his appearance in Wish World around the same time. His recording was shown to the cast in a surprise reveal at the script readthrough.
• The Rani’s sonic screwdriver was designed by Michael van Kesteren, who also designed Scoot the Polish-Bot for Season 2’s The Robot Revolution. He incorporated the pattern of the original Rani’s costume into the handle of the Sonic’s design.

Credits