Destination: Skaro
"Destination: Skaro", also known as "Doctor Who Children in Need Special 2023", is a 5-minute mini-episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It first aired on 17 November 2023, on BBC One as part of the 2023 Children in Need special. "Destination: Skaro" is the second television appearance of David Tennant as the Fourteenth Doctor and preceded Doctor Whos sixtieth anniversary specials. In the episode, a newly regenerated incarnation of the Doctor mistakenly lands on Skaro at the time Davros is creating the Daleks. It was written by Russell T Davies, the Doctor Who showrunner, and directed by Jamie Donoughue. The special received positive reviews but was met with criticism from some fans for the changes made to Davros.
Plot
On Skaro, Davros unveils his newest creation to Mr. Castavillian, a "travel machine" he describes as the future of the Kaled race. After explaining the numerous features, Castavillian suggests several names for this creation to Davros, all of which are anagrams of Kaled. Davros isn't satisfied with any of the proposed names and briefly exits the room. Sixty minutes after regenerating, the Doctor crash-lands in the TARDIS, destroying part of the creation. The Doctor initially questions Castavillian as to why his previous face has returned before recognizing the now partially-destroyed creation as a Dalek. Castavillian takes note of the name as the Doctor says he's lucky he wasn't exterminated, a word Castavillian also notes. Realizing he's at the moment Daleks were first created, the Doctor gives Castavillian a plunger to replace its broken arm. The Doctor then departs just as Davros returns. Davros momentarily ponders the modified Dalek and accepts the changes.Production
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies wrote and executive produced the special which was produced by Vicky Delow and Scott Handcock. Chronologically, it takes place after the Fourteenth Doctor comic Liberation of the Daleks and is an indirect prequel to the 1975 television serial Genesis of the Daleks. It also bridged the gap between "The Power of the Doctor" and "The [Star Beast |The Star Beast]". Davros was written to be able-bodied, a change from previous episodes in which the character used a wheelchair and had significant scarring. Davies explained that in any future episodes featuring Davros, he would appear the same way because he and the production team disagreed with common tropes that associated physical disabilities with antagonists.The episode also canonically explains how the Daleks came to have plunger-like devices in their design. Jamie Donoughue directed "Destination: Skaro" which was filmed at Bad Wolf Studios in Cardiff, Wales. Filming occurred 18 April 2023 while the fourteenth series was still in production. The Dalek prop was brought in from Glasgow. David Tennant made his second televised appearance in the special as the Fourteenth Doctor following a brief cameo in "The Power of the Doctor". Tennant filmed the episode on his birthday which was celebrated by the production team. Mawaan Rizwan appeared in the special as Mr Castavillian. Julian Bleach reprised his role as Davros, a character Bleach previously portrayed in 2008 and 2015. Barnaby Edwards returned to operate the Dalek prop which was voiced by Nicholas Briggs. Briggs also provided the voice of Nyder, the character originated by the late Peter Miles in Genesis of the Daleks, briefly heard over the speaker.