World War Three (Doctor Who)

160b – "World War Three"
Doctor Who episode
The Slitheen, in 10 Downing Street, await a call on the "red telephone" for the nuclear launch codes.
Cast
Doctor Christopher Eccleston (Ninth Doctor)
Companion Billie Piper (Rose Tyler)
Others Camille Coduri – Jackie Tyler Noel Clarke – Mickey Smith Penelope Wilton – Harriet Jones Annette Badland – Margaret Blaine Rupert Vansittart – General Asquith Morgan Hopkins – Sergeant Price Andrew Marr – Himself David Verrey – Joseph Green Steve Speirs – Strickland Jack Tarlton – Tom Hitchingson Lachele Carl – Trinity Wells Corey Doabe – Spray Painter Elizabeth Fost, Paul Kasey, Alan Ruscoe – Slitheen
Production
Directed by	Keith Boak
Written by	Russell T Davies
Script editor	Elwen Rowlands
Produced by	Phil Collinson
Executive producer(s)	Russell T Davies Julie Gardner Mal Young
Incidental music composer	Murray Gold
Production code	1.5
Series	Series 1
Length	42 minutes
Originally broadcast	23 April 2005
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → "Aliens of London" "Dalek"

"World War Three" is the fifth episode of the first series in the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who which was first broadcast on 23 April 2005. It is the second of a two-part story which began with "Aliens of London", on 16 April.

In the episode, alien time traveller the Doctor (Christopher Eccleston) and his companion Rose Tyler (Billie Piper) team up with Rose's boyfriend Mickey Smith (Noel Clarke), her mother Jackie (Camille Coduri), and Member of Parliament Harriet Jones (Penelope Wilton) to foil the plan of the alien Slitheen family from selling the Earth for commercial purposes. The Slitheen, who have invaded 10 Downing Street, plan to get the United Nations to release nuclear activation codes so they can trigger World War III on Earth and sell the remains.

Following from the cliffhanger in "Aliens of London", the Doctor survives an electrical pulse from the Slitheen while Mickey Smith is able to push aside the impostor police inspector advancing on Jackie Tyler. The Doctor attempts to get the police, but by the time he has returned the Slitheen have gotten back into their suits. The Doctor escapes to the upper floors of 10 Downing Street and reunites with Rose and Harriet in the Cabinet Rooms. Just before sealing off the rooms, the Doctor confronts the Slitheen and learns that they are a family rather than a race. The Slitheen tell him that they are not invading Earth but raiding it for some commercial purpose.