The Unicorn and the Wasp

After being poisoned the Doctor runs into the kitchen and shouts "Ginger beer" at the male member of staff previously heavily hinted at as being gay. Either everyone is being too PC or polite or maybe it's lack of American knowledge but in rhyming slang "ginger beer" means queer.The servant reacts in a startled manner thinking he has been uncovered when in fact the Doctor is demanding actual ginger beer/ale in order to counter the effects of the poison. The scene is another little dig at the way in which those of high status in "polite" society at the time would cover up what would be seen to be unacceptable, not only because of the sexual nature but also because of the fraternisation with a "lower" class.

Gareth Roberts was RTDs 'GoTo' man for the celebrity historicals. Roberts could inject the right amount of wit, literary references and alien presence in a fun romp.

It is lovely to see so many NuWho stories that have actors who went on to become Oscar nominees or go on to be well known on US television and movies. Here we have Felicity Jones and Adam Rayner.

The Doctor and Donna arrive at a country house in 1926 where the hosts are waiting for the arrival of Agatha Christie (Fenella Woolgar) as the main guest of honour. The only thing to worry about is a notorious burglar called the Unicorn might be about.

However celebrations are marred as Professor Peach is found dead in the library hit with a piece of lead piping. Other deaths follow and there is this strange buzzing noise. It all leads to Agatha Christie's real life disappearance for nine days.

The Doctor, Donna and Agatha Christie are involved in a murder mystery that is somehow linked to Christie's own books. There is imminent danger, even the Doctor ends up getting poisoned.

The episode is so well made, really atmospheric and has a great cast that also includes Felicity Kendal and Christopher Benjamin.

There is also a lot of cheekiness and risque humour. Roger Curbishley having an eye for the young male porter, Davenport. 'Some of these young boys deserve a decent thrashing.' The Doctor shrieking ginger beer to Davenport when he has been poisoned. Colonel Hugh reading a saucy magazine.

It all leads to the remaining suspects being rounded up by Agatha Christie and the Doctor as they try to work out who did it. It is a wonderful send up of Cluedo, an enjoyable frolic that will leave you with a buzz.

I'll admit to three of my pleasures in life, Agatha Christie, Starbucks coffee and of course Doctor Who. While 2 out of 3 are a frequent to have all three seemed like a dream come true!! but was it?

It's England 1926, mint and lime fill the air, Lady Eddington is giving a party to a range of socialites, where one guest turns out to be none other then Agatha Christie. We learn a jewel thief, the Unicorn is at large.

The Doctor informs Donna that it's the actual date that Agatha Christie did indeed disappear, and what was to follow would explain how she landed up in a Hotel in Harrogate.

There is some wonderful humour, The Doctor referring to Donna as the plucky young girl is so funny, I loved her reaction, and her referral to Dickens. The recollections of where the cast were too, The Captain's recollection is side splitting. The number of her books they reference is a nice feature too.

Stunning production, the house itself, the cars, the outfits, right down to the Royal Worcester Howard Blue china and Stuart Crystal Beaconsfield glasses. The attention to detail is glorious.

I've mentioned Catherine Tate's performances in each episode and had nothing but plaudits for her, again she's glorious. However, the plaudits in this one go to Fenella Woolgar, I've always been a huge fan of hers, and she is ridiculously good, so stiff upper lipped and British. Her summing up of the crime is just delightful.

I love the Unicorn and the Wasp, it's a total one off, it's clever, it's funny, it's different, it tries to answer a true life mystery, it's just glorious. It literally feels like a BBC Agatha Christie production which has been invaded by Doctor Who. Impossible to watch without smiling. The little acknowledgement of her brilliance was welcome 9/10

To be honest there's not much of a story here . It's just a 40 minute whodunnit with the novelty of Agatha Christie making an appearance . Having said that it's something of a pleasure to watch a story that isn't an explosion driven runarounds like we saw with the dire Sontaran rubbish and the " not really the doctor's daughter but we thought the title sounded good " we saw in the preceding weeks . The sedate pace and the wonderful location filming makes it a very worthwhile episode

There are a couple of flaws . One is the lack of internal continuity where a giant killer wasp is unable to break through an internal door in one scene but manages to break through a heavier external door in a later scene when the script demands it . Another flaw is a zany scene with the Doctor and Donna which seems to jar with the rest of the story but it's thankfully not enough to ruin the episode

All in all this is a rather enjoyable episode . It's by no means a classic but a very watchable 45 minutes of television in a season that with hindsight is somewhat mediocre

If season four has been a bit underwhelming so far, I think it picks up a bit here with "The Unicorn and the Wasp" which has several of the classic elements I've come to look for in this rewatch run. Classic British characters actors, check. Hollywood star in an early role, check. Foreshadowing, check. Call backs to previous episodes, check. Visual effects that aren't quite good enough, check.

The Doctor (David Tennant) and Donna (Catherine Tate) rock up at a country estate in 1926 - just in time for it to turn into a murder mystery weekend. This is apt because the guest of honour is none other than Agatha Christie (Fenella Woolgar) who, together with the Doctor and Donna settle in to interrogate the suspects and identify the killer. But things take a more bizarre turn when Donna is attacked by a giant wasp.

Generally, I think the wasp element is the only bit that lets the episode down. It's not a great special effect and it's odd that sometimes it seems like it's an instinctual killer, when it tries to murder Donna - but at others, kills by human methods, such as pushing a gargoyle off a roof. It's a fun and funny episode around it though. Fenella Woolgar is a good Christie and is joined by Felicity Kendal and Tom Goodman-Hill as well as that early appearance for Felicity Jones long before a Galaxy far far away came calling. It's actually quite clever too, with its explanation for why things are happening as well as some of the more common tricks in the books of the age to disguise what was actually happening - a time spent bedridden to hide a pregnancy, for example.

A definite upturn in the season.