S04E07: 'The Unicorn and The Wasp'

I say old boy, what frightfully spiffing fun! Style and substance merge wonderfully in 'The Unicorn and The Wasp', as Gareth Roberts' deceptively frivolous story manages to successfully juggle many elements including the real life disappearance of Agatha Christie, a giant alien bug and a recreation of the classic 'whodunnit' murder mystery plot.

There was certainly a familiar air of predictability about all of the tongue-in-cheek references to Agatha Christie's body of work, with Charles Dickens and William Shakespeare having received the same treatment in previous stories. However, these generally manage to excite rather than annoy because Roberts has unashamedly gone full-steam-ahead and even turned the entire plot into a Christie homage - cleverly explained by the wasp absorbing the details of Agatha Christie's books.

The entire cast all tackle their roles with conviction and avoid the potential pitfall of self-consciously playing everything for laughs. The humour derives from the skilfully set up situations, allowing everyone - especially the sublime Fenella Woolgar as Christie - to generate some pathos and credence to their characters.

The 'anchovy' scene merits a mention for being perhaps the funniest ever moment in Doctor Who's 45 year history. It certainly showcases the chemistry between Tate and Tennant and is a masterclass in timing and unintrusive direction that showcases the performances. Again, the danger of the situation, with The Doctor fighting for his life, is crucially not ignored in favour of cheap laughs. It all weaves together so that gasps and laughs are seamlessly intertwined.

A breath of fresh air from the recent sci-fi heavy stories, 'The Unicorn and The Wasp' is a real treat. Doctor Who did it. On the telly. With a great script and direction - and the mandatory lead piping too.

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