GALLERY
CAST
Regular Cast
Ncuti Gatwa (The Doctor), Varada Sethu (Belinda Chandra)
Guest Cast
Jonny Green (Alan Budd), Max Parker (Manny), Anita Dobson (Mrs Flood), Thalia Dudek (Kirby Blake), Jeffin Kunjumon (Stefan Haines), Belinda Owusu (Receptionist), Tom Storey (Tombo), Stephen Love (Robot 1), Robert Strange (Robot 2) Nicholas Briggs (Voice of the Robots), Evelyn Miller (Sasha 55) Charles Sandford (Robot 3), Lucas Edwards (Robot 4) Caleb Hughes (Scoley), Nadine Higgin (Shago), William Ellis (Prime Minister)
Uncredited cast
Louise Sutton (Voice of Scoot the Polish-Bot)
CREW
| Written by | Russell T Davies |
| Directed by | Peter Hoar |
| Produced by | Vicki Delow |
SYPNOSIS
When robots from outer space kidnap nurse Belinda Chandra, The Doctor embarks on an epic intergalactic quest to get his new friend back home to Earth.
PLOT
17 years ago, Belinda Chandra and her then boyfriend Alan Budd stargaze on a park bench. For her birthday present, Alan gifts her a star certificate, naming a star Missbelindachandra.
The present day, Friday 23rd May 2025 Belinda is busy in her role as nurse unaware that The Doctor is seeking her. That might, Belinda is kidnapped from her flat share by giant robots who tell her that due to the certificate she is Queen of Missbelindachandra One and take her away in their rocket ship. En flight to the planet Missbelindachandra One, Belinda protests arguing among things that it should be Alan not her, given that he originally purchased the star certificate. The Doctor is following the rocket in the TARDIS but they pass through a time fracture forcing him to divert.
Upon their arrival in Missbelindachandraville, they are met by Sasha 55 who uncomfortably greets Belinda and explains that the Robots are in charge and at war with The Rebels. Sasha 55 leads Belinda to the Royal Chamber.
In the Royal Chamber, Belinda’s staff and Scoot the Polishbot await her. Once Belinda is seated in her throne, the Robots congratulate her on her wedding and physical melding to The AI Generator, leader of the Robots to unite the warring sides. Belinda rejects the ‘proposal’ and the Robots step in to force matrimony. To calm the tension, Sasha 55 invites The Doctor under the guise of Royal Historian to explain. The Doctor, gives an unusually phrased oral recital of the history of Missbelindachandra One, explaining that the Robots and People lived in harmony until ten years prior when the Robots revolted and took control. In his speech, The Doctor relays a secret message that the Robots are faulty and miss hearing every ninth word. His message contains an announcement for the Rebels to strike back at that moment.
The Rebels reveal their smuggled energy weapons and fight the Robots. Amidst the chaos, The Doctor reveals that he arrived six months earlier, struck up a friendship with Sasha 55 and helped build the rebellion. Once Belinda is safe, Sasha 55 plans to travel with The Doctor. Robot reenforcements arrive, forcing The Doctor and Belinda up a corridor while Sasha55 covers them. Sadly, Sasha 55 is killed. Two more Rebels manage to follow The Doctor and Belinda to the transmat and escape to the Rebel Base.
The Doctor deactivates Scoot to prevent the Robots from tracking them. Belinda tends to the wounded while facing the blame from the Rebels for the Robots’ tyranny. The Doctor tells Belinda that the star certificate that she possesses and the one that the AI Generator displayed are in fact one and the same. Somehow it travelled back in time thousands of years and became a foundation myth for the civilisation.
Feeling guilty for the people, Belinda reactivates Scoot which summons the Robots. She agrees to go with them if the Rebels are spared.
In the AI Generator’s Chamber Belinda is ushered towards the AI Generator by the Robots. Saying that she hates how it is “Ms” Belinda Chandra, the AI Generator asks if she is married. Surprised by that question, Belinda realises that the AI Generator is in fact Alan or AL for short. Alan reveals himself in his new cyborg form. He explains that per Belinda’s instructions in the rocket, the Robots came for him too, ten years prior via the time fracture and installed him into their system. He immediately took advantage of his new power and the Robots usurped the old government.
The Doctor asks why Belinda ended her relationship with Alan. She explains that he was coercively controlling her and she rejected his original marriage proposal. Alan orders Belinda to take hold of his copy of the star certificate to begin the conversion. Meanwhile, The Doctor drops the one he has onto the floor for Scoot to collect and deliver to Belinda. Belinda takes it and touches it against the one in Alan’s hand, creating a time paradox. The Doctor steps in to absorb the impact and Alan is reduced to a sperm cell, ending his control over the Robots.
With unity between the people and Robots restored, Belinda tells The Doctor to take her home to 24th May. The Doctor attempts to pilot the TARDIS but something is blocking them. They materialise in space halfway to Earth then elect to take ‘the long way round’. The TARDIS dematerialises and floating through space appear the wreck of a taxi, half of the Eiffel Tower, part of the Statue of Liberty, the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the star certificate and a calendar indicating that whatever happened to the Earth occurred on 24th May 2025.
NOTES
The robots use a transmat to kidnap Belinda Chandra. (The Ark in Space)
The Doctor is reminded of Mundy Flynn when her ancestor, Belinda Chandra, complains about potentially missing her Monday shift. (Boom)
The Doctor and Belinda travelled through a Time Fracture to get to Missbelindachandra One. (14681 UNIT Field Log)
The title of the episode was revealed on the official Doctor Who Twitter account on 22 March 2025.
The story’s working title was Belinda and the Robots.
The set for the North Zone hospital was repurposed from the Time Hotel foyer set from Joy to the World.
Several of the key concepts and themes of this story were also explored in Evening’s Empire. In both stories, a young, misogynistic male finds himself in a world under his control, playing god with the lives of men and subjugating women. However, unlike Evening’s Empire, The Robot Revolution does not explore the root of the antagonist’s psyche — Alex Evening is shown to abuse people as he himself is abused by his deeply religious mother, while Alan Budd is portrayed in a less nuanced and more comical fashion.
Worldbuilding
Individuals
Kristine is Belinda’s housemate.
Belinda’s landlord is not a very nice man.
A robot disintegrates Lucy’s cat.
Belinda askes Mrs Flood to tell her mum and dad that robots are kidnapping her.
Sasha 55 is the People’s Representative and speaks on behalf of all Missbelindachandrakind.
The Great AI Generator demands mariage with Belinda to fulfil the Binding Contract of the Stars.
The Doctor acts as a Designated Historian.
The Robot Revolution arose 10 years before Belinda’s arrival
Belinda thinks that Alan moved to Margate.
Belinda is taken to the planet Missbelindachandra One and arrives at Missbelindachandraville.
Rebels in the North Zone started a riot.
The Throne of the Queen is located in the throne room.
Locations
The Delta Exit is used by the Doctor and Belinda to escape the Robots.
The Doctor has been living in the Undercity for six months.
Memory banks are guarded by a full Robot phalanx.
The throne room building will be renamed into the Citadel of Sasha 55.
Technology and medicine
The Robots are unleashing Missbelindachandrabombs.
Belinda jokingly asks if she is going to marry a spark plug.
After Belinda activates an X-ray blanket, The Doctor explains to her that Missbelindachandrakind have a pasculum to serve the same functions as human kidneys and livers.
Belinda asks if the North Zone has basic IV. The locals have simolin, IV kits, sanferric. Mylos is used for disinfection
Belinda treats a person with a dislocated shoulder
The Doctor and Belinda experience a time fracture.
The Doctor proposes to separate the bio-links between Alan and his robotic parts.
Culture and brands
Belinda’s fridge has a Trek protein flapjack, a Patak’s curry paste, Tesco greek yogurt, Tesco soft cheese, and Tesco butter.
A hall in Belinda’s home has a poster for the HL3 little angel tour.
The Star Certificate shows a name from the Star Register.
Manny confronts Belinda, asking whether the Robot Revolution not being her fault is a royal decree.
The diploma has become a foundation myth for the Missbelindachandrakind.
Alan’s bedroom has two sci-fi movie posters, Attack on Third Planet and Rocket to Venus, the latter of which starred Luke Smith, Isabella Blaze, Luna Shadow, and Oliver Ember.
Belinda refers to Missbelindachandra One as the “planet of the incels”.