Doctor: Ncuti Gatwa
Companion: Millie Gibson – Ruby Sunday
Others
Jinkx Monsoon – Maestro
Jeremy Limb – Timothy Drake
Kit Rakusen – Henry
Sherinne Kayra Anderson – Tea Trolley Lady
Ed White – George Martin
George Caple – Paul McCartney
Chris Mason – John Lennon
Philip Davies – George Harrison
James Hoyles – Ringo Starr
Chan Shoker – Studio Producer
Josie Sedgwick-Davies – Cilla Black
Susan Twist – Tea Lady
Simon Jason-Smith – Vinnie
Laura June Hudson – Elderly Woman
Murray Gold – Himself
Shirley Ballas – Herself
Johannes Radebe – Himself
Production
Directed by Ben Chessell
Written by Russell T Davies
Script editor: Scott Handcock
Produced by Chris May
Executive producer(s): Russell T Davies, Julie Gardner, Jane Tranter, Joel Collins, Phil Collinson
Music by Murray Gold
Series 14
Running time: 50 minutes
First broadcast 11 May 2024
In 1925, a piano teacher shows his student the "devil's chord", which summons a being called Maestro, who consumes the teacher's musical essence, killing him in the process. Maestro then breaks the fourth wall, looking into the camera before playing the opening notes of the Doctor Who theme music on the piano.
At Ruby's request, the Doctor takes her to 1963 to see the Beatles record their first album at EMI Recording Studios but they are disappointed during a recording session with the band as they sing a poorly composed song about Paul McCartney's dog. After viewing similar sessions with Cilla Black and an orchestra, they talk to John Lennon and McCartney and discover that the world has lost its taste for music.
Fearing the impacts of a lack of music on humanity, the Doctor has Ruby play a song on a piano which summons Maestro, who emerges from the piano while laughing. The Doctor recognizes this laugh as the same as the Toymaker's giggle.[a]
After escaping Maestro, the Doctor takes Ruby back to 2024, discovering the ruins of London in a nuclear winter. Maestro appears and reveals that they are a child of the Toymaker. They explain that they plan to eradicate all life from the universe, leaving only Aeolian tones. Maestro claims that to defeat them, the Doctor would need to find the correct chord to banish them, believing he is incapable of doing so.
The Doctor and Ruby return to 1963 where Maestro attacks Ruby, but stops when "Carol of the Bells" begins to play and snow starts to fall. Maestro states that this music was present on the night of her birth, saying that this power is that of the "Oldest One". Playing the Mrs. Mills piano, the Doctor tries to find the chord that will banish Maestro but is unable to find the final note of the chord. Maestro sends the piano out of the room, trapping the Doctor and Ruby inside musical instruments.
Lennon and McCartney arrive outside and discover the piano, with the discovered notes of the chord floating above it. They are able to complete the chord, causing the piano to drag Maestro inside, freeing the Doctor and Ruby. Before the lid closes, trapping them, Maestro portends the coming of "The One Who Waits" to the Doctor. Music returns, and the Doctor and Ruby engage in a musical number before leaving in the TARDIS.
Boom