List of Doctor Who items
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This is a list of notable or recurring items from the BBC television series ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...
''.


C


Celery

The
Fifth Doctor The Fifth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. He is portrayed by Peter Davison. Within the series' narrative, the Doctor is a centuries-old alien Time Lord from ...
wears a sprig of
celery Celery (''Apium graveolens'') is a marshland plant in the family Apiaceae that has been cultivated as a vegetable since antiquity. Celery has a long fibrous stalk tapering into leaves. Depending on location and cultivar, either its stalks, ...
in his lapel. He claims that he is allergic to certain gases in the praxis range; if those gases were present, the sprig would turn purple, at which point he would eat it.
Peter Davison Peter Malcolm Gordon Moffett (born 13 April 1951), known professionally as Peter Davison, is an English actor with many credits in television dramas and sitcoms. He made his television acting debut in 1975 and became famous in 1978 as Tristan ...
asked for this explanation to be included in ''
The Caves of Androzani ''The Caves of Androzani'' is the sixth serial of the 21st season of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 8 to 16 March 1984. In the serial, the Doctor b ...
'', as it was his final story. It is referred to later in the same story by the Doctor as "a powerful restorative where I come from..." The Doctor acquires the celery in '' Castrovalva'' and replaces it in '' Enlightenment''. A piece of plastic celery from the series fetched £5,500 () for charity when sold at an auction in November 2007.


Chameleon circuit

The Chameleon Circuit is a component of the
TARDIS The TARDIS (; acronym for "Time And Relative Dimension In Space") is a fictional hybrid of the time machine and spacecraft that appears in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and its various spin-offs. Its exterior a ...
that allows it to change shape to match its surroundings and remain inconspicuous. The circuit has malfunctioned, leaving it stuck in the shape of a 1960s style British
police box A police box is a public telephone kiosk or callbox for the use of members of the police, or for members of the public to contact the police. It was used in the United Kingdom throughout the 20th century from the early 1920s. Unlike an ordinar ...
. Attempts to repair the circuit have led to unpredictable results, including the TARDIS taking on the form of a pipe-organ. Since then, the Doctor has said that he has become fond of the police box form and has stopped trying to repair it. The TARDISes owned by the Master, the Rani, and
the Monk ''The Monk: A Romance'' is a Gothic novel by Matthew Gregory Lewis, published in 1796. A quickly written book from early in Lewis's career (in one letter he claimed to have written it in ten weeks, but other correspondence suggests that he ha ...
have fully functioning chameleon circuits. In series one episode "
Boom Town A boomtown is a community that undergoes sudden and rapid population and economic growth, or that is started from scratch. The growth is normally attributed to the nearby discovery of a precious resource such as gold, silver, or oil, although ...
", the Ninth Doctor explains to
Captain Jack Harkness Captain Jack Harkness is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-off series, ''Torchwood''. The character first appears in the 2005 ''Doctor Who'' episode "The Empty Child" and subsequently features in the ...
and
Mickey Smith Mickey Smith is a fictional character portrayed by Noel Clarke in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. The character is introduced as the ordinary, working class boyfriend of Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), a London shopgirl ...
about the chameleon circuit and why the TARDIS has been "permanently" imaged as a police box. In the episode " Journey's End", when
Donna Noble Donna Noble (later Donna Temple-Noble) is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Portrayed by British actress and comedian Catherine Tate, she is a former companion of the Tenth Do ...
has the Doctor's knowledge in her head due to an instantaneous biological meta crisis, she starts to tell the
Tenth Doctor The Tenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the main protagonist of the BBC science fiction television franchise ''Doctor Who''. He is played by David Tennant in three series as well as nine specials. As with previous incarnations of ...
how he can fix the chameleon circuit before the knowledge in her head overwhelms her. The
Eleventh Doctor The Eleventh Doctor is an incarnation of The Doctor (Doctor Who), the Doctor, the protagonist of the BBC Science fiction on television, science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. He is played by Matt Smith in three series as well as fi ...
explains to
Amy Pond Amelia "Amy" Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Amy is a companion of the series protagonist the Doctor, in his eleventh incarnation, played by ...
(set between " The Eleventh Hour" and "
The Beast Below "The Beast Below" is the second episode of the fifth series of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was written by executive producer and head writer Steven Moffat and broadcast on BBC One and BBC HD on 10 April 20 ...
" in a deleted scene featured on the
Series 5 Series 5 may refer to: * Aston Martin V8 Series 5, an automobile model * BMW 5 Series, a line of automobiles * GeForce 5 Series, a line of video cards * Psion Series 5 The Psion Series 5 was a personal digital assistant (PDA) from Psion. It ...
boxset special ''Meanwhile in the TARDIS'') that the TARDIS takes a 12-dimensional scan of the surrounding area and determines what the best thing to turn itself into is. Even though the circuit is broken, the TARDIS can still turn invisible, as shown in The Invasion and "
The Impossible Astronaut "The Impossible Astronaut" is the first episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. The episode was written by show runner Steven Moffat and directed by Toby Haynes. It was first broadcast on 23 ...
", the former due to a
Cyberman The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs principally portrayed in the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. The Cybermen are a species of space-faring cyborgs who often forcefully and painfully convert human beings ...
attack that causes the visual stabilizer to malfunction. In the comic, "Hunters of the Burning Stone", it is revealed the circuit is intentionally broken in the First Doctor's TARDIS by the Eleventh as part of a plan to stop the Tribe of Gum.


E


Eye of Harmony

The Eye of Harmony is an artificially created black hole made by Omega, used by the Time Lords as a power source for time travel. The 1996 film ''
Doctor Who ''Doctor Who'' is a British science fiction television series broadcast by the BBC since 1963. The series depicts the adventures of a Time Lord called the Doctor, an extraterrestrial being who appears to be human. The Doctor explores the ...
'', and the episode "
Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS" is the tenth episode of the seventh series of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on 27 April 2013 on BBC One and was written by Stephen Thompson and dire ...
", suggests that there is more than one Eye of Harmony, or that the Doctor needs to get one of his own after the Cardiff Rift sealed itself and no more energy could be siphoned off of its scar.


H


Hand of Omega

The Hand of Omega is a device that can collapse a star into a black hole. Omega supposedly used this device to harness the energy and negative continuum inside it to enable time travel. It can also be used to destroy entire star systems by taking out the magnetic fields surrounding atoms. The counteraction of this device occurs in the seventh doctors' story, ''
Remembrance of the Daleks ''Remembrance of the Daleks'' is the first serial of the 25th season of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. The serial was first broadcast in four weekly episodes from 5 to 26 October 1988. It was written by Ben Aaronovi ...
''.


J


''A Journal of Impossible Things''

A dream diary, containing notes and sketches by the Tenth Doctor's human persona, John Smith, in "
Human Nature Human nature is a concept that denotes the fundamental dispositions and characteristics—including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting—that humans are said to have naturally. The term is often used to denote the essence of humankind, or ...
" and " The Family of Blood". The title is handwritten on the journal's first page. Referred to by Smith as "stories", it is shown on screen as scribbled words and what appear to be ink sketches, recording what Smith remembers from dreams about his adventures as the Doctor. Joan Redfern retains the ''Journal'' at the end of "The Family of Blood", and it is eventually published in 2009 by her granddaughter in " The End of Time". One two-page spread contains illustrations of all ten Doctors to date, as seen on a
flash animation Adobe Flash animation or Adobe Flash cartoon (formerly Macromedia Flash animation, Macromedia Flash cartoon, FutureSplash animation, and FutureSplash cartoon) is an animation that is created with the Adobe Animate (formerly Flash Professional) ...
on the BBC web site at the time of "The Family of Blood" air date. The drawings seen on screen in "Human Nature" are of the First, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Doctors, the first time each has been depicted in the revived series.Human Nature
at Doctor Who – Fact File
The journal also features sketches of the
TARDIS The TARDIS (; acronym for "Time And Relative Dimension In Space") is a fictional hybrid of the time machine and spacecraft that appears in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and its various spin-offs. Its exterior a ...
interior and exterior, a
sonic screwdriver The sonic screwdriver is a fictional multifunctional tool in the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-offs, used by the Doctor. Like the TARDIS, it has become one of the icons of the programme, and spin-o ...
, the
Torchwood Institute The Torchwood Institute, or simply Torchwood, is a fictional secret organisation from the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-off series ''Torchwood''. It was established in 1879 by Queen Victoria after the ...
logo, K-9,
Rose Tyler Rose Tyler is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. She was created by series producer Russell T Davies and portrayed by Billie Piper. With the revival of ''Doctor Who'' in 2005, Rose was introd ...
, Autons, clockwork androids,
Cybermen The Cybermen are a fictional race of cyborgs principally portrayed in the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. The Cybermen are a species of space-faring cyborgs who often forcefully and painfully convert human beings ( ...
,
Dalek The Daleks ( ) are a fictional extraterrestrials in fiction, extraterrestrial race of mutants principally portrayed in the British science fiction on television, science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. They were conceived by write ...
s, the
Moxx of Balhoon This is a list of fictional creatures and aliens from the universe of the long-running BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', and spin-offs:'' Torchwood'', '' The Sarah Jane Adventures'', ''Class'', '' K-9'' and ''K-9 and Comp ...
, gas-masked people from "
The Empty Child "The Empty Child" is the ninth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast on BBC One on 21 May 2005. It was the first episode written by Steven Moffat, who later beca ...
"/"
The Doctor Dances "The Doctor Dances" is the tenth episode of the first series in the reboot of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast on BBC One on 28 May 2005. It is the second of a two-part story, following t ...
", and the
Slitheen The Slitheen are a fictional family of massive, bipedal extraterrestrials from the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and are adversaries of the Ninth Doctor and later Sarah Jane Smith. The Slitheen are of the egg-laying ...
. The text includes repeated phrases describing key concepts (such as "magic box", referring to the TARDIS), along with many misspellings. One repeated phrase, "bigger inside than outside", also appears in Latin as: ''Maius Intra Qua Extra''. The ''Journal'' prop was created by artist Kellyanne Walker and incorporates text provided by writer
Paul Cornell Paul Douglas Cornell (born 18 July 1967) is a British writer best known for his work in television drama as well as ''Doctor Who'' fiction, and as the creator of one of the Doctor's spin-off companions, Bernice Summerfield. As well as ''Docto ...
.The Family of Blood
at Doctor Who – Fact File


K


Key to Time

The most powerful artifact in the universe that is capable of anything the user can imagine. It can restore balance to the universe, or cause utter chaos. Both the
Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ha ...
and White Guardians seek it, but the Doctor prevents the former from gaining control of it by scattering it across time and space.


M


Matrix


P


Psychic paper

Psychic paper is a blank, white visitor's card that has special properties. When shown to a person, it can usually induce them to see whatever the user expects, wishes, or needs them to see printed on it. In " Revolution of the Daleks," the
Thirteenth Doctor The Thirteenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the fictional protagonist of the BBC science fiction television programme, ''Doctor Who''. She is portrayed by English actress Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to portray the character, st ...
gifts two pieces of psychic paper to companions
Ryan Sinclair Ryan Sinclair is a fictional character created by Chris Chibnall and portrayed by Tosin Cole in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Introduced in the first episode of Series 11, Ryan was a companion of J ...
and
Graham O'Brien Graham O'Brien is a fictional character created by Chris Chibnall and portrayed by Bradley Walsh in the long-running British sci-fi television series ''Doctor Who''. A retired bus driver from Essex who is in remission from cancer, the character ...
upon their departure from the TARDIS.


S


Severed hand

The Tenth Doctor's severed right hand is kept in a transparent case filled with a preservative liquid. It is severed by a
Sycorax Sycorax is an unseen character in William Shakespeare's play '' The Tempest'' (1611). She is a vicious and powerful witch and the mother of Caliban, one of the few native inhabitants of the island on which Prospero, the hero of the play, is ...
sword during their invasion of Earth ("
The Christmas Invasion "The Christmas Invasion" is a 60-minute special episode of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast on BBC One on 25 December 2005. This episode features the first full-episode appearance of David Te ...
"). The Doctor regrew the hand due to the healing after-effects of his recent regeneration. Captain
Jack Harkness Captain Jack Harkness is a fictional character played by John Barrowman in ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-off series, '' Torchwood''. The character first appears in the 2005 ''Doctor Who'' episode "The Empty Child" and subsequently features in the ...
retrieved the hand and stored it at the Torchwood Hub. In the ''Torchwood'' episode " End of Days", the hand glows when the
TARDIS The TARDIS (; acronym for "Time And Relative Dimension In Space") is a fictional hybrid of the time machine and spacecraft that appears in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and its various spin-offs. Its exterior a ...
is heard materialising in Cardiff. Alerted by the hand, Jack finds the Doctor in "
Utopia A utopia ( ) typically describes an imaginary community or society that possesses highly desirable or nearly perfect qualities for its members. It was coined by Sir Thomas More for his 1516 book '' Utopia'', describing a fictional island soc ...
", and he describes the hand as a "Doctor detector"; at the end of the episode, the hand is stolen by the Master along with the Doctor's TARDIS. In " The Sound of Drums", the Master reveals he has used the hand to derive the Doctor's biological code, with which he accelerates the Doctor's ageing by one hundred years using his laser screwdriver. After the events of "
Last of the Time Lords "Last of the Time Lords" is the thirteenth and final episode of the third series of the revived British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was broadcast on BBC One on 30 June 2007. It is the last of three episodes that form a ...
", the Doctor recovers the hand. It is later seen at the end of the episode, " The Poison Sky", where it glows as it did in "End of Days". In " The Doctor's Daughter", this instance of glowing is explained as sensing the appearance of the Doctor's genetic material, in the form of
Jenny Jenny may refer to: * Jenny (given name), a popular feminine name and list of real and fictional people * Jenny (surname), a family name Animals * Jenny (donkey), a female donkey * Jenny (gorilla), the oldest gorilla in captivity at the time of h ...
, in another time period. At the end of the episode " The Stolen Earth", the Doctor is shot by a
Dalek The Daleks ( ) are a fictional extraterrestrials in fiction, extraterrestrial race of mutants principally portrayed in the British science fiction on television, science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. They were conceived by write ...
and is forced to regenerate, but in the following episode, "Journey's End", the Doctor transfers the regeneration energy into the hand, allowing him to heal his wounds but still keep the same form. Donna later touches the hand while it is still infused with regeneration energy, causing the hand to regenerate into a half-human, half-
Time Lord The Time Lords are a fictional ancient race of extraterrestrial people in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', of which the series' main protagonist, the Doctor, is a member. Time Lords are so named for their command ...
copy of the Doctor, with the side effect of giving Donna the knowledge of a Time Lord.


Sonic blaster (squareness gun)

Featured in "
The Doctor Dances "The Doctor Dances" is the tenth episode of the first series in the reboot of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who'', which was first broadcast on BBC One on 28 May 2005. It is the second of a two-part story, following t ...
", the sonic blaster, also known as a "squareness gun", is a handheld weapon from the 51st century. The one featured is owned by Captain Jack Harkness. It fires in a peculiar square shape rather than the more traditional round pattern of most science fiction weapons. In "
Silence in the Library "Silence in the Library" is the eighth episode of the fourth series of the revived British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 31 May 2008. It is the first of a two-part story; the second part, ...
", set in the 51st century, Professor River Song possesses a weapon which acts in exactly the same manner, and
Steven Moffat Steven William Moffat (; born 18 November 1961) is a Scottish television writer, television producer and screenwriter. He is best known for his work as showrunner, writer and executive producer of the science fiction television series ''Doct ...
, author of both stories, says it is the same item, left in the TARDIS by Jack and taken by River during her time with the Doctor, a time which is actually in the future of the Doctor's personal timeline. In " Revolution of the Daleks," Jack is armed with a sonic blaster while helping the
Thirteenth Doctor The Thirteenth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the fictional protagonist of the BBC science fiction television programme, ''Doctor Who''. She is portrayed by English actress Jodie Whittaker, the first woman to portray the character, st ...
and her companions investigate a Dalek threat on Earth.
Yasmin Khan Yasmin Khan is a historian of British India and Associate Professor of History at Kellogg College, Oxford. Education and career Born in 1977 to Pakistani and Anglo-Irish parents in Kingston-upon-Thames, Khan completed her BA in history at St ...
is unimpressed with his use of it to open a hole in a door, but Jack is later able to kill two attacking Dalek mutants with the gun.


Sonic screwdriver


Superphone

The "superphone" is an upgraded mobile phone that can make calls across time and space. It even calibrates to the user's home time period, as shown by Adam Mitchell's ability to call his home time on
Rose Tyler Rose Tyler is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. She was created by series producer Russell T Davies and portrayed by Billie Piper. With the revival of ''Doctor Who'' in 2005, Rose was introd ...
's phone (" The Long Game"), despite their native time periods being about six years apart. In addition, it can send signals in places ordinary phones cannot, such as the sealed Cabinet Rooms at
10 Downing Street 10 Downing Street in London, also known colloquially in the United Kingdom as Number 10, is the official residence and executive office of the first lord of the treasury, usually, by convention, the prime minister of the United Kingdom. Along w ...
("
World War Three World War III or the Third World War, often abbreviated as WWIII or WW3, are names given to a hypothetical worldwide large-scale military conflict subsequent to World War I and World War II. The term has been in use since at ...
"). However, its range is not infinite (" The Impossible Planet"). The Doctor describes the superphone as being able to "call anyone, in any time, so long as you know the
area code A telephone numbering plan is a type of numbering scheme used in telecommunication to assign telephone numbers to subscriber telephones or other telephony endpoints. Telephone numbers are the addresses of participants in a telephone network, r ...
". The superphone first appears in " The End of the World", where the Ninth Doctor modifies Rose's
Nokia 3200 The Nokia 3200 is a mobile phone by Nokia, part of the Nokia Expression (youth) series and announced on 12 September 2003. It is based on the Nokia Series 40 platform. The phone is an update of the Nokia 3100, while adding features from the No ...
mobile phone with a special device that goes in place of the battery. In " Rise of the Cybermen", the Nokia 3200 is replaced by a Samsung D500, but otherwise seems to function the same. A Samsung D500 is also seen used by
Tish Jones Over the course of its many years on television, the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' has not only seen changes in the actors to play the Doctor, but in the supporting cast as well. Companions The Doctor ...
in "The Sound of Drums". It is also able to link with the Cybus Industries Ear-Pod network. Rose gives the phone to
Mickey Smith Mickey Smith is a fictional character portrayed by Noel Clarke in the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. The character is introduced as the ordinary, working class boyfriend of Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), a London shopgirl ...
at the end of " The Age of Steel", but replaces it soon after. When
Martha Jones Martha Jones is a fictional character played by Freema Agyeman in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and its spin-off series, '' Torchwood''. She is a companion of the Tenth Doctor in ''Doctor Who'', afte ...
becomes an ongoing companion to the Tenth Doctor in " 42", he gives her phone, the BenQ-Siemens EF81, a similar upgrade. This phone, however, is upgraded by the Doctor's sonic screwdriver, and the feature itself is referred to as "Universal
Roaming Roaming is a wireless telecommunication term typically used with mobile devices, such as mobile phones. It refers to a mobile phone being used outside the range of its native network and connecting to another available cell network. Technical ...
". Martha's phone has the Archangel network logo on its display, the significance of which is revealed in " The Sound of Drums". At the end of the episode "
Last of the Time Lords "Last of the Time Lords" is the thirteenth and final episode of the third series of the revived British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was broadcast on BBC One on 30 June 2007. It is the last of three episodes that form a ...
", Martha gives her phone to the Doctor, so she can contact him if trouble occurs. The Doctor uses the same process to upgrade
Donna Noble Donna Noble (later Donna Temple-Noble) is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Portrayed by British actress and comedian Catherine Tate, she is a former companion of the Tenth Do ...
's phone in " The Doctor's Daughter", but it is only used once onscreen to contact Martha's similarly upgraded phone. When his allies try contact the Doctor in " The Stolen Earth" by means of Martha's superphone now in his possession, the number displayed onscreen is 07700 900461. After the airing of this episode, 2,500 fans tried to dial the number. In "Journey's End", Wilfred mentions that he has received a phone call from Donna, presumably by means of her superphone. There are at least two superphones available for use in the Eleventh Doctor's TARDIS;
Amy Pond Amelia "Amy" Pond is a fictional character portrayed by Karen Gillan in the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Amy is a companion of the series protagonist the Doctor, in his eleventh incarnation, played by ...
's phone and a flip phone sometimes used by the Doctor. Special Agent Delaware used Amy Pond's cell phone to receive a call from the Doctor's flip phone in 1969, before cell networks existed, indicating that both phones must have been upgraded by the Doctor at some point ("
Day of the Moon "Day of the Moon" is the second episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. Written by show runner Steven Moffat, and directed by Toby Haynes, the episode was first broadcast on 30 April 2011 on ...
"). In "
The Doctor's Wife "The Doctor's Wife" is the fourth episode of the sixth series of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', which was broadcast on 14 May 2011 in the United Kingdom, and later the same day in the United States. It was writt ...
", the Doctor uses Amy's phone to keep in touch with Amy and Rory, who are trapped inside the TARDIS. Rory is shown to have one in "
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship "Dinosaurs on a Spaceship" is the second episode of the seventh series of the British science fiction television programme ''Doctor Who''. It first aired on BBC One in the UK on 8 September 2012 and on BBC America on the same date in the Unit ...
", with his father questioning the oddity of it; Rory commented, "You get used to it."


T


TARDIS

A TARDIS (Time And Relative Dimension In Space) is a spaceship invented by the Time Lords that can travel through space and time. The Doctor travels in a Type 40 TARDIS. A TARDIS can travel to any time and place in the universe, except to events that are Time-Locked, such as the Time War. The TARDIS is bigger on the inside than the outside, and its main fuel is Artron energy, a positive time synergy that can almost penetrate time gates. In " The Impossible Planet" it is stated that TARDISes are grown, rather than built, and that no other TARDIS could be created, as the last seeds for them were destroyed in the Time War.


Time scoop

The Time Scoop was a primitive 'Time Corridor' technology created on Gallifrey during the Dark Time, similar in sophistication to Dalek time-travel technology. Its purpose was to remotely 'scoop' individuals from their own time period and deposited them within the Death Zone, a securely controlled environment on Gallifrey. Those kidnapped were then expected to compete in
gladiatorial games A gladiator ( la, gladiator, "swordsman", from , "sword") was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gla ...
. In "
The Five Doctors ''The Five Doctors'' is a special feature-length episode of the British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', produced in celebration of the programme's 20th anniversary. It had its world premiere in the United States, on the Chicago ...
", the Scoop was used to fetch various incarnations of the Doctor and his companions to the Death Zone, along with various foes such as the Daleks, Cybermen, and
Yeti The Yeti ()"Yeti"
''
Eighth Doctor Adventures The ''Eighth Doctor Adventures'' (sometimes abbreviated as EDA or referred to as the EDAs) are a series of spin off novels based on the long running BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' and published under the BBC Books impr ...
novel ''
The Eight Doctors ''The Eight Doctors'' is a BBC Books original novel written by Terrance Dicks and based on the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who''. It was the first of the Eighth Doctor Adventures range and features the Eighth ...
'', and a major role in the final chapter of the ''Gallifrey'' audio series.


V


Vortex manipulator

A vortex manipulator is a simple form of time travel used by Time Agents in the future. It is a small device mounted in a leather wrist strap that allows the user to travel through time and space. It is stated to be a much more primitive form of time travel than a TARDIS, and has been said to be unpleasant to use. It is also capable of teleporting the user without travelling through time. The most notable user of a vortex manipulator is Captain Jack Harkness, who possessed one from his time as a Time Agent. After being abandoned in the year 200,100 by the Doctor, he attempted to use his manipulator to travel to 21st century Earth to find him, but the device malfunctioned and took him to the 19th century, where it subsequently burnt out and was rendered non-functional (at least the time travel and teleport function, other functions were shown to be working). After the Master stole the Doctor's TARDIS, the Doctor repaired Jack's manipulator and used it to transport him, Jack, and Martha Jones from the end of the universe to 21st century Earth, although he subsequently deactivated the device to prevent Jack from misusing it. Jack later managed to reactivate it again to meet up with the Doctor, but once again it was later deactivated. Other notable users of vortex manipulators include River Song, Clara Oswald (who used Jack's manipulator), Missy, and the Doctor.


See also

* List of ''Torchwood'' items * List of ''The Sarah Jane Adventures'' items


Notes


References

* Mark Harris, ''The Doctor Who Technical Manual'' J.M. Dent * John Nathan-Turner ''The TARDIS Inside Out'' Piccadilly * Mat Irvine, ''(Dr Who) Special Effects'' Beaver * Peter Haining, ''The Time-Travellers' Guide'' WH Allen * Jean-Marc Lofficier, ''The Programme Guide'' Target * ''Encyclopedia of the Worlds of Doctor Who: A-D'' by David Saunders Pub by Piccadilly * ''Encyclopedia of the Worlds of Doctor Who: E-K'' by David Saunders Pub by Piccadilly * ''Encyclopedia of the Worlds of Doctor Who: L-R'' by David Saunders Pub by Piccadilly * ''Doctor Who: A Celebration'' by Peter Haining Pub by Virgin * ''Doctor Who From A to Z'' by Gary Gillatt Pub by BBC Books {{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Doctor Who Items Doctor Who devices Items