7.23 million viewers - BARB final ratings, 1.039 million viewers - BBC3 Repeat ratings, Ford's Hospital, Greyfriar's Lane, Coventry, Newport Indoor Market (Basement), Newport, Chelesmore Manor House, Greyfriar's Lane, Coventry, BBC Studios, Upper Boat, Tonteg Road, Treforest Industrial Estate, Pontypridd, Stageworks, Unit H1, Colchester Industrial Estate, Colchester Avenue, Penylan, Cardiff, Black Horse Ltd, St William House, Tresillian Terrace, Cardiff. 1 Biology 2 Technology 3 History 4 Other references 5 Behind the scenes The true form of a Carrionite resembled a giant skeletal raven or crow. Watching from above is Lilith, dressed as royalty. Under threat of annihilation from a species from the Dark Times, the TARDIS team have to establish whether there is a connection between a witch they've met and Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Won— a pl… • With thanks to the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. After viewing a performance of Shakespeare's latest play, the time travellers are beset by apparent sorcery. [6], There are several references to races from earlier Doctor Who episodes. The actors think Will is drunk and carry him backstage. The Doctor identifies the witches as Carrionites, a species whose magic is based on the power of words which allows them to manipulate psychic energy. In fact, For the purposes of this list, "Series 4" is considered to be the. Lilith shows her true face, scaring Dolly with a snarl. Under threat of annihilation from a species from the Dark Times, the TARDIS team have to establish whether there is a connection between a witch they've met and Shakespeare's Love's Labour's Won — a play that was legendarily lost to time. The episode makes reference to the many debates about Shakespeare's sexuality. The Shakespeare Code. The scene in which the Doctor and Martha share a room was originally written to have the Doctor casually undress down to his underwear; and still obliviously invite Martha to share the bed. The actors ask Will why he announced the play for tomorrow instead of next week as they planned. Accepting this, Will announces that he will now focus on writing about sons and fathers in honour of his son, Hamnet. She tells them to calm down and chant with her, adding hair she secretly took from Lynley to a doll; it is now a voodoo doll. When regressing the architect in Bedlam, The Doctor uses the phrase "A Winter's Tale", whilst the architect himself uses the phrase "poor Tom" in the same way as the 'mad' Edgar in King Lear. The vast amount of CGI work required was mainly for the climax of the episode. When Martha asks what actually killed Lynley, the Doctor responds, "witchcraft", confusing her further. He then asks the Doctor how he can have eyes so old for someone young. Insulted, Lynley declares that this slight means he will ensure the play will never be performed, even if it's the last thing he does; he will return to his office for a banning order. Shakespeare improvises a short rhyming stanza but is stuck for a final word until Martha blurts out Expelliarmus. [13] Digital Spy's Dek Hogan found the plot "ludicrous" but praised the production values and special effects. As they leave the theatre, Martha asks why she has never heard of Love's Labour's Won. One shot of the Doctor and Martha looking at the Globe Theatre was changed between the Series Three preview at the end of "The Runaway Bride" and the final episode; the edge of the Globe Theatre has been replaced with a CGI shot of a village and the distant theatre itself. A witch called Lilith uses a voodoo doll to influence Shakespeare to declare that the new play will premiere the following evening. Viola’s nurse (Imelda Staunton) accepts a note from Shakespeare for Kent telling him that he has been cast. Just before the Doctor steps out of the TARDIS, he exclaims "Brave new world", from Act V Scene I of The Tempest. Dolly informs the Doctor and Martha that she's prepared a room for them. Martha awakens, thinking the Doctor is dead as well, but finds he's still alive — two hearts. Aired on April 7, 2007. Charles Palmer Lilith explains the Eternals found the correct word to banish the Carrionites into darkness, but the three were able to escape using the power of Shakespeare's grief over his son — the grief of a genius — and intend to free the others. Lilith credits the Carrionites' escape from the Eternals' banishment to 'new...glittering' words. [16], adding two to three thousand words to the English language, "The Shakespeare Code commentary podcast", "Historic Coventry – the visit of The Doctor! The episode was first broadcast at 7pm on 7 April 2007. The episode concerns the "lost" Shakespeare play Love's Labour's Won, which is referred to in more than one historical document, but which may be just an alternative title for an extant play. The Doctor gives Will a neck brace for his pain, telling him to keep it as it looks good on him. (DWMSE 23). A character list in the beginning of the program declares a number of stacks, naturally with names like "Romeo" and "Juliet". The lead actor recites the incantation, and a vortex appears in the middle of the Globe. Among the facts that the Doctor lists are that it's not really a globe, but a tetra-decagon; it's also brand new and recently opened for the plays written by the great writer himself. British Shakespearean scholar Robert Crumpton embarks on a mission to prove he is spectacularly wrong. A portal opens up, allowing the Carrionites back into the universe. When questioning Shakespeare about witches, Martha remarks that he has written about witches; a reference to Macbeth, which Shakespeare denies. Rating: 7.31 /10 based on 16 votes cast. A cryptographic discovery that may change western history. Scott Matthewman of The Stage gave "The Shakespeare Code" a mostly positive review, highlighting the guest performances and the theme of the power of words. Smith and Jones The Doctor finds the three "witches" trapped, screaming in their own crystal ball.