Astrid Peth

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Voyage of the Damned (Doctor Who). ()

Doctor Who character
Astrid in promotional media for "Voyage of the Damned".
Astrid Peth
Affiliated with	Tenth Doctor, Titanic Spaceship, Max Capricorn Cruiselines
Home planet	Sto
Home era	2008
Appears in	"Voyage of the Damned"
Portrayed by	Kylie Minogue

Astrid Peth is a fictional character played by Kylie Minogue in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. She is a one-off companion^[1][2] of the Tenth Doctor, replacing Martha Jones in the primary companion role, appearing in "Voyage of the Damned",^[3] broadcast in the UK on 25 December 2007.^[4]

Conception and behind the scenes

It was officially announced that Kylie Minogue was to feature as Astrid in "Voyage of the Damned" by the BBC on 3 July 2007 following rumours in the press, writer Russell T. Davies's denial of these rumours in in-house BBC publication Ariel, confirmation by Minogue in InStyle magazine that she would be appearing, London paper Standard Lite publishing a photograph of Minogue's creative director Will Baker with a note about a Doctor Who script on a 'to do list' and sightings of her filming.^[5][6][7] It was confirmed that she is the next companion after Freema Agyeman's Martha Jones by Davies on a 14 August 2007.^[1] Her surname, Peth, was confirmed in the Christmas edition of Radio Times.^[4] Minogue's creative director and long-term Doctor Who fan Will Baker was largely responsible for her casting by setting up a meeting between her, Davies and Julie Gardner.^[6][8] Wearing a gold dress, Minogue posed with a Dalek in an exclusive photo shoot for Doctor Who Magazine^[8][9], in a homage to Third Doctor companion Jo Grant actress Katy Manning's famous nude photo shoot with a Dalek^[6], to help promote "Voyage of the Damned". Davies has stated that the character was always be going to be a "one-off" even before Minogue was cast and that Astrid will demonstrate "a whole new take - again - on what a companion can be."^[1] The fact that 'Astrid' is an anagram of 'TARDIS' and that 'Peth' is Welsh for 'thing', was widely commented upon prior to the episode's broadcast.^{[6][10][11][12]} The episode revealed this had no significance and was a red herring.^[13] It was leaked to The Sun and other media outlets correctly that Astrid would kiss the Doctor^[10][14][15] and would exit by 'spinning into space'^[10] prior to "Voyage of the Damned"'s broadcast. Tenth Doctor actor David Tennant interviewed Minogue about her role in "Voyage of the Damned" on BBC Radio 2 in X-Amining Kylie first broadcast on 27 November 2007.^[16] Lengthier discussion about her involvement in "Voyage of the Damned" was included in the extended repeat of X-Amining Kylie, entitled Re-X-Amining Kylie, broadcast on Boxing Day 2007.^[17] On Doctor Who Confidential, Minogue describes Astrid as a "dreamer" and that meeting with the Doctor rekindles Astrid's desire to explore. Davies reveals that when he first discussed the role of Astrid with Minogue he had not written that she would be killed off.^[2] Davies has also claimed that Minogue was keen to appear on Doctor Who to relaunch her acting career.^[18][19]

Character history

Astrid appears solely within the one episode, "Voyage of the Damned", which aired Christmas Day 2007. Astrid is introduced as a waitress from the planet Sto aboard the starship Titanic with a dream of seeing the stars. Meeting the Tenth Doctor aboard Titanic, she quickly befriends him and is alongside him to discover the villainous plot of Max Capricorn to destroy the Titanic, its passengers and the nearby people of Earth with his villainous angelic robots, the Hosts. Growing fond of the Doctor, she kisses him as part of what she assures him is an "old tradition" on Sto. In the episode's climax, the character sacrifices herself to save the Doctor from Capricorn and apparently falls to her peril. Later realising Astrid was wearing a teleporter bracelet, he attempts to recall her atoms in an attempt to resurrect her but there is insufficient power aboard the damaged Titanic to do so. Astrid reappears spectral and bewildered, as the Doctor kisses her a goodbye before freeing her sentient atoms (described as "stardust") to roam space as energy.^[3]

Reception

The ratings success of "Voyage of the Damned" has been partially and fully attributed to Minogue's casting in the role of Astrid.^{[9][20][21][22][23][24]} The episode was seen by 12.2 million viewers according to its overnight ratings, with 13.8 million watching at its peak.^[25] It has been reported that younger viewers who are fans of pop star Kylie were left distraught by Astrid's death and had to be convinced that Kylie is not dead in real life.^[9][20][26] Although she has received some positive reviews ^[27][28] and it has been asserted that her appearance in the episode has helped her make 'a full return to the limelight'^[29], Minogue's appearance has not been universally praised. Gareth McLean, a TV writer for The Guardian, described Minogue as 'not that good...she's blank and insipid', going on to claim, '[t]here's no chemistry between Astrid and the Doctor, she delivers her lines with a real lack of conviction and thus we never really believe in Astrid as a character. Where Catherine Tate's Donna in last year's special was overbearing, Kylie Minogue's Astrid is hardly there at all. It does make you wonder why casting Kylie was regarded as a coup. She's a pop star - of course she's going to say yes to being beamed into millions of homes in the run-up to Christmas. She's got a duff album to sell. In truth, Kylie should be grateful to [Doctor Who].'^[12] David Belcher of The Herald wrote that Minogue looked too old to play a waitress.^[30] Sam Wollaston of The Guardian claims Kylie's performance was 'disappointing' and did not live up to those of Freema Agyeman or Billie Piper in Doctor Who.^[31] Jim Shelley of The Mirror states Minogue did not 'look vivacious enough to be worth all the fuss'.^[32] Conversely, Paddy Shennan of the Liverpool Echo accuses the makers of cynically including shots of Minogue's cleavage and legs.^[33] Tim Teeman of the Times Online describes Astrid as 'gutsy', but commented on Minogue's 'older' appearance and likened her 'breathy delivery' to her performance as Charlene Mitchell in Neighbours.^[34] Billie Piper, who portrayed former companion Rose Tyler, commented that she thinks it was a "great idea" to cast Minogue, disappointed to miss meeting and befriending her on the set of Doctor Who as Tennant had done.^[35][36] Minogue's appearance as Astrid earnt her a place on The Sun's selection of top TV babes of 2007 alongside Agyeman for her Doctor Who role as Martha Jones and Piper for her role as Belle de Jour in Secret Diary of a Call Girl.^[37] In reference to Minogue's appearance in "Voyage of the Damned", actor John Barrowman who portrays companion Captain Jack Harkness has suggested he would love for Kylie's sister, Dannii to appear in Doctor Who spin-off series Torchwood.^[38]

Possible return

Despite Davies's intial comment that "[t]his year's Christmas Special was always going to have a one-off companion, little knowing that it would be Kylie Minogue"^[1], he has since stated that he would 'cast her again like that'.^[18] The Daily Express has quoted Minogue as saying, "[i]t's not up to me, but I know there has been talk that my character could be reintroduced at a later date."^[6] When asked to comment on the rumours regarding Minogue's return to Doctor Who by Doctor Who Magazine, Davies refused to comment, stating "I can't possibly answer that!"^[8]

References

External links

The Tardis Index File has information related to: Astrid Peth

• Astrid Peth on the BBC's Doctor Who website