Father's Day (Doctor Who) - Production

Production

Working titles for the episode included "Wounded Time" and "Wound In Time". Showrunner Russell T Davies came up with the final title of "Father's Day" in February 2005, shortly before the series began airing. In the DVD commentary for this episode, writer Paul Cornell and producer Phil Collinson mention that in the original script, in the scene where the Doctor opens the TARDIS doors and discovers only a police box interior, the police box fell apart. This was changed for reasons of cost, and Cornell said on the commentary that he thinks the change is an improvement. Cornell also states that the character of Pete Tyler is based on his own father, who attempted many different jobs and schemes (including, like Pete, selling health drinks) before eventually finding success running a betting shop. Pete's line "I'm your dad, it's my job for it to be my fault" is taken from something Cornell's father once said to him. Billie Piper says on the commentary that this was her favourite episode of the first series, and the most emotionally taxing for her to perform. Christopher Eccleston has also stated that this was his favourite episode, due to its many emotional layers.