The Talons of Weng-Chiang - Outside References

Outside References

There are a number of references to the Sherlock Holmes novels by Arthur Conan Doyle:

• The Doctor is dressed in a similar way as the stereotype Sherlock Holmes caricature (although the Holmes of Doyle's stories would never have worn a deerstalker and Inverness cape in town) and uses sayings and mannerisms similar to Holmes'.
• The episode is set in late Victorian London.
• Professor Litefoot is a similar character to Sherlock Holmes' colleague Dr Watson and he has a housekeeper called Mrs Hudson (the same name as the housekeeper at 221b Baker Street in the Sherlock Holmes novels).
• At one point the Doctor says to Litefoot "...elementary my dear Litefoot".

In so far as Magnus Greel is a hideously deformed character living beneath a 19th century theatre who convinces a performer that he is a spirit rather than a man, the story is also reminiscent of The Phantom of the Opera. When Chang calls the Doctor to the stage, there is a short musical excerpt from Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado.