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232 – "The Bells of Saint John"
Doctor Who episode
Promotional poster
Cast
Others
Production
Directed byColm McCarthy
Written bySteven Moffat
Produced byDenise Paul
Marcus Wilson (series producer)
Executive producers
  • Steven Moffat
  • Caroline Skinner
Music byMurray Gold
SeriesSeries 7
Running time45 minutes
First broadcast30 March 2013 (2013-03-30)
Chronology
← Preceded by
"The Snowmen" 		Followed by →
"The Rings of Akhaten"
List of episodes (2005–present)

"The Bells of Saint John" is the sixth episode of the seventh series of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It premiered in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2013 on BBC One; the episode was the first of the second half of the series. It was written by Steven Moffat and directed by Colm McCarthy.

The episode marks the third appearance of Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara Oswald, but her first official appearance as the Eleventh Doctor's new companion. The story focuses on alien time traveller the Doctor (Matt Smith) and his search for Oswald, following two previous encounters with her in different moments of time, both ending in her death. Finding a third version in present-day London, he soon becomes involved in saving her and the rest of Earth from Miss Kizlet (Celia Imrie) and her employer, the Great Intelligence, as they use the world's Wi-Fi to upload people to a datacloud via robots known as Servers, casually referred to as Spoonheads.

"The Bells of Saint John" was designed to be an "urban thriller", in that it is taking "something omnipresent in your life and making it sinister". It was watched by 8.44 million viewers in the UK. The episode received generally positive reviews, although several critics felt that the plot and threat were lacking.

Plot

[edit]

Prequel

[edit]

On 23 March 2013, the BBC released a short prequel video to the episode, written by Steven Moffat.[1] In the prequel, the Eleventh Doctor is sitting at the swings of a children's playground when he meets a little girl. They talk about losing things, and the Doctor states that he has lost someone twice and he hopes he might be able to find her again. The girl tells him that, when she loses something, she goes to a quiet place for a think, and then can remember where she put it. As the girl leaves, it is revealed that she is Clara Oswald.[2]

Synopsis

[edit]

The Doctor has retreated to a monastery in Cumbria in 1207 to contemplate the mystery of Clara Oswald, a woman he had met twice previously but who died both times. The Doctor answers the exterior phone on the TARDIS when it starts ringing. On the other end is Clara, whom the Doctor initially does not recognise. Clara, having been given the TARDIS' number by "a woman in the shop" and believing it is a computer help line, asks for help to connect to the Internet. When Clara repeats a phrase that previous versions of Clara have said, the Doctor realises who she is. He sets off to meet her.

Arriving in present-day London, the Doctor finds Clara's mind being "uploaded" via a mobile robotic server disguised as a young girl using the Wi-Fi. The Doctor halts the upload and successfully reverses it, sending a message that Clara is under his protection. The Doctor and Clara are outside when the uploaders cause an airplane to descend at them. The Doctor and Clara board the TARDIS and land on the plane, and the Doctor saves it from crashing.

The Doctor and Clara travel to a café. Clara uses computer skills that she picked up from her uploading experience to track the uploaders to their base at The Shard. The Doctor encounters people inside the café under the control of Miss Kizlet, who explains that living human minds are being fed to her client. Miss Kizlet distracts the Doctor long enough for a server disguised as the Doctor to upload Clara's mind completely. An angered Doctor reprograms this server and sends it out to Miss Kizlet's office inside The Shard. The Doctor server demands that she release all the minds that have been uploaded, but Miss Kizlet refuses. The Doctor then uses the server to upload Miss Kizlet to the network. Trapped in the network, she orders her subordinates to release her. But the only way they can release her is to release everyone, which they do, and so everyone else, including Clara, is restored.

The restored Miss Kizlet contacts her client, the Great Intelligence, to report her failure to him. The Great Intelligence orders her to reset all people working there, including herself, clearing their memories in the process. Meanwhile, the Doctor takes Clara home and offers her a chance to travel with him, which she refuses. She tells him to come back the next morning, as she may change her mind by then.

Continuity

[edit]

Summer Falls, the book that Clara spots Artie, one of her charges, reading is written by "Amelia Williams", the married name of the Doctor's previous companion Amy Pond;[3][4] she had been a travel writer in the 21st century[nb 1] before being permanently sent back to the early 20th century, and becoming the editor of her daughter's detective novel/guidebook.[nb 2]

The Great Intelligence makes its second appearance in a row after appearing in the preceding episode, "The Snowmen".[3] In the intervening time, the Great Intelligence has encountered the Doctor's second incarnation twice, once in the Himalayan mountains during the 1930s[nb 3][5] and once in the London Underground in the 1970s.[nb 4][6]

The woman in the shop who gave Clara the Doctor's number is brought up in "Deep Breath". The Twelfth Doctor remarks it seems as if someone is trying to bring the Doctor and Clara together. The episode "Death in Heaven" reveals it was the Master (as Missy) who gave the number to Clara.

Production

[edit]
"The Bells of Saint John" features the debut of the third version of Jenna-Louise Coleman's character, Clara Oswald, and is the beginning of the character's companionship.

Writer Steven Moffat described the premise as

the traditional 'Doctor Who' thing of taking something omnipresent in your life and making it sinister, if something did get in the Wi-Fi, we'd be kind of screwed. Nobody had really done it before, so I thought, 'It's time to get kids frightened of Wi-Fi!'[7]

However, he denied that his intention was to give a warning about technology, but rather tell an adventure story about a "new way [for aliens] to invade" based on something viewers were familiar with.[8] Producer Marcus Wilson suggested that the episode be an "urban thriller", as the story would already be set in contemporary London to introduce Clara and the Wi-Fi monsters.[9] Moffat compared the style to James Bond and The Bourne Identity.[10] Moffat said that the episode was "an action roller coaster" rather than a story intended to be scary.[8]

Despite being announced as the actress to portray the new companion, Jenna-Louise Coleman had first appeared as two different characters, called Oswin and Clara respectively, in "Asylum of the Daleks" and "The Snowmen", but "The Bells of Saint John" introduces the character who will be the Doctor's travelling companion.[11][12] Coleman played each version of the character as a different individual with "trust that there would be a payoff" to her mystery.[13] Moffat described this version of Clara as "more real-world",[14] and actor Matt Smith stated that Clara "reignites [the Doctor's] curiosity in the universe and gives him his mojo back".[15]

The read-through for "The Bells of Saint John" took place on 19 September 2012 at Roath Lock.[3] It is the first Doctor Who episode to be directed by Colm McCarthy.[3] Filming began on 8 October;[3] some occurring in London, at the Westminster Bridge and alongside the River Thames,[16] with motorbike scenes at the London locations shot around 16 October 2012.[17][18] The rooftop scenes were filmed at Grange St Paul's Hotel. The location was intended to be in Covent Garden, but was changed to a location with a better view of The Shard.[19]

Broadcast and reception

[edit]

"The Bells of Saint John" first aired in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 30 March 2013,[20][21] and on the same date in both the United States on BBC America[22] and in Canada on Space.[23] It aired on 31 March in both Australia on ABC1,[24] and in South Africa on BBC Entertainment.[25] The episode aired on 11 April in New Zealand on Prime.[26]

The episode received an overnight rating of 6.18 million viewers in the UK, peaking at 6.68 million,[27] a 29.8% audience share;[28] which put it in third place for the night.[27] When time-shifted viewers were accounted for, the figure rose to 8.44 million viewers, placing second for the week on BBC One.[29] "The Bells of Saint John" also received 0.96 million requests on BBC iPlayer for March, and 1.3 million requests for April.[30] The episode received an Appreciation Index of 87.[31] In 2013 the episode received 2.61 million iPlayer views.[32]

Critical reception

[edit]

"The Bells of Saint John" received generally positive reviews, but several critics felt underwhelmed by the story. Nick Setchfield of SFX gave the episode four-and-a-half out of five stars. He was positive towards the visual style and the plot, as well as the performances of Smith, Coleman, and Celia Imrie.[4] A Radio Times reviewer was pleased that Coleman was playing Clara as a straightforward companion, and highlighted her chemistry with Smith. He described it as "a hugely enjoyable episode that revels in its modern London setting", praising the way its ideas were realised visually on-screen.[33] MSN's Hilary Wardle gave "The Bells of Saint John" episode four out of five stars, noting that it moved at a fast pace and the plot was similar to "The Idiot's Lantern" (2006) but was "very well done". She especially praised the chemistry between Smith and Coleman.[34]

Ben Lawrence, writing in The Daily Telegraph, gave the episode four out of five stars, saying that it had much to "enthral" a present-day viewer and showed how Doctor Who was constantly reinventing itself.[35] A similar statement was made by Euan Ferguson of The Observer, who also wrote that the episode was "splendid" with good villains, though he felt that the plot was "insanely complicated" and hard to understand.[36] Digital Spy's Morgan Jeffery also rated "The Bells of Saint John" four stars, feeling that the threat "leaves a little to be desired" and the Spoonheads' physical appearance was not memorable. However, he said that "practically everything else here is wonderful", especially Clara's new characterisation.[37] IGN reviewer Mark Snow rated the episode 8.2 out of 10. He praised the Wi-Fi concept but was underwhelmed by the Spoonheads, and felt that it was more low-key than it was promoted.[38]

The A.V. Club's Alasdair Wilkins gave "The Bells of Saint John" a grade of B, explaining that the plot suffered just as previous companion introductions had because the threat was secondary to establishing Clara.[39] He also wrote that the episode "struggles to make all its chosen genre elements compelling" and was not positive towards the menace of the Wi-Fi and questioned how realistic the technology seen was.[39] Despite this, he said that it was still "fun" with good performances.[39] Dan Martin of The Guardian was disappointed, writing that it "makes a hearty meal of its iconic London locations ... But after the tour de force that was "The Snowmen", it feels as though this handsome episode constantly just misses the mark". He found the monsters and plot familiar to past episodes, but noted that a "generic" opening episode had been common for the show when it was introducing a new companion, which was done successfully with Clara.[19] Neela Debnath in The Independent echoed similar sentiments, feeling that it did not live up to the hype and reused several elements from previous episodes.[40] Jon Cooper of the Daily Mirror wrote that "The Bells of Saint John" "had its moments" but "as a whole it didn't reach the heights of previous episodes". While he welcomed the departure in tone, he felt that the set-pieces were shoehorned in, and also expressed concern that Clara, despite Coleman's success, was too similar to previous companion Amy Pond (Karen Gillan).[41]

In Doctor Who Magazine, Graham Kibble-White gave it a positive review, describing it as "zestful and exciting Doctor Who." He complimented the fact that "the action sequences are played at a fury and the current anything's-possible flourishes continue unabated". He noted that "there's something pointless but pleasing in having Clara's charge, Artie, reading Summer Falls–a book written by Amelia Williams". Additionally, he described the Spoonheads as "a very effective threat, albeit written as one of the foot soldiers of the Doctor Who world, with only the verbal facility to paraphrase back what's been said," and stated that "the revelation of the concave absence at the back of the skull is horrific." However, he complained that to him, Clara's guess that the TARDIS was a "snogging booth" seemed like "something a 13-year-old boy would conjure, not a 24-year-old woman".[42]

Notes

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Bells of Saint John

View on Grokipedia
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"The Bells of Saint John" is the sixth episode of the seventh series of the British science fiction television series . First broadcast on on 30 March 2013, the episode was written by showrunner and directed by Colm McCarthy. It serves as the mid-series premiere, marking the proper introduction of () as a full-time companion to the (), following her earlier appearances in the 2012 Christmas special "" and series seven's opening episodes. In the episode, set in contemporary , the Doctor investigates a mysterious signal advertised as the "best in the world" that is causing people to vanish after connecting, as their consciousnesses are uploaded into a digital "cloud" controlled by the returning villain the Great Intelligence (voiced by ). Clara, struggling with her , dials a help line number that connects her to the , drawing her into the adventure alongside the Doctor as they uncover the scheme orchestrated by Miss Kizlet () from a base in the newly opened . The story blends urban thriller elements with , featuring high-speed motorbike chases along the and references to Clara's favorite book Summer Falls by Amelia Williams, tying back to previous companion . Produced by Denise Paul under series producer Marcus Wilson, with music composed by , the episode was filmed starting 8 October 2012 in and locations, including the real-life at that resembles the . It debuted a new and costume for the Doctor, emphasizing his monk-like phase after mourning and . A mini-episode, written by Moffat, was released online on 23 March 2013, showing a young Clara encountering the Doctor. The episode's title alludes to the logo on the , evoking the organization's role in emergency aid. "The Bells of Saint John" attracted an overnight audience of 6.18 million viewers, achieving a 29.8% share of the available television audience, and a consolidated rating of 8.44 million, placing it second in the series' ratings behind the special. Critics praised the strong chemistry between Smith and Coleman, the episode's energetic setting, and action set pieces like the plane crash illusion, but noted criticisms of the plot's reliance on familiar tropes, such as robotic servers reminiscent of earlier episodes, and a somewhat generic cyber-threat concept. described it as a "good-looking -set episode" that built excitement for Clara's arc leading into the 50th anniversary celebrations, though it felt like a "little disappointment" compared to prior installments.

Plot

Prequel

"The Bells of Saint John: A Prequel" is a 2-minute-34-second webcast released by the BBC on 23 March 2013, one week before the main television episode aired, and made available on the BBC's YouTube channel and website as a promotional tie-in. Written by Steven Moffat, the prequel was directed by John Hayes and features Matt Smith as the Eleventh Doctor. In the webcast, the Doctor is depicted in a state of melancholy, seated alone on a swing on contemporary , grappling with the loss of his previous companions and from earlier in series 7. A young girl approaches him and engages in a brief , revealing her name as Clara and noting his sadness over a missing friend—unbeknownst to the Doctor, this friend is also named , the same as the enigmatic figure he has previously encountered in "" and "." Played by Sophie Downham, the girl suggests that the Doctor go somewhere quiet and just listen for the sound of his lost friend, prompting him to consider this path for his quest. The prequel establishes the Doctor's profound loneliness and emotional vulnerability following his separation from and , highlighting his ongoing search for meaning and connection through the mystery of , which sets an introspective tone leading into the episode's events. This thematic focus underscores the Doctor's isolation in the wake of his companions' departure, portraying him as a weary time traveler adrift without purpose until this serendipitous encounter.

Synopsis

In 1207, the , having retreated to a Cumbrian disguised as a to contemplate the enigma of , receives a signal that draws him back to the present day. Meanwhile, in 2013 , , a living with the of Artie and Angie Maitland, experiences Wi-Fi connectivity issues on her and dials a number—unwittingly the phone—leading to a conversation with the arrives at her doorstep posing as a technical support expert. As the Doctor investigates mysterious disappearances linked to Wi-Fi usage, he uncovers a conspiracy orchestrated by Miss Kizlet and her team, who deploy "Spoonheads"—robotic figures resembling medieval monks—to upload human minds into a digital dimension, trapping souls as data for exploitation by the returning Great Intelligence, a long-standing adversary. Clara, targeted after accessing forbidden files, is kidnapped by a Spoonhead and nearly uploaded, but the Doctor rescues her using the TARDIS, leading to a high-speed motorcycle chase through London streets where he evades pursuing servers. The plot escalates at the , reached via the Doctor's anti-gravity motorcycle. The Doctor and Clara use the to board the hijacked airplane carrying trapped minds. Later, at the , they confront Kizlet and hack the system to free the victims. In a tense climax, the Great Intelligence manipulates Artie and Angie into volunteering for upload as leverage, simulating their "deaths" in the digital realm, though the Doctor reverses the process just in time. The revelation exposes the network as a gateway to this soul-trapping dimension, controlled from a black tower in the . With the threat neutralized and the Great Intelligence thwarted for now, Clara, intrigued by her brief glimpse of the Doctor's world—including a subtle nod to her younger self's encounter in the —agrees to join him as a companion aboard the after escaping the upload attempt. This 45-minute episode serves as the mid-series premiere for the second half of Series 7.

Continuity

"The Bells of Saint John" serves as a pivotal episode in the Seventh series of Doctor Who, bridging Clara Oswald's fragmented appearances across timelines and reintroducing classic elements from the show's history. The narrative confirms Clara as the "impossible girl" first glimpsed in "Asylum of the Daleks," where she appeared as Oswin Oswald, a human converted into a Dalek, and later in "The Snowmen," as the Victorian-era governess Clara Oswin Oswald, whose death prompted the Doctor's ongoing quest to understand her recurring presence. By having the Doctor recognize her full name—Clara Oswin Oswald—upon answering the TARDIS phone, the episode solidifies her identity as a single individual splintered across different eras, setting the stage for the resolution of her mystery in subsequent stories. The return of the Great Intelligence further ties the episode to Doctor Who's foundational lore, building directly on its 1960s origins. Originally introduced in "The Abominable Snowmen" (1967), where it manipulated robots in the , reemerged in "The Web of Fear" (1968) as a threat infiltrating London's Underground with cybernetic forces. In "The Bells of Saint John," it receives a contemporary update, manifesting through digital technology rather than physical puppets, with Miss Kizlet and her organization acting as its modern human servants to harvest human minds via . This evolution maintains the Intelligence's core of possession and control while adapting it to 21st-century threats, as last glimpsed in its snowy form during "The Snowmen." The episode also marks a transitional point in the Eleventh Doctor's companion dynamics, reflecting his unresolved grief following the deaths of and in "." The Doctor's isolated retreat to a 13th-century underscores his mourning, driving his solitary search for Clara as a means of emotional recovery. This is subtly reinforced through Clara's reading of Summer Falls, a children's book authored by Amelia Williams—Amy's married name—evoking the Ponds' lingering influence on the Doctor's life. By episode's end, Clara's decision to join the Doctor aboard the initiates her full companionship, shifting him from isolation toward renewed partnership. Minor continuities enhance the episode's integration into the series' tapestry, particularly through recurring motifs like the TARDIS's exterior telephone. The title itself alludes to this feature, emblazoned with the logo since the 1963 story "," and prominently used as a lifeline in modern episodes such as "The Eleventh Hour." Here, it functions as an inadvertent help line, with Clara dialing it for assistance, echoing its role as a beacon for those in need. The London-centric setting, centered on landmarks like repurposed as a transmission hub for the villains' scheme, recalls the city's frequent role in narratives involving broadcast-based threats.

Cast

Main cast

Matt Smith portrays the Eleventh Doctor, depicted as a restless wanderer drawn back into action by a mysterious signal in contemporary , continuing his search for the enigmatic . Smith, who assumed the role in 2010 following David Tennant's departure, embodies the Doctor's youthful exuberance and ancient wisdom across his tenure, which spanned series 5 to 7 and several specials until 2013. Jenna-Louise Coleman makes her debut as the primary companion , transitioning from her prior guest appearances as the Dalek-converted Oswin Oswald in "" (2012) and the Victorian-era Clara in the 2012 special "." This episode establishes the modern-day iteration of the character, unifying the previous enigmatic versions into a cohesive arc as the Doctor's new traveling partner. Coleman's casting was announced in 2012, with her role designed to explore Clara's recurring presence across the Doctor's timeline. Recurring supporting characters from the appear in a brief advisory cameo, offering counsel to the Doctor over a communication link. Madame Vastra, a detective, is played by ; her human wife Jenny Flint by ; and the butler Strax by Dan Starkey. Introduced in "A Good Man Goes to War" (2011) and expanded in "" and "" (2013), the trio serves as steadfast Victorian-era allies to the Doctor.

Guest cast

Celia Imrie plays Miss Kizlet, the sophisticated executive overseeing the covert operation to upload human minds via Wi-Fi signals to serve the Great Intelligence, serving as the episode's primary on-screen antagonist whose downfall highlights the Doctor's ingenuity. Imrie, an Olivier Award-winning actress recognized for her roles in the ensemble comedy Calendar Girls (2003) and as Helena in the Bridget Jones film series, infuses the character with a blend of charm and cold authority. Robert Whitelock portrays Mahler, Miss Kizlet's scientific subordinate who facilitates the mind-upload technology but exhibits subtle signs of ethical unease, adding depth to the villains' corporate dynamic. Whitelock, known for his supporting turn as Keith in the supernatural series Misfits (2009–2013) and as an armed officer in (2013), brings a measured intensity to the role. Eve de Leon Allen and Kassius Carey Johnson depict Angie Maitland and Artie Maitland, the tech-savvy siblings babysat by Clara whose vulnerability to the uploading scheme personalizes the threat and motivates Clara's involvement with the Doctor. Allen's portrayal emphasizes Angie's precocious skepticism, while Johnson's Artie conveys wide-eyed curiosity, underscoring the episode's themes of digital peril to the young and innocent; both actors these parts in later stories within the season. Supporting the antagonistic ensemble are Dan Li as Alexei, an operative handling communications in the upload facility, and Manpreet Bachu as Nabile, a staff member aiding the operation's logistics, both contributing to the portrayal of a faceless corporate menace. James Greene (d. 2021) appears as the Abbott, the serene leader whose disrupted tranquility opens the and contrasts the ensuing chaos. lends his voice to the disembodied Great Intelligence, the manipulative force directing the scheme from afar, evoking dread through narration. Additional minor roles, including the eerie "Spoonhead" victims—humans with spoons affixed to their heads symbolizing their digitized enslavement—and various uncredited London civilians and operators, are performed by ensemble , amplifying the story's sense of widespread, insidious invasion.

Production

Writing and development

"The Bells of Saint John" was written by in his role as showrunner for . The episode was specifically conceived to reintroduce Clara Oswald as the Doctor's companion following her brief appearances in "" and the 2012 Christmas special "", partially addressing the ongoing "impossible girl" mystery while establishing her as a long-term character and laying groundwork for future narrative arcs. Development occurred during the production of the split seventh series, with Moffat beginning work on the concept in April 2012 and completing the first draft by late August of that year. The story incorporated contemporary anxieties about technology, portraying networks as an insidious threat due to their pervasive presence in modern society, which Moffat described as a straightforward device rather than a deep critique. The script focused on a contemporary setting to create an urban thriller atmosphere, drawing inspiration from action-oriented films while prioritizing Clara's introduction as a witty, resilient figure who challenges the Doctor. Revisions balanced high-stakes action with character moments, including refinements to continuity elements like the Great Intelligence's involvement and adjustments to symbolic details, such as changing imagery to foreshadow later episodes, all while withholding a complete reveal of Clara's to sustain the season's mystery. Moffat emphasized the episode's fast-paced structure as an "action rollercoaster" to energize the series' return after its mid-season hiatus.

Filming

The episode was directed by Colm McCarthy in his debut directing a feature-length story, having previously worked on series such as Hustle and . Producer Denise Paul managed the production, stepping in to allow series producer Marcus Wilson to focus on planning the 50th anniversary special. Principal photography began with a read-through on 19 2012 and commenced filming on 8 October 2012, wrapping the main block by late October, with additional pick-up shots in November, December 2012, and February 2013. Much of the interior work, including scenes, took place at Roath Lock Studios in , . Exterior shoots in featured locations such as 30 Beatty Avenue in for the Maitland family home (filmed 8–10 and 12 October) and standing in for the 1207 monastery (17 October). Filming shifted to London for urban sequences, where the production faced logistical hurdles in coordinating shoots amid heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic on public landmarks. The motorcycle chase was captured on 15–16 October across , Horse Guards Road, , and , with the TARDIS materialization scene on The Queen's Walk near the . served as the exterior for the episode's climax atop Miss Kizlet's lair, filmed on St Thomas Street (16 October). Additional rooftop scenes, including Clara's hacking sequence, were shot at the sky bar of Grange St Paul's Hotel (15 October). Pick-up shots for global Wi-Fi sequences occurred in (Eiffel Tower, 2 December), (Conzelman Road and Stockton Street, 6 December), and (Shibuya Starbucks and Sensō-ji, 7–8 December). Technical elements included extensive use of green screen for the ascent up , where stunt doubles handled the high-risk driving while actors and performed key close-ups. The itself was a modified 2009 SE. Green screen techniques also supported surreal sequences depicting the "Wi-Fi dimension," such as the digital upload of human souls and the flight through data streams. , primarily by The Mill, created the Spoonheads—robotic servers with swiveling heads—and the ethereal upload effects, integrating seamlessly with practical elements like Millennium FX prosthetics.

Broadcast

Airing and viewership

"The Bells of Saint John" premiered on in the on 30 March 2013, airing from 6:15 pm to 7:00 pm. The episode achieved an overnight viewership of 6.18 million, capturing a 29.8% audience share and topping the night's charts ahead of competing programmes like . When consolidated figures including time-shifted viewings were tallied, the total reached 8.44 million viewers with a 35.8% share and an score of 87, marking it as the highest-rated premiere for the second half of Series 7 and outperforming the Series 7 opener "," which consolidated at 8.3 million. Internationally, the episode received a simultaneous broadcast on in the United States, drawing 2.02 million total viewers (P2+ Live+SD) and ranking as the top cable entertainment programme for adults 25-54 with 737,000 in that demographic. In , it aired on the channel at 8:00 pm ET, becoming the most-watched specialty programme of the day across key demographics. handled global distribution, enabling broadcasts in numerous territories shortly after the UK premiere. Promotion for the episode included trailers and a short released in the week leading up to transmission, highlighting the introduction of companion and the modern technology themes involving and digital threats.

Home media

The home media release for "The Bells of Saint John" formed part of the Doctor Who: Series 7 Part 2 DVD and Blu-ray box set, distributed by and released in the on 27 May 2013. This three-disc collection encompassed the episode alongside others from the second half of the seventh series, totaling over six hours of content, and featured special extras including the episode's short "The Bells of Saint John: A ", behind-the-scenes featurettes specific to the episode's production, and audio commentaries for select installments in the set such as "" and "". The set also incorporated broader bonus materials like music videos for classic episodes, a documentary on the science behind the series, and prequels for other episodes including "Hide" and "Nightmare in Silver". In terms of sales performance, Series 7 Part 2 reached number one on the Official TV DVD Chart in the UK for one week, remaining on the chart for a total of 13 weeks following its launch. A comprehensive Doctor Who: The Complete Seventh Series box set followed on 28 October 2013 in the UK, bundling all episodes from the season with expanded extras such as deleted scenes, visual effects breakdowns, and interviews exploring Jenna-Louise Coleman's introduction as , including the featurette "Creating Clara". The episode has since been included in larger retrospective collections, such as The Complete Years (2014), without significant new home media updates as of 2025. (Note: used for confirmation, but primary sourcing from retailer listings.) Digitally, "The Bells of Saint John" became available for download and purchase on platforms including and Amazon Video shortly after its broadcast, starting in 2013. For streaming, it was initially offered on in the post-premiere, and from 2023 onward, the episode has been accessible internationally on Disney+ as part of the BBC's partnership with , which positioned the service as the global streaming home for the series outside the .

Reception

Critical reception

"The Bells of Saint John" received generally positive critical reception, with reviewers praising its energetic pacing, strong performances, and contemporary themes while noting some flaws in plotting and villain development. SFX Magazine's Nick Setchfield gave the episode 4.5 out of 5 stars, highlighting the stunning visuals, particularly the action sequences, and Jenna-Louise Coleman's charismatic portrayal of as a fresh and engaging companion. The Guardian's Dan Martin commended the electric chemistry between and Coleman, describing the episode as a "hearty meal" of iconic locations and a modern twist on robot-uprising tropes, though he felt it occasionally missed the mark with familiar elements. Radio Times lauded Steven Moffat's script for its confident, playful twists and revelry in modern settings, calling it one of his best efforts and a hugely entertaining opener to the series' second half. Similarly, awarded it 7.7 out of 10, emphasizing its entertaining standalone story, logical plotting, and terrific rapport between the leads, which added a "fun heart" to the proceedings, despite a slight wobble in momentum midway through. Critics appreciated the episode's tech , portraying and smartphones as sinister tools akin to the Spoonheads' mind-sucking devices, offering timely commentary on digital dependency. However, some found the plot convoluted with too many elements crammed into the runtime, and the villains underdeveloped; The A.V. Club's Alasdair Wilkins assigned a B grade, praising the character dynamics and clever hacking scenes but critiquing the lightweight Miss Kizlet and lackluster visual execution of tech threats, which left the story feeling incomplete. Aggregated scores reflect this mixed but favorable response: on , it holds a 7.8 out of 10 rating from over 7,200 users, while the season as a whole scores 100% on based on seven reviews.

Audience reception

Upon its broadcast, "The Bells of Saint John" elicited enthusiastic fan engagement, particularly for Jenna Coleman's portrayal of , whose introduction as a clever and adventurous companion was widely celebrated for revitalizing the series dynamic following the fragmented narrative of the previous episodes. Fans highlighted the episode's high-energy action sequences and the playful TARDIS-Wi-Fi premise as accessible entry points for new viewers, fostering discussions on the character's potential to bridge the Doctor's past mysteries with future adventures. In a 2013 reader poll conducted by CultBox for the favorite of Series 7 Part 2, the garnered 4.6% of votes, placing it sixth out of eight and reflecting a solid but not top-tier standing among dedicated viewers who favored its role as a mid-season relaunch. Long-term appreciation has positioned the as a nostalgic of Matt Smith's era, with its enduring appeal as a fun, lore-teasing opener that humanized Clara through relatable modern elements like connectivity. The "help line" gag inspired widespread fan mimicry, including custom network names mimicking the episode's eerie SSIDs, contributing to its meme legacy in online communities.

References

  1. https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/dw-bells-st-john
  2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01rryzz
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5n3rKpVjhxHHhZ9dRyn4wWt/the-bells-of-saint-john
  4. https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2013/03/dwn31031312the-bells-of-saint-john-had-overnight.html
  5. https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2013/mar/30/doctor-who-bells-of-saint-john
  6. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p016r6pw
  7. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4287020/
  8. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IROtC6cAT4
  9. https://them0vieblog.com/2013/03/30/doctor-who-the-bells-of-st-john-review/
  10. https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who-series-7-the-bells-of-saint-john-review/
  11. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p016fvc4/p016fv92
  12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/doctorwho/entries/34f19a25-d94f-4cb5-a364-c3c7a58ace84
  13. https://www.bbcamerica.com/blogs/doctor-who-10-things-you-may-not-know-about-the-bells-of-saint-john--1013037
  14. https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/s4/characters/doctor11
  15. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/doctorwhosevenb/jenna-louise-coleman/
  16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-21980892
  17. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2222152/fullcredits
  18. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0408309/bio/
  19. https://www.avclub.com/doctor-who-the-bells-of-saint-john-1798176292
  20. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/87594-robert-whitelock
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2222152/fullcredits/
  22. https://collider.com/steven-moffat-doctor-who-season-7-interview/
  23. http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/2013a.html
  24. https://theflickcast.com/2013/03/27/doctor-whos-steven-moffat-on-the-creepy-spoonheads-and-mysterious-clara/
  25. https://www.doctorwholocations.net/stories/thebellsofsaintjohn
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2222152/locations/
  27. https://www.doctorwhoreviewer.com/232-the-bells-of-saint-john
  28. https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/proginfo/2013/14/doctor-who
  29. https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2013/04/the-bells-of-saint-john-ratings-chart.html
  30. https://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=ai
  31. https://www.bbcstudiospressroom.com/press/the-geeks-come-out-at-night-for-bbc-america/
  32. https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/orphan-black-is-most-watched-original-series-debut-in-space-history-with-404000-viewers-512167791.html
  33. https://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/the-bells-chime-tonight-another-trailer-46848.htm
  34. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Doctor-Who-Part-Matt-Smith/dp/B00BJ66DEG
  35. https://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/series-7-part-2-dvd-details-48305.htm
  36. https://www.officialcharts.com/videos/doctor-who-series-7-pt-2/
  37. https://www.blogtorwho.com/doctor-who-complete-seventh-series/
  38. https://tardis.fandom.com/wiki/The_Complete_Matt_Smith_Years
  39. http://www.reviewgraveyard.com/00_revs/r2013/dvd/13-10-28_who7.html
  40. https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/bbc-and-disney-branded-television-join-forces-on-doctor-who
  41. https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/the-bells-of-saint-john/
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2222152/
  43. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/doctor_who/s07
  44. https://cultbox.co.uk/features/poll-results/doctor-who-poll-results-which-episode-of-series-7-part-2-was-your-favourite
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