In SFX Magazine 391, Juno Dawson, co-writer of the sixth episode of Doctor Who Season Two, The Interstellar Song Contest, relayed what she appreciated most about the writing process.

“[Showrunner and co-writer] Russell [T Davies] was very much, ‘This is your chance to write Doctor Who. You’ve been waiting for this your whole life. What do you want in this episode?’ So, we got anti-mavity scenes with the companion being pinned to the ceiling and floating through space ‒ really ambitious stuff.”

The episode, pitched by Davies as “Die Hard meets Eurovision, opens with the TARDIS materialising inside a VIP pod at the Harmony Arena, a space station stadium venue, just in time for the live broadcast of the 803rd Interstellar Song Contest. The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda (Varada Sethu) agree enthusiastically to remain for the spectacle.

According to Dawson, just as the first act begins, a dangerous insurgent named Kid (Freddie Fox) seizes control of Harmony Arena and purges the audience into deadly outer space.

It’s up to the massacre’s survivors to reclaim control of the station. Kid has an even larger plan that could lead to the annihilation of the entire galaxy.

Charlie Condou and Kadiff Kirwan play gay couple Gary and Mike, who attend the contest every year and find themselves drawn into the struggle.

Rylan plays himself as the presenter of the contest after spending centuries in suspended animation.

Anita Dobson once again appears as the enigmatic Mrs Flood. Davies warned that The Interstellar Song Contest is one of two episodes that viewers will want to watch as soon as possible to avoid spoilers. What is Mrs Flood up to in this one?

Written by Juno Dawson and Russell T Davies and directed by Ben A Williams, The Interstellar Song Contest will transmit on Saturday 17 May at 8am on BBC iPlayer and on BBC One in the UK between the FA Cup Final and the Eurovision Grand Final (providing the FA Cup Final doesn’t require extra time). Those outside of the UK can watch it on Disney+ where available simultaneously starting at 3am ET/12am PT. The remaining two finale episodes of the series will transmit on 24 and 31 May.