Doctor Who Vs. Flood

This British disaster film (released by Lionsgate in 2007) was shown on 5 Action today, and was based on the eco-thriller written by Guernsey-born climate change expert, Richard Doyle. The novel depicts the aftermath of a devastating Atlantic storm on the British Isles. Present day London is threatened by a catastrophic flood (then subsequent fires from a refinery explosion), and the Thames Barrier fails. 

The drama (first broadcast on ITV as a mini-series in May 2008 and

repeated on ITV3 in Janaury 2011) however, concentrates on the

flooding of the capital. Ironically, the city's saviour proves to be the

weather, and rain extinguishes the second Great Fire. Doyle's book

(published in 2002) is highly detailed and researched, full of incident

and characterisation, with a true sense of scale and realism. Flood

conveys a thoroughly convincing scenario, presented with tangible 

peril and rising panic - a highly recommended and insightful read

that remains one of my favourite books.

The extended two-part TV version of Flood featured Robert Carlyle,

Jessalyn Gilsig, Joanne Whalley, Tom Hardy, Tom Courtenay, David 

Hayman, and eleven Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

• David [Courtney] Suchet (Campbell) played the Landlord in Knock Knock
• Nigel [George] Planer (Hopkins) was Vorgenson in The Monsters Are Coming!, and voiced Marlow for Big Finish's Hothouse (2009), then the Old Emperor and Herrax for Empire of the Racnoss (2017)
• Rob Dixon (Bryant) voiced Reggie Mead for Project: Twilight (2001), and Sergeant Wood for No Man's Land (2006)
• Pip [Dean] Torrens (Richardson) was Headmaster Rocastle in Human Nature and The Family of Blood, then voiced Charlie Gibbs for Eldrad Must Die! (2013)
• Martin Ball (Wyatt) was Roger Davey in Partners in Crime
• Chrissie Cotterill (Christine) was Madame Vernet in Vincent and the Doctor
• John Benfield [born Jonathan Edmund Fulford Turner] (Frank) voiced Don for Autumn (2007), and Captain Greeg for The Song of Megaptera (2010)
• stunt co-ordinator Jim Dowdall had uncredited roles in Day of the Daleks, Genesis of the Daleks and Frontios
• Christopher Fosh (Engineer) and stuntman Steve Griffin both worked on The Idiot's Lantern too
• Susan Wooldridge (Nash's Assistant) auditioned for the role of Leela in 1976