The Shakespeare Code

In the late 1980s script editor Andrew Cartmel highlighted the need to have more historical stories since that was what the BBC did best, unlike the stories set in the future where cardboard and bubble wrap failed to suffice as a convincing alien space station. Despite the fact the BBC now have the money and the technology to produce a convincing alien space station, The Shakespeare Code highlights the fact that the BBC are still very good at this sort of thing.

Having watched Gareth Robert's other RTD story recently 'The Unicorn and the Wasp' I realise that both are ridiculously similar. Both feature references to the featured historical writers work ("you can have that"), there is a series of murders and both are comedies.

With a strong cast, great production values and good direction this story does excel but there is nothing special in this story to make it a classic but it is generally a fun romp and the series needs this after the traumatic events of Doomsday for The Doctor.

7/10