Is anyone aware of if/how the episodes get edited for broadcast on BBC America in the US? I didn't think there was a difference until this week.

Case in point, I have come across numerous sources on the web which say that the corpse/cyberman in Dr Chang's office was Dr Skarosa. But I have seen the episode 3 times now and never see this explicitly stated.

- Is it explicitly stated (or are these sources jumping to conclusions)? Was it something more subtle I missed?
- If it was stated, can anyone else who watched the BBCA broadcasts verify / contradict it was edited out?
- If the BBCA broadcasts are being edited, what else have I been missing all these years?

In the US iTunes version they first enter that office at 28:38. Doctor Skarosa is first mentioned at 32:00. He stands up at 35:22.

At 43:50 there is a shot panning up from the floor on Dr Skarosa. His name is clearly visible on a plaque on the bottom of the chair he had been seated on.

The episode ends at 46:29. So I guess that means it's about 2:40 from the end.

Here's a screen capture for you.

I can't speak as to broadcast versions in either country, other than that Series 5 definitely had a different opening for US broadcast — that stuff where Amy helpfully reminds us all of the premise was not present in the UK (where I lived at the time).

I don't mean to play dumb but why edit them differently for the American audiences? Are cultural differences really that big that they don't think Americans will "get it"?

Has this always been the case?

The episode, at least via iTunes is 46 minutes, 29 seconds long. Possibly it was just the wrong size for the broadcasting hole? US hour-long TV shows tend to have about 42 minutes of content.

Its a question of advertising, not content. Broadcasts on BBCA need to show commercials, BBC (UK) does not. Its the reason why (I assume) Dr Who episodes are on average 45 mins long, whereas BBC UK timeslots could tolerate a 58 min show - they want to sell the show globally.

BBCA has the series on endless repeat on fixed 60min slots in the morning. The extended episodes are very clearly edited to fit these limited windows e.g. XMas, 60min Finales.

Thanks. I'll put this down to my poor eyesight. I didn't hear it, because I should've read it.

To be clear, I did know that Skarosa existed and his significance to the plot - it was the fact that he was the skeleton in that specific room that I had missed.
Last edited by LurgidBee : 05-11-2014 at 06:39

Ooooooh OK, cool thanks! Now it makes so much more sense!

There was also an earlier scene where Chang and the Doctor both look towards the skeleton when discussing Skarosa indicating that the skeleton is that of the supposed Founder of 3W.


As to BBC America editing the episodes. They tend to show the episode in full on it's premiere airing but then edit it down to fit the timeslot after that.

There's also been the occasional episode that's edited for other reasons. IIRC the Last of the Timelords didn't have the Master dancing to the Scissor Sisters for example.

Which proves that sometimes editing an episode can be a good thing...

Seems the Masters's dance was just cut for time reasons (6 mins in total was cut from LotTL for the US showing) I misremembered there being some copyright problem with the music.

And it was the Sci Fi Channel who were broadcasting the show back then, as I said BBC America has always shown the full version of each episode at least once.