Terror Beneath The Ice!

The Doctor and Bill face a giant serpent lurking below the frozen River Thames.

- Nick Cannon

Back in 1814, the weather was so cold in London that the Thames froze and locals celebrated with a ‘frost fair’ on the ice.

But as records show, this was the last year it ever happened. And in this week’s Doctor Who, viewers find out why…

The Doctor and Bill have travelled back to the Regency era – which lasted between 1811 and 1820 – arriving near Black friars Bridge as the frost fair is in full swing. The Tardis wardrobe has helpfully provided them with Georgian fashions – a top hat for the Time Lord and a long velvet coat and plumes for Bill – and the pair take a stroll around.

Bill looks on in wonder as she spots elephants walking across the ice, as well as acrobats and wrestlers putting on shows.

But as the city shivers and freezing fog swirls, there’s also something sinister going on below the fair. People start disappearing, sucked under the ice by weird glowing fish, then fed to a gigantic serpent that lies on the riverbed.