Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor - Easter Eggs & Hidden Details
Easter Eggs
The opening sequence mimics the 1963 original, with the classic title sequence, theme arrangement, and a black-and-white shot of a policeman walking past a sign for 'I.M. Foreman,' the scrapyard where the TARDIS was first found.
This is a direct homage to the very first episode, 'An Unearthly Child,' grounding the 50th-anniversary special in the show's origins and celebrating its long history.
At Coal Hill School, where Clara teaches, the sign lists the Chairman of the Governors as 'I. Chesterton' and the Headmaster as 'W. Coburn'.
Ian Chesterton was one of the First Doctor's original companions and a teacher at the school. 'W. Coburn' refers to Waris Hussein and Anthony Coburn, the director and writer of the first-ever Doctor Who serial, respectively.
The code the Doctors use to start the calculation on the sonic screwdriver is 1716231163.
This is a reference to the original air time of 'An Unearthly Child': 5:16 PM (17:16) on 23/11/63.
In the UNIT Black Archive, there are photos of many of the Doctor's past companions.
This serves as a visual tribute to the many characters who have travelled with the Doctor over the show's 50-year history.
The Tenth Doctor tells the Eleventh 'I don't want to go,' and the Eleventh remarks 'He always says that.' The Eleventh Doctor also says 'reversing the polarity,' a famous catchphrase of the Third Doctor.
These lines are direct references to past Doctor incarnations, rewarding long-time viewers with familiar phrases and character beats. 'Reversing the polarity' is one of the most iconic phrases from the classic era.
A cameo appearance by Tom Baker, the iconic Fourth Doctor, as 'The Curator' of the National Gallery.
This was a major, unannounced surprise for fans. His mysterious character suggests he is a future incarnation of the Doctor who has retired. His line about 'revisiting a few of the old favourites' hints at the Doctor's ability to choose his appearance upon regeneration, and provides a heartwarming link between the show's past and future.
Osgood, the UNIT scientist, is wearing the Fourth Doctor's multi-colored scarf.
This is another visual homage to Tom Baker's Doctor, one of the most recognizable incarnations. It also establishes Osgood as a stand-in for the show's dedicated fanbase.