The popular sci-fi show Doctor Who has removed an old story from the streaming service BBC iPlayer after a public controversy surrounding one of the figures in the episode. The episode from the second season, titled “Fear Her,” follows the Doctor and his companion Rose as they travel to the 2012 Olympic Games in London and encounter an unusual child with powerful abilities that threaten her neighbors. While season 2 was famously one of Doctor Who’s worst-reviewed seasons, this specific episode’s removal from streaming sets an interesting precedent for the show.
“Fear Her” is best remembered as one of the several episodes in season 2 that strongly contributed to the relationship between the Doctor and Rose Tyler. While the story is weak and somewhat forgettable, it contains many scenes between the two characters that are crucial in understanding their dynamic. The adventure directly precedes the two-part season finale in which the Doctor and Rose are (seemingly) separated forever. While the episode will be returned eventually, its absence from streaming has caused huge controversy.
Doctor Who Season 2, Episode 11, “Fear Her” Has Been Temporarily Removed From BBC iPlayer
The Episode Is A Bite-Size Olympic Adventure
“Fear Her” introduced one of Doctor Who’s most polarizing monsters in the Isolus, an alien that crash-landed on Earth and attached itself to a young girl with a troubled past. The creature feeds off the girl’s trauma and emotions, giving her powers to control the world around her by drawing things into (and out of) existence. It’s revealed that the girl is responsible for a series of disappearances on the estate, with the Isolus controlling her into making the other children as lonely as she is.
The Doctor and Rose ultimately defeat the Isolus by using the Olympic Torch to power the Isolus’ pod and send it back where it came from. As it evacuates Earth, it causes the young girl’s drawing of her abusive father to come to life, which ultimately proves to be harmless when her mother calms her down. Despite a few narrative hiccups, the episode is an effective commentary on loneliness and isolation at a young age – but the harsh reality of Doctor Who is that several episodes like this with under-baked monsters just don’t work. There’s also one greater issue with the episode, which is why it’s been removed.
Doctor Who’s Episode Being Pulled Is To Remove Huw Edwards From It
The Newsreader Will Be Edited Out Of The Episode Before It’s Returned
The decision to remove “Fear Her” from BBC iPlayer comes after Huw Edwards, a British journalist and newsreader, has pleaded guilty to crimes involving the creation of indecent images of children. The accusations first came to light in July 2023, when Edwards’ wife revealed him as the unnamed figure at the center of several anonymous complaints. After a long trial and criminal investigations, Edwards confessed to the crimes of which he stood accused in July 2024. Doctor Who has since deleted the episode from its streaming service, as it contains a cameo from Edwards as a fictionalized version of himself.
The BBC has confirmed that “Fear Her” will be returned to iPlayer once Edwards’ cameo has been removed from the Doctor Who footage. The decision sets an important precedent for the BBC, as it likely will not be the only show that runs into issues of a similar nature considering Edwards’ ubiquitous work. The company is yet to comment on whether Edwards’ appearances in other forms of media will go through the same treatment following the controversy.