Matt Smith's first full series as The Doctor comes to France 4 next month when the channel begins showing the 31st series of the show, starting with Le Prisonnier Zéro (The Eleventh Hour) on February 12, at 8:35 PM.

Viewers in France got to see the end of the Tenth Doctor last Christmas day when France 4 showed La Prophétie de Noël.

The series will continue with Épisode 2 — La Bête des bas-fonds and Épisode 3 — La Victoire des Daleks.


In addition French-speaking Doctor Who fansite Beans On Toast has revealed that series 4 of Doctor Who will be released on DVD in French.

The news has been confirmed by France Television Distristribution, the DVD editor in charge of the DVD releases of the first three series in France. French-speaking fans have been campaigning for a DVD release of the series with Beans on Toast launching an online petition in August 2010.

Series 1, 2 and 3 are also to be re-released on DVD, and this time, the series 3 boxset will include the original English version with French subtitles. The current DVD edition only offers the French dub.

For discussion on this news see the Beans On Toast Forum.

While many viewers in the English speaking world will be enjoying Matt Smith's first Christmas special as The Doctor this year, viewers in France will be bidding farewell to the Tenth Doctor when France 4 broadcasts both parts of The End of Time this Christmas Day.

Docteur Who : La Prophétie de Noël will be broadcast at 8.35. The title translates as The Christmas Prophecy.

The story was dubbed into French last March with David Manet making his swan song as the voice of the Tenth Doctor. A full cast list can be found here.

Update 19th December: readers in France may watch previews for parts one and two from the France4 website.

French Doctor Who fans are petitioning the French DVD distribution company to release Series Four of the show in the republic.

Organised by the website Beans on Toast the petition calls on France Television Distribution, not only release the series in the French language but to ensure the DVD release is of high quality.

Series 1 - 3 have all been released, dubbed into French, but with none of the extras familiar to English speaking viewers included. The first two series had the English versions of the soundtrack included with French Subtitles, but this was not available for Series Three. There are currently no plans to release Series Four in any form.

The first week in March saw the recording of the French translation of David Tennant's final adventure, The End of Time. The recording took place at the Dubbing Brothers studios in Brussels, Belgium, with dialogue written by François Dubuc, and the session directed by David Macaluso.

The role of the Doctor was assumed by David Manet, who has played both the Ninth and Tenth Doctors throughout the series' return. However, the Eleventh Doctor finds a new 'voice' in the form of Belgian stage actor and dubbing artist Marc Weiss. Similarly returning is Franck Dacquin as the Master - he has been John Simm's 'alternative' since Life on Mars.


There is currently no information as to when The End of Time (or its predecessor The Waters of Mars) will be broadcast in France.

Last year's Easter special, Planet of the Dead, made its debut in France earlier this week where it was watched by 423,000 viewers.

The episode, called Planète Morte, was dubbed into French and shown on France 4 at 8.35pm. David Manet provided the voice of Le Docteur with Maia Barar playing Christina, Monique Clemont playing Capitaine Magambo, Oliver Cuvellier playing Malcolm and Yeves Degen playing Chauffeur de bus.

You can read more about the process of translating the show into French here, and you can discuss the translation here.