Tyler Wynn
Are you my mummy? is a famous quote from the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It is the first canonical episode written by Steven Moffat, who would later become the showrunner and main writer of Doctor Who from the fifth to tenth series. In the episode, the Doctor, an alien time traveller, and his companion Rose Tyler arrive in 1941 during the London Blitz, where they find that the city has been terrorised by a strange child in a gas mask repeatedly asking for his mother. The episode first aired on BBC One on 21 May 2005 and received overnight ratings of 6.6 million viewers, a 34.9% audience share.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Source | Doctor Who, Season 1, Episode 9 ("The Empty Child") |
| Year | 2005 |
| Plot | During WWII, a mysterious cylinder is guarded by the army while homeless children living on bomb sites are terrorized by an unearthly child wearing a gas mask. |
| "Are you my mummy?" | Asked by a child over the phone to the Doctor, and in person by converted patients in a hospital |
| Availability | Free to play or download on Soundboard.com |
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What You'll Learn
'Are You My Mummy' is from the TV show Doctor Who
"Are you my mummy?" is a memorable line from the TV show Doctor Who. It is the ninth episode of the first series of the British science fiction television programme, which was first broadcast on BBC One on 21 May 2005. The episode, titled "The Empty Child", was written by Steven Moffat and directed by James Hawes.
In the episode, the Doctor, an alien time traveller, and his companion Rose Tyler arrive in London in 1941 during World War II. They find that the city, specifically the homeless children living in bomb sites, has been terrorised by an unearthly child wearing a gas mask, who repeatedly asks, "Are you my mummy?". The Doctor follows this mysterious child to a house left empty from recent air raid sirens, where he encounters a group of orphaned children cared for by a young woman named Nancy. Despite her warnings, the Doctor opens the door to the child in the gas mask, only to find that the child has disappeared.
The episode continues with the Doctor and Nancy investigating the strange occurrences, leading them to a hospital where they discover patients with identical symptoms, including gas masks fused to their bodies. Dr Constantine explains that Nancy's brother, Jamie, was the first patient with these symptoms. The converted patients converge on the Doctor, Rose, and Jack, all asking the chilling question, "Are you my mummy?".
"Are you my mummy?" has become a well-known and iconic phrase associated with Doctor Who, and it is often featured on soundboards and in references to the show. The episode "The Empty Child" is notable for its eerie and suspenseful atmosphere, and it has left an impact on viewers, with the haunting question "Are you my mummy?" lingering in their memories.
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The episode is titled 'The Empty Child'
The episode titled "The Empty Child" is the ninth episode of the first series of the iconic British science fiction television programme Doctor Who. It was written by Steven Moffat, marking his first canonical episode for the show. The episode was directed by James Hawes and first broadcast on BBC One on 21 May 2005.
"The Empty Child" is the first of a two-part story, with the second part titled "The Doctor Dances", aired on 28 May. The episode introduces the character of Captain Jack Harkness, played by John Barrowman, who would become a recurring character in Doctor Who and the lead character of the spin-off series Torchwood.
In the episode, the Ninth Doctor, an alien time traveller, and his companion Rose Tyler arrive in London in 1941 during the Blitz. They discover that the city has been terrorised by a strange child in a gas mask, asking for his mother. The child is referred to as ""empty"" and is described as having a ""gas mask-shaped face"". The episode also features homeless children living in the bombsites, who are being terrorised by the unearthly child.
"The Empty Child" received positive reviews, with many praising Moffat's script and the creepy atmosphere of the episode. It has been described as a ""chilling"" and ""scary"" episode, with the ""are you my mummy"" line being particularly memorable for viewers. The episode received an Audience Appreciation Index score of 84 and was ranked as one of the best episodes of Doctor Who in various polls.
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The episode was written by Steven Moffat
"Are you my mummy?" is a memorable line from the Doctor Who episode "The Empty Child". The episode was written by Steven Moffat, marking his first episode of the show. Moffat is known for his work on Coupling and as a lifelong fan of Doctor Who. He also wrote a Comic Relief spoof of the show in 1999, featuring Rowan Atkinson as the Ninth Doctor.
Moffat's script for "The Empty Child" received praise from SFX, which stated that the two-part story had "everything". The episode introduced Captain Jack Harkness, a character that, according to IMDb user reviews, "blatantly panders to a more adult audience". The episode also featured a child responsible for the strange occurrences in the episode, a pattern that would be repeated in later stories such as "Fear Her" and "Night Terrors".
Moffat has shared some interesting behind-the-scenes insights about the episode. For example, he revealed that the Doctor's original reply to Rose asking what she should call him was intended to be a metafictional dig at Star Trek: "I'd rather have Doctor Who than Star Trek". Additionally, Moffat claimed that the sound of Dr Constantine's skull cracking as his face changed into a gas mask was discussed but ultimately not included in the episode.
"The Empty Child" is considered a scary and suspenseful episode, with some scenes being edited due to its time slot. It effectively builds atmosphere and reconstructs war-time London, creating a chilling and lingering sense of fear. The episode received strong ratings, with an Audience Appreciation Index score of 84 and a final viewership of 7.11 million.
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The child is wearing a gas mask
The mask obscures the child's features, casting a veil of intrigue and dread over their identity. Are they a boy or a girl? Why do they wear the mask? The enigma deepens as the child continues their relentless quest, searching for their mother. Their persistence is unyielding, their methods at times unnerving. They knock on doors, their small hands tapping insistently, only to vanish when the door creaks open.
The gas mask, once a symbol of protection, has now become a macabre accessory, a chilling reminder of the dangers that lurk. It is a stark contrast to the innocence typically associated with childhood. The mask has become an extension of the child, a part of their being that cannot be removed. It is a physical manifestation of the unknown, a barrier that separates them from the world, both physically and metaphorically.
The child's persistence in seeking their mummy is relentless, and their methods are often unsettling. They are not alone in their plight; other children share their affliction. Together, they converge, a united front in their quest for answers. Their shared experience bonds them, and their collective presence becomes a force to be reckoned with.
The gas mask-wearing children of World War II London are a haunting reminder of the fragility of innocence in the face of turmoil. Their relentless search for their mothers becomes a symbol of the indomitable spirit that persists even in the darkest of times. These children, with their distorted voices and obscured faces, embody the mystery and intrigue that lie at the heart of their story, forever etched in the memories of those who encounter them.
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The episode takes place during WWII
"Are you my mummy?" is a famous line from the Doctor Who episode "The Empty Child". The episode takes place during World War II, specifically in 1941 during the London Blitz. A mysterious cylinder is being guarded by the army, while homeless children living in bomb sites are being terrorized by an unearthly child wearing a gas mask. The child repeatedly asks, "Are you my mummy?" as he knocks on doors, leaving those he encounters frightened.
The episode begins with the Doctor returning to the TARDIS to find the phone ringing. Despite warnings from Nancy, a young woman, not to answer it, he does and hears the voice of a child asking the now-famous question. The Doctor follows Nancy to an empty house abandoned due to recent air raid sirens. Nancy and some orphaned children she cares for have taken shelter there. The Doctor tries to gather information from Nancy, but the boy in the gas mask knocks at the door. Nancy urges the children to leave through the back entrance and warns the Doctor not to touch the boy.
Intrigued, the Doctor opens the door, but the child is nowhere to be seen. He catches up with Nancy and convinces her to share more details. Nancy discloses that she knew the cylinder fell near a local hospital and that its presence is connected to the boy. When the Doctor arrives at the hospital, he discovers several patients with the same eerie symptoms, including gas masks fused to their bodies. Dr Constantine explains that Jamie, Nancy's brother, was the first patient exhibiting these strange symptoms.
The episode's working title was "World War II", reflecting its setting during the global conflict. Writer Steven Moffat intended for the episode to be smaller in scale, focusing on the fear evoked by a little boy searching for his mother rather than a grand enemy. The episode marks the first appearance of John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, who would become a recurring character in the series and the lead character in the spin-off show "Torchwood."
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Frequently asked questions
You can find the "are you my mummy" sound clip on Soundboard.com.
The sound clip is from the Doctor Who episode "The Empty Child", which was the first canonical episode written by Steven Moffat. In the episode, the Doctor receives a phone call from a child asking "are you my mummy".
The "are you my mummy" sound clip is significant because it is the first time in the episode that the Doctor hears the voice of the unearthly child that has been terrorising London during World War II.
Yes, another notable quote from the episode is "I'm scared of the bombs".
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