We saw a tiny portion of the Christmas Special Doctor Who this morning. It was way before the watershed and so they (the BBC News Breakfast show) gave a warning that it might be frightening for children and advised if children watched parents should supervise. There was no blood, no violence, nothing like that – just tried and tested frightening TV things tacked together, cleverly and seamlessly.

Firstly the action was taking place at night and in a countryside location. It was a chase which commenced after Dr Who (David Tennant) announced that “we need to run” and did they run! Accompanied to pulse raising music – der der der der der – which heightened the fright. First we saw the Doctor and assistant run, then we saw the Martian(?) chase and cover the same ground. Then the Doctor and Assistant run across a bridge, then the monsters run over the bridge. Then the Doctor and Assistant arrive at a door to safety and only just manage to get inside before the monsters arrive. As the door shuts the monsters take a chance and fire their weapons – high pressured water punches out of the Martian monster man’s fist. The stream of water slams the window behind which the Doctor and Assistant now stare out at their adversaries. This is the most scary moment – just the glass separates the goodies and the baddies. We see the baddies up close – quite human but not. It’s a cheap but effective makeup – which uses blacked out sclera contact lenses.

Sclera contact lenses cover the entire eye and cost less than £100 a pair. These lenses are only cosmetic – a shame for short sighted people who’d like to wear them all the time – they can be bought at good theatrical supply shops or online at contact lens specialist outlets.