Rose (Doctor Who episode) viewed by 10.81 million viewers in the UK, the most viewed "Doctor Who" episode since "The Creature from the Pit" in 1979, and received positive reviews from critics, though there were some criticisms of its use of humour. Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), a teenage shop assistant, is being chased by mannequins in the basement of Henrik's, the department store where she works. She is rescued by the Doctor (Christopher Eccleston), who destroys the building with an explosion. The next day, the Doctor visits Rose at her home, where he is attacked by a plastic mannequin arm which he and Rose
Rose (Doctor Who episode) and Noel Clarke were also cast to play Rose's mother and boyfriend respectively; Davies wanted to include these characters to "make her real" and to "give her a life". Rose's family is also working-class, which had rarely been seen in companions on the show prior to "Rose". The episode name had gradually been shortened; in Davies's pitch it had been called "Rose meets the Doctor, and the journey begins", on his contract "Rose Meets The Doctor", and finally shortened to "Rose". Also changed from Davies's original pitch were the names of the supporting characters: Judy Tyler became Jackie Tyler, and