Last updated 09 January 2020


The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did

The Metaphysical Engine, or What Quill Did

Series Episode Number: 7

World Premiere: Sat 26 Nov 2016 - 10:00am GMT [BBC Three] (United Kingdom)
First Broadcast: Sat 27 May 2017 - 10:05pm EDT [BBC America]
Running Time: 44 minutes 34 seconds





With the gang trapped in detention and out of the way, Miss Quill accepts Dorothea's astonishing offer: to help remove the Arn from her head, and to reclaim her freedom.

Alongside Ballon, an imprisoned shape-shifter, Miss Quill travels in a metaphysical engine and is taken to impossible, extraordinary and dangerous worlds, collecting materials in preparation for her life-changing procedure.

After an emotional encounter with her surgeon and a nearly-fatal operation, Miss Quill must find a way to return to Earth: transformed and ready for war.


Production Team
WriterPatrick Ness
Executive ProducerBrian Minchin
Executive ProducerSteven Moffat
Executive ProducerPatrick Ness
DirectorWayne Che Yip
ProducerDerek Ritchie
Head of ProductionGordon Ronald
Production ExecutiveTracie Simpson
Prosthetics Millennium FX
Visual Effects MILK
Visual Effects BBC Wales Graphics
EditorEdel McDonnell
Incidental MusicBlair Mowat
Line ProducerMarshall Leviten
Production DesignerAndy Holden-Stokes
Casting DirectorAndy Pryor CDG
Director of PhotographyMaja Zamojda
Sound RecordistBryn Thomas
Make-up DesignerRoseann Samuel
Costume DesignerFfion Elindor
Production ManagerAndrew Bonner
First Assistant DirectorMarios Hamboulides
Second Assistant DirectorDelmi Thomas
Third Assistant DirectorDanielle Richards
Production CoordinatorJessica Elsie Evans
Assistant CoordinatorJade Stephenson
Production RunnerEmily Lowe
RunnerAlex Miarli
RunnerIain Rose
Script ExecutiveLindsey Alford
Script EditorEmma Genders
Script SupervisorLeon Williams
Location ManagerIestyn Hampson-Jones
Unit ManagerLyn Moses
Location AssistantJac Jones
Stunt coordinatorCrispin Layfield
Special Effects Real SFX
Supervising Art DirectorPail Cowell
Standby Art DirectorTara Taylor
Set DecoratorJanetta Panesar
Production BuyerSian Hughes
Petty Cash BuyerLesley Elliott
Model MakerAlan Hardy
Graphic and Concept ArtistMatt Sanders
Storyboard ArtistMike Collins
Props MasterPaul Smith
Prop Hands StandbyRichard Dalton
Prop Hands StandbyNick Johnston
Prop HandIan Davies
Prop HandIngo Hans
Practical ElectricianChristian Davies
Standby RiggerNigel Owen
Construction ManagerMark Painter
Standby CarpenterJonathan Tylke
Casting AssistantRi McDaid-Wren
Casting AssistantLouis Constantine
Business Affairs ExecutiveSteve Robson
Production AccountantDyfed Thomas
Assistant AccountantLisa Lloyd
Accounts AssistantGreg Robinson
Camera OperatorMatt Fisher
Camera OperatorStamos Triantafylios
Focus PullerAlia Bianco
Focus PullerMani Blaxter-Paliwala
Clapper LoaderChris Jacobi
Clapper LoaderScott Walker
GripMatthew Budd
Assistant GripMatthew Hains
GafferAndrew Taylor
Best BoyBen Griffiths
ElectricianGareth Williams
ElectricianMatthew Challenger
ElectricianStephen McLean
ElectricianAndrew Williams
Sound Maintenance EngineerJeff Welch
Sound Maintenance EngineerJoss Colin
Make-up DesignerSarah Jane Marks
Make-Up ArtistLaura Beard
Make-Up ArtistInma Azorin
Costume SupervisorSusie Lewis
Costume StandbyCharlotte Bestwick
Costume StandbyLydia Ellis Williams
Post Production SupervisorCeres Doyle
Post Production CoordinatorClare Rees
Assistant EditorHayley Williams
Assistant EditorGareth Mabley
VFX EditorMartyn Western
Dialogue EditorHoward Halsall
Foley EditorRob Edwards
Foley ArtistMeltem Baytok
Effect EditorHelen Dickson
ADR EditorSimon Price
Sound Mixed by Bang Post Production
Online Edit AssistantDaniel Attwood
Online EditorLee Bhogal
ColouristChris Rogers
Assistant to ComposerSteve Wright
Orchestrated byAnthony Weeden
Recorded byJohn Prestage
Mixed ByAdam Noble
TitlesMomoco