"So come on then," Rose said conspiratorially as she sipped her orange squash, nudging the Doctor with her foot. "How exactly DID you trap that … monster … thing?"

"The Wire."

"That's the one."

The Doctor grinned.

"I mean, I know you managed to trap her in the video," she continued, "but how?"

"Well, Tommy there helped me," the Doctor said, nodding in the direction of Tommy Connolly's retreating back. "He was amazing, he was. Didn't argue, didn't annoy me … perfect sidekick, really." This comment was rewarded by an indignant shove from Rose. "Not as perfect as you, of course," he added hastily, off Rose's look. "But you weren't much use with your face trapped in that telly, were you? And I needed someone as brilliant as you to help me – I've got used to your high standards now, anything less and I fall apart!"

Rose continued glaring at him but the Doctor could see the tell-tale signs of her trademark grin starting to appear. He winked at her cheekily and Rose dropped her façade, giggling loudly at the Doctor's audacity.

"So … how?"

"It's a very long story," said the Doctor dismissively, "which I would prefer not to go into right at this moment. But I saved the day and that's all that counts!"

"Why don't you wanna talk about it?"

"No reason."

"There must be a reason … come on, Doctor, you can tell me. Did you get hurt or something?" Rose's eyes suddenly widened in shock. "You're not gonna have to regenerate again, are you?"

"No!" the Doctor said loudly, looking very thankful indeed. "No, I'm not regenerating again. And I'll tell you why – this time, I was a LOT more careful."

"This time?"

"Yeah." He took a bite out of a piece of fruitcake as Rose frowned confusedly at him. "It's not the first time I've had to climb up a big transmission tower."

"So what happened?"

"What – this time, or last time?"

"Both."

"This time, I got electrocuted. But don't think that would have stopped me." He raised his leg and showed Rose his battered old Converse shoes. "Like I told the Wire," he said, patting his shoes affectionately. "Rubber soles – swear by 'em!" Rose laughed again as the Doctor grinned happily.

"And the last time?" she prompted, earning a slight shudder from the Doctor at what she assumed was the memory of the incident.

"I fell off."

"You fell off!" laughed Rose incredulously, not quite sure whether to believe him or not. The Doctor nodded grimly as he gulped down some orange squash.

"Fell off it and regenerated," he confirmed. "Fourth into Fifth." He glanced back over towards the transmission tower on Muswell Hill in the distance, shuddering again. "Didn't particularly want a repeat of that." Rose giggled again. "It wasn't funny!" the Doctor said loudly, which just made Rose giggle all the more. Rolling his eyes exasperatedly, he took another large bite of fruitcake and watched Rose with a superciliously raised eyebrow. Eventually Rose managed to compose herself, feeling a little sheepish under the Doctor's glare.

"Finished?" he asked. She nodded meekly. "Good girl," he said, patting her on the top of her head and grinning widely. "Now, how d'you fancy that Elvis gig?"