See, I had been assuming that the parrot was the Time Lord, and that because he was in that rather non-traditional form the Doctor couldn't tell he was still alive. But this totally works as well, and who am I to argue with Rusty?

And I now want a whole series of spin-off adventures with the Corsair in them. When is the BBC going to just give Big Finish the new series license? (I feel confidant they are champing at the bit to give us the Corsair Chronicles as well as to have Madame Vastra and Jenny meet Jago and Litefoot ...)