Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl (1977)

Date(s) of Broadcast: 29 October 1977 - 19 November 1977
Number of Episodes: 4
Average Episode Running Times: 25 mins
Format: colour
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: BBC
Production: Graham Williams
Unit Production Manager: John Nathan-Turner

SCRIPT
Script: Chris Boucher
Story Editors: Robert Holmes, Anthony Read (uncredited)

DIRECTION
Director: George Spenton-Foster

PHOTOGRAPHY
Studio Lighting: Jim Purdie
Film Camera: Elmer Cossey

MUSIC
Title Music: Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Title Music Arranger: Delia Derbyshire
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson

SOUND
Studio Sound: Alan Fogg
Special Sound: Dick Mills

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Pauline Cox

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: Colin Mapson

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Designer: Anna Ridley

MISCELLANEOUS
Production Assistant: Prue Saenger
Assistant Floor Manager: Karilyn Collier

CAST
Episode 1
Tom Baker (The Doctor)
Louise Jameson (Leela)
Wanda Ventham (Thea Ransome / Fendahl core)
Daphne Heard (Martha Tyler)
Denis Lill (Dr Fendahlman)
Edward Evans (Ted Moss)
Scott Fredericks (Maximillian Stael)
Edward Arthur (Professor Adam Colby)
Derek Martin (David Mitchell)
Graham Simpson (hiker)

Episode 2
Tom Baker (The Doctor)
Louise Jameson (Leela)
Wanda Ventham (Thea Ransome / Fendahl core)
Daphne Heard (Martha Tyler)
Denis Lill (Dr Fendahlman)
Edward Evans (Ted Moss)
Scott Fredericks (Maximillian Stael)
Edward Arthur (Professor Adam Colby)
Derek Martin (David Mitchell)
Geoffrey Hinsliff (Jack Tyler)

Episode 3
Tom Baker (The Doctor)
Louise Jameson (Leela)
Wanda Ventham (Thea Ransome / Fendahl core)
Daphne Heard (Martha Tyler)
Denis Lill (Dr Fendahlman)
Edward Evans (Ted Moss)
Scott Fredericks (Maximillian Stael)
Edward Arthur (Professor Adam Colby)
Geoffrey Hinsliff (Jack Tyler)

Episode 4
Tom Baker (The Doctor)
Louise Jameson (Leela)
Wanda Ventham (Thea Ransome / Fendahl core)
Daphne Heard (Martha Tyler)
Edward Evans (Ted Moss)
Scott Fredericks (Maximillian Stael)
Edward Arthur (Professor Adam Colby)
Geoffrey Hinsliff (Jack Tyler)

UNCREDITED CAST
David Elliott, Roy Pearce (security guards)
John Emms, Jay McGrath, Douglas Stark, Geoffrey Witherick (coven members)

PLOT SUMMARY

Professor Fendelman uses a 12-million-year-old skull in his experiments with a Time Scanner and attracts a strange and deadly force to the area. The Doctor and Leela arrive, drawn to the site by the operation of the Scanner, and he realises that the skull is a conduit by which an ancient creature, the Fendahl, is manifesting itself on Earth. The Fendahl was imprisoned in a time loop by the Time Lords when it destroyed life on Mars and the Doctor has to prevent it from doing the same to the Earth...

Once again, there are shades of Nigel Kneale about the script - echoes in particular of Quatermass and the Pit which also featured an ancient alien malevolence reawoken by archaeologists - and Image of the Fendahl is none the worse for it. It was the last in the fine gothic horrors that had marked mid-period Tom Baker episodes and boasts tightly written scripts with strong characters and atmospheric direction. Why this story doesn't enjoy a better reputation than it does is something of a mystery.

UK
Television Distributor: BBC
Video Distributor: BBC Video (BBCV 4941)

1977
August
1: UK - location filming begins
5: UK - location filming ends
20: UK - studio filming begins
21: UK - studio filming ends

October
29: UK - episode 1 broadcast (on BBC1)

November
5: UK - episode 2 broadcast (on BBC1)
12: UK - episode 3 broadcast (on BBC1)
19: UK - episode 4 broadcast (on BBC1)

1993
March
8: UK - video release (BBC (BBCV 4941))

1996
May
13: UK - video deleted (BBC (BBCV 4941))

BOOKS

Doctor Who: The Handbook - The Fourth Doctor pp.95-97
credits, synopsis, review

Doctor Who: The Television Companion pp.329-332
credits, synopsis, review (by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker)

The Illustrated Dinosaur Movie Guide p.137
credits, review (by Stephen Jones)

KEYWORDS

aliens, time travel, skulls, possession

Last Updated: 1 January, 2009