UK, 26 January 1984-3 February 1984
4 episodes, average 25m
videotape, colour, 4:3
mono, English
Previous Serial: The Awakening (1984)
Next Serial: Resurrection of the Daleks (1984)
Series: Doctor Who (1963-1989) – series 21, episode 7-10
A British science fiction television serial directed by Ron Jones from scripts by Christopher H. Bidmead.
Premise
When the TARDIS is forced onto a planet’s surface and almost destroyed by meteorite bombardment, The Doctor and his companions help the planet’s colonists who are being infested by insect creatures who prey upon them.
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Director: Ron Jones [parts 1-4]
© BBC MCMLXXXIII [1983] [parts 1-4]
Producer: John Nathan-Turner [parts 1-4]
Production Manager: Alex Gohar [parts 1-4]
[Written] By: Christopher H. Bidmead [parts 1-4]
Script Editor: Eric Saward [parts 1-4]
Lighting: John Summers [parts 1-4]
Camera Supervisor: Alec Wheal [parts 1-4]
Technical Manager: Alan Arbuthnott [parts 1-4]
Vision Mixer: Paul Wheeler [parts 1-4]
Videotape Editor: Hugh Parson [parts 1-4]
Title Music by: Ron Grainer *
Title Music Arranged by: Peter Howell *
Incidental Music: Paddy Kingsland [parts 1-4]
Sound: Martin Ridout [parts 1-4]
Special Sound: Dick Mills [parts 1-4], BBC Radiophonic Workshop [parts 1-4]
Costume Designer: Anushia Nieradzik [parts 1-4]
Make-Up Designer: Jill Hagger [parts 1-4]
Visual Effects Designer: Dave Havard [parts 1-4]
Video Effects: Dave Chapman [parts 1-4]
Title Sequence: Sid Sutton [parts 1-4]
Designer: David Buckingham [parts 1-4]
Production Associate: June Collins [parts 1-4]
Production Assistant: Valerie Letley [parts 1-4]
Assistant Floor Manager: Joanna Guritz [parts 1-4]
Cast
Part One
Peter Davison (The Doctor)
Janet Fielding (Tegan [Jovanka])
Mark Strickson (Turlough)
Peter Gilmore ([Chief Orderly] Brazen)
Lesley Dunlop (Norna)
William Lucas ([Chief Science Officer] Range)
Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet)
Maurice O’Connell (Cockerill)
Richard Ashley (orderly)
Part Two
Peter Davison (The Doctor)
Janet Fielding (Tegan [Jovanka])
Mark Strickson (Turlough)
Peter Gilmore ([Chief Orderly] Brazen)
Lesley Dunlop (Norna)
William Lucas ([Chief Science Officer] Range)
Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet)
John Gillett (Gravis)
Maurice O’Connell (Cockerill)
George Campbell, Michael Malcolm, Stephen Speed, William Bowen, Hedi Khursandi (Tractators)
Part Three
Peter Davison (The Doctor)
Janet Fielding (Tegan [Jovanka])
Mark Strickson (Turlough)
Peter Gilmore ([Chief Orderly] Brazen)
Lesley Dunlop (Norna)
William Lucas ([Chief Science Officer] Range)
Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet)
John Gillett (Gravis)
Maurice O’Connell (Cockerill)
Alison Skilbeck (deputy)
Raymond Murtagh (retrograde)
George Campbell, Michael Malcolm, Stephen Speed, William Bowen, Hedi Khursandi (Tractators)
Part Four
Peter Davison (The Doctor)
Janet Fielding (Tegan [Jovanka])
Mark Strickson (Turlough)
Peter Gilmore ([Chief Orderly] Brazen)
Lesley Dunlop (Norna)
William Lucas ([Chief Science Officer] Range)
John Gillett (Gravis)
Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet)
Maurice O’Connell (Cockerill)
Raymond Murtagh (retrograde)
George Campbell, Michael Malcolm, Stephen Speed, William Bowen, Hedi Khursandi (Tractators)
Uncredited
Judy Collins [paramedic]
Jim Dowdall [Warnsmen]
Terence Brook, Peter Creasey. Steve Emerson, Anthony Freeman, James Lyon, Mike Molloy [Retrogrades]
John Beardsmore [Captain Revere]
Paul Andrew, Salo Gardner, Llewellyn Williams [excavator machine operators]
Richard Ashley, Rodney Cardiff, Daniel D’Arcey, John Greening, Chris Holmes, Paul Lowther, Ian Marshall, Barry McKenna, Keith Norrish, Miles Ross, John Hamilton Russell, Richard Smythe [orderlies]
Kevin Goss, Linda Kent, Dominic Reyntiens [paramedics]
Rita Daniels, Barbie Denham, Alan Forbes, Michael Jeffries, Jay McGrath, Joe Phillips, Sue Somerset [patients]
Terry Bradford, Peter Gates Fleming, Laurie Goode, Robert Goodman, Caroline Haigh, Judith Jeffrey, Fernanda Monast, Robert Peters, Monica Ramone, Penny Rigden [colonists]
Alternative Titles
The Hungry Earth – working title
The Wanderers – working title
References
Periodicals
- Doctor Who Magazine no.630 (June 2026) pp.16-18 – illustrated interview with Mark Strickson (Blunt… aggressive… but engaging! by David Richardson)
Books
- Doctor Who Program Guide 25th Anniverary Edition by James C. Armstrong Jr, Michael L. Brown p.73 – credits, episode list
- Doctor Who: The Television Companion by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker pp.450-452 – credits, synopsis, review
