UK, 16 March 1968-20 April 1968
25m
videotape, black and white, 4:3
mono, English
Previous Serial: Doctor Who: The Web of Fear (1968)
Next Serial: Doctor Who: The Wheel in Space (1968)
Series: Doctor Who (1963-1989) – series 5, episodes 29-34
A British television science fiction serial directed by Hugh David. At the end of this story companion Victoria Waterfield played by Deborah Watling decides to leave the TARDIS. The first episode (currently missing) saw the first appearance of The Doctor's sonic screwdriver. All six episodes are currently missing from the BBC archives though short fragments of episodes 1 and 4 exist. It's the last serial to be completely lost.
Plot Summary
The TARDIS materialises on the sea off the East Coast of Britain and the crew are shot with tranquiliser darts when they try to get ashore. They are taken to a gas refinery where they learn of the base's problems with a feed pipe from an offshore drilling facility. The Doctor investigates and learns that a parasitic form of seaweed has attacked the rigs and is releasing a strange foam that allows it to possess anyone who comes into contact with it.
Credits
Crew
Director: Hugh David
BBC
Producer: Peter Bryant
Script: Victor Pemberton
Story Editor: Derrick Sherwin
Studio Lighting: Sam Neeter
Film Camera: Ken Westbury
Film Editor: Colin Hobson
Title Music by: Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Title Music Arranged by: Delia Derbyshire *
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson
Studio Sound: David Hughes
Special Sound: Brian Hodgson
Costumes: Martin Baugh
Make-up: Sylvia James
Visual Effects: Peter Day, Len Hutton
Designer: Peter Kindred
Production Assistant: Michael Briant
Assistant Floor Manager: Margot Hayhoe
Locations: Red Sands Sea Fort, Red Sands, Thames Estuary, UK [locations]
Cast
Episode 1
Patrick Troughton (Dr Who)
Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield)
Victor Maddern (Robson)
Roy Spencer (Harris)
Graham Leaman (Price)
Peter Ducrow (guard)
June Murphy (Maggie Harris)
John Garvin (Mick Carney)
Hubert Rees (Chief Engineer)
John Abineri (Van Lutyens)
Richard Mayes (Chief Baxter)
Bill Burridge (Quill)
Episode 2
Patrick Troughton (Dr Who)
Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield)
Victor Maddern (Robson)
Roy Spencer (Harris)
Graham Leaman (Price)
June Murphy (Maggie Harris)
Hubert Rees (Chief Engineer)
John Abineri (Van Lutyens)
Bill Burridge (Quill)
John Gill (Oak)
Episode 3
Patrick Troughton (Dr Who)
Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield)
Victor Maddern (Robson)
Roy Spencer (Harris)
Graham Leaman (Price)
June Murphy (Maggie Harris)
Hubert Rees (Chief Engineer)
John Abineri (Van Lutyens)
Bill Burridge (Quill)
John Gill (Oak)
Episode 4
Patrick Troughton (Dr Who)
Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield)
Victor Maddern (Robson)
Roy Spencer (Harris)
Graham Leaman (Price)
June Murphy (Maggie Harris)
Hubert Rees (Chief Engineer)
John Abineri (Van Lutyens)
Richard Mayes (Chief Baxter)
Bill Burridge (Quill)
John Gill (Oak)
Margaret John (Megan Jones)
Brian Cullingford (Perkins)
Episode 5
Patrick Troughton (Dr Who)
Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield)
Victor Maddern (Robson)
Roy Spencer (Harris)
Graham Leaman (Price)
Hubert Rees (Chief Engineer)
Bill Burridge (Quill)
John Gill (Oak)
Margaret John (Megan Jones)
Brian Cullingford (Perkins)
Episode 6
Patrick Troughton (Dr Who)
Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield)
Victor Maddern (Robson)
Roy Spencer (Harris)
Graham Leaman (Price)
June Murphy (Maggie Harris)
Hubert Rees (Chief Engineer)
Margaret John (Megan Jones)
Brian Cullingford (Perkins)
Uncredited
Derek Chafer, Charles Finch [guards]
Bobby Beaumont, Robert Pearson, Bill Straiton. Vic Taylor [technicians]
Michael Durham, Terry Nelson, Roy Pearce, Keith Sissons, Mike Smith, Roy Stevens, Raymond Turson, Tom Wadden, Wallace Wilding [walk-ons]
Alternative Titles
Colony of Devils – working title
Links
Extracts included in
The Doctor's Composer: Dudley Simpson: Part One 1964-69 (2009)
Sylvia James in Conversation (2009)
References
Periodicals
Doctor Who: The Complete History vol.12 pp.6-47 – illustrated article (by Andrew Pixley et al)
Books
Doctor Who: The Handbook: The Second Doctor by David J. Howe, Mark Stammers, Stephen James Walker pp.130-136 – credits, synopsis, review
Doctor Who: The Television Companion by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker pp.144-146 – credits, synopsis, review
