UK, 28 October 1978-18 November 1978
4 episodes, average 25m
videotape, colour, 4:3
mono, English
Previous serial: The Pirate Planet (1978)
Next serial: The Androids of Tara (1978)
Series: Doctor Who (1963-1989) – series 16, episodes 9-12
A British television science fiction serial directed by Darrol Blake from scripts by David Fisher. It was the programme’s 100th story.
Premise
The Doctor and Romana search for the third segment of the Key to Time on Earth. It’s been turned into a necklace worn by Vivien Fay, an expert on a ring of ancient standing stones. But The Doctor discovers that the stones are actually Orgi, silicon based aliens that feed on blood. A local druid cult worships the mysterious Cailleach, which turns out to be Fay, really an ancient alien who has been living on Earth for 4,000 years. On Fay’s spaceship, The Doctor accidentally releases the Megara, justice machines sent to judge someone called Cessair of Diplos…
Credits
* = uncredited
Crew
Director: Darrol Blake [parts 1-4]
© BBC MCMLXXVIII [1978] [parts 1-4]
BBC [parts 1-4]
Producer: Graham Williams [parts 1-4]
Production Unit Manager: John Nathan-Turner [parts 1-4]
[Written] By: David Fisher [parts 1-4]
Script Editor: Anthony Read [parts 1-4]
Studio Lighting: Warwick Fielding [parts 1-4]
OB Lighting: Hubert Cartwright [parts 1-4]
OB Camera: Trevor Wimlett *, Mike Windsor *
Videotape Editor: Malcolm Banthorpe [parts 1-4]
Title Music by: Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop *
Title Music Arranged by: Delia Derbyshire *
Incidental Music by: Dudley Simpson [parts 1-4]
Studio Sound: Richard Chubb [parts 1-4]
OB Sound: Vic Godrich [parts 1-4]
Special Sound: Dick Mills [parts 1-4]
Costume Designer: Rupert Jarvis [parts 1-4]
Make-Up Artist: Ann Briggs [parts 1-4]
Visual Effects Designer: Mat Irvine [parts 1-4]
Electrical Effects: A J Mitchell [parts 1-4]
Designer: John Stout [parts 1-4]
Production Assistant: Carolyn Montagu [parts 1-4]
Assistant Floor Managers: Carol Scott *, Nigel Taylor *
Cast
Part One
Tom Baker (Doctor Who)
Mary Tamm (Romana)
Beatrix Lehmann (Professor [Amelia] Rumford)
Susan Engel (Vivien Fay)
John Leeson (K9)
Nicholas McArdle ([Leonard] De Vries)
Elaine Ives-Cameron (Martha)
Part Two
Tom Baker (Doctor Who)
Mary Tamm (Romana)
Beatrix Lehmann (Professor [Amelia] Rumford)
Susan Engel (Vivien Fay)
John Leeson (K9)
Nicholas McArdle ([Leonard] De Vries)
Elaine Ives-Cameron (Martha)
Part Three
Tom Baker (Doctor Who)
Mary Tamm (Romana)
Beatrix Lehmann (Professor [Amelia] Rumford)
Susan Engel (Vivien Fay)
John Leeson (K9)
Gerald Cross, David McAlister (Megara voices)
James Murray, Shirin Taylor (campers)
Part Four
Tom Baker (Doctor Who)
Mary Tamm (Romana)
Beatrix Lehmann (Professor [Amelia] Rumford)
Susan Engel (Vivien Fay)
John Leeson (K9)
Gerald Cross, David McAlister (Megara voices)
Uncredited
Gerald Cross [voice of The Guardian]
Judy Cowne, Decima Delaney, James Muir, Mike Mungarvan, Ian Munroe, Margaret Pilleau [druids]
Roberta Gibbs [double for Romana]
Angie Passmore, John Thirtle [Megara operators]
Alternative Titles
The Nine Maidens – working title
The Stones of Time – working title
References
Periodicals
- In-Vision no.34 (October 1991)
Books
- Doctor Who: The Television Companion by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker pp.350-352 – credits, synopsis, review
