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varos

episode guide

the web planet

story 13 : season 2 : serial N : 6 episodes

Producer: Verity Lambert
Director: Richard Martin
Writer: Bill Strutton
Script Editor: Dennis Spooner
Designer: John Wood

cast information

William Hartnell (Dr. Who); William Russell (Ian Chesterton); Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright); Maureen O'Brien (Vicki); Robert Jewell (Zarbi); Jack Pitt (Zarbi); Gerald Taylor (Zarbi); Hugh Lund (Zarbi); Kevin Manser (Zarbi); John Scott Martin (Zarbi); Catherine Fleming (Animus Voice); Roslyn de Winter (Vrestin); Arne Gordon (Hrostar); Arthur Blake (Hrhoonda); Jolyon Booth (Prapillus); Jocelyn Birdsall (Hlynia); Martin Jarvis (Hilio); Ian Thompson (Hetra); Barbara Joss (Nemini);

crew information

Elisabeth Dunbar (Assistant Floor Manager); Gillian Chardet (Assistant Floor Manager); Daphne Dare (Costumes); Peter Hamilton (Film Cameraman); Gitta Zadek (Film Editor); Roslyn de Winter (Insect Movement); Sonia Markham (Make-Up); Norman Stewart (Production Assistant); Brian Hodgson (Special Sounds); Ralph Walton (Studio Lighting); Ray Angel (Studio Sound); Ron Grainer (Title Music); Delia Derbyshire (Theme Arrangement);

episode information

  Title First UK Transmission Duration Ratings Archive Status
1 The Web Planet 13 February 1965 at 17:40 23'57" 13.5mil 16mm telerecording
2 The Zarbi 20 February 1965 at 17:40 23'20" 12.5mil 16mm telerecording
3 Invasion 27 February 1965 at 17:40 22'52" 12.5mil 16mm telerecording
4 Escape to Danger 6 March 1965 at 17:40 25'50" 13.0mil 16mm telerecording
5 Crater of Needles 13 March 1965 at 17:40 26'04" 12.0mil 16mm telerecording
6 The Centre 20 March 1965 at 17:55 24'32" 12.0mil 16mm telerecording
  1. The Web Planet
    » Negative film print recovered from Ents c.1978
    » Complete print recovered in Nigeria c.1985
  2. The Zarbi
    » Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978
    » Negative film print recovered from Ents c.1978
    » Extra print recovered in Nigeria c.1985
  3. Invasion
    » Negative film print recovered from Ents c.1978
    » Extra print recovered in Nigeria c.1985
  4. Escape to Danger
    » Negative film print recovered from Ents c.1978
    » Extra print recovered in Nigeria c.1985
  5. Crater of Needles
    » Negative film print recovered from Ents c.1978
    » Extra print recovered in Nigeria c.1985
  6. The Centre
    » Negative film print recovered from Ents c.1978
    » Complete print recovered in Nigeria c.1985
    » Video release has 'next episode' caption and original credits deleted

release information

In Print:
Novelised as: Doctor Who and the Zarbi
Written by: Bill Strutton
Number 073 in the Target Doctor Who Library

Versions
16 September 1966 Published by Frederick Muller Ltd, UK in hardback
With cover artwork by: Photo
1973 Published by Allan Wingate Ltd, UK in hardback
With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos
3 May 1973 Published by Universal-Tandem, UK in paperback
With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos
ISBN: 0 426 11324 1
1974 Published by Unieboek B.V. Bussum, The Netherlands in paperback
Translated into Dutch by M Hohage
With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos
ISBN: 9 026 98103 1
November 1974 Published by Tandem, UK in paperback
With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos
ISBN: 0 426 11324 1
1975 Published by White Lion, UK in hardback
January 1976 Published by W. H. Allen, UK in paperback
With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos
ISBN: 0 426 11324 1
1983 Published by Editorial Presença, Portugal in paperback
Translated into Portugese by Eduardo Nogueira & Conceição Jardim
With cover artwork by: Rui Ligeiro
17 January 1991 Published by Virgin Publishing Ltd, UK in paperback
With cover artwork by: Alister Pearson
ISBN: 0 426 20356 9

plot synopsis

The planet of Vortis has been taken over by a parasitic intelligence called the Animus, which has enslaved the ant-like Zarbi, and caused the natural inhabitants, the Menoptera, to flee to another world. The Animus captures the Doctor and tries to take control of the TARDIS so it can control all of time and space, but he manages to defeat it, and the Menoptera are able to take control of their home world once more

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