episode guide
spearhead from space
story 51 : season 7 : serial AAA : 4 episodes
Producer: Derrick Sherwin
Director: Derek Martinus
Writer: Robert Holmes
Script Editor: Terrance Dicks
Designer: Paul Allen
cast information
Jon Pertwee (Doctor Who); Caroline John (Liz Shaw); Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart); Hugh Burden (Channing); Neil Wilson (Seeley); Talfryn Thomas (Mullins); John Breslin (Captain Munro); Antony Webb (Dr. Henderson); Helen Dorward (Nurse); George Lee (Corporal Forbes); Tessa Shaw (UNIT Officer); Ellis Jones (Technician); Allan Mitchell (Wagstaffe); Prentis Hancock (2nd Reporter); Hamilton Dyce (Major General Scobie); Henry McCarthy (Dr. Beavis); John Woodnutt (Hibbert); Derek Smee (Ransome); Betty Bowden (Meg); Clifford Cox (Sergeant); Attendant (Edmund Bailey);
crew information
Liam Foster (Assistant Floor Manager); Christine Rawlins (Costumes); Stan Speel (Film Cameraman); Robert McDonnell (Film Cameraman); William Symon (Film Editor); Adam Dawson (Film Editor); Dudley Simpson (Incidental Music); Cynthia Goodwin (Make-Up); Peter Grimwade (Production Assistant); Brian Hodgson (Special Sounds); Ron Grainer (Title Music); John Horton (Visual Effects); Delia Derbyshire (Theme Arrangement);
episode information
Title | First UK Transmission | Duration | Ratings | Archive Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Episode 1 | 3 January 1970 at 17:15 | 23'38" | 8.4mil | 16mm colour film 16mm b/w film |
2 | Episode 2 | 10 January 1970 at 17:15 | 24'21" | 8.1mil | 16mm colour film 16mm b/w film |
3 | Episode 3 | 17 January 1970 at 17:15 | 24'16" | 8.3mil | 16mm colour film 16mm b/w film |
4 | Episode 4 | 24 January 1970 at 17:15 | 24'38" | 8.1mil | 16mm colour film 16mm b/w film |
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Episode 1
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978
» Film print recovered from Ents c.1978 -
Episode 2
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978
» Film print recovered from Ents c.1978 -
Episode 3
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978
» Film print recovered from Ents c.1978 -
Episode 4
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978
» Film print recovered from Ents c.1978
release information
In Print:
Novelised as: Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion
Written by: Terrance Dicks
Number 006 in the Target Doctor Who Library
Versions | |
---|---|
1974 |
Published by Allan Wingate Ltd, UK
in hardback With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos |
1974 |
Published by Unieboek B.V. Bussum, The Netherlands
in paperback Translated into Dutch by J J Van Der Hulst-Brander With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos ISBN: 9 026 98105 8 |
17 January 1974 |
Published by Universal-Tandem, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos ISBN: 0 426 11295 4 |
1975 |
Published by Tandem, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos ISBN: 0 426 11295 4 |
June 1975 |
Published by Remzi Kitabevi, Turkey
in paperback Translated into Turkish by Reha Pinar With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos |
1976 |
Published by Weilin + Göös, Finland
in hardback Translated into Finnish by |
17 August 1978 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Chris Achilleos ISBN: 0 426 11295 4 |
30 April 1980 |
Published by Hayakawa Bunko Publishing, Japan
in paperback Translated into Japanese by Yukio Sekiguchi With cover artwork by: Michiaki Sato |
1981 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in hardback With cover artwork by: Andrew Skilleter ISBN: 0 491 02895 4 |
1982 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in hardback With cover artwork by: Andrew Skilleter ISBN: 0 426 11295 4 |
1982 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Andrew Skilleter ISBN: 0 426 11295 4 |
1982 |
Published by Editorial Presença, Portugal
in paperback Translated into Portugese by Eduardo Nogueira & Conceição Jardim With cover artwork by: Rui Ligeiro |
1991 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Alister Pearson ISBN: 0 426 11295 4 |
plot synopsis
A swarm of Nestene meteorites lands in Oxley Woods, as does the newly regenerated Doctor, who collapses outside the TARDIS and is taken to a nearby hospital. The Brigadier is not convinced that the man who claims to be the Doctor is the same one that he knew. The Nestenes, who are able to control and bring plastic to life, have taken over a plastics factory and are mass-producing Autons. Disguised as shop-window dummies, the Autons start to slaughter the general public. The Doctor has to prevent the octopus-like Nestene consciousness from wiping out mankind.
links to other sites
- Episode Guide and Production Documents: BBC Official Site -- Official episode guide entry. Based on information combined from The Television Companion and The Discontinuity Guide. Also contains links to original production documents.
- Rankings and Ratings: GEOS Listing -- Online rankings, ratings and reviews database. Vote on this story and view ratings and broadcast information of this story for over ten countries. Also contains details of production credits and summary information
- Episode Guide: Outpost Gallifrey -- A general overview of the story. Includes information from the Doctor Handbook series of books.
- Background Information: A Brief History of Time (Travel) -- Detailed background and behind-the-scenes information
- Detailed Synopsis: Dr. Who Reference Guide -- Contains an episode-by-episode detailed breakdown
- Story Reviews: The Doctor Who Ratings Guide -- Story reviews "by fans, for fans"
- Target Novelisation: On Target -- Details of the Target Novelisation for this story.
- Images: Doctor Who's Tragical History Tour -- Images from the story from "The history of Doctor Who in images."