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varos

episode guide

the pirate planet

story 99 : season 16 : serial 5B : 4 episodes

Producer: Graham Williams
Director: Pennant Roberts
Writer: Douglas Adams
Script Editor: Anthony Read
Designer: John Pusey

cast information

Tom Baker (Doctor Who); Mary Tamm (Romana); John Leeson (voice of K-9); Bruce Purchase (The Captain); Andrew Robertson (Mr. Fibuli); Rosalind Lloyd (Nurse/Queen Xanxia); Ralph Michael (Balaton); David Sibley (Pralix); David Warwick (Kimus); Primi Townsend (Mula); Clive Bennett (Citizen); Bernard Finch (Mentiad); Adam Kurakin (Guard); Vi Delmar (Old Xanxia);

crew information

Ruth Mayorcas (Assistant Floor Manager); L Rowland Warne (Costumes); Elmer Cossey (Film Cameraman); John Dunstan (Film Editor); Dudley Simpson (Incidental Music); Janis Gould (Make-Up); Michael Owen Morris (Production Assistant); John Nathan-Turner (Production Unit Manager); Dick Mills (Special Sounds); Mike Jefferies (Studio Lighting); Mike Jones (Studio Sound); Delia Derbyshire (Theme Arrangement); Ron Grainer (Title Music); Colin Mapson (Visual Effects);

episode information

  Title First UK Transmission Duration Ratings Archive Status
1 Part One 30 September 1978 at 18:20 25'05" 9.1mil PAL 2 inch colour videotape
2 Part Two 7 October 1978 at 18:20 25'30" 7.4mil PAL 2 inch colour videotape
3 Part Three 14 October 1978 at 18:20 25'47" 8.2mil PAL 2 inch colour videotape
4 Part Four 21 October 1978 at 18:20 25'16" 8.4mil PAL 2 inch colour videotape
  1. Part One
    » Always held by the FVTL
  2. Part Two
    » Always held by the FVTL
  3. Part Three
    » Always held by the FVTL
  4. Part Four
    » Always held by the FVTL

release information

In Print:
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Number in the Target Doctor Who Library

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plot synopsis

The second segment is the entire planet of Calufrax, but the Doctor and Romana are mystified when they find the planet of Zanak in its place. The Captain, a blustering figure with a partially cybernised head and left arm, rules from his headquarters, assisted by Mr Fibuli and his ever present Nurse. The Doctor discovers that Zanak is a vast hollow ship, which materialises around planets, and then absorbs all their natural energy, until all that's left is a small lump of rock. The Doctor has to defeat the Captain and find the second segment, while K9 has to battle the Polyphase Avatron, the Captain's deadly metal parrot.

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