Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock [1977]

Date(s) of Broadcast: 3 September 1977 - 24 September 1977
Number of Episodes: 4
Average Episode Running Times: 25 mins
Format: colour
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: BBC
Production: Graham Williams
Production Unit Manager: John Nathan-Turner

SCRIPT
Script: Terrance Dicks
Story Editors: Robert Holmes

DIRECTION
Director: Paddy Russell

PHOTOGRAPHY
Studio Lighting: Bob Gell
Film Camera: John Walker

MUSIC
Title Music: Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Title Music Arranger: Delia Derbyshire
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson

SOUND
Studio Sound: David Hughes
Special Sound: Dick Mills

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Jackie Hodgson
Costumes: Joyce Hawkins

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: Peter Pegrum

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Designer: Paul Allen

MISCELLANEOUS
Production Assistant: Peter Grimwade
Assistant Floor Manager: Bill Hartley

LOCATIONS
Studio: BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham, UK

CAST
Tom Baker [The Doctor]
Louise Jameson [Leela]
Colin Douglas [Reuben]
John Abbott [Vince Hawkins]
Ralph Watson [Ben]
Alan Rowe [Skinsale]
Annette Woollett [Adelaide Lesage]
Sean Caffrey [Lord Henry Palmerdale]
Rio Fanning [Harker]
Colin Douglas [voice of the Rutan - uncredited]

Landing in turn of the century England, The Doctor and Leela take refuge in the lighthouse on Fang Rock Island. One of the keepers is found dead and a strangle light is seen in the sky. The survivors of a ship dashed against the rocks arrive as a blanket fog descends.

Tight little story with the unusual and effective locale made good use of. New producer Graham Williams took over from Philip Hinchcliffe, who departed for the prime time exploits of BBC's answer to The Sweeney [1975 - 1978], Target [1977 - 1978]. At the end of the tale Leela's eyes are turned blue. In actuality actress Louise Jameson had been forced to wear uncomfortable brown contact lenses at the insistence of Hinchcliffe [Leela means brown eyed one], but Graham Williams was not so demanding.

UK
Television Distributor: BBC
Video Distributor: BBC Video

1977
September
3: UK - Part One television broadcast [on BBC1]
10: UK - Part Two television broadcast [on BBC1]
17: UK - Part Three television broadcast [on BBC1]
24: UK - Part Four television broadcast [on BBC1]

The Monster of Fang Rock - working title
The Beast of Fang Rock - working title

BOOKS

Doctor Who: The Television Companion pp.324-327
credits, synopsis, review [by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker]

KEYWORDS

aliens, time travel

Last Updated: 21 April, 2008