Doctor Who: Terror of the Zygons (1975)

Date(s) of Broadcast: 30 August 1975 - 20 September 1975
Number of Episodes: 4
Average Episode Running Times: 25 mins
Format: colour
Sound: mono

PRODUCTION
Production Company: BBC
Production: Philip Hinchcliffe
Production Unit Manager: George Gallaccio

SCRIPT
Script: Robert Banks Stewart
Story Editors: Robert Holmes

DIRECTION
Director: Douglas Camfield

PHOTOGRAPHY
Studio Lighting: John Dixon
Film Camera: Peter Hall

EDITING AND POST PRODUCTION
Film Editor: Ian McKendrick

MUSIC
Title Music: Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Title Music Arranger: Delia Derbyshire
Incidental Music: Geoffrey Burgon

SOUND
Studio Sound: Michael McCarthy
Special Sound: Dick Mills

MAKE UP AND COSTUMES
Make Up: Sylvia James
Costumes: James Acheson

VISUAL EFFECTS
Visual Effects: John Horton, John Friedlander
Title Sequence: Bernard Lodge

DESIGN AND SET CONSTRUCTION
Designer: Nigel Curzon

MISCELLANEOUS
Production Assistant: Edwina Craze
Assistant Floor Manager: Rosemary Webb

CAST
Tom Baker (The Doctor)
Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith)
Ian Marter (Harry Sullivan)
Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart)
John Levene (RSM Benton)
John Woodnutt (Duke Of Forgill / Broton)
Lillias Walker (Sister Lamont)
Robert Russell (The Caber)
Keith Ashley, Ronald Gough (Zygons)
Angus Lennie (Angus Ferguson Mcrannald)
Tony Sibbald (Huckle)
Hugh Martin (Munro)
Bruce Wightman (radio operator)
Bernard G High (Corporal)
Peter Symonds (soldier)
Alan Clements, Roland Geall, Patrick Ginter, James Muir, David Selby, Barry Summerford (soldiers - uncredited)
Robert Russell, Lillias Walker (additional Zygon voices - uncredited)

PLOT SUMMARY

The Brigadier contacts The Doctor requesting his help as there have been a number of attacks on North Sea Oil Rigs.The attacks are controlled by alien invaders, the Zygons who from their base in Loch Ness plan to take over the world.

Och aye the noo. For those who want to understand how slim the difference is between ordinary Doctor Who and great Doctor Who, watch this serial. The story could easily be just another adventure, but instead it's a simple story with good characters, taut direction, excellent production design and lighting, fantastic monsters (even more so for not being dragged back again) and a great Doctor and companion. Shot to be the end of the previous season it was held back to open the new season, hence the departure of Harry Sullivan, now unnecessary. Also the final regular appearance of The Brigadier with UNIT.

UK
Television Distributor: BBC
Video Distributor: BBC Video
Laserdisc Distributor: Encore

1975
August
30: UK - Part One television broadcast (on BBC1)

September
6: UK - Part Two television broadcast (on BBC1)
13: UK - Part Three television broadcast (on BBC1)
20: UK - Part Four television broadcast (on BBC1)

The Loch Ness Monster - working title
The Loch Ness Terror - working title
The Zygons - working title

BOOKS

Doctor Who: The Television Companion pp.286-289
credits, synopsis, review (by David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker)

MAGAZINES

Shivers no.53 p.48 (UK)
illustrated laserdisc review

KEYWORDS

aliens, time travel

Last Updated: 15 October, 2008