episode guide
planet of the spiders
story 74 : season 11 : serial ZZZ : 6 episodes
Producer: Barry Letts
Director: Barry Letts
Writer: Robert Sloman
Script Editor: Terrance Dicks
Designer: Rochelle Selwyn
cast information
Jon Pertwee (Doctor Who); Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith); Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart); John Levene (Benton); Richard Franklin (Mike Yates); Tom Baker (Doctor Who (uncredited)); John Dearth (Lupton); Cyril Shaps (Professor Clegg); John Kane (Tommy); Christopher Burgess (Barnes); Terence Lodge (Moss); Carl Forgione (Land); Andrew Staines (Keaver); Kevin Lindsay (Cho-je); George Cormack (K Anpo); Chubby Oates (Policeman); Pat Gorman (Soldier); Terry Walsh (Man with boat); Michael Pinder (Hopkins); Stuart Fell (Tramp); Gareth Hunt (Arak); Geoffrey Morris (Sabor); Jenny Laird (Neska); Joanna Monro (Rega); Ralph Arliss (Tuar); Ysanne Churchman (Spider Voice); Kismet Delgado (Spider Voice); Maureen Morris (Spider Voice); Walter Randall (Guard Captain); Max Faulkner (Guard Captain);
crew information
Graeme Harper (Assistant Floor Manager); L Rowland Warne (Costumes); Fred Hamilton (Film Cameraman); Bob Rymer (Film Editor); Dudley Simpson (Incidental Music); Deanne Turner (Make-Up); Marion McDougall (Production Assistant); George Gallacio (Production Unit Manager); Dick Mills (Special Sounds); Ralph Walton (Studio Lighting); John Holmes (Studio Sound); Ron Grainer (Title Music); Bernard Wilkie (Visual Effects); Delia Derbyshire (Theme Arrangement);
episode information
Title | First UK Transmission | Duration | Ratings | Archive Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Part One | 4 May 1974 at 17:45 | 24'40" | 10.1mil | PAL 2 inch colour videotape |
2 | Part Two | 11 May 1974 at 17:40 | 25'02" | 8.9mil | PAL 2 inch colour videotape |
3 | Part Three | 18 May 1974 at 17:40 | 24'58" | 8.8mil | PAL 2 inch colour videotape |
4 | Part Four | 25 May 1974 at 17:30 | 23'53" | 8.2mil | PAL 2 inch colour videotape |
5 | Part Five | 1 June 1974 at 17:35 | 24'01" | 9.2mil | PAL 2 inch colour videotape |
6 | Part Six | 8 June 1974 at 17:35 | 24'43" | 8.9mil | PAL 2 inch colour videotape |
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Part One
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978 -
Part Two
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978 -
Part Three
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978 -
Part Four
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978 -
Part Five
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978 -
Part Six
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978
release information
In Print:
Novelised as: Doctor Who and the Planet of the Spiders
Written by: Terrance Dicks
Number 048 in the Target Doctor Who Library
Versions | |
---|---|
1975 |
Published by Allan Wingate Ltd, UK
in hardback With cover artwork by: Peter Brookes ISBN: 85523 052 5 |
16 October 1975 |
Published by Tandem, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Peter Brookes ISBN: 0 426 10655 5 |
28 September 1978 |
Published by Tandem, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Alun Hood ISBN: 0 426 10655 5 |
1979 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Alun Hood ISBN: 0 426 10655 5 |
22 August 1991 |
Published by Virgin Publishing Ltd, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Alister Pearson ISBN: 0 426 10655 5 |
plot synopsis
Jo Grant sends the blue crystal from Metebilis Three that the Doctor gave to her as a wedding present back to him. A giant spider from that planet materialises at a meditation centre, and takes over Lupton, commanding him to retrieve the said gem. The Doctor, Sarah and Lupton end up on the planet where the Spiders rule, and their powerful queen, 'The Great One', needs the missing crystal to complete a giant one which will give it immense power. The Doctor confronts it, and the radiation from its cave destroys his body. The TARDIS manages to get him back to the UNIT lab, where the Brigadier and Sarah watch in amazement as he collapses and regenerates...
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."