episode guide
an unearthly child
story 1 : season 1 : serial A : 4 episodes
Producer: Verity Lambert
Director: Waris Hussein
Writer: Anthony Coburn
Script Editor: David Whitaker
Designer: Peter Brachacki
Designer: Barry Newbery
cast information
William Hartnell (Dr. Who); William Russell (Ian Chesterton); Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright); Carole Ann Ford (Susan); Derek Newark (Za); Alethea Charlton (Hur); Eileen Way (Old Mother); Jeremy Young (Kal); Howard Lang (Horg);
crew information
Catherine Childs (Assistant Floor Manager); Mervyn Pinfield (Associate Producer); Maureen Heneghan (Costumes); Derek Ware (Fight Arranger); Robert Sleigh (Film Cameraman); Norman Kay (Incidental Music); Elizabeth Blattner (Make-Up); Douglas Camfield (Production Assistant); Tony Lightley (Production Assistant); BBC Visual Effects (Special Effects); Brian Hodgson (Special Sounds); Geoff Shaw (Studio Lighting); Jack Clayton (Studio Sound); Ron Grainer (Title Music); Delia Derbyshire (Theme Arrangement);
episode information
Title | First UK Transmission | Duration | Ratings | Archive Status | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | pilot version a | 26 August 1991 at 14:15 | 25'23" | 1.7mil | 16mm telerecording |
2 | pilot version b | never aired | 25'55" | n/a | 16mm telerecording |
3 | An Unearthly Child | 23 November 1963 at 17:16 | 23'24" | 4.4mil | 16mm telerecording |
4 | The Cave of Skulls | 30 November 1963 at 17:15 | 24'26" | 5.9mil | 16mm telerecording |
5 | The Forest of Fear | 7 December 1963 at 17:15 | 23'38" | 6.9mil | 16mm telerecording |
6 | The Firemaker | 14 December 1963 at 17:15 | 24'22" | 6.4mil | 16mm telerecording |
-
pilot version a
» The original pilot is retained with technical difficulties during the second half set in the TARDIS interior
» Discovered at the FVTL c.1978 in a wrongly labeled film can -
pilot version b
» Version b is the same up to the point that Barbara enters the TARDIS
» A small clip also exists of an aborted take of the interior scenes
» Discovered at the FVTL c.1978 in a wrongly labeled film can -
An Unearthly Child
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978, unknown if always held -
The Cave of Skulls
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978, unknown if always held -
The Forest of Fear
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978, unknown if always held -
The Firemaker
» Held by the FVTL when audited in 1978, unknown if always held
» Video release has 'next episode' caption deleted
release information
In Print:
Novelised as: Doctor Who -- An Unearthly Child
Written by: Terrance Dicks
Number 068 in the Target Doctor Who Library
Versions | |
---|---|
October 1981 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in hardback With cover artwork by: Andrew Skilleter |
15 October 1981 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Andrew Skilleter ISBN: 0 426 20144 2 |
1987 |
Published by Éditions Garancière, France
in paperback Translated into French by Jean-Daniel Breque With cover artwork by: Penichoux |
1990 |
Published by Goldmann Verlag, Germany
in paperback Translated into German by With cover artwork by: David McAllister |
15 February 1990 |
Published by Virgin Publishing Ltd, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Alister Pearson ISBN: 0 426 20144 2 |
plot synopsis
Investigating the background of pupil Susan Foreman, her two teachers, Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright, find that she lives in a time machine called the TARDIS, with her grandfather, the Doctor. The Doctor is forced to take off with all four characters on board, and the ship arrives in 100,000 BC, where a tribe of cavemen, desperate to rediscover the secret of fire, kidnaps them...
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."