episode guide
frontios
story 133 : season 21 : serial 6N : 4 episodes
Producer: John Nathan-Turner
Director: Ron Jones
Writer: Christopher H Bidmead
Script Editor: Eric Saward
Designer: David Buckingham
cast information
Peter Davison (The Doctor); Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka); Mark Strickson (Turlough); Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet); Lesley Dunlop (Norna); Peter Gilmore (Brazen); William Lucas (Range); Maurice O'Connell (Cockerill); Richard Ashley (Orderly); John Gillett (Gravis); George Campbell (Tractator); Michael Malcolm (Tractator); Stephen Speed (Tractator); William Bowen (Tractator); Hedi Khursandi (Tractator); Alison Skilbeck (Deputy); Raymond Murtagh (Retrograde);
crew information
Joanna Guritz (Assistant Floor Manager); Ed Stevenson (Assistant Floor Manager); Anushia Nieradzik (Costumes); Paddy Kingsland (Incidental Music); Jill Hagger (Make-Up); Valerie Letley (Production Assistant); June Collins (Production Associate); Dick Mills (Special Sounds); John Summers (Studio Lighting); Martin Ridout (Studio Sound); Peter Howell (Theme Arrangement); Ron Grainer (Title Music); Dave Havard (Visual Effects);
episode information
| Title | First UK Transmission | Duration | Ratings | Archive Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Part One | 26 January 1984 at 18:40 | 24'39" | 8.0mil | PAL 1 inch colour videotape |
| 2 | Part Two | 27 January 1984 at 18:40 | 24'35" | 5.8mil | PAL 1 inch colour videotape |
| 3 | Part Three | 2 February 1984 at 18:40 | 24'30" | 7.8mil | PAL 1 inch colour videotape |
| 4 | Part Four | 3 February 1984 at 18:40 | 24'26" | 5.6mil | PAL 1 inch colour videotape |
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Part One
» Always held by the FVTL -
Part Two
» Always held by the FVTL -
Part Three
» Always held by the FVTL -
Part Four
» Always held by the FVTL
release information
In Print:
Novelised as: Doctor Who -- Frontios
Written by: Christopher H. Bidmead
Number 091 in the Target Doctor Who Library
| Versions | |
|---|---|
| 1984 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in hardback With cover artwork by: Andrew Skilleter ISBN: 0 491 03253 6 |
| 10 December 1984 |
Published by W. H. Allen, UK
in paperback With cover artwork by: Andrew Skilleter ISBN: 0 426 19780 1 |
plot synopsis
The TARDIS lands on Frontios. One of the last surviving colonies from Earth crashed there years before, and the Doctor finds them fighting for survival against an unseen villain. Meteorite attacks and strange disappearances underground have gone without explanation, and the Doctor finds the humans are being manipulated by the powers of the Tractators, giant woodlouse-like creatures with extraordinary mental abilities to control gravity. The Gravis, the Tractator's leader, finds out about the TARDIS, and disassembles it until the Doctor agrees to show him how to travel through time, but once the vessel is back together the creature becomes powerless and the Doctor abandons him on an uninhabited planet, leaving the humans on Frontios in peace. .
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."