Frontios (TV story)

...Frontios buries its own dead...

In the far reaches of the future, the TARDIS crash-lands on the planet Frontios in the Veruna system, where the last remnants of humanity have fled the collision of Earth with the sun. Gruesome tales of a hungry earth stalk the struggling settlement, and a bombardment of meteors from an unseen enemy hold the future of mankind in a precarious balance.

At a crucial point in history, with the future still unknown, the Doctor is unable to intervene for fear of violating the laws of Time itself.

But when the TARDIS is destroyed in an attack on the colony, he may have no choice.

Synopsis
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Plot
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Cast
The Doctor - Peter Davison

Tegan Jovanka - Janet Fielding

Vislor Turlough - Mark Strickson

Brazen - Peter Gilmore

Norna - Lesley Dunlop

Range - William Lucas

Plantagenet - Jeff Rawle

Cockerill - Maurice O'Connell

Orderly - Richard Ashley (Episode 1)

Gravis - John Gillett (Episodes 2-4)

Deputy - Alison Skilbeck (Episode 3)

Retrograde - Raymond Murtagh (Episodes 3-4)

Captain Revere - John Beardmore

Crew
Script Editor - Eric Saward

Designer - David Buckingham

Assistant Floor Manager - Joanna Guritz, Ed Stevenson

Production Associate - June Collins

Costumes - Anushia Nieradzik

Make Up - Jill Hagger

Visual Effects - Dave Havard

Production Assistant - Valerie Letley

Sound Effects - Dick Mills

Studio Sound - Martin Ridout

Studio Lighting - John Summers

Story Notes

 * For the first time, we see a solid reference to Turlough's home planet, which was attacked millenia ago by the Tractators.


 * The role of Range was originally supposed to be played by Peter Arne, a character actor perhaps best known for his roles in the films Victor/Victoria and Return of the Pink Panther, as well as several guest roles on The Avengers. Following a wardrobe test for the part, Arne returned to his flat where he was bludgeoned to death by an unknown assailant. William Lucas filled in for Arne. While a student Arne was in a relationship with, and who was later found floating dead in the Thames, remains a prime suspect, the identity and motive of Arne's killer is a mystery to this day.

Ratings
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Myths

 * This story was originally intended to feature Richard Hurndall in a black and white flashback remembered by Peter Davison's Doctor after hitting his head on the TARDIS control console. (False)

Location Filming
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Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added

DVD and Video Releases
to be added

Target Novelisations
Frontios Target Novelisation