The Monster of Peladon (TV story)

Synopsis
The TARDIS returns to Peladon some fifty years after the Doctor's last visit. The planet is now ruled by Queen Thalira - daughter of the late King Peladon - with advice from Chancellor Ortron. The Doctor and Sarah are arrested by Ortron for trespassing on sacred ground but their names are cleared by Alpha Centauri, now Galactic Federation ambassador to Peladon.

A ghost-like image of Aggedor has been responsible for some deaths in the planet's trisilicate mines, heightening unrest amongst the miners. The Doctor discovers that the apparitions are really the result of the use of a matter projector and a directional heat ray by a human engineer, Eckersley.

Eckersley is in league with a group of renegade Martian warriors, led by Commander Azaxyr, in a plot to seize the trisilicate deposits for Galaxy 5, a power bloc at war with the Federation. Azaxyr mounts an attack on the throne room and kills Ortron.

The Doctor however turns the heat ray on some of the Martians, while others are dispatched by the miners. Eckersley flees, taking the Queen hostage, but the Doctor uses the real Aggedor to track him down. Eckersley is killed, but Aggedor also dies in the skirmish.

Its plans thwarted, Galaxy 5 surrenders to the Federation. The Doctor is invited by Thalira to take over as Chancellor but he declines, suggesting the miners' leader Gebek would make a better candidate.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
 * Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen
 * Thalira - Nina Thomas
 * Eckersley - Donald Gee
 * Ortron - Frank Gatliff
 * Gebek - Rex Robinson
 * Azaxyr - Alan Bennion
 * Sskel - Sonny Caldinez
 * Ettis - Ralph Watson
 * Voice of Alpha Centauri - Ysanne Churchman
 * Body of Alpha Centauri - Stuart Fell
 * Vega Nexos - Gerald Taylor
 * Preba - Graeme Eton
 * Blor - Michael Crane
 * Guard Captain - Terry Walsh
 * Aggedor - Nick Hobbs
 * Miners - Roy Evans, Max Faulkner

Crew

 * Assistant Floor Manager - Roselyn Parker
 * Costumes - Barbara Kidd
 * Designer - Gloria Clayton
 * Film Cameraman - Keith Hopper
 * Film Editor - William Symon
 * Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
 * Make-Up - Elisabeth Moss
 * Producer - Barry Letts
 * Production Assistant - Marcia Wheeler
 * Production Unit Manager - George Gallacio
 * Script Editor - Terrance Dicks
 * Special Sounds - Dick Mills
 * Studio Lighting - Ralph Walton
 * Studio Sound - Tony Millier
 * Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer
 * Visual Effects - Peter Day

Story Notes

 * This story had the working title Return To Peladon.
 * This is the last on-screen appearance of the Ice Warriors, though they did reappear in various novels (NA: Legacy, Theatre of War, Happy Endings, GodEngine, The Dying Days) and audio dramas (BFA: Red Dawn, Frozen Time, BFBS: The Dance of the Dead) to name a few.
 * In an attempt to recapture the feel of The Curse of Peladon, the same director and designer were assigned to this story and many of the props that still existed (including the Alpha Centauri, Aggedor and Ice Warrior costumes) were reused.

Ratings

 * Part 1 - 9.2 million viewers
 * Part 2 - 6.8 million viewers
 * Part 3 - 7.4 million viewers
 * Part 4 - 7.2 million viewers
 * Part 5 - 7.5 million viewers
 * Part 6 - 8.1 million viewers

Myths

 * Azaxyr is an 'Ice Lord'. (The term is never used)

Filming Locations

 * Five days at the Ealing Television Film Studios from January 14th to 18th 1974 filming footage set in the mines.
 * Two day session in BBC Television Centre Studio 8 from January 28th and Tuesday the 29th 1974 filming footage set in the temple and the pit.

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

 * In The Curse of Peladon, the Doctor says that trisilicate can only be found on the planet Mars. (The Doctor believed what he said but was wrong.)
 * Lip reading the Doctor at the end of episode one results in the great line 'What the bloody hell is it?'.
 * In episode four we get a clear look at stunt double Terry Walsh when, as the Doctor, he throws Ettis.
 * In episode six the hole in the door vanishes along with the Aggedor statue.
 * When Aggedor dies Nick Hobbs's skin shows as the trousers detach from the boots.

Continuity

 * This is a sequel to The Curse of Peladon, NA: Legacy and BFA: The Bride of Peladon are sequels to both this story and The Curse of Peladon.

DVD, Video and Other Releases
to be added

Target Novelisations

 * Novelised as Doctor Who and the Monster of Peladon by Terrance Dicks in 1980.