Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans (home video)

Synopsis
''Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans is a spin-off of the long-running television series Doctor Who.

It was released direct-to-video in 1995 and was produced by the independent production company Dreamwatch Media, a division of Dreamwatch magazine. Initially available only through mail order and specialty shops, it was subsequently released to retail by Reeltime Pictures in 1997. It features two races of aliens, the Sontarans (first introduced in the Third Doctor serial The Time Warrior, and appearing in several subsequent stories) and the Rutans (who were first mentioned in The Time Warrior, and appeared in the Fourth Doctor serial Horror of Fang Rock). The Sontarans and Rutans were licensed from the estate of their creator Robert Holmes, although the appearance of the Sontarans had to be modified to avoid legal complications with the BBC, which owned the design of the creatures.

Due to licensing restrictions, the character of the Doctor does not actually appear, nor do any other characters from the series. However several actors from the Doctor Who series do appear in different roles, including Carole Ann Ford, Sophie Aldred and Michael Wisher. Also starring in this production are Blake's 7 alumni Jan Chappell and Brian Croucher.''

Plot
When a recently revamped solar-yacht is attacked by a group of aliens during its shakedown cruise, it is up to her captain and crew crew to prevent an alien invasion.

Cast

 * Captain Lisa Deranne - Jan Chappell
 * Kurt - Brian Croucher
 * Zorelle - Carole Ann Ford
 * Mari - Sophie Aldred
 * Nikos - Rory O'Donnell
 * Robar - Michael Wisher
 * Commander Steg - Toby Aspin
 * Lieutenant Vorn - Tom Finnis
 * First Sontaran Trooper - Jonathon Saville
 * Other Sontaran Troopers - Keith Dunne, Derek Handley, Julian Jones, Stephen Mansfield

Production crew

 * Stunts - Jason Haigh-Ellery, Jonathon Saville

Story notes

 * A number of the the actors in Shakedown had previously appeared in Doctor Who or Blake's 7. As well as playing Borg in the Doctor Who story The Robots of Death, Brian Croucher had appeared on Blake's 7 as the recurring villain Travis, while Jan Chappel had played the character of Cally. Carole Ann Ford had appeared on Doctor Who as Susan Foreman, Sophie Aldred as Ace and Michael Wisher had played several guest roles, most notably Davros in the character's debut story, Genesis of the Daleks.


 * Shakedown had a novelisation as part of the New Adventures series, fleshing out the story with both a backstory and a resolution involving the Seventh Doctor and his companions.

Myths
to be added

Filming Locations
to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added

Continuity

 * NA: Shakedown contains the 'full version' of this story, this video element takes up the 'middle' of the novel.

DVD, video, and Other releases
to be added