The Leisure Hive (TV story)

Synopsis
The TARDIS has arrived on Brighton Beach. The Doctor has taken to sunbathing. K-9 is damaged when he rides into the sea. Bored of sunbathing, Romana convinces the Doctor to go to Argolis, the first of the leisure planets, where is a recreation building called the Leisure Hive. The Argolins have been conducting experiments with a science called Tachyonics. With the help of Hardin, an Earth scientist, they plan to use their Recreation Generator to rejuvenate themselves, as they are sterile because of a war with a neighbouring species called the Foamasi.

A group of Foamasi from the criminal association called the West Lodge murder two people and commit acts of sabotage. They masquerade as humans and try to get the Argolins to sell the hive to the West Lodge.

Foamasi officials arrive and arrest the two criminals. The Foamasi, like the Argolins, want to live in peace and so do not harm each other. Pangol, a clone made in the Recreation Generator wants to create an army of Argolins with the generator and conquer the planet for himself. The Doctor trips the machine to clone him instead and gradually the clones fade away.

The two West Lodge criminals are killed; when they try to escape in the Foamasi ship, the Argolins blow them up. Pangol enters the generator and it rejuvenates him into a baby.

The Doctor and Romana remove the randomiser from the TARDIS before setting off again.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Tom Baker
 * Romana - Lalla Ward
 * Foamasi - Andrew Lane
 * Generator Voice - Clifford Norgate
 * Guide - Roy Montague
 * Hardin - Nigel Lambert
 * Klout - Ian Talbot
 * Mena - Adrienne Corri
 * Morix - Laurence Payne
 * Brock - John Collin
 * Pangol - David Haig
 * Stimson - David Allister
 * Tannoy Voice - Harriet Reynolds
 * Vargos - Martin Fisk

Crew

 * Assistant Floor Manager - Val McCrimmon
 * Costumes - June Hudson
 * Designer - Tom Yardley-Jones
 * Executive Producer - Barry Letts
 * Film Cameraman - Keith Barton
 * Film Editor - Chris Wimble
 * Incidental Music - Peter Howell
 * Make-Up - Dorka Nieradzik
 * Producer - John Nathan-Turner
 * Production Assistant - Romey Allison
 * Production Unit Manager - Angela Smith
 * Script Editor - Christopher H. Bidmead
 * Special Sounds - Dick Mills
 * Studio Lighting - Duncan Brown
 * Studio Sound - John Howell
 * Theme Arrangement - Peter Howell
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer
 * Visual Effects - Andrew Lazell

Story Notes

 * This story is the debut of the new title sequence and a change to the theme music.
 * This is not the only time a story is resolved by de-aging the Doctor's antagonist, as happens to Pangol of the Argolin when the Doctor sabotages the Tachyon Recreation Generator. In Boom Town, the Slitheen Margaret Blaine is regressed back into an egg by the Doctor's TARDIS.
 * This is John Nathan-Turner's first story as producer.
 * The story had a working title of The Argolins.
 * The new TARDIS police box prop debuted in this story, being made of fibreglass rather than wood.
 * The Doctor's new outfit (the burgundy colour) also debuts in this story.
 * Beginning with this story and continuing for the next several seasons, until The Five Doctors, each serial will be linked in some way, either through some reference, or directly linked.

Ratings

 * Part One - 5.9 Million
 * Part Two - 5 Million
 * Part Three - 5 Million
 * Part Four - 4.5 Million

Myths
to be added

Location Filming
to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

 * The wires pulling K9 along the beach are particularly visible in part one.
 * The Doctor and Romana are able to comment on Hardin's experiment, despite having missed the hologram of it.
 * In episode two the top of the sonic screwdriver is nearly bent off.
 * Presumably the Foamasi have to put on corsets before they don the skin suits.

Continuity

 * The Fomasi reappear in EDA: Placebo Effect.

DVD, Video, and Other Releases
DVD Releases

Released as Doctor Who: The Leisure Hive.

Released:
 * Region 2 5th July 2004
 * PAL - BBC DVD BBCDVD1351


 * Region 4 7th October 2004
 * Region 1 7th June 2005
 * NTSC - Warner Video E2217

Contents:
 * A New Beginning Documentary - A look at the radical changes made to Doctor Who by incoming Producer John Nathan-Turner.
 * From Avalon to Argolis - David Fisher and Christopher H. Bidmead recall the writing of the story.
 * Leisure Wear - June Hudson talks about the costumes for the story.
 * Synthesizing Starfields - Peter Howell and Sid Sutton recall the creation of the new titles sequence and theme arrangement.
 * Blue Peter - A look at the exhibition at Longleat.
 * 5.1 Mix
 * Music-only Option
 * Photo Gallery
 * Production Subtitles
 * Easter Egg
 * Commentary: Lalla Ward, Lovett Bickford, and Christopher H. Bidmead

Video Releases

Released as Doctor Who: The Leisure Hive.

Released:
 * UK January 1997
 * PAL - BBC Video BBCV5821


 * US September 1997
 * NTSC - Warner Video E1135

Novelisation

 * Main article: Doctor Who and the Leisure Hive


 * Novelised as Doctor Who and the Leisure Hive by David Fisher.