The Daleks (TV story)

Summary
The TARDIS arrives on the planet Skaro, a seemingly dead world. When the Doctor sees a technologically advanced city in the distance he is determined to investigate, and is even willing to sabotage the TARDIS to get what he wants. While in the city though the crew are captured by the Daleks, a race of scientists who have been mutated into creatures who must encase themselves in a metal body to survive. Before long the travellers are suffering from radiation poisoning.

After managing to escape the city they encounter another race living on the planet, the Thals. In contrast to the Daleks, the Thals are a race of physically perfect pacifists. After a dangerous journey Ian is able to lead the Thals to victory and destroy the Daleks

Cast

 * Dr Who - William Hartnell
 * Susan Foreman - Carole Ann Ford
 * Ian Chesterton - William Russell
 * Barbara Wright - Jacqueline Hill
 * Dalek Voices - Peter Hawkins, David Graham
 * Dalek Operators - Robert Jewell, Kevin Manser, Michael Summerton, Gerald Taylor, Peter Murphy
 * Temmosus - Alan Wheatley
 * Alydon - John Lee
 * Dyoni - Virginia Wetherell
 * Ganatus - Philip Bond
 * Antodus - Marcus Hammond
 * Kristas - Jonathon Crane
 * Elyon - Gerald Curtis
 * Thals - Chris Browning, Katie Cashfield, Vez Delahunt, Kevin Glenny, Ruth Harrison, Lesley Hill, Steve Pokol, Jeanette Rossinni, Eric Smith
 * Uncredited Thal Double - Frans Van Nordo
 * Double for Antodus - Peter Diamond
 * Double for Alydon - Chris Browning

Crew

 * Writer - Terry Nation
 * Directors - Christopher Barry (parts 1,2,4,5), Richard Martin(parts 3,6,7)
 * Producer - Verity Lambert
 * Script Editor - David Whitaker
 * Designers - Raymond Cusick, Jeremy Davies
 * Assistant Floor Manager - Jeremy Hare, Michael Ferguson
 * Associate Producer - Mervyn Pinfield
 * Costumes - Daphne Dare
 * Film Cameraman - Stewart Farnell
 * Film Editor - Ted Walter
 * Incidental Music - Tristram Cary
 * Make-Up - Elizabeth Blattner
 * Production Assistant - Norman Stewart
 * Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
 * Studio Lighting - Geoff Shaw, John Treays
 * Studio Sound - Jack Brummitt, Jack Clayton
 * Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer

Influences

 * The Time Machine by HG Wells - The essential premise of both stories is the same
 * The first Dan Dare serial from the Eagle comics. This story involves a swamp full of monsters, a cave system, a race of evil technocrats, and a group of blonde haired pacifists who are persuaded to fight

Ratings

 * The Dead Planet - 6.9m viewers
 * The Survivors - 6.4m viewers
 * The Escape - 8.9m viewers
 * The Ambush - 9.9m viewers
 * The Expedition - 9.9m viewers
 * The Ordeal - 10.4m viewers
 * The Rescue - 10.4m viewers

Myths

 * Terry Nation named the Daleks after seeing the spines of a set of encyclopaedias (He made up the name but invented this as a story to tell the press)
 * There was a transmission fault at the start of the first episode that meant the opening moments were in negative. (This was intentional on the part of the production team who wanted to create the impression of heat)
 * This story was intended to feature a Glass Dalek, but this was changed due to budget constraints (The idea of the Glass Dalek was created by David Whitaker for his novelisation of the story) A Glass Dalek did appear in the Sixth Doctor story, "Revelation of the Daleks."
 * Electronic interference on the original tape meant that the first episode needed to be remade (The first episode was remade but this was because instructions being relayed to the studio from the control gallery were clearly audible on the original recording)
 * Raymond Cusick based the shape of the Daleks on pepper pots (The inspiration for the Daleks was a man sitting in a chair. He did however use a pepper pot to demonstrate how he envisaged the Daleks moving)

Location Filming
The story was filmed at both Ealing and Lime Grove Studio D

Continuity

 * This is the first time the TARDIS food machine is seen. It later reappears in The Edge of Destruction, and The Space Museum. In these stories it produces nutrition bars with the taste of food. In Legacy it is revealed that Ace has modified the machine to produce actual food
 * This is the first time the fault locator is seen
 * The TARDIS fluid link uses mercury
 * The Doctor reveals that there is a large age gap between him and Susan
 * The Doctor reveals that he was once a pioneer amongst his people
 * The Daleks are growing food with artificial sunlight which would suggest that the Daleks still eat food. No evidence of this is revealed in later stories
 * The History of the Daleks as revealed here differs from the account provided in Genesis of the Daleks. A suggested explanation for this can be found in War of the Daleks
 * The Thals later reappear in Planet of the Daleks, Genesis of the Daleks, The Mutant Phase and War of the Daleks
 * Barbara and Ian later named their son John Alydon Ganatus Chesterton after their Thal friends (Byzantium!)
 * Dr. Who and the Daleks is essentially a remake of this story

Discontinuity

 * The Dalek geiger counter has the word danger written on it in English.
 * The Dalek cell in which the main characters are held contains a bed something the Daleks would have had no need for. [possibly it was their for Thal prisoners, or was their when the Daleks had been humanoid]
 * It is originally stated that the Thals have travelled for 4 years but this is later reduced to 1 year.
 * Ganatus is aware of the cultural conventions existing in England in the 1960's "We won't use one of the customs of your planet: "ladies first"". [ Barbara might have talked to him about where they came from]
 * Ian waits for Temmosus to finish his speach before warning them that the Daleks plan to attack.
 * Despite having turned off the power, the Thals are able to leave through the electronic doors.
 * In episode 3 Susan can be seen running on the spot while the production crew hit her with twigs.
 * In episode 6 Ian grabs a rock wall and ends up with polystyrene in his hand
 * When the Doctor shorts out a Dalek control panel the explosion happens too early.

Quotes
The Doctor: [Speaking to Alydon] - "You wanted advice, you said. I never give it. Never. But I might just say this for you. Always search for truth. My truth is in the stars, and yours... is here."

Story Arcs

 * The History of the Daleks Arc
 * Ian and Barbara's Abduction

Similar stories
Genesis of the Daleks - An alternative begining for the Daleks

More Info

 * Story Synopsis
 * Story Transcript
 * Story Novelization
 * Story Statistics
 * Story in the Media

Public Releases

 * DVD Release - This story has not yet been released on DVD
 * Video Release - Released as "The Daleks: The Dead Planet and the Exhibition"


 * First Release: The BBC originally intended to release this story in a box set with An Unearthly Child and The Edge of Destruction but they changed their plans and decided to release each story individually.


 * UK Release: June 1989 / US Release: June 1995 Australia/New Zealand Release: December 1989
 * PAL - BBC Video BBCV4242 (2 tapes)
 * NTSC - CBS/FOX Video 8253 (2 tapes)
 * NTSC - Warner Video E1275 (2 tapes)


 * Notes: The 'next episode' caption has been removed from Episode 7


 * Second Release: An unedited, remastered edition:


 * UK Release: February 2001 / Australia/New Zealand Release: April 2001
 * PAL - BBC Video BBCV6960 (2 tapes)