Terror of the Autons (TV story)

Synopsis
The Master arrives on Earth at a circus run by a man named Rossini and steals a dormant Nestene energy unit from a museum. He reactivates it using a radio telescope and uses his hypnotic abilities to take control of a small plastics firm run by the Farrel family, where he organises the production of deadly Auton dolls, chairs and daffodils.

Humanoid Auton dummies distribute the daffodils - designed to spray a suffocating plastic film over their victim's mouth and nose - by giving them away free to members of the public in a fake promotional campaign.

The Master plans to activate the flowers with a signal from the radio telescope, which he will then use to bring the main Nestene Consciousness to Earth. The Doctor manages to persuade the Master that the Nestenes will have no further use for him once they arrive. The two Time Lords then work together to send the Consciousness back into space.

Plot
to be added

Cast

 * The Doctor - Jon Pertwee
 * Jo Grant - Katy Manning
 * Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart - Nicholas Courtney
 * The Master - Roger Delgado
 * Sergeant Benton - John Levene
 * Captain Mike Yates - Richard Franklin
 * This is Yates' first appearance.
 * Rossini - John Baskcomb
 * Professor Philips - Christopher Burgess
 * Museum Attendant - Dave Carter
 * Time Lord - David Garth
 * Auton Leader - Pat Gorman
 * Farrel Senior - Stephen Jack
 * Auton Voice - Hayden Jones
 * Mrs. Farrel - Barbara Leake
 * Policeman - Bill McGuirk
 * Radio Telescope Director - Frank Mills
 * Goodge - Andrew Staines
 * Telephone Mechanic - Norman Stanley
 * Strong Man - Roy Stewart
 * McDermott - Harry Towb
 * Brownrose - Dermot Tuohy
 * Auton Policeman - Terry Walsh
 * Rex Farrel - Michael Wisher

Crew

 * Film Cameraman - John Baker
 * Assistant Floor Manager - Bruce Best
 * Film Editor - Geoffrey Botterill
 * Circus Sequences provided by Robert Brothers
 * Script Editor - Terrance Dicks
 * Studio Sound - Colin Dixon
 * Title Music - Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, arranged by Delia Derbyshire
 * Stunts - HAVOC stunt group
 * Visual Effects - Michealjohn Harris
 * Make-Up - Jan Harrison
 * Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
 * Writer - Robert Holmes
 * Production Assistant - Nicholas John
 * Producer - Barry Letts
 * Director - Barry Letts (not credited)
 * Studio Lighting - Eric Monk
 * Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
 * Costumes - Ken Trew
 * Designer - Ian Watson

Story Notes

 * The story was originally to be titled "The Spray of Death"

Ratings

 * Episode 1 - 7.3 million viewers
 * Episode 2 - 8.0 million viewers
 * Episode 3 - 8.1 million viewers
 * Episode 4 - 8.4 million viewers

Myths
to be added

Location Filming
to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors
to be added

Continuity

 * This is a sequel to Spearhead from Space.
 * The Nestene Consciousness appear again in PDA: Synthespians™, Business Unusual and DW: Rose.

DVD, Video and Other Releases
to be added

Target Novelisations

 * Novelised as Doctor Who and the Terror of the Autons in 1974 by Terrance Dicks.