The Aliens in the Blood (unproduced TV story)

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The Aliens In the Blood was an unproduced story planned for Season 6.

Synopsis
In the 22nd century, the Outer Space Commission Of Control (OSCOC) controls the flow of traffic in the spacelanes. OSCOC is located on an island in the Indian Ocean, and its staff — led by Dean Thawne — are in frequent conflict with the primitive natives. The TARDIS materialises on the island in the midst of a rash of sabotage which has resulted in the loss of many Earth spaceships. Although the natives are suspected, it transpires that the culprits are actually mutant “Mark II” humans, who have infiltrated OSCOC. These mutants have gained the power of ESP but are cold and emotionless, and now intend world conquest. The Doctor defeats the mutants by constructing a device which broadcasts along their psychic wavelength and burns out their superhuman abilities.

Story notes
Robert Holmes submitted the idea on 22 October 1968, shortly after completing work on The Krotons. Script editor Terrance Dicks was wary of the proposal, feeling that OSCOC bore similarities to the eponymous facility in The Wheel in Space. He was also concerned that Holmes' proposal that the Mark II Humans be distinguished by a physical feature like an extra-long thumb was reminiscent of the TV series The Invaders. The Aliens In The Blood was rejected soon thereafter.

Years later, however, Holmes was commissioned to write an amended version of the serial — now set in present-day Chile and with the Doctor and his companions replaced by Dr John Cornelius and Prof Curtis Lark — for BBC Radio 4. Cowritten with Rene Basilico, it was transmitted in six weekly episodes as Aliens In The Mind from 22 January 1977. (REF: DWM 242, DWMS Winter 1994, DWMSE 4)