Rima

An unknown miner was trapped in the power struggle between Ettis and Gebek in the trisilicate mines of the planet Peladon. Though willing to listen to Ettis' ideas of class revolt, he was taken aback by Ettis' outright dismissal of Gebek's more level-headed approach. When Gebek and the Third Doctor appeared to be in trouble, an informal "council of miners" gathered to plan a course of action. Ettis tried to convince the others that the duo be abandoned to their fate, but this miner successfully moved that the miners instead send out a search and rescue party.

Despite this clash of wills, Ettis continued to confide in this miner. On one occasion, Ettis told him of his plans to use the sonic lance to destroy the whole of the royal court, and several mining levels, as well. It was at this juncture that the miner finally saw Ettis as mentally unstable. When he threatened to tell other miners that Ettis' judgment had become impaired, Ettis stabbed him. Later, Sarah Jane Smith nursed his wounds, but it was never quite clear if her ministrations had restored him to full health. (TV: The Monster of Peladon)

Behind the scenes

 * This character is often confused with Preba, largely because Preba is only clearly photographed in one very brief scene, whereas the "unknown miner" gets several closeups — some of which occur when Preba is around. These closeups — when compared with other Doctor Who appearances by Roy Evans — quickly separate this character from Preba. Oddly, even the novelisation fails to give this guy any sort of name. At the end of part four of the televised version, Gebek appears to say some sort of name when he instructs Sarah Jane to take care of the wounded miner, but it is indistinct.