TERROR OF THE ZYGONS

Written by Robert Banks Stewart.

Directed by Douglas Camfield.

Transmitted originally: 30 August 1975 to 20 September 1975.

"You can't rule the world in in hiding. You've got to come out on to the balcony sometimes and wave a tentacle." - The Doctor (to Broton)

THE STORY

The Doctor, Sarah and Harry return to Earth in response to the Brigadier's summons. UNIT are investigating a series of devestating attacks on North Sea oil rigs and have set up a temporary HQ in the Scottish village of Tullock. The attacks are the work of a huge cyborg, the Skarasen, controlled by a group of aliens known as Zygons whose spaceship lies at the bottom of Loch Ness. The Zygons plan to take over the Earth as a substitute for their own world, which has been destroyed by solar flares. They are using their shape-shifting abilities to take on the identities of locals whose paralysed bodies are held onboard the ship.

The Doctor releases the Zygon's prisoners and causes their ship, which has emerged from the Loch, to self-destruct. Only their leader, Broton, survives. He has assumed the identity of the Duke of Forgill and travelled to London. There he plans to give a show of strength by destroying a World Energy Conference with the Skarasen, which is approaching up the Thames. Broton is shot UNIT troops and the Doctor throws the Skarasen its homing device, which it devours. Without a controlling influence, the creature makes its way back to the Loch.

CAST:

The Doctor (Tom Baker), Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Harry (Ian Marter), Duke of Forgill/Broton (John Woodnutt), Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney), RSM Benton (John Levene), Sister Lamont (Lillias Walker), The Caber (Robert Russell), Angus (Angus Lennie), Huckle (Tony Sibbald), Munro (Hugh Martin), Radio Operator (Bruce Wightman), Zygons (Keith Ashley, Ronald Gough), Corporal (Bernard G High), Soldier (Peter Symonds).

FACTS:

John Woodnutt, previously seen as Hibbert in season Seven's 'Spearhead from Space' and as the Draconian Emperor in season ten's 'Frontier in Space', plays both the Duke of Forgill and Broton.

The Zygons made a return appearance in the Eighth Doctor novel 'The Bodysnatchers' by Mark Morris.

OTHER FORMATS:

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