THE FIVE DOCTORS

Written by Terrance Dicks.

Directed by Peter Moffatt.

Transmitted originally: 25 November 1983.

"Great chunks of my past, detaching themselves like melting icebergs." - The Fifth Doctor.

THE STORY

The Doctor's past incarnations are taken out of time by a forbidden time scoop device. The fourth Doctor becomes trapped in the vortex, but the others find themselves, along with a number of their old companions, with the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Turlough, in the Death Zone on Gallifrey. The Zone was once the site of deadly games held for the entertainment of the ancient Gallifreyans. Here they face a Dalek, a Yeti, a quicksilver Raston Warrior Robot and numerous Cybermen. Also present is the Master, who has been summoned by the High Council of the Time Lords to help the Doctor. It turns out that President Borusa is the mysterious operator of the time scoop. He aims to use the Doctor to breach the defences of the Dark Tower - Rassilon's tomb - so that he can enter there and claim immortality. When he does so, however, he is condemned by Rassilon to eternal existence in the form of a living statue. Rassilon returns the past Doctors to their correct places in space and time, while the Fifth Doctor evades his duties as Lord President of Gallifrey by escaping in the TARDIS.

CAST:

The Doctor (Peter Davison, Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton, Richard Hurndall, Tom Baker, William Hartnell), Tegan (Janet Fielding), Turlough (Mark Strickson), Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen), Susan (Carol Ann Ford), The Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney), Romana (Lalla Ward), The Master (Anthony Ainley), Lord President Borusa (Philip Latham), Chancellor Flavia (Dinah Sheridan), The Castellan (Paul Jerricho), Cyber Leader (David Banks), Cyber Lieutenant (Mark Hardy), Rassilon (Richard Matthews), Jamie (Frazer Hines), Zoe (Wendy Padbury), Liz Shaw (Caroline John), Captian Yates (Richard Franklin), Crichton (David Savile), Voice of K-9 (John Leeson), Dalek Voice (Roy Skelton), Dalek Operator (John Scott Martin), Commander (Stuart Blake), Technician (Stephen Meredith), Sergeant (Ray Float), Guard (John Tallents), Cyber Scout (William Kenton), Raston Robot (Keith Hodiak).

FACTS:

'The Five Doctors' was a special anniversary story, marking the series' twenty-five years.

A new TARDIS control console and interior set make their debut appearance.

A clip of William Hartnell as the Doctor, taken from season two's 'The Dalek Invasion of Earth: Flashpoint', is used as an opening pre-title sequence.

OTHER FORMATS:

The Fifth Doctor Novelisations

Fifth Doctor Videos

Back to the Fifth Doctor Programme GuideBack to 'The King's Demons'. Forward to 'Warriors of the Deep'.