THE VISITATION

Written by Terence Dudley.

Directed by Ron Jones.

Transmitted originally: 15 February 1982 to 23 February 1982.

"I have appeared before some of of the most hostile audiences in the world. Today I met death in a cellar. But I have never been so afraid until I met the man with the scythe." - 'Richard Mace'

THE STORY

The Doctor attempts to take Tegan back to Heathrow Airport but the TARDIS arrives in the 17th Century instead of the 20th. The time travellers discover that a space capsule has crashlanded nearby and its alien occupants, a group of Terileptils, who are prison escapees from the planet Raaga, intend to wipe out all indigenous life on Earth by releasing rats infected with an enhanced strain of the great plague. The creatures are also using a sophisticated android disguised as the Grim Reaper to strike terror into the local villagers. Aided by out-of-work actor Richard Mace, the Doctor tracks the Terileptils to their base in London. The creatures are ultimately destroyed when a fire breaks out after the Terileptil leader's gun explodes - also setting off the Great Fire of London.

CAST:

The Doctor (Peter Davison), Tegan (Janet Fielding), Adric (Matthew Waterhouse), Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Richard Mace (Michael Robbins), Android (Peter van Dissel), The Squire (John Savident), Charles (Anthony Calf), Ralph (John Baker), Elizabeth (Valerie Fyfer), Villager (Richard Hampton), Miller (James Charlton), Terileptil (Michael Melia), Poacher (Neil West), Headman (Eric Dodson).

FACTS:

The Doctor's trusty sonic screwdriver is destroyed by the Terileptil leader in Part Three.

The excellent 'prologue' in which the original owners of the house are wiped out by the Terileptils and their android features John Savident, better known in his role as Fred Elliot in 'Coronation Street', as the Squire.

The Terileptil leader's mask was the first example in Doctor Who of an effect achieved by animatronics.

OTHER FORMATS:

The Fifth Doctor Novelisations

Fifth Doctor Videos

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