THE STORY
The Doctor and Dodo arrive in London in 1966 and visit the Post Office Tower. There they meet Professor Brett, whose revolutionary new computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought ANalogue), can think for itself, and is soon to be linked up to other major computers around the world. The project is being overseen by civil servant Sir Charles Summer. WOTAN however, considers humans to be inferior beings and using a hypnotic influence begins to take over peole, starting with Brett.
Under the computer's orders, mobile war machines
are built, heavily-armed computers with which WOTAN intends to take over the world.
Brett's secretary Polly and a young merchant seaman Ben Jackson, who has befreinded Dodo, witness
this and Ben escapes to warn Sir Charles. The army is not able to stop the machines, but the Doctor manages to capture one using a
magentic field. He reprogrammes the war machine which then destroys WOTAN. Dodo decides to stay in her own time, but Ben and Polly
follow the Doctor into the TARDIS just before it dematerialises...
CAST:
Dr Who (William Hartnell), Dodo (Jackie Lane), Polly (Anneke Wiles),
Ben Jackson (Michael Craze), Major Green (Alan Curtis), Professor Brett (John Harvey),
Kitty (Sandra Bryant), Flash (Ewan Proctor), Sir Charles Summer (William Mervyn),
Professor Krimpton (John Cater), American journalist (Ric Felgate), Interviwer (John Doye),
Worker (Desmond Cullum-Jones), Tramp (Roy Godfrey), Taxi-Driver (Michael Rathbone), Machine
Operator (Gerald Taylor), Worker (Eddie Davies), Captain (John Rolfe), Sergeant (John Boyd-Brent),
Corporal (Frank Jarvis), Soldier (Robin Dawson), Television Newsreader (Kenneth Kendall), The
Minister (George Cross), Garage Mechanic (Edward Colliver), Man in telephone box (John Slavid),
Radio Announcer (Dwight Whylie), US Correspondant (Carl Conway), The voice of WOTAN (Gerald Taylor),
WOTAN (itself).
FACTS:
Comedian and actor Mike
Reid, best known for his role as Frank Butcher in 'EastEnders' (Ricky!) played a soldier in episode four.
Special computer text opening title graphics were used in each episode
This is Dodo's last story, although she is given a off-screen leaving scene.
OTHER FORMATS:
The First Doctor Novelisations
Back to the First Doctor Programme Guide
Back to 'The Savages'. Forward to 'The Smugglers'.
