THE STORY
The TARDIS arrives in December 1986 at a South Pole Space Tracking station where the personnel, under the command of General Cutler, are engaged in trying to talk down a manned space capsule in difficulty. The Doctor realises the problems are being caused by the gravitational pull of a new planet that has entered the solar system and is now heading towards Earth.
His theory is proved right when the base is invaded by a force of aliens known as Cybermen , who were once organic, but have applied cybernetics to their bodies. The Cyberman's planet, Mondas, is draining energy from Earth - once its 'twin planet' - as it is close to destruction. The Cybermen proposes to take the humans back to Mondas for conversion into further members of their own race. The humans fight back, but Ben is able to stop General Cutler from launching a highly destructive Z-bomb. Mondas eventually disintegrates due to absorbing too much energy and the Cybermen, dependent on the energy of their planet, collapse and die. The Doctor, severely weakened by the ordeal, hurries back to the TARDIS. Ben and Polly look on as the Doctor collapses to the floor, and changes... into a different man...
CAST:
Dr Who (William Hartnell), Polly (Anneke Wiles),
Ben Jackson (Michael Craze), General Cutler (Robert Beatty), Dyson (Dudley Jones), Barclay (David Dodimead), Schultz (Alan White), Williams (Earl Cameron), Tito (shane Shelton), American Sergeant (John Brandon), Wigner (Steve Plytas), Radar Technician (Christopher Matthews), Krial (Reg Whitehead), Talon (Harry Brooks), Shav (Gregg Palmer), Geneva Technician (Ellen Cullen), T.V. Announcer (Glenn Beck), Cyberman Voices (Roy Skelton, Peter Hawkins), R/T Technician (Christopher Durham), Terry Cutler (Callen Angelo), Krang (Harry Brooks), Jarl (Reg Whitehead), Gern (Greg Palmer).
FACTS:
This story is the first to feature the dreaded Cybemen. They would return many times in over the years.
It was also the first story to feature the concept of regeneration, as William Hartnell's Doctor transformed into the younger form of Patrick Troughton at the end of the fourth episode.
Special computer tape style opening and closing graphics were created for this story by designer Bernard Lodge.
OTHER FORMATS:
The First Doctor Novelisations
Back to the First Doctor Programme Guide 
Back to 'The Smugglers'.