THE SENSORITES

Written by Peter R. Newman.

Directed by Mervyn Pinfield (Episodes 1-4) & Frank Cox (Episodes 5-6).

Transmitted originally: 20 June 1964 to 1 August 1964.

Episode 1: Strangers in Space

Episode 2: The Unwilling Warriors

Episode 3: Hidden Danger

Episode 4: A Race Against Death

Episode 5: Kidnap

Episode 6: A Desperate Venture

"It all started out as a mild curiosity in the junkyard and now it's turned out to be quite a great spirit of adventure. - The Doctor

THE STORY

The TARDIS arrives on board a spaceship in orbit around a planet called Sense-Sphere. The alien Sensorites have trapped the ship's human crew, Captain Maitland, Carol and John, in a state of semi-permanent paralysis. When the Doctor investigates, the aliens steal the lock mechanism from the TARDIS, thus trapping him and his companions. The Sensorites allow all but Maitland and Barbara down to the planet's surface, where Ian falls ill from a sickness that has been wiping out the Sensorites. The Doctor finds a cure. His investigations into the cause of the sickness are hampered by the subversive actions of the City Administrator, who believes the visitors to be a threat to his people. The Doctor eventually uncovers a plot by three deranged human survivors from a past expedition, to poison the Sensorites with deadly nightshade in the water supply. The grateful Sensorites return the TARDIS lock and the travellers depart.

CAST:

The Doctor (William Hartnell), Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Ian Chesterton (William Russell), Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill), John (Stephen Dartnell), Carol (Ilona Rodgers), Maitland (Lorne Cossette), 1st Sensorite (Ken Tyllsen), 2nd Sensorite (Joe Greig), Commander (John Bailey), First Human (Martyn Huntley), Second Human (Giles Phibbs), Sensorites: First (Ken Tyllsen), Second (Joe Greig), Third (Peter Glaze), Fourth (Arthur Newall), First Elder (Eric Francis), Second Elder (Bartlett Mullins), First Scientist (Ken Tyllsen), Second Scientist (Joe Greig), Warrior (Joe Greig and Anthony Rogers, Gerry Martin).

FACTS:

Barbara does not appear in 'A Race Against Death' or 'Kidnap' as Jacqueline Hill was on holiday in the weeks when they were recorded.

When the Doctor and his companions leave the TARDIS in the first episode, the camera follows them, and in the same take, pans back to see Susan locking the doors, effectively aiding the visualisation of the TARDIS' impossible interior dimensions.

OTHER FORMATS:

The First Doctor Novelisations

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