ZZZ. Planet of the Spiders
Writer: Robert Sloman
Director: Barry Letts
Designer: Rochelle Selwyn
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson
Fight Arranger: Terry Walsh (4)
TRANSMISSION DETAILS:
376. Part One 04.05.1974 5.45pm - 6.10pm 10.1M/17th/58%
377. Part Two 11.05.1974 5.40pm - 6.05pm 8.9M/26th/60%
378. Part Three 18.05.1974 5.40pm - 6.05pm 8.8M/22nd/57%
379. Part Four 25.05.1974 5.30pm - 5.55pm 8.2M/24th/---
380. Part Five 01.06.1974 5.35pm - 6.00pm 9.2M/19th/---
381. Part Six 08.06.1974 5.35pm - 6.00pm 8.9M/25th/56%
REPEAT DETAILS:
Edited Compilation Fri 27.12.1974 2.45pm - 4.30pm 8.6M/49th
CAST:
MIKE YATES: Richard Franklin; LUPTON: John Dearth; TOMMY: John Kane; BARNES: Christopher Burgess;
MOSS: Terence Lodge; LAND: Carl Forgione (1-2,4-6); KEAVER: Andrew Staines (1-2,4-6); CHO-JE: Kevin
Lindsay (1-3,6); PROFESSOR HUBERT CLEGG: Cyril Shaps (1); SPIDER VOICES: Ysanne Chruchman (2-6), Kismet Delgado
(2-6), Maureen Morris (3-6); POLICEMAN: Chubby Oates (2); SOLDIER: Pat Gorman (2); MAN WITH BOAT (BERT):
Terry Walsh (2); HOPKINS: Michael Pinder (2); TRAMP: Stuart Fell (2); ARAK: Gareth Hunt (3-6); TUAR:
Ralph Arliss (3-6); SABOR: Geoffrey Morris (3-5); NESKA: Jenny Laird (3-5); REGA: Joanna Munro (3-5);
GUARD CAPTAINS: Walter Randall (3-5), Max Faulkner (5); K'ANPO RIMPOCHE: George Cormack (6). UNCREDITED: DOUBLE
FOR THE DOCTOR: Terry Walsh (3); NEW DOCTOR WHO: Tom Baker (6); GUARDS: Lesley Bates, John Cash, Harry Fielder,
Derek Hunt, Steve Ismay, Roy Pearce, Dennis Plenty, Geoff Witherick; VILLAGERS: Keith Ashley, Barbara Bermel, Simon
Christy, Ian Elliott, Pat Gorman, Lorna Kilner, Sue Ann Manners, Bill Matthews, Margaret McKenzie, Ann Plenty, Mary Rennie, Ken
Tracye; EXTRAS: Jack Baker, Elaine Banham, Geoffrey Brighty, Leslie Glenroy, Julian Hudson, Tony Kilbane, David Nicholl,
Roger Salter, Freddie White, Patsy White; STUNTMEN: Alan Chuntz, Stuart Fell, Billy Horrigan, Terry Walsh
STORY:
Sarah is called by Mike Yates to investigate a group of people after he suspects their meditation is something more sinister.
At the same time the Doctor and the Brigadier visit a magic show hosted by Professor Clegg. The Doctor invites Clegg back to
U.N.I.T. for experiments in e.s.p.
The meditations that Sarah is investigating form a bridge through which a giant spider is summoned. It jumps onto the back of
the ringleader, Lupton. It then orders him to go to U.N.I.T. and steal the blue crystal from Metebelis 3 that Jo has returned to
the Doctor.
Lupton steals the crystal, but it is then stolen by Tommy. The Doctor follows Sarah to the Monastery where he finds an old friend
K'Anpo. The Doctor learns of Lupton's meditating, and when Sarah is transported to Metebelis 3, the Doctor decides to follow in
the TARDIS.
The Doctor finds a plan by the giant eight legs of Metebelis to steal the last blue crystal for their queen, and with it she
could become all powerful. The Doctor manages to get hold of the crystal, and he gives it to the Queen. She becomes to powerful
and is destroyed. All the other giant spiders die also. The Doctor is damamaged from radiation in the Queen lair, and on
Earth K'Anpo triggers another regeneration.
BLOOPERS:
Episode 6: The reprise in this episode is different from the cliffhanger in episode 5.
STUDIOS:
Television Centre Studio 1, Television Centre Studio not known
LOCATION:
Mortimer Station, Strathfield Mortimer, Bucks; Tidmarsh Manor, Tidmarsh, Berks; Membury Airfield, Membury,
Wilts; Devizes, Wilts; Newnham-on-Severn
NOTES:
No producer is credited
NOVELISATION:
The Planet of the Spiders
Terrance Dicks
VIDEO:
The Planet of the Spiders
