6K. The Five Doctors
Writer: Terrance Dicks
Director: Peter Moffat
Designer: Malcolm Thornton
Incidental Music: Peter Howell
TRANSMISSION DETAILS:
602. The Five Doctors Fri 25.11.1983 7.20pm - 8.50pm 7.7M/54th/75%
REPEAT DETAILS:
Part One Tue 14.08.1984 6.15pm - 6.40pm 4.7M/ 88th/67%
Part Two Wed 15.08.1984 6.15pm - 6.40pm 4.5M/ 93rd/68%
Part Three Thu 16.08.1984 6.15pm - 6.40pm 3.7M/107th/69%
Part Four Fri 17.08.1984 6.15pm - 6.40pm 4.0M/102nd/68%
CAST:
THE DOCTOR: Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Tom Baker (clips only), Richard Hurndall, William Hartnell (clip
only); BRIGADIER LETHBRIDGE-STEWART: Nicholas Courtney; THE MASTER: Anthony Ainley; SARAH JANE
SMITH: Elizabeth Sladen; SUSAN: Carole Ann Ford; ROMANA: Lalla Ward (clips only); ZOE: Wendy
Padbury; JAMIE: Frazer Hines; CAPTAIN MIKE YATES: Richard Franklin; LIZ SHAW: Caroline John;
VOICE OF K-9: John Leeson; CYBERLEADER: David Banks; CYBERLIEUTENANT: Mark Hardy;
CYBERSCOUT: William Kenton; LORD PRESIDENT BORUSA: Phillip Latham; CHANCELLOR FLAVIA: Dinah
Sheridan; THE CASTELLAN: Paul Jerricho; COLONEL CHARLES CRICHTON: David Savile; UNIT SERGEANT:
Ray Float; RASSILON: Richard Matthews; DALEK OPERATOR: John Scott Martin; DALEK VOICE: Roy
Skelton; COMMANDER: Stuart Blake; TECHNICIAN: Stephen Meredith; GUARD: John Tallents; RASTON
WARRIOR ROBOT: Keith Hodiak. UNCREDITED: CYBERMEN: Gilbert Gillian, Myrddin Jones, Emyr Morris Jones,
Richard Naylor, Mark Whincup, Lee Woods; YETI: Lee Woods; EXTRAS: Mark Bassinger, Norman Bradley, Graham
Cole, Johnnie Mack, Ian Marshall-Fisher, Charles Milward, Alan Riches, Lloyd Williams, Frederick Wolfe;
STUNTMAN: Stuart Fell
STORY:
Each of the first four Doctors, along with a companion, has been taken out of time, apart from the fourth who was
trapped with his companion Romana in the time vortex, and the fifth is forced to follow them.
The Time Lords attempt to find out why the Death Zone has become active again. They were hoping that the Doctor would
be able to help, but he no longer exists in any of this regeneration to date, and the time traces converge in the
Death Zone. Several Time Lords are sent to investigate, but none return.
Eventually they decide to use the Master, as he is ruthless enough to survive in the Death Zone. Naturally none of
the Doctor's believe that the Master is there at the Time Lords' request, and eventually allies himself with the
Cybermen in an attempt to save his own life. He later leads them into a trap.
The Fifth Doctor suspects that someone has recently used the time scoop, and his evidence is the presence of Daleks
and Cybermen who were never permitted to particpate, even during the most barbaric times of the Gallifreyans' past.
The Doctor uncovers the traitor - Lord President Borusa - who is after the eternal life that Rassilon possesses.
However Rassilon realised that immortality is a curse, not a blessing. Borusa received immortality, but at a price:
He remains trapped below Rassilon's tomb. With Rassilon's help the Doctors are freed and returned to their own time
streams.
BLOOPERS:
Near the beginning, Tegan comments on the Eye of Orion feeling just like Earth after a thunderstorm. The Doctor
explains that this is because the atmosphere contains an unusually high number of positive ions. It's negative ions
which are present in large numbers after a thunderstorm. (And which have strange soothing effects on humans.)
After the obelisk gobbles up Doctor #3 and Bessie, when it moves away from where they were, you can see Bessie there for
about a half-second, before it fades away.
When Rassilon is giving Borusa immortal life, Borusa has his hand dramatically poised - and when he lowers it, it
bangs into Rassilon's coffin.
At the end, when the Doctors are all returned from whence they came, they seem to have forgotten about poor old Bessie.
STUDIOS:
Television Centre Studio 6, Ealing Film Studios
LOCATIONS:
Plasbrondanw, Llanfrothen, Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd; Carreg Y Foel Gron, nr. Ffestiniog; Manod Quarry, Cwt Y Bugail,
Ffestiniog; Cwm Bychan, nr. Llanbedr, Gwynedd; Tilehouse Lane, Upper Denham, Bucks; West Common Road, Uxbridge,
Middlesex
NOTES:
This 90 minute anniversary special was shown as part of the BBC Children in Need telethon. The story opens with a pre-
titles clip of William Hartnell from Episode Six of The Dalek Invasion of Earth. This is the only story to be shown in
the USA before the UK, where it was shown on 23rd November 1983, the actual anniversary. The end titles use a special
mix of the theme tune, blending from the original to the Howell version
Tom Baker and Lalla Ward only appear via
footage from Shada
NOVELISATION:
The Five Doctors Terrance Dicks
VIDEOS:
The Five Doctors
The King's Demons/
The Five Doctors Special edition
DVD:
The Five Doctors
