XX. The Seeds of Death

TRANSMISSION DETAILS:

232. Episode 1                     25.01.69   5.15pm - 5.40pm   6.6M/68th/57%
233. Episode 2                     01.02.69   5.15pm - 5.40pm   6.8M/72nd/59%
234. Episode 3                     08.02.69   5.15pm - 5.40pm   7.5M/65th/55%
235. Episode 4                     15.02.69   5.15pm - 5.40pm   7.1M/74th/55%
236. Episode 5                     22.02.69   5.15pm - 5.40pm   7.6M/65th/57%
237. Episode 6                     01.03.69   5.15pm - 5.40pm   7.7M/58th/59%

GIA KELLY: Louise Pajo; COMMANDER JULIAN RADNOR: Ronald Leigh-Hunt; PROFESSOR DANIEL ELDRED: Philip Ray; COMPUTER VOICE: John Witty; SLAAR: Alan Bennion; ICE WARRIORS: Sonny Caldinez (2-4), Tony Harwood (2-6), Steve Peters; FEWSHAM: Terry Scully (1-5); PHIPPS: Christopher Coll (1-4); BRENT: Ric Felgate (1-4); LOCKE: Martin Cort (1-2); HARRY OSGOOD: Harry Towb (1); GRAND MARSHALL: Graham Leaman (5-6); SIR JAMES GREGSON: Hugh Morton (5). UNCREDITED: WEATHER STATION OPERATOR: Peter Whitaker (4); DOUBLE FOR THE DOCTOR: Tommy Laird (4); TECHNICIANS: Monique Bryant, Derek Chafer, Alan Cuntz, Ernie Claydon, Edward Cogdell, Ron Conrad, Royston Farrell, Pat Gorman, Jimmy Haswell, Eric Kent, Crawford Lyle; GUARDS John Crease, Fred Clemson, Keith Goodman, Tony Hutchins, Phil Lundgren, Douglas Roe, Peter Roy, Derrick Slater

STORY:

The TARDIS materialises on Earth in the 21st century inside a private space museum. A monitor shows that all travel on the planet is now done using the T-mat system providing instant trans-mat from point to point, including the moon.

The base on the moon appears to be non-functional, but the truth is that it has been invaded by the Ice Warriors. The Doctor, along with Jamie and Zoe, assist a London T-mat station by travelling up to the moon in an antiquated rocket - they are the only people with the necessary experience.

The Doctor finds that the Ice Warriors have taken over the moon base. Using the T-mat system they transport seed pods to Earth. The pods produce a strange foam that is able to suck the oxygen out of the Earth atmposhere.

The only way to disperse the pods is by water. An Ice Warrior transports to a weather station and locks the controls so that rain is not produced. The Doctor is able to rewire the controls and produce rain, dispersing the foam. Using a satellite he is able to draw the Ice Warrior fleet into orbit around the sun. The heat destroys them.

STUDIOS: Lime Grove Studio D, Ealing Television Film Studios

LOCATIONS: Hampstead Heath, London

WORKING TITLE: The Lords of the Red Planet

NOTES: The story title, writer and episode number is brought up over model work of the Earth and Moon which varies from episode to episode
Patrick Troughton is absent from Episode 4 (a double plays the unconscious Doctor)
This is the last case of the actor playing the Doctor being absent from an episode

NOVELISATION: The Seeds of Death Terrance Dicks

VIDEO: The Seeds of Death