4X. Image of the Fendahl

TRANSMISSION DETAILS:

462. Part One                      29.10.77   6.10pm - 6.35pm   6.7M/70th/---
463. Part Two                      05.11.77   6.10pm - 6.35pm   7.5M/64th/75%
464. Part Three                    12.11.77   6.05pm - 6.30pm   7.9M/63rd/---
465. Part Four                     19.11.77   6.10pm - 6.35pm   9.1M/46th/61%

THEA RANSOME: Wanda Ventham; PROFESSOR ADAM COLBY: Edward Arthur; MARTHA TYLER: Daphne Heard; TED MOSS: Edward Evans; MAXIMILLIAN STAEL: Scott Fredericks; DR FENDAHLMAN: Denis Lill (1-3); DAVID MITCHELL: Derek Martin (1-2); HIKER: Graham Simpson (1); JACK TYLER: Geoffrey Hinsliff (2-4); COVEN MEMBER: Geoffrey Witherick (2). UNCREDITED: SECURITY GUARDS: David Elliott (2), Roy Pearce (2); COVEN MEMBERS: (all 3-4) John Emms, Jay McGrath, Douglas Stark; FENDAHL CORE: Wanda Ventham (4)

STORY:

A human skull is found by archeologists. To determine its age it is subjected to a time scanner experiment and found to be over twelve million years old. The TARDIS is drawn to Earth by the Time scanner.

The skull is an artifact of Fendhal, an ancient creature that feeds of the life-force of others. Using Thea Ransome, who is unaware she is a medium, the entity is able to materialise on Earth.

Thea is eventually transformed into the Fendahl, and a group of acolytes assembled by black arts practicioner Maxillian Stael are transformed into the Fendahleen.

The Doctor is able to show the surviving people how to protect themselves using rock salt. Using the time scanner to cause an implosion the Doctor destroys the Fendhal. He and Leela take the skull to be jettisoned near a supernova.

STUDIO: Television Centre Studio 6

LOCATIONS: Stargroves, East End, nr. Newbury, Hants

NOTES: John Leeson's K-9 voice is not heard in this story, although the K-9 prop appears in Parts One and Four

NOVELISATION: Image of the Fendahl Terrance Dicks

VIDEO: Image of the Fendahl