5T. The Keeper of Traken

TRANSMISSION DETAILS:

546. Part One                      31.01.81   5.10pm - 5.35pm   7.6M/ 72nd/---
547. Part Two                      07.02.81   5.10pm - 5.35pm   6.1M/106th/---
548. Part Three                    14.02.81   5.10pm - 5.35pm   5.2M/112th/---
549. Part Four                     21.02.81   5.10pm - 5.35pm   6.1M/103rd/63%

     Part One                Mon   10.08.81   6.30pm - 6.55pm   5.2M/71st
     Part Two                Tue   11.08.81   6.20pm - 6.45pm   4.4M/93rd
     Part Three              Wed   12.08.81   6.20pm - 6.45pm   5.2M/71st
     Part Four               Thu   13.08.81   6.20pm - 6.45pm   5.0M/74th

TREMAS: Anthony Ainley; KASSIA: Sheila Ruskin; KATURA: Margot van der Burgh; LUVIC: Robin Soans; PROCTOR NEMAN: Roland Oliver' MELKUR/THE MASTER: Geoffrey Beevers (credited as Melkur); THE KEEPER: Denis Carey (1-2); SERON: John Woodnutt (1-2); FOSTERS: Liam Prendergast (3), Philip Bloomfield (4). UNCREDITED: FOSTER EXTRAS: Maurice Connor, Michael Gordon-Browne, Pat Gorman, Donald Groves, Pat Judge, Barney Lawrence, Mark Midler, Jim Morriss, Ralph Morse, Stuart Myers, Fred Redford, Doug Roe, Tony Snell, Barry Summerford, Colin Thomas; THE MASTER: Anthony Ainley (4)

STORY:

While in flight the TARDIS is boarded by a stramge figure in a chair. The figure announces himself as the Keeper of the Traken Union. The peace of the Union has been invaded by an alien entity, and the Keeper believes the Union is in trouble, and asks the Doctor and Adric to help him.

The Keeper is nearing the end of his reign and he needs help to ensure that evil does not take his place. The TARDIS materialises in a grove, and the Doctor and Adric are taken in front of the counsul. The Doctor claims he is there at the request of the Keeper, but when the Keeper his summoned, but the Melkur is present and the Keeper announces that there is evil in the room.

Everyone assumes he is referring to the Doctor and Adric.and Counsul Tremas takes them into his care. Along with Tremas's daughter Nyssa the Doctor and adric discover a plan by the Master to gain the Keeper ship. He has taken over one of the Counsul, who is chosen to the be the next Keeper. This paves the way for the Master to gain control.

The Doctor manages to expel the Master, and a new Keeper quickly takes position. The Master is thought to be dead, but some of the powers of the Keeper remain, and the Master takes over the body of Nyssa's father, Tremas.

STUDIOS: Television Centre Studio 6, Television Centre Studio 8

NOTES: This story saw the surprise return of the Master, starting a trilogy of linked stories to reintroduce the character

NOVELISATION: The Keeper of Traken Terrance Dicks

VIDEO: The Keeper of Traken