M. The Romans

TRANSMISSION DETAILS:

54. The Slave Traders             16.01.65   5.40pm - 6.05pm  13.0M/ 7th/53%
55. All Roads Lead to Rome        23.01.65   5.40pm - 6.05pm  11.5M/15th/51%
56. Conspiracy                    30.01.65   5.40pm - 6.05pm  10.0M/28th/50%
57. Inferno                       06.02.65   5.40pm - 6.05pm  12.0M/13th/50%

SEVCHERIA: Derek Sydney (1); DIDIUS: Nicholas Evans (1): CENTURION: Dennis Edwards (1); STALL HOLDER: Margot Thomas (1); SLAVE BUYER: Edward Kelsey (1); MAXIMUS PETULION: Bart Allison (1), ASCARIS: Barry Jackson (1-2); DELOS: Peter Diamond (2-4); TAVIUS: Michael Peake (2-4); EMPEROR CLAUDIUS NERO: Derek Francis (2-4); WOMAN SLAVE: Dorothy Rose-Gribble (2-3); GALLEY MASTER: Gertan Klauber (2); FIRST MAN IN MARKET: Ernest Jennings (2); SECOND MAN IN MARKET: John Caeser (2); COURT MESSENGER: Tony Lambden (2); CUP BEARER (TIGILINUS): Brian Proudfoot (2-3), POPPAEA: Kay Patrick (3-4); LOCUSTA: Ann Tirard (3). UNCREDITED: SLAVES: (all 1-2) Terri Dern, Sandra Harris, Tina Kennedy, Alison Leney; GALLEY SLAVES: (all 2) Paul Andrews, James Appleby, Vez Delahunt, Pat Donohue, Tony Lee, Roy Reeves, Richard Wilding, Les Wilkinson; DEAD CENTURION: Vez Delahunt (2); GLADIATORS: (all 3) Bill Burridge, Derek Calder, Gordon Cave, Paul Duval, Jonas Kurchi, Alan Selwyn; PEOPLE AT BANQUET: (all 3) Douglas Abercrombie, Paul Blomley, Diane Chapman, Michael Essex, George fisher, Alison Leney, James Lyon, Anne Mazell, Ronnie Mead, Sara Negus, Steve Peters; RABBLE: (all 6) Yusha Adams, Mickie Baker, David Brewster, Michael Buck, David Cannon, John Day, Paul Duval, Alan Jones, Derek Martin, Philip Moore, Aldred Morgan, Tony Poole, Bill Richards, Les Saunders, Frank Sessman; PEOPLE IN MARKETS: Ronald Adams, Pat Ambrose, Gladys Bacon, Francesco Bertorelli, David Brewster, Nigel Clayton, Jack Collins, George Daly, Harry Davies, Fred davies, John de Marco, Rosemary Devitt, John Fry, Bunty Garland, Ursula Granville, John Langley, Terry Leigh, John Little, Rilla Madden, Barbara Mansfield, Dickie Martyn, Dawn Pyke, John Sagar, John Scammell, Gillian Smith, Tom Sye, Fred Taylor, Gerry Videl, Johnny Wainwright; GUARDS AND SOLDIERS: Eric Bird, Bill Burridge, Derek Calder, Pat Donohue, Paul Duval, Dennis Edwards, Fred Haggerty, James Heather, Jonas Kurchi, John Pollock Roy Reeves, John Scott Martin, Alan Selwyn, Rose Thomas, Gerry Wain; COURTIERS: Paul Andrews, James Appleby

STORY:

It is 64 A.D., and the Doctor, along with Barbara, Ian and Vicki, are enyoing a holiday in a villa outside Rome. The Doctor and Vicki visit the city of Rome, during which time Ian and Barbara are kidnapped by slave traders.

The Doctor is mistaken for the lyre player Maxmimus Petulion, and is invited to perform at Emperor Nero's Court. The Doctor must stall his performance at all costs to avoid revealing the fact that he cannot play.

Barbara is sold to Nero's slave buyer while Ian is put to work as a galley slave. When he later escapes as the boat is wrecked in a storm Ian, and a fellow slave named Delos, return to Rome where they are re-captured and forced to fight as gladiators in the arena.

The Doctor, by burning the plans to Rome, gives Nero the idea of having the city razed to the ground. While Rome burns the Doctor amd Vicki are re-united with Ian and Barbara as they make their way back to the TARDIS.

STUDIOS: Riverside Studio 1, Ealing Television Film Studios

NOTES: This is the last story for which Mervyn Pinfield is Associate Producer

NOVELISATION: The Romans Donald Cotton

VIDEO: The Rescue/ The Romans