Doctor Who | |
---|---|
Season 16 | |
Starring | |
No. of stories | 6 |
No. of episodes | 26 |
Release | |
Original network | BBC1 |
Original release | 2 September 1978 – 24 February 1979 |
Season chronology | |
The sixteenth season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who , known collectively as The Key to Time, began on 2 September 1978 with The Ribos Operation , and ended with The Armageddon Factor . The arc was originally conceived by producer Graham Williams, who had proposed it as part of his application for the producer's job in 1976. [1] The name refers to the powerful artefact, the segments of which are what the Fourth Doctor and his companions, Romana and K9, search for during the season. Anthony Read continued in his role as script editor, from the previous season. Douglas Adams also became script editor alongside Read.
A figure calling himself the White Guardian commissions the Doctor and K9, assisted by a new companion, the Time Lady Romana, to find the six segments of the Key to Time, a cosmic artefact resembling a perfect cube that maintains the equilibrium of the universe. Since it is too powerful for any single being to possess, it has been split into six different segments and scattered across space and time, disguised by the raw elemental power within them into any shape or size. However, since the forces balancing the universe are so upset, the White Guardian needs to recover the segments of the Key to stop the universe so that he can restore the balance. The White Guardian also warns the Doctor of the Black Guardian, who also wishes to obtain the Key to Time for his own purposes. In the final episode, the Black Guardian, disguised as the White Guardian, attempts to take the Key from the Doctor. However, the Doctor sees through the figure's charade and orders the segments of the Key to Time to once again become scattered across all of time and space, bar the sixth, which he reinstates as Princess Astra. Afterward, the Doctor decides to install a device called a randomiser into the TARDIS' navigation system for a period of time to make his following voyages unpredictable to evade the Black Guardian.
In some stories, the segment in its disguised form is an integral part of the story, whereas in others, the segment is merely an incidental object.
Tom Baker continued his role as The Fourth Doctor, and saw the introduction of Romana played by Mary Tamm. This season was the only one to feature Tamm as the first incarnation of Romana, as Tamm left the programme after only one season because she felt that the character had reverted to the traditional assistant role and could not be developed further. [2] The second incarnation, played by Lalla Ward (who also appeared in this season as Princess Astra), began her run in the first serial of the next season ( Destiny of the Daleks ).
Douglas Adams took over as script editor from Anthony Read for The Armageddon Factor . Season 16 consists of one long story arc encompassing six separate, linked stories.
No. story | No. in season | Serial title | Episode titles | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [3] | AI [3] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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98 | 1 | The Ribos Operation | "Part One" | George Spenton-Foster | Robert Holmes | 2 September 1978 | 5A | 8.3 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Two" | 9 September 1978 | 8.1 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Three" | 16 September 1978 | 7.9 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Four" | 23 September 1978 | 8.2 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Doctor is recruited by the White Guardian to seek the six segments of the Key to Time. The quest for the first segment takes them to Ribos, a medieval planet that galactic confidence trickster Garron is trying to sell to the Graff Vynda-K. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
99 | 2 | The Pirate Planet | "Part One" | Pennant Roberts | Douglas Adams | 30 September 1978 | 5B | 9.1 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Two" | 7 October 1978 | 7.4 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Three" | 14 October 1978 | 8.2 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Four" | 21 October 1978 | 8.4 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The quest for the second segment takes them to the planet Zanak, which has been hollowed out and fitted with hyperspace engines, allowing its insane cyborg Captain to materialise it around other smaller planets and plunder their resources. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
100 | 3 | The Stones of Blood | "Part One" | Darrol Blake | David Fisher | 28 October 1978 | 5C | 8.6 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Two" | 4 November 1978 | 6.6 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Three" | 11 November 1978 | 9.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Four" | 18 November 1978 | 7.6 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The quest for the third segment takes them to Earth, where an ancient criminal who stole the segment disguises herself as the Celtic goddess Cailleach. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
101 | 4 | The Androids of Tara | "Part One" | Michael Hayes | David Fisher | 25 November 1978 | 5D | 9.5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Two" | 2 December 1978 | 10.1 | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Three" | 9 December 1978 | 8.9 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Four" | 16 December 1978 | 9.0 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The quest for the fourth segment takes them to the planet Tara. The Fourth Doctor and Romana find themselves embroiled in the political games of the planet Tara, where doppelgangers, android or otherwise, complicate the coronation of Prince Reynart. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
102 | 5 | The Power of Kroll | "Part One" | Norman Stewart | Robert Holmes | 23 December 1978 | 5E | 6.5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Two" | 30 December 1978 | 12.4 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Three" | 6 January 1979 | 8.9 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Four" | 13 January 1979 | 9.9 | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The quest for the fifth segment takes them to the third moon of Delta Magna, caught in the middle of a dispute between the crew of a methane refinery and the natives (known as 'Swampies'). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
103 | 6 | The Armageddon Factor | "Part One" | Michael Hayes | Bob Baker and Dave Martin | 20 January 1979 | 5F | 7.5 | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Two" | 27 January 1979 | 8.8 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Three" | 3 February 1979 | 7.8 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Four" | 10 February 1979 | 8.6 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Five" | 17 February 1979 | 8.6 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"Part Six" | 24 February 1979 | 9.6 | 66 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The quest for the sixth and final segment takes them to Atrios, a world at war with its planetary neighbour Zeos. But the Black Guardian is closing in. |
The Key to Time was broadcast from 2 September 1978 to 24 February 1979.
Season | Story no. | Serial name | Number and duration of episodes | UK release date | Australia release date | USA/Canada release date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | 98 | The Ribos Operation | 4 x 25 min | April 1995 | June 1995 | September 1996 |
99 | The Pirate Planet | 4 x 25 min | April 1995 | June 1995 | September 1996 | |
100 | The Stones of Blood | 4 x 25 min | May 1995 | July 1995 | March 1996 | |
101 | The Androids of Tara | 4 x 25 min | May 1995 | July 1995 | March 1996 | |
102 | The Power of Kroll | 4 x 25 min | June 1995 | August 1995 | September 1996 | |
103 | The Armageddon Factor | 6 x 25 min | June 1995 | August 1995 | September 1996 |
All releases are for DVD
Season | Story no. | Serial name | Number and duration of episodes | R2 release date | R4 release date | R1 release date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | 98–103 | The Key to Time [lower-alpha 1] | 26 × 25 min. | — | — | 1 October 2002 [4] |
The Key to Time: The Ribos Operation | 26 × 25 min. [lower-alpha 2] | 24 September 2007 [lower-alpha 3] 16 November 2009 [lower-alpha 4] [5] | 7 November 2007 [6] | 3 March 2009 [7] |
Season | Story no. | Library no. [lower-alpha 1] | Novelisation title | Author | Hardcover release date [lower-alpha 2] | Paperback release date [lower-alpha 3] | Audiobook release date [lower-alpha 4] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
16 | 098 | 52 | Doctor Who and the Ribos Operation | Ian Marter | 13 December 1979 | 3 March 2011 | |
099 | — | The Pirate Planet (unabridged) | James Goss | 5 January 2017 | 1 February 2018 [lower-alpha 5] | 5 January 2017 | |
Doctor Who and the Pirate Planet (abridged) | — | 11 March 2021 | — | ||||
100 | 59 | Doctor Who and the Stones of Blood | Terrance Dicks | 20 March 1980 | |||
— | The Stones of Blood | David Fisher | — | 14 July 2022 [8] | 5 May 2011 | ||
101 | 3 | Doctor Who and the Androids of Tara | Terrance Dicks | 24 April 1980 | — | ||
— | The Androids of Tara | David Fisher | — | 14 July 2022 [9] | 5 July 2012 | ||
102 | 49 | Doctor Who and the Power of Kroll | Terrance Dicks | 29 May 1980 | 7 October 2021 | ||
103 | 5 | Doctor Who and the Armageddon Factor | 26 June 1980 | 6 June 2019 |
The Pirate Planet is the second serial of the 16th season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 30 September to 21 October 1978. It forms the second serial of the Key to Time story arc. It was written by Douglas Adams and features some of his humour.
Shada is a story from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by the series' script editor Douglas Adams, it was intended as the final serial of the 1979–80 season but was never originally completed, owing to strike action at the BBC during studio recording. Entering production as a six-part story in 1979, plans were later revised for the story to be broadcast as a four-part story in 1980. Ultimately however, the story was never completed in either format.
Romana, short for Romanadvoratrelundar, is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. A Time Lord from the planet Gallifrey, she is a companion to the Fourth Doctor.
State of Decay is the fourth serial of the 18th season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 22 November to 13 December 1980.
K9, occasionally written K-9, is the name of several fictional robotic canines in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first appearing in 1977. K9 has also been a central character in three of the series' television spin-offs: the one-off K-9 and Company (1981), The Sarah Jane Adventures (2007–2011) and K9 (2009–2010). Although not originally intended to be a recurring character in the series, K9 was kept in the show following his first appearance because he was expected to be popular with younger audiences. There have been at least four separate K9 units in the series, with the first two being companions of the Fourth Doctor. Voice actor John Leeson has provided the character's voice in most of his appearances, except during season 17 of Doctor Who, in which David Brierley temporarily did so. The character was created by Bob Baker and Dave Martin, to whom rights to the character still belong; consequently, Baker's spin-off series K9, which is not BBC-produced, could not directly reference events or characters from Doctor Who, though it attempted to be a part of that continuity.
Mary Tamm was a British actress who appeared in many British TV drama series and serials. She is best known for her role as Romana I in the BBC's science fiction television series Doctor Who, appearing opposite Tom Baker in the 1978–1979 story arc The Key to Time.
The Ribos Operation is the first serial of the 16th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 2 to 23 September 1978. This serial introduces Mary Tamm as the companion Romana.
The Stones of Blood is the third serial of the 16th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 28 October to 18 November 1978. Part 4 was broadcast during the week of the show's fifteenth anniversary.
The Androids of Tara is the fourth serial of the 16th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 25 November to 16 December 1978.
The Power of Kroll is the fifth serial of the 16th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 23 December 1978 to 13 January 1979.
The Armageddon Factor is the sixth and final serial of the 16th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts on BBC1 from 20 January to 24 February 1979. It was the last to feature Mary Tamm as Romana.
Warriors' Gate is the fifth serial of the 18th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was written by Stephen Gallagher and was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 3 to 24 January 1981.
Destiny of the Daleks is the first serial of the 17th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 1 September to 22 September 1979. The story introduces Lalla Ward as the newly regenerated Romana.
The Fourth Doctor is an incarnation of the Doctor, the protagonist of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He is portrayed by Tom Baker.
The Horns of Nimon is the fifth and final broadcast serial of the 17th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on BBC1 from 22 December 1979 to 12 January 1980. It is the last broadcast of David Brierley's voice as K9.
The twenty-first season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 5 January 1984 with the Fifth Doctor serial Warriors of the Deep, and ended with Colin Baker's first serial The Twin Dilemma. For the third time, the entire TARDIS crew changed over the course of a single season. John Nathan-Turner produced the series, with Eric Saward script editing.
The eighteenth season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who consisted of seven four-episode serials broadcast from 30 August 1980 with the serial The Leisure Hive, to 21 March 1981 with the serial Logopolis. The season is Tom Baker's final as the Fourth Doctor before his regeneration into the Fifth Doctor, as well as Lalla Ward's as companion Romana II and John Leeson's as the voice of K9. For the second time, the entire main cast changed over the course of a single season. The season also sees the debut of Matthew Waterhouse as Adric, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, and Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka, the three of whom would remain regular companions into the Fifth Doctor's era, as well as the return of the Master, portrayed both by Geoffrey Beevers and Anthony Ainley.
The seventeenth season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 1 September 1979 with the story Destiny of the Daleks, and ended with The Horns of Nimon. This was Graham Williams' final series producing Doctor Who. The script editor was Douglas Adams.
In 2012, Big Finish Productions began producing audio dramas featuring Doctor Who's fourth Doctor, as portrayed by Tom Baker. Baker had previously declined to feature in any Big Finish releases, but after recording a trilogy of full cast audio boxsets for BBC Audiobooks, he decided to participate. This was also part of a spin off series of the Monthly range.