The Caves Of Androzani

he Doctor and Peri arrive on the planet of Androzani Minor, and the Doctor immediately begins to investigate tracks leading into a cave system. Inside the cave system both he and Peri become infested by raw Spectrox, although they were unaware at the time.

There is a war going on between gun runners/spectrox smuggling and the military. The leader of the gun runners is Sharaz Jek, an expert in android design and creation. The Doctor and Peri are arrested as gun runners, although Sharaz Jek manages to swap them for androids, who are later executed.

The Doctor finds that Sharaz Jek has been smuggling Spectrox, a life giving elixir, in return for guns. The military have been getting nowhere due to the second in command, who is one of Jek's robots.

The Doctor discovers that he and Peri are close to death from Spectrox Toxaemia. Peri and Major Salateen later escape from Jek, and aid the military. Eventually the military gain ground on Sharaz Jek, and he is finally killed. The Doctor risks his life to retrieve milk from a Queen bat, the only antidote to Spectrox Toxaemia.

The Doctor carries Peri back to the TARDIS. In opening the door some spills out into the desert. There is only enough left for Peri. After dematerialising the TARDIS the Doctor collapses as Peri recovers ...

• Sharaz Jek: Christopher Gable;
• Trau Morgus: John Normington;
• Major Salateen: Robert Glenister;
• Stotz: Maurice Roeves;
• General Chellak: Martin Cochrane;
• Krelper: Roy Holder;
• Krau Timmin: Barbara Kinghorn;
• The President: David Neal (1-3);
• The New Doctor: Colin Baker;
• Soldier: Ian Staples (4);
• The Master: Anthony Ainley (4);
• Adric: Matthew Waterhouse (4);
• Nyssa: Sarah Sutton (4);
• Tegan: Janet Fielding (4);
• Turlough: Mark Strickson (4);
• Voice of Kamelion: Gerald Flood (4);


• UNCREDITED CAST:
• Magma Creature: Colin Taylor (1-3);
• Double for the Doctor: Gareth Milne (4);
• Androids: Keith Harvey, Andrew Smith, Stephen Smith;
• Thin Stranger: Keith Harvey;
• Gun Runners: Les Conrad, Gerry O'Brien, Robert Smythe;
• Soldiers: Derek Briggs, Darrell Brooks, Russell Brooks, Pat Gorman, Bryan Jacobs, Jerry Judge, Ray Martin, Sean McCabe, Harry Payne, Steve Rockson, Ian Staples, Doug Stark, Bob Tarff, Steve Wickham;