5J. Destiny Of The Daleks

Season Seventeen - 1979/1980

Script Editor: Douglas Adams
Writer: Terry Nation
Produced by: Graham Williams
Director: Ken Grieve
Designer: Ken Ledsham
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson

Synopsis

The Doctor is having slight problems with his two companions: K-9 seems to have, somehow, caught laryngitis. Romana is somewhere in the TARDIS, and when she appears she has regenerated into the same body as Princess Astra. The Doctor tells her to try again, but she later settles on the Princess Astra body.

The TARDIS materialises on a radioactive planet. The Doctor and Romana take the necessary precautions and venture outside. They find sections of concrete, and judging by the vibrations there is some serious drilling going on somewhere.

Looking inside the remains of a city the Doctor becomes trapped by a pillar, and Romana goes back to the TARDIS for K-9. Meanwhile the stone pillar is effortlessly lifted off the Doctor by what appears to be an ordinary man.

The Doctor learns that he has been rescued by the Movellans, who are here to stop the Daleks from getting to Davros. Both sides are robotic and logical, and can easily anticipate each others moves as each move is logical. If the Daleks rescue Davros he could introduce random elements giving the Daleks the advantage.

At the same time the Movellans realise that if they use the Doctor the advantage can be theirs. The Doctor realises that the Movellans are no better than the Daleks. With the aid of a human captive the Doctor manages to prevent the Movellans from destroying Skaro, and also manages to defeat the Daleks. Davros is taken prisoner by the Humans.

Regular Cast

  • Voice of K-9: Roy Skelton (1) (uncredited)
  • Romana: Lalla Ward

Guest Cast

  • Engineer Tyssan: Tim Barlow
  • Commander Sharrel: Peter Straker
  • Agella: Suzanne Danielle
  • Lan: Tony Osoba
  • Dalek Operators: Mike Mungarvan, Cy Town
  • Dalek Voices: Roy Skelton, David Gooderson (uncredited)
  • Davros: David Gooderson (2-4)
  • Jall: Penny Casdagli (2,4)
  • Veldan: David Yip (2,4)
Uncredited:
  • Tall Romana: Maggy Armitage (1)
  • Voluptuous Romana: Yvonne Gallager
  • Alien Romana: Lee Richards (1)
  • Dalek Extras: Toby Byrne (2-4), Tony Starr (2,4)
  • Double for Romana: Sue Crossland (2)
  • Prisoners: Mark Boyden, Toby Byrne, Malcolm Clarke, Peter Coleclough, Venicia Day, Sue Dorning, Harold Gasnier, Sandra Kneller, Tara Lightborne, David Lockner, Susan Lyle, Chris Marx, Leroy Mitchell, Hazel O'Mara, Margaret Pilleau (1-3), Denise Potter, Marcus Powell, Clinton Price, Leslie Rae, Sharon Richardson, Gito Santana (1-3), Errol M Shaker, Tony Starr, Lewis St Juste, Ron Tarr, Erroll Turner, Julian Woods, Huntley Young
  • Movellans: Bruce Callender, Inga Daly, Wilson M George, Chrissi Hewett, Ken Kajadhar, Tawny Sands

Original broadcast on the BBC

Channel Title Date Viewers Rating
BBC 1 506. Episode One Saturday, 1 September 1979 18:10 - 18:35 13.0M 67%
BBC 1 507. Episode Two Saturday, 8 September 1979 18:10 - 18:35 12.7M
BBC 1 508. Episode Three Saturday, 15 September 1979 18:10 - 18:35 13.8M 63%
BBC 1 509. Episode Four Saturday, 22 September 1979 18:15 - 18:40 14.4M 64%

Click here to show repeat broadcasts on the BBC

Studios

  • Television Centre Studio 1
  • Television Centre Studio 3

Outside Locations

  • Binnegar Heath, Wareham, Dorset
  • Winspit Quarry, Swanage, Dorset

Notes

Each instalment of this story is called an Episode instead of Part, as with the other stories since Season Eleven.

David Brierley's K-9 voice is not heard in this story; when K-9 coughs in Episode One this is the voice of Roy Skelton.