4V. Horror Of Fang Rock

Season Fifteen - 1977/1978

Script Editor: Robert Holmes
Writer: Terrance Dicks
Produced by: Graham Williams
Director: Paddy Russell
Designer: Paul Allen
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises on the island of Fang Rock off the coast of England at the turn of the twentieth century. The Doctor and Leela take shelter in a lighthouse where the keepers are just getting used to the newly installed electricity.

One of the keepers, Vince, sees a bright object fall from the sky. Later another keeper, Ben, disappears. His body is discovered behind a piece of machinery - electrocuted.

As the fog descends a small ship runs aground, and the crew seek shelter inside the lighthouse. More people die before the Doctor realises that what Vince saw was a Rutan scout, and that the Rutan has changed its form to that of Rueben.

The crew of the shipwreck had in their possession a diamond which the Doctor used in conjunction with the electric lamp to create a laser to destroy the Rutan craft, after first mortaring the Rutan itself.

Regular Cast

  • Leela: Louise Jameson

Guest Cast

  • Reuben: Colin Douglas
  • Vince Hawkins: John Abbott
  • Ben: Ralph Watson (1)
  • Skinsale: Alan Rowe (2-4)
  • Adelaide Lesage: Annette Woollett (2-4)
  • Lord Henry Palmerdale: Sean Caffrey (2-4)
  • Harker: Rio Fanning (2-3)
Uncredited:
  • Voice of the Rutan: Colin Douglas

Original broadcast on the BBC

Channel Title Date Viewers Rating
BBC 1 454. Part One Saturday, 3 September 1977 18:15 - 18:40 6.8M 58%
BBC 1 455. Part Two Saturday, 10 September 1977 18:15 - 18:40 7.1M
BBC 1 456. Part Three Saturday, 17 September 1977 18:15 - 18:40 9.8M 60%
BBC 1 457. Part Four Saturday, 24 September 1977 18:15 - 18:40 9.9M

Studios

  • Ealing Film Studios
  • Pebble Mill

Working Titles

The Monster of Fang Rock

The Beast of Fang Rock

The Rocks of Doom

Notes

This story was filmed at Pebble Mill in Birmingham, the first time that studios outside of London were used for Doctor Who.

Leela's eyes change colour from brown to Louise Jameson's normal blue due to a laser blast. Until this programme Louise had been wearing coloured contact lenses.