4J. The Android Invasion

  • Script Editor: Robert Holmes;
  • Writer: Terry Nation;
  • Produced by: Philip Hinchcliffe;
  • Director: Barry Letts;
  • Designer: Philip Lindley;
  • Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson;
  • Fight Arranger: Terry Walsh;

Programme Description

The TARDIS lands on the planet Oseidon where a species known as the Kraals have created an exact replica of Earth. It is so realistic that the Doctor and Sarah have no idea they are not on Earth.

As they are walking around they notice a U.N.I.T. soldier stumbling towards a cliff, then plunge over the edge. They later see the same man in a pub.

The Doctor discovers that they are not on Earth, and that a human astronaut, Guy Crayford, has been assisting the Kraals. The Kraals plan to release a deadly virus on Earth, and are going to use the spaceship of Crawford to spearhead the invasion.

On Earth the Doctor and Sarah try to alert the troops at the Space Defence Centre of the danger. With the Brigadier in Geneva the warning goes unheeded.

The Doctor uses the centre's radars to jam the signals of the androids activated on Earth, and Styggron, leader of the Kraals, falls victim to his own poison.

Regular Cast

  • Sarah Jane Smith: Elisabeth Sladen;

Guest Cast

  • Guy Crawford: Milton Johns;
  • Styggron: Martin Friend;
  • Corporal Adams: Max Faulkner;
  • Morgan: Peter Welch (1-3);
  • Harry Sullivan: Ian Marter (2-4);
  • RSM Benton: John Levene (2-4);
  • Marshal Chedaki: Roy Skelton (2-3);
  • Kraal: Stuart Fell (3);
  • Colonel Faraday: Patrick Newell (4);
  • Matthews: Hugh Lund (4);
  • Grierson: Dave Carter (4 - also credited for 1 but does not appear);
  • Tessa: Heather Emmanuel (4);

  • UNCREDITED CAST:
  • Android Mechanics: Derek Hunt (1-3), Roy Pearce (1-3);
  • Farmer: Walter Goodman (1);
  • Young Farmhand: Simon Christie (1);
  • Barmaid: Margaret McKenchie (1);
  • Tweedy Doctor: Freddie White (1);
  • Students: Martine Holland (1), Mark Holmes (1);
  • Double for the Doctor: Terry Walsh (2-4);
  • Stuntman/Soldier: Peter Brace (2);
  • Villagers: (all 3) Keith Ashley, Barbara Bermel, Martine Holland, Cy Town;
  • Soldiers: Mark Allington (2-3), Alan Clements (1-3), Alf Coster (2-3), Derek Hunt (3), Richard King, Pat Milner (3), Roy Pearce (3), Christopher Woods (2);
  • Walk-Ons: Lewis Alexander (1), Keith Ashley, George Ballantine (1), Simon Christie (3), Ian Elliott (1), Alan Jennings (1), Henry Lindsay (1), Sue Manners (1), Clinton Morris (1-3), Terry Walsh (2), Betsy White (1), Joan Woodgate (2);

Transmissions

ChannelEpisodeTitleDateViewersPosition
BBC 1 414 Part One Sat 22 Nov 1975 2217:45 - 18:10 11.9M 17th
BBC 1 415 Part Two Sat 29 Nov 1975 2917:45 - 18:10 11.3M 24th
BBC 1 416 Part Three Sat 6 Dec 1975 617:45 - 18:10 12.1M 14th
BBC 1 417 Part Four Sat 13 Dec 1975 1317:45 - 18:10 11.4M 15th

Repeat Transmissions

This programme has not been repeated.

Locations

  • Worsham Quarry, nr. Witney, East Hagbourne, Oxfordshire;
  • National Radiological Protection Board, Harwell, Didcot;

Studios

  • Television Centre Studio 3;
  • Television Centre Studio 8;

Bloopers and Mistakes

There's a scene where the mechanics are shooting at the Doctor and Sarah, and they dive for cover behind a "meteorite". In the shot when they later run for it, you can see a tarpaulin spread behind the meteorite.

While the Doctor and Sarah are walking through the forest (after they leave the clearing which the TARDIS is in) the Doctor pulls a branch out of his way. Lis Sladen isn't paying close attention and is in the middle of her line when the branch flies back and hits her in the face. You can tell she was stung a little because she gives a little squeak but manages to finish her line.

The Doctor's scarf gets caught in the bushes and branches while walking along with Sarah, and Lis Sladen clearly laughs out of character.

When Tom Baker arrives at the Space Defence Centre he asks a stony-faced android guard where the commanding officer can be located. The guard obviously has his pause button pressed, and is unresponsive - except for an uncontrollable blink as Tom moves away.

Tom Baker throws the android Sarah to the ground at the episode's climax, and her face plate falls off to expose her electronic innards. The fake hair adorning its head is appallingly obvious, being a completely different texture and shade to Lis Sladen's own hair.

When the Doctor comes through the automatic doors of the real Space Defence Centre for the first time they slide open, but not quite closed. The poor souls in charge of making them slide don't notice.

n the fight scene between Tom Baker and his stunt double android the wig choice for his double leaves a great deal to be desired.

When Tom Baker's android double is finally destroyed at the end its skin disappears to reveal the metal skeleton beneath. However the skeleton is actually larger than Tom's face; watch his left cheek.

Notes and Trivia

There is nothing to add about this programme

Working Titles

The Enemy Within
Return to Sukkanan
The Kraals
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