MMM. The Curse Of Peladon

Season Nine - 1972

Script Editor: Terrance Dicks
Writer: Brian Hayles
Produced by: Barry Letts
Director: Lennie Mayne
Designer: Gloria Clayton
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson
Fight Arranger: Terry Walsh (3) and Profile (4)

Synopsis

he Doctor and Jo take the TARDIS on a test flight to the planet of Peladon, a planet which is attending negotiations to join the Federation, although not everyone is in favour, and someone is using the spirit of Aggedor in an attempt to drive a wedge between Peladon and the Federation.

The TARDIS falls down the side of a mountain, and the Doctor and Jo seek shelter inside the citadel where they are mistaken as the Earth delegates. Someone attacks Arcturus, and the Doctor is accused. He has to face the King's Champion, and survives.

At first the Doctor suspects that the Ice Warriors are to blame, but they really do appear to be pacifists. Eventually it emerges that High Priest Hepesh and Arcturus are to blame. Arcturus has convinced Hepesh that the Federation would exploit the planet of its mineral wealth, although this was Arcturus's intention. Arcturus kills the King's Champion, and is in turn killed by one of the Ice Warriors.

The Doctor finds that Aggedor isn't such a beast, but is a rather more timid creature. Hepesh has been using the creature and orders it to kill the Doctor. Instead it turns on Hepesh.

Regular Cast

  • Jo Grant: Katy Manning

Guest Cast

  • King Peladon: David Troughton
  • Hepesh: Geoffrey Toone
  • Izlyr: Alan Bennion
  • Ssorg: Sonny Caldinez
  • Alpha Centauri: Stuart Fell
  • Voice of Alpha Centauri: Ysanne Churchman
  • Arcturus: Murphy Grumber (1-3)
  • Voice of Arcturus: Terry Bale (1-3)
  • Grun: Gordon St. Clair (1-3)
  • Aggedor: Nick Hobbs
  • Chancellor Torbis: Henry Gilbert (1)
  • Guard Captain: George Giles (4)
  • Amazonia: Wendy Danvers (4)
  • Double for the Doctor: Terry Walsh (3)
Uncredited:
  • Guards: Stewart Berry, Peter Brace, Derek Chafer, Billy Dean, Royston Farrell, Billy Horrigan, Mike Horsburgh, Dinny Powell, Mike Stevens, Roy Street, Rocky Taylor, Terry Walsh, Chris Web, Les White

Original broadcast on the BBC

Channel Title Date Viewers Rating
BBC 1 308. Episode One Saturday, 29 January 1972 17:50 - 18:15 10.3M
BBC 1 309. Episode Two Saturday, 5 February 1972 17:50 - 18:15 11.0M
BBC 1 310. Episode Three Saturday, 12 February 1972 17:50 - 18:15 7.8M
BBC 1 311. Episode Four Saturday, 19 February 1972 17:50 - 18:15 8.4M

Click here to show repeat broadcasts on the BBC

Studios

  • Ealing Television Film Studios
  • Television Centre Studio 3
  • Television Centre Studio 4

Bloopers

Part 2: When the Doctor and Jo go through one of the secret doors leading down below the palace, watch the door as it closes behind them - overhead you can see the string which was used to pull the door open in the first place.

Working Titles

The Curse

Curse Of The Peladons

Notes

This story is held in a converted NTSC format suitable for UK transmission.