C11S01 The time warrior
Synopsis
The Doctor is called in by UNIT to investigate when a number of scientists go missing from a top security institute. Following the kidnappings back in time to the Middle Ages, he is unaware that investigative journalist Sarah Jane has stowed away aboard the TARDIS.
As events unfold, the Doctor discovers a sinister alien, intent on altering the future of mankind...
Cover notes
For The Time Warrior script editor Terrance Dicks sought an historical setting, something the series had avoided since Patrick Troughton's early days. Stalwart Robert Holmes was chosen to write the adventure. It had always been Holmes' belief that historical stories were unpopular with viewers. Therefore he introduced a new sub-genre - the pseudo-historical - by blending pure science fiction into the mix. For this story the SF element was a single dangerous alien, rather than an entire race. And that alien was the superb Sontaran, Linx; one of the best realised aliens of the time
So impressive was Holmes' work, that he was subsequently chosen to take over from Dicks as Doctor Who's script editor. He was quick off the mark to exact his revenge, and commissioned Dicks to write an historical story set on a lighthouse! This of course became Horror of Fang Rock.
As a post-script, it is worth mentioning that amongst all the swords and sorcery of Holmes' Middle Ages, a legacy was born. For in this story we have the first mention of a name for the home planet of the Doctor - Gallifrey...
Cast
| The Doctor | Jon Pertwee | listed as Doctor Who |
| Sarah Jane Smith | Elisabeth Sladen | |
| Brigadier Lethbridge Stewart | Nicholas Courtney | ep. 1 |
| Linx | Kevin Lindsay | |
| Professor Rubeish | Donald Pelmear | |
| Eleanor | June Brown | |
| Edward of Wessex | Alan Rowe | |
| Hal | Jeremy Bulloch | |
| Meg | Sheila Fay | ep. 1,3,4 |
| Eric | Gordon Pitt | ep. 1 |
| Irongron | David Daker | ep. 2,3,4 |
| Bloodaxe | John J. Carney | ep. 2,3,4 |
| sentry | Steve Brunswick | ep. 3 |
Crew
| Written by | Robert Holmes | |
| Title music | Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop | |
| Title sequence | Bernard Lodge | |
| Incidental music | Dudley Simpson | |
| Special sound | Dick Mills | |
| Fight arranger | Marc Boyle | ep. 2,3 |
| Fight arranger | Terry Walsh | ep. 4 |
| Costume design | James Acheson | listed ep. 1,4; probably all |
| Make-up | Sandra Exelby | listed ep. 1,4; probably all |
| Film Cameraman | Max Samett | listed ep. 1,3,4; probably all |
| Film Sound | John Gatland | listed ep. 1,3,4; probably all |
| Film Editor | William Symon | listed ep. 1,3,4; probably all |
| Studio Lighting | Mike Jefferies | listed ep. 1,4; probably all |
| Studio Sound | Tony Millier | listed ep. 1,4; probably all |
| Visual effects designer | Jim Ward | listed ep. 1,4; probably all |
| Script Editor | Terrance Dicks | |
| Designer | Keith Cheetham | |
| Producer | Barry Letts | |
| Director | Alan Bromly |
DVD Extras
| Elisabeth Sladen Barry Letts Terrance Dicks |
commentary track | |
| Beginning the End | The cast and crew of The Time Warrior look back on the making of this story, in this newly produced featurette. Partially shot on location at Peckforton Castle, the original location user in this story. | |
| CGI effects | This gives the viewer the option to watch the story with some of the original effects replaced by new CGI versions, although the original version of the story will play unless this option is selected. there are 16 new sequences in total. | |
| Continuity compilation | A selection of off-air continuity announcements from the original BBC transmission of The Time Warrior. | |
| The Doctor Who Annual 1974 | In the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s, the Doctor Who Annual was published every year in time for the Christmas market, and made an excellent stocking-filler! Now many of the annuals are collectors items. The Doctor Who Annual from 1974 is presented on this DVD in its entirety. | |
| Coming soon | A preview of the next Doctor Who DVD release. | |
| photo gallery | ||
| Radio Times listings |
Commentary
| serial code : | UUU |
| episode count : | 4 |
| initial broadcast date : | 1973-12-15 |
| DVD release date : | |
| DVD SE release date : | |
| BluRay release date : | |
| part of the Bred For War boxset | |