Doctor Who season 7
1970 season of British sci-fi TV series
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The seventh season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 3 January 1970 with Jon Pertwee's first story Spearhead from Space and ended with Inferno. The first season to be made in colour, it marked the beginning of Barry Letts's five seasons as series producer, but it has been described as "essentially devised" by his predecessor, Derrick Sherwin, who produced the opening story.[1] The season sees the beginning of the Doctor's exile to Earth by the Time Lords and his attachment to UNIT as its scientific advisor.
| Doctor Who | |
|---|---|
| Season 7 | |
Cover art of the Blu-ray release for the complete season | |
| Starring | |
| No. of stories | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Original release | 3 January – 20 June 1970 |
| Season chronology | |
This season is the first one that does not suffer from any missing episodes; all four serials are complete.
Casting
Main cast
- Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor
- Caroline John as Liz Shaw
- Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Jon Pertwee makes his first appearance as the Third Doctor, replacing Patrick Troughton in the role. Caroline John makes her first appearance as companion and assistant Liz Shaw in Spearhead from Space and last in Inferno. Nicholas Courtney returns as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and he would continue to make regular appearances in Doctor Who until season 13.
Recurring cast
John Levene also makes his first appearance as Sergeant Benton since The Invasion in The Ambassadors of Death and would continue to make regular appearances until season 13.
Development
From this season onwards the programme was produced in colour. Barry Letts also took over as producer, beginning with the second serial, Doctor Who and the Silurians, when Derrick Sherwin left to co-produce another BBC series, Paul Temple. The number of episodes in a season was cut to accommodate the new production methods: season 6 has 44 episodes; season 7 has 25 episodes. The seasons would continue to have between 20 and 28 episodes until season 22. Following the opening four parter, the remaining episodes were divided into three serials each of seven episodes.
Setting the entire season on Earth had been the choice of Sherwin, who had introduced the military organisation UNIT in his earlier serial The Invasion (1968), which he had written and Peter Bryant had produced. Sherwin had also produced the final black-and-white serial, The War Games (1969), in which the Second Doctor had been put on trial by the Time Lords and exiled to Earth in the 20th century. In Spearhead from Space the Doctor becomes, despite his initial reluctance, UNIT's scientific advisor on a regular basis, which would continue into Tom Baker's first two seasons as the Fourth Doctor. According to Sherwin on his DVD commentary for Spearhead from Space, the BBC had considered replacing Doctor Who with a new Quatermass serial, but this fell through because Nigel Kneale was not interested in that, nor writing for Doctor Who when Sherwin had approached him about it.[2] The plan did, however, have an effect on the Earth-based style of the programme, with Quatermass cited as an influence on season 7.[3]
Spearhead from Space was intended to be produced identically to previous serials and others in the season, with a mixture of location material shot on 16mm film and studio material on videotape. Owing to industrial action by studio technicians at the BBC, the planned studio recording sessions were cancelled, with instead all four episodes being shot on location on 16mm film.
Scrapped stories
Several stories were scrapped for this season. The Circles of Power, written by Brian Hayles, would have focused on a faulty communications satellite which causes the release of robotic "sensorspheres", inducing amnesia in their victims.[4] Brian Wright's The Mists of Madness would have seen the Doctor discover a community of artifically-created humans, though was scrapped due to Wright taking up an academic post in Bristol.[5] Charlotte and Dennis Plimmer subsequently drafted The Shadow People, considered for the finale of the season after The Mists of Madness' cancellation. However, due to pay disputes with the writers, the serial was scrapped in favor of Inferno.[6]
Serials
| No. story | No. in season | Serial title | Episode titles | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [7] | AI [7] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 1 | Spearhead from Space | "Episode 1" | Derek Martinus | Robert Holmes | 3 January 1970 | AAA | 8.4 | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 2" | 10 January 1970 | 8.1 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 3" | 17 January 1970 | 8.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 4" | 24 January 1970 | 8.1 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The newly regenerated Doctor is exiled to Earth in the 20th century. The Doctor has to devise a way to destroy the Autons before they kill humanity. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 52 | 2 | Doctor Who and the Silurians | "Episode 1" | Timothy Combe | Malcolm Hulke | 31 January 1970 | BBB | 8.8 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 2" | 7 February 1970 | 7.3 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 3" | 14 February 1970 | 7.5 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 4" | 21 February 1970 | 8.2 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 5" | 28 February 1970 | 7.5 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 6" | 7 March 1970 | 7.2 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 7" | 14 March 1970 | 7.5 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Silurians, the original inhabitants of the Earth, have been awakened from their hibernation in the caves. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 53 | 3 | The Ambassadors of Death | "Episode 1" | Michael Ferguson | David Whitaker and Trevor Ray (uncredited) | 21 March 1970 | CCC | 7.1 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 2" | David Whitaker and Malcolm Hulke (uncredited) | 28 March 1970 | 7.6 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 3" | David Whitaker and Malcolm Hulke (uncredited) | 4 April 1970 | 8.0 | 59 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 4" | Malcolm Hulke (credited to David Whitaker) | 11 April 1970 | 9.3 | 58 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 5" | Malcolm Hulke (credited to David Whitaker) | 18 April 1970 | 7.1 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 6" | Malcolm Hulke (credited to David Whitaker) | 25 April 1970 | 6.9 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 7" | Malcolm Hulke (credited to David Whitaker) | 2 May 1970 | 6.4 | 62 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The British space programme oversees the launch of the Recovery Seven probe that has been sent to Mars to make contact with the missing Mars Probe Seven and its two astronauts, who lost contact with Earth eight months earlier. Van Lyden makes contact with the Probe but is then silenced by a piercing unearthly sound. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 54 | 4 | Inferno | "Episode 1" | Douglas Camfield | Don Houghton | 9 May 1970 | DDD | 5.7 | 61 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 2" | Douglas Camfield | 16 May 1970 | 5.9 | 61 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 3" | Douglas Camfield and Barry Letts (uncredited) | 23 May 1970 | 4.8 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 4" | Douglas Camfield and Barry Letts (uncredited) | 30 May 1970 | 6.0 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 5" | Douglas Camfield and Barry Letts (uncredited) | 6 June 1970 | 5.4 | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 6" | Douglas Camfield and Barry Letts (uncredited) | 13 June 1970 | 6.7 | 58 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode 7" | Douglas Camfield and Barry Letts (uncredited) | 20 June 1970 | 5.5 | 60 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Inferno is the nickname given to a project to penetrate the Earth's crust. The project, however, has its own problems and the Doctor is sent to an alternate universe. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadcast
The entire season was broadcast from 3 January to 20 June 1970.
Home media
VHS releases
Season |
Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Australia | USA / Canada | ||||
| 7 | 51 | Spearhead from Space | 1 × 100 min. | February 1988[8][9] | April 1990[8] | April 1991[8] |
| 4 × 25 min. | February 1995[10][8] | N/a | N/a | |||
| 52 | Doctor Who and the Silurians | 7 × 25 min. | July 1993[11][12] (2 × VHS) |
November 1993[12] | June 1995[12] (2 × VHS) | |
| 53 | The Ambassadors of Death | 7 × 25 min. | May 2002[13][14] | July 2002[14] | October 2003[14] (2 × VHS) | |
| 54 | The Pertwee Years Inferno[a] |
1 × 25 min. | March 1992 | October 1992 | October 1992 | |
| Inferno | 7 × 25 min. | May 1994[15][16] (2 × VHS) |
July 1994[16] | September 1995[16] (2 × VHS) | ||
- Episode 7
DVD and Blu-ray releases
All releases are for DVD unless otherwise indicated:
- (B) indicates a Blu-ray release
Season |
Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R2 | R4 | R1 | ||||
| 7 | 51 | Spearhead from Space | 4 × 25 min. | 29 January 2001[17][18] | 7 September 2001[19] | 11 September 2001[20] |
| Spearhead from Space (Special Edition)[a] | 4 × 25 min. | 9 May 2011[21][22][23] | 2 June 2011[24][25][26] | 14 August 2012[27] | ||
| Spearhead from Space (Blu-ray Edition)[b] | 4 × 25 min. | 15 July 2013[17][28][29] | 17 July 2013[30] | 13 August 2013[31] | ||
| 52 | Doctor Who and the Silurians[c] | 7 × 25 min. | 14 January 2008[32][33] | 5 March 2008[34] | 3 June 2008[35] | |
| 53 | The Ambassadors of Death | 7 × 25 min. | 1 October 2012[36][37][38] | 3 October 2012[39][40][41] | 9 October 2012[42] | |
| 54 | Inferno | 7 × 25 min. | 19 June 2006[43][44][45] | 6 July 2006[46] | 5 September 2006[47] | |
| Inferno (Special Edition) | 7 × 25 min. | 27 May 2013[44][48][49] | 5 June 2013[50][51] | 11 June 2013[52] | ||
| 51–54 | Complete Season 7[d] | 25 × 25 min. | 3 March 2025 (B) [53] | 4 June 2025 (B) [54] | 3 June 2025[55] | |
- Only available as part of the Mannequin Mania box set in Regions 2 and 4. Only available individually in Region 1.
- Includes bonus features exclusive to Blu-ray
- Only available as part of the Beneath the Surface box set in Regions 2 and 4. Available individually or in the box set in Region 1.
- Released as Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 7 in Region B. Released as Doctor Who – Jon Pertwee: Complete Season One in Region A.
In print
Season |
Story no. | Library no.[a] | Novelisation title | Author | Hardcover release date[b] |
Paperback release date[c] |
Audiobook | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release date[d] | Narrator | |||||||
| 7 | 051 | 6 | Doctor Who and the Auton Invasion | Terrance Dicks | 17 January 1974 | 12 June 2008 | Caroline John | |
| 052 | 9 | Doctor Who and the Cave Monsters | Malcolm Hulke | 17 January 1974 | 3 September 2007 | |||
| 053 | 121 | The Ambassadors of Death | Terrance Dicks | 21 May 1987 | 15 October 1987 | 4 January 2018 | Geoffrey Beevers | |
| 054 | 89 | Inferno | 19 July 1984 | 18 October 1984 | 7 April 2011 | Caroline John | ||
- Published by Target's parent companies (Allen Wingate, W. H. Allen, BBC Books) unless otherwise indicated
- Published by Target Books (or by BBC Books under the Target Collection umbrella) unless otherwise indicated
- Unabridged from BBC Audio / AudioGo unless otherwise indicated