Doctor Who season 13
1975–76 season of British sci-fi TV series
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The thirteenth season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 30 August 1975 with the story Terror of the Zygons, and ended with The Seeds of Doom. This is the second series to feature the Fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker, with Philip Hinchcliffe producing and Robert Holmes script editing. In September 2009, it was ranked as readers' favourite season in Doctor Who Magazine issue 413.
| Doctor Who | |
|---|---|
| Season 13 | |
Cover art of the Blu-ray release for the complete season | |
| Starring | |
| No. of stories | 6 |
| No. of episodes | 26 |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Original release | 30 August 1975 – 6 March 1976 |
| Season chronology | |
Casting
Main cast
Tom Baker continued his role as The Fourth Doctor along with Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen). Harry Sullivan, played by Ian Marter, departed in Terror of the Zygons and reappeared in The Android Invasion as a guest star.
Recurring cast
Nicholas Courtney returned as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart in Terror of the Zygons having last appeared in Robot. John Levene makes his final appearance as Sergeant Benton in The Android Invasion after six years in the role.
Serials
Terror of the Zygons was produced as part of the production schedule for Season 12, but was held for transmission from the end of that season to the beginning of Season 13, to coincide with a move from the new season starting at the beginning of the calendar year, to starting in late summer. Terror of the Zygons was also the last appearance of the Brigadier until Mawdryn Undead in Season 20. The season took a transmission break of two weeks over the Christmas 1975 period, between the broadcasts of The Android Invasion and The Brain of Morbius.
| No. story | No. in season | Serial title | Episode titles | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [1] | AI [1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 1 | Terror of the Zygons | "Part One" | Douglas Camfield | Robert Banks Stewart | 30 August 1975 | 4F | 8.4 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 6 September 1975 | 6.1 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 13 September 1975 | 8.2 | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 20 September 1975 | 7.2 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Fourth Doctor is summoned to Earth by the Brigadier who is in Scotland investigating the mysterious loss of oil rigs, and discovers an alien invasion. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 81 | 2 | Planet of Evil | "Part One" | David Maloney | Louis Marks | 27 September 1975 | 4H | 10.4 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 4 October 1975 | 9.9 | 56 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 11 October 1975 | 9.1 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 18 October 1975 | 10.1 | 54 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
An expedition is murdered. The Doctor and Sarah Jane land on the planet at the same time as the expedition's rescue team, and are immediately taken prisoner as the suspected murderers. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 82 | 3 | Pyramids of Mars | "Part One" | Paddy Russell | "Stephen Harris" (Lewis Greifer and Robert Holmes) | 25 October 1975 | 4G | 10.5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 1 November 1975 | 11.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 8 November 1975 | 9.4 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 15 November 1975 | 11.7 | 60 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Osiran warmonger Sutekh seeks to be released from his prison and enlists servants on Earth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 83 | 4 | The Android Invasion | "Part One" | Barry Letts | Terry Nation | 22 November 1975 | 4J | 11.9 | 58 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 29 November 1975 | 11.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 6 December 1975 | 12.1 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 13 December 1975 | 11.4 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The Doctor and Sarah Jane land in a duplicate of an English village, complete with androids created by aliens as a testing ground for their invasion plot. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 84 | 5 | The Brain of Morbius | "Part One" | Christopher Barry | "Robin Bland" (Terrance Dicks and Robert Holmes) | 3 January 1976 | 4K | 9.5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 10 January 1976 | 9.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 17 January 1976 | 10.1 | 57 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 24 January 1976 | 10.2 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 85 | 6 | The Seeds of Doom | "Part One" | Douglas Camfield | Robert Banks Stewart | 31 January 1976 | 4L | 11.4 | 59 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 7 February 1976 | 11.4 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 14 February 1976 | 10.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 21 February 1976 | 11.1 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Five" | 28 February 1976 | 9.9 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Six" | 6 March 1976 | 11.5 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Scientists uncover two giant seedpods buried in the Antarctic permafrost for thousands of years. Ruthless plant-lover Harrison Chase decides he must have them for his rare collection, but the pods may spell the end of all non-plant life on Earth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Broadcast
The entire season was broadcast from 30 August 1975 to 6 March 1976, but with a three week break between the fourth and fifth serials from 13 December 1975 to 3 January 1976.
Home media
VHS releases
| Season | Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Australia | USA / Canada | ||||
| 13 | 80 | Terror of the Zygons | 1 x 100 min. | November 1988 | April 1987 | April 1991 |
| 4 x 25 min. | August 1999 | January 2000 | May 2000 | |||
| 81 | Planet of Evil | 4 x 25 min. | February 1994 | March 1994 | June 1996 | |
| 82 | Pyramids of Mars | 1 x 100 min. | February 1985 | November 1985 | February 1988 | |
| 4 x 25 min. | April 1994 | N/a | March 1998 | |||
| 83 | The Android Invasion | 4 x 25 min. | March 1995 | March 1995 | March 1996 | |
| 84 | The Brain of Morbius | 1 x 60 min. | July 1984 | November 1987 | November 1987 | |
| 4 x 25 min. | July 1990 | January 1991 | February 1997 | |||
| 85 | The Seeds of Doom | 6 x 25 min. | August 1994 2 x VHS |
October 1994 | September 1995 | |
Betamax releases
| Season | Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Australia | USA / Canada | ||||
| 13 | 82 | Pyramids of Mars | 1 x 100 min. | February 1985[2] | N/a | N/a |
| 84 | The Brain of Morbius | 1 x 60 min. |
July 1984[3] | N/a | N/a | |
Video 2000 releases
| Season | Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Australia | USA / Canada | ||||
| 13 | 84 | The Brain of Morbius | 1 x 60 min. | July 1984[3] | N/a | N/a |
Laserdisc releases
| Season | Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Australia | USA / Canada | ||||
| 13 | 80 | Terror of the Zygons | 4 × 25 min. | December 1997[4][5] | N/a | N/a |
| 84 | The Brain of Morbius (edited) | 1 x 60 min. | July 1984[6][7] | N/a | N/a | |
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 | ||||
| 13 | 80 | Terror of the Zygons[a] | 4 × 25 min. | 29 July 2013[8] 30 September 2013[9][b] |
2 October 2013[10] | 8 October 2013[11] |
| 81 | Planet of Evil | 4 × 25 min. | 15 October 2007[12] | 5 December 2007[13] | 4 March 2008[14] | |
| 82 | Pyramids of Mars[c] [15] | 4 × 25 min. | 1 March 2004[16] | 10 June 2004[17] | 7 September 2004[18] | |
| 83 | The Android Invasion[d] | 4 × 25 min. | 9 January 2012[19] | 5 January 2012[20][21] | 10 January 2012[22] | |
| 84 | The Brain of Morbius | 4 × 25 min. | 21 July 2008[23] | 2 October 2008[24] | 7 October 2008[25] | |
| 85 | The Seeds of Doom | 6 × 25 min. | 25 October 2010[26] | 2 December 2010[27] | 8 March 2011[28] | |
| 80–85 | Complete Season 13[e] | 26 × 25 min. | 20 October 2025 (B) [29] | 3 December 2025[30] | 20 January 2026 (B)[31] | |
- Advanced release in region 2 as part of 'The Fourth Doctor Time Capsule' set with no special features on 29 July 2013
- The Region 2 release of Terror of the Zygons was released in advance as part of The Fourth Doctor Time Capsule box set without special features, and was later re-released on its own with special features.
- Also available as part of The Doctors Revisited 1-4 in Regions 1 and 4
- Only available as part of the U.N.I.T. Files box set in Regions 2 and 4. Only available individually in Region 1.
- Released as Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 13 in Region B. Released as Doctor Who – Tom Baker: Complete Season Two 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 | |||||||
| 13 | 080 | 40 | Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster | Terrance Dicks | 15 January 1976 | 1978 [e] 16 October 2025[32] | Gabriel Woolf (1978) Jon Culshaw (2025) | |
| 081 | 47 | Doctor Who and the Planet of Evil | 21 July 1977 | 18 August 1977 | 6 April 2023[33] | Tim Treloar | ||
| 082 | 50 | Doctor Who and the Pyramids of Mars | 16 December 1976 | 14 August 2008 | Tom Baker | |||
| 083 | 2 | Doctor Who and the Android Invasion | 16 November 1978 | 18 August 2022 | Geoffrey Beevers | |||
| 084 | 7 | Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius | 19 May 1977 | 23 June 1977 | 4 February 2008 | Tom Baker | ||
| N/a | Junior Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius | 27 June 1980 | 13 November 1980 | N/a | ||||
| 085 | 55 | Doctor Who and the Seeds of Doom | Philip Hinchcliffe | 17 February 1977 | 5 September 2019 | Michael Kilgarriff | ||
- 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
- Published by the Royal National Institute of the Blind