Doctor Who season 17
1979–80 season of British sci-fi TV series
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The seventeenth season of British science fiction television series Doctor Who began on 1 September 1979 with the story Destiny of the Daleks, and ended with The Horns of Nimon. This was Graham Williams' final season producing Doctor Who. The script editor was Douglas Adams.
| Doctor Who | |
|---|---|
| Season 17 | |
Cover art of the Blu-ray release for the complete season | |
| Starring | |
| No. of stories | 5 (+1 unaired) |
| No. of episodes | 20 (+6 unaired) |
| Release | |
| Original network | BBC1 |
| Original release | 1 September 1979 – 12 January 1980 |
| Season chronology | |
Casting
Main cast
- Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor
- Lalla Ward as Romana
- David Brierly as Voice of K9
Tom Baker continued as the Fourth Doctor. Lalla Ward, who played Princess Astra in the season 16 finale The Armageddon Factor, returned to the series as the newly regenerated Romana, replacing Mary Tamm in the role. After John Leeson declined to return as K9, David Brierly replaced him in the part for the season's final four serials, including Shada.
Serials
| No. story | No. in season | Serial title | Episode titles | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code | UK viewers (millions) [1][2] | AI [1][2] | ||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 104 | 1 | Destiny of the Daleks | "Episode One" | Ken Grieve | Terry Nation | 1 September 1979 | 5J | 13.0 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode Two" | 8 September 1979 | 12.7 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode Three" | 15 September 1979 | 13.8 | 63 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Episode Four" | 22 September 1979 | 14.4 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 105 | 2 | City of Death | "Part One" | Michael Hayes | "David Agnew" (Douglas Adams and Graham Williams, from a story by David Fisher) | 29 September 1979 | 5H | 12.4 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 6 October 1979 | 14.1 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 13 October 1979 | 15.4 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 20 October 1979 | 16.1 | 64 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In 1979 Paris, the alien Scaroth intends to erase human history by saving his fellow Jagaroth 400 million years in the past. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 106 | 3 | The Creature from the Pit | "Part One" | Christopher Barry | David Fisher | 27 October 1979 | 5G | 9.3 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 3 November 1979 | 10.8 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 10 November 1979 | 10.2 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 17 November 1979 | 9.6 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
On the planet Chloris, the Doctor and Romana soon find themselves caught up in a long and secret enmity between the Lady Adrasta, who rules the planet in fear, and the mysterious creature that she keeps in a pit. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 107 | 4 | Nightmare of Eden | "Part One" | Alan Bromly | Bob Baker | 24 November 1979 | 5K | 8.7 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 1 December 1979 | 9.6 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 8 December 1979 | 9.6 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 15 December 1979 | 9.4 | 65 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
The TARDIS lands at the site of a hyperspatial collision between two spacecraft – as a result of which, neither ship is dimensionally stable, risking the lives of all those aboard. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 108 | 5 | The Horns of Nimon | "Part One" | Kenny McBain | Anthony Read | 22 December 1979 | 5L | 6.0 | — | ||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Two" | 29 December 1979 | 8.8 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Three" | 5 January 1980 | 9.8 | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Part Four" | 12 January 1980 | 10.4 | 67 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
After colliding with a spaceship, the Doctor, Romana and K9 learn that young natives from a peaceful planet called Aneth are being transported into a great labyrinth called the "Power Complex". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 108.5[3] | — | Shada | N/A | Pennant Roberts | Douglas Adams | 19 July 2018[a] | 5M | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||
|
The story revolves around the lost planet Shada, on which the Time Lords built a prison for defeated would-be conquerors of the universe. Skagra, an up-and-coming would-be conqueror of the universe, needs the assistance of one of the prison's inmates, but finds that nobody knows where Shada is anymore except one aged Time Lord who has retired to Earth. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production
Scrapped stories
Season 17 was intended to follow the same format as had every season since Season 13, with five 4-part serials and a 6-parter closing the season out. However, the planned final serial of the season, Shada, was affected by an industrial dispute involving the BBC's technicians; while the location filming and the first studio recording session were completed, strike action by staff meant that the planned second studio session had to be cancelled. Although the dispute was resolved and plans were put in place to continue work on the story, it was eventually shelved, as the BBC was concerned that its Christmas productions might be affected. A BBC historian has suggested that by cancelling completely instead of finishing what little was required, the management could demonstrate that the strikes had consequences.[5] Ironically, the viewer ratings of Season 17 were also affected by a strike, with the BBC's main rival, ITV, off air due to a dispute.
Multiple other stories were scrapped from this season. John Lloyd's The Doomsday Contract adapted material from his unpublished science-fiction story GiGax[6] and would have seen Doctor summonsed to appear in court when a corporation tries to buy Earth to obtain a matter-transmutation device.[7] Pennant Roberts' Erinella would have depicted two men fighting over a princess on the titular planet, with the Doctor being involved after arriving at the wrong time and being accused of poisoning.[8] Allen Drury's The Tearing of the Veil would have seen fake spiritualists exploiting the widow of a vicar, with the TARDIS arriving during a seance.[9] Philip Hinchcliffe's The Valley of the Lost would have seen an alien crash-landing in a South American jungle in 1870, but was scrapped due to cost concerns.[10][11] Prior to submitting Shada, Adams pitched an untitled storyline featuring the Doctor retiring but still being called to solve problems before being replaced by Shada.[12] An untitled Pat Mills and John Wagner storyline would have involved a parallel universe in which the Roman Empire never fell.[13] Other scrapped storylines included Child Prodigy by Alistair Beaton and Sarah Dunant[10] and The Secret of Cassius by Andrew Smith.[14]
Broadcast
Part 4 of The Horns of Nimon saw the last appearance of the diamond-shaped logo that had been used since The Time Warrior in 1973 until it was reintroduced in the 60th anniversary specials starting with "The Star Beast" in 2023.
The entire season was broadcast from 1 September 1979 to 12 January 1980.
Home media
VHS releases
Season |
Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | Australia | USA / Canada | ||||
| 17 | 104 | Destiny of the Daleks | 4 × 25 min | July 1994 | August 1994 | May 1997 |
| 105 | City of Death | 4 × 25 min | April 1991 | September 1991 | May 1994 | |
| 106 | The Creature from the Pit | 4 × 25 min | July 2002 | October 2002 | October 2003 | |
| 107 | Nightmare of Eden | 4 × 25 min. | December 1998 | March 1999 | May 1999 | |
| 108 | The Horns of Nimon | 4 × 25 min. | June 2003 | September 2003 | October 2003 | |
| 108.5 | Shada | N/a | July 1992 | February 1993 | October 1992 | |
DVD and Blu-ray releases
All releases are for DVD unless otherwise indicated:
Season |
Story no. | Serial name | Duration | Release date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R2 | R4 | R1 | ||||
| 17 | 104 | Destiny of the Daleks[b] | 4 × 25 min. | 26 November 2007[15] | 6 February 2008[16] | 4 March 2008[17] |
| 105 | City of Death | 4 × 25 min. | 7 November 2005[18] | 1 December 2005[19] | 8 November 2005[20] | |
| 106 | The Creature from the Pit | 4 × 25 min. | 3 May 2010[21] | 1 July 2010[22] | 7 September 2010[23] | |
| 107 | Nightmare of Eden | 4 × 25 min. | 2 April 2012[24] | 3 May 2012[25] | 8 May 2012[26] | |
| 108 | The Horns of Nimon[c] | 4 × 25 min. | 29 March 2010[27] | 3 June 2010[28][29][30] | 6 July 2010[31] | |
| 108.5 | Shada[d] | 1 × 25 min. 4 × 18 min. 1 × 14 min. |
7 January 2013[32] | 9 January 2013[33] | 8 January 2013[34] | |
| Shada (Animated Edition) | 1 × 138 min. | 4 December 2017(D,B) [35] | 10 January 2018(D,B) [36] | 4 September 2018[37][38] | ||
| 104–108[e] | Complete Season 17[f] | 27 × 25 min. 1 × 138 min. 4 × 18 min. 1 × 14 min. |
20 December 2021 (B) [39] | 16 February 2022 (B) [40] | 5 April 2022 (B) [41] | |
- Shada was initially left unfinished due to a strike. The serial was eventually completed using animation, released digitally in November 2017, and later broadcast by BBC America on 19 July 2018 in a feature-length edit.[4]
- Available individually or in The Complete Davros Collection box set in Regions 2 and 4. Only available individually in Region 1.
- Only available as part of the Myths and Legends box set in Regions 2 and 4. Only available individually in Region 1.
- Only available as part of The Legacy Box set (Regions 2 and 4). Released with the same materials in the box set as Shada in Region 1.
- Including Shada
- Released as Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 17 in Region B. Released as Doctor Who – Tom Baker: Complete Season Six 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 | |||||||
| 17 | 104 | 21 | Doctor Who and the Destiny of the Daleks | Terrance Dicks | 22 November 1979 | 5 September 2024[42] | Jon Culshaw[e] | |
| 105 | N/a | City of Death (unabridged) | James Goss | 21 May 2015 | 11 February 2016[f] | 21 May 2015 | Lalla Ward | |
| City of Death (abridged) | N/a | 5 April 2018 | N/a | |||||
| 106 | 11 | Doctor Who and the Creature from the Pit | David Fisher | 15 January 1981 | 7 April 2008 | Tom Baker | ||
| 107 | 45 | Doctor Who and the Nightmare of Eden | Terrance Dicks | 18 September 1980 | 21 August 1980 | 6 October 2022 | Dan Starkey | |
| 108 | 31 | Doctor Who and the Horns of Nimon | 16 October 1980 | 4 April 2024[43] | Geoffrey Beevers[g] | |||
| 108.5[44] | N/a | Shada | Gareth Roberts | 15 March 2012 | 31 January 2013[f] | 15 March 2012 | Lalla Ward[g] | |
- 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
- Dalek voices performed by Nicholas Briggs
- Published by BBC Books
- K9 voice performed by John Leeson