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* Episode six of this story is the first in the series' history to bear an on-screen copyright date. | * Episode six of this story is the first in the series' history to bear an on-screen copyright date. | ||
* [[Jo Grant|Jo]] is the only female character to appear in this story. | * [[Jo Grant|Jo]] is the only female character to appear in this story. | ||
* Probably coincidentally, the opening scene of the story bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the comedy sketch show ''Monty Python's Flying Circus'' (1969-1974), featuring Michael Palin's "It's..." Man — something even [[Jon Pertwee]] noticed. | * Probably coincidentally, the opening scene of the story bears an uncanny resemblance to that of the comedy sketch show ''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monty_Python%27s_Flying_Circus Monty Python's Flying Circus]'' (1969-1974), featuring Michael Palin's "It's..." Man — something even [[Jon Pertwee]] noticed. | ||
* This is the last story that [[incidental music]] composer [[Tristram Cary]] worked on. | * This is the last story that [[incidental music]] composer [[Tristram Cary]] worked on. | ||
* [[Bob Baker]] felt this was the best story he and [[Dave Martin]] wrote, although Martin admitted that the execution wasn't the best. | * [[Bob Baker]] felt this was the best story he and [[Dave Martin]] wrote, although Martin admitted that the execution wasn't the best. | ||
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* [[Colin Baker]] was considered for the role of Cotton. | * [[Colin Baker]] was considered for the role of Cotton. | ||
* The bad blood between [[Jon Pertwee]] and director [[Christopher Barry]], which had started when the two worked together on ''[[The Daemons]],'' didn't improve during the production of this story, and resulted in Barry not working again on the series until Pertwee left and was replaced by [[Tom Baker]]. | * The bad blood between [[Jon Pertwee]] and director [[Christopher Barry]], which had started when the two worked together on ''[[The Daemons]],'' didn't improve during the production of this story, and resulted in Barry not working again on the series until Pertwee left and was replaced by [[Tom Baker]]. | ||
* Cotton was originally a Cockney, but [[Christopher Barry]] decided to cast the Jamaican [[Rick James]] in the role. However, his speech patterns remained unchanged. | * Cotton was originally a [[Cockney]], but [[Christopher Barry]] decided to cast the [[Jamaica|Jamaican]] [[Rick James]] in the role. However, his speech patterns remained unchanged. | ||
* The basis of the story came from [[Barry Letts]], who had submitted the idea for Season 4 but it was rejected by script editor [[Gerry Davis]]. | * The basis of the story came from [[Barry Letts]], who had submitted the idea for [[Season 4]] but it was rejected by script editor [[Gerry Davis]]. | ||
* Professor Jaeger was named after actor [[Frederick Jaeger]], for whom [[Bob Baker]] and [[Dave Martin]] had written on ''The Pretenders.'' | * Professor Jaeger was named after actor [[Frederick Jaeger]], for whom [[Bob Baker]] and [[Dave Martin]] had written on ''The Pretenders.'' | ||
* [[Terrance Dicks]] changed the slang term for the Solonians from Munt to Mutt. The former was intended to be a contraction of the phrase “mutant native”, and was a genuine derogatory term used by the white settlers of South Africa to refer to the indigenous black population. However, Head of Serials [[Ronnie Marsh]] feared that it was too easily mistaken for a more familiar vulgarity. | * [[Terrance Dicks]] changed the slang term for the Solonians from Munt to Mutt. The former was intended to be a contraction of the phrase “mutant native”, and was a genuine derogatory term used by the white settlers of South Africa to refer to the indigenous black population. However, Head of Serials [[Ronnie Marsh]] feared that it was too easily mistaken for a more familiar vulgarity. | ||
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* The Chislehurst shoot coincided with the onset of industrial action across Britain, which caused sporadic power outages. [[Christopher Barry]]'s team was caught in one of these blackouts, forcing them to navigate Chislehurst Caves in the pitch dark. | * The Chislehurst shoot coincided with the onset of industrial action across Britain, which caused sporadic power outages. [[Christopher Barry]]'s team was caught in one of these blackouts, forcing them to navigate Chislehurst Caves in the pitch dark. | ||
* [[Garrick Hagon]], who played Ky, also served as the voice of the Skybase public address system. | * [[Garrick Hagon]], who played Ky, also served as the voice of the Skybase public address system. | ||
* [[John Hollis]], who played Sondergaard, assumed an Australian accent to read the ''Hyperion'' pilot's dialogue. | * [[John Hollis]], who played Sondergaard, assumed an [[Australia|Australian]] accent to read the ''Hyperion'' pilot's dialogue. | ||
*As the result of written correspondence with [[Barry Letts]], a young [[Peter Capaldi]] was sent a package of production materials from this story, including two used scripts, floor plans and set designs. The actor stated that “Barry’s kindness was a trigger to my ambition to work in TV.”<ref>[[TCH 76]]</ref> | *As the result of written correspondence with [[Barry Letts]], a young [[Peter Capaldi]] was sent a package of production materials from this story, including two used scripts, floor plans and set designs. The actor stated that “Barry’s kindness was a trigger to my ambition to work in TV.”<ref>[[TCH 76]]</ref> | ||
*[[Paul Whitsun-Jones]] and [[Geoffrey Palmer]] had previously appeared in [[The Avengers (TV series)|''The Avengers'']] episode "Man With Two Shadows". | *[[Paul Whitsun-Jones]] and [[Geoffrey Palmer]] had previously appeared in [[The Avengers (TV series)|''The Avengers'']] episode "Man With Two Shadows". | ||
*The story came about when [[Dave Martin]] wanted to tell an allegory about Apartheid and [[Terrance Dicks]] wanted to tell a story about British colonialism. | |||
*[[Barry Letts]] suggested that the storyline could incorporate the concept of an alien species which evolved in stages like a butterfly, something he had explored in his unused [[1966]] submission, "The Mutant". [[Dave Martin]] was already thinking about a metamorphosing lifeform, having been inspired by discussions with a neighbour who was a biologist. | |||
*[[Christopher Barry]] had originally wanted to film the scenes at the Solos cavemouth at Dancing Ledge near Langton Matravers, [[Dorset]], but safety concerns necissitated filming at Chislehurst Caves. | |||
*Filming in BBC Television Centre Eight was beset with problems. The set for the Marshal's office had been erected over the studio fire line, meaning that it had to be struck and re-erected. Other sets and props were either incomplete, broken or missing altogether. Nonetheless, [[Christopher Barry]] was able to complete the day's schedule with only a minimal overrun. | |||
*Ky's attack on the Marshal challenged was one of the most complicated set-ups in the programme's history, requiring the combination of no fewer than six inputs to produce the final footage. | |||
=== Ratings === | === Ratings === |
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