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{{Infobox ClassicTV|
{{title dab away}}
story name= Horror of Fang Rock|
{{real world}}
image= [[Image:Docleela.png|250px]]|
{{ImageLinkTV}}
series=[[Doctor Who]] - [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]] |
{{Infobox Story SMW
number= [[Season 15]]|
|image           = Rutan over the lighthouse.jpg
story number= 92|
|series         = [[Doctor Who television stories|''Doctor Who'' television stories]]
doctor=[[Fourth Doctor]] |
|season number   = Season 15 (Doctor Who 1963)|
companions= [[Leela]] |
|season serial number = 1
enemy= The [[Rutan Host|Rutans]] |
|story number   = 92
year= [[Fang Rock]], [[Earth]]; circa [[1900]] |
|doctor         = Fourth Doctor
writer= [[Terrance Dicks]]|
|companions     = [[Leela]]
director= [[Paddy Russell]]|
|enemy           = [[Rutan scout]]
producer= [[Graham Williams]]|
|setting        = [[Fang Rock]], [[1902]]
broadcast date= [[3rd September]] - [[24th September]] [[1977]]|
|writer         = Terrance Dicks
format= 4 25-minute episodes|
|director       = [[Paddy Russell]]
production code= [[List of production codes|4V]]|
|producer       = [[Graham Williams]]
previous story= [[The Talons of Weng-Chiang]] |
|novelisation    = Doctor Who and the Horror of Fang Rock (novelisation)
next story= [[The Invisible Enemy]]}}
|epcount = 4
|broadcast date = 3 - 24 September 1977
|network = BBC1
|format         = 4x25-minute episodes
|serial production code = [[List of production codes|4V]]
|prev  = The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)
|next     = The Invisible Enemy (TV story)
|thwr = 67
|thwr2=154
}}{{store variant data|variant=Updated Special Effects|series=''[[Faction Paradox (series)|Faction Paradox]]''|release date=18 March 2024}}{{store variant data|variant=Virgin Books}}{{you may|Horror of Fang Rock (reference book)|n1=the reference book of the same name}}
'''''Horror of Fang Rock''''' was the first serial of [[Season 15 (Doctor Who 1963)|season 15]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. [[Graham Williams]]' three-year stint as producer of the series began with this story. It is the only time that the [[Rutan|Rutan Host]] — the oft-mentioned mortal enemies of the [[Sontaran]]s — have been depicted in a broadcast television story.


'''Horror of Fang Rock''' was the first story of [[Season 15]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. [[Graham Williams]]' three-year stint as producer of the series began with this story.
== Synopsis ==
[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] and [[Leela]] arrive at a [[lighthouse]] on the island of [[Fang Rock]] off the south coast of [[England]], a place of rumour and tales of beasts from the sea. In the minutes before their arrival, a strange light fell from the sky which was followed by an unnatural glow in the ocean, a thick [[fog]] has appeared out of nowhere, the lighthouse power flow has become strangely erratic and one of the keepers is dead. Has the fabled [[Beast of Fang Rock]] returned?


==Synopsis==
== Plot ==
The cursed island of Fang Rock off the south coast of England is a place of rumour and tales of beasts from the sea. Three lighthouse men at the turn of the century face their fears when something comes in from the sea which brings death to all it touches.
=== Part one ===
On the island of [[Fang Rock]], home to nothing but a [[lighthouse]], off the south coast of [[England]] around the start of the [[20th century]], a light falls from the sky which is soon followed by a strange glow in the ocean.


==Plot==
[[Vince Hawkins|Vince]], one of the lighthouse keepers, notices this and swiftly informs the head keeper, old and superstitious [[Reuben Whormby|Reuben]] though he doesn't see anything, remarking it was probably just a meteor. The third keeper, [[Ben Travers|Ben]], arrives and Reuben informs him that Vince has been "seeing stars", leading the pair of them to lightly mock him about it. Vince is left on watch but it still intrigued about the light.


===Part 1===
Though Vince's curiosities are well founded as something is watching the lighthouse.
[[Image:Fang_rock_part1.JPG|thumb|right|150px|[[Reuben]] and [[Vince Hawkins|Vince]] watch as something falls from the sky close to [[Fang Rock]]]]
[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]]'s plans to show [[Brighton]] to [[Leela]] are on hold for now, as the [[the Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] once again takes its inhabitants to the wrong time and place; this time it's the island of [[Fang Rock]] off the south coast of [[England]] around the start of the [[20th century]]. Noticing that the lighthouse isn't functioning properly, the Doctor decides to investigate, as well as to ask for directions as the TARDIS seems to have gotten "lost in the fog". Upon arrival at the lighthouse, and after introducing themselves, the Doctor discovers the dead body of one of the keepers, [[Ben]]. The other two keepers, old superstitious [[Reuben]] and the keen young [[Vince Hawkins|Vince]], report that a light fell from the sky near the island. They also explain the electricity flow to the lamp on the lighthouse has become erratic and the Doctor deduces something is feeding on the flow. Reuben does not help matters with his constant references to the mythical [[Beast of Fang Rock]] which reputedly once terrorised the lighthouse.


As the Doctor and Leela explore, something moves Ben's body out of the lighthouse and onto the island, and they witness a curious electric crackling which seems to have killed fish nearby. The Doctor believes Ben was electrocuted. As the freak fog continues to descend, a passing ship, sailing despite the fog and darkness, crashes on to Fang Rock.
Down in the crew room of the lighthouse, Reuben is remarking to Ben about how much simpler it was back when the lights were powered by oil rather than electricity though Ben remarks that they weren't as safe back then. Vince then informs them that a [[fog]] is coming in fast, which Ben finds curious as there was no sign of it previously and goes to see for himself.


===Part 2===
[[The Doctor's TARDIS|The TARDIS]] then materialises on the island.
[[Image:Fang_rock_part2.JPG|thumb|left|150px|The creature keeps a close eye on the lighthouse]]
There are four survivors from the crash of the yacht: the bosun [[Harker]], an MP named [[James Skinsale|Colonel James Skinsale]], the owner, [[Palmerdale|Lord Palmerdale]], and his highly strung secretary [[Adelaide Lessage]]. Over time it emerges Palmerdale has bought government secrets from Skinsale and was desperate to reach the stock exchange to make a killing - hence the reason the ship was travelling at such a pace.


The Doctor continues to analyse the threat being faced. Reuben believes the Beast of Fang Rock is back, but the Doctor assures Leela that there is no such thing, and he thinks the light which fell from the sky was a spaceship landing, and aliens unfamiliar with humans are attracted to the lighthouse's electricity. They are keeping themselves out of sight while isolating Fang Rock by creating the fog, causing the Doctor to deduce an attack is imminent.
Sure enough, the entire island is now smothered in a thick fog. The keepers stare at it in disbelief as they've never known such a thick fog come in so quickly. It is also rather cold; leading Ben to comment it has probably come from [[Iceland]] but Vince says it's come from the spot he saw the light hit but Ben dismisses that and tells the young man to start sounding the siren. Though Reuben comments to Ben that Vince may be right as it does seem rather unnatural but Ben still doesn't believe it. Reuben comments that oil lights produced better light in fog but Ben doesn't agree, remarking that electricity is very reliable. At that moment, the light switches off, leading Reuben to remark "Reliable?!" sarcastically while chuckling.


Reuben goes to stoke the boiler, but while he is away everybody hears him screaming.
[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]]'s plans to show [[Brighton]] to [[Leela]] are on hold for now, as yet again the TARDIS has taken its occupants to the wrong time and place. Noticing that the lighthouse isn't functioning properly, the Doctor decides to investigate and to ask for directions.


===Part 3===
Ben is inspecting the lighthouse generator when the power comes back on though Vince believes Ben fixed it. As Ben heads back upstairs, he fails to notice the door to the lighthouse opening and a green light appearing outside. Vince changes into his jersey due to the cold weather and Ben remarks that the light came back on it's own which they both find strange, leading Ben to comment that something is going on there that he doesn't understand.
[[Image:Fang_rock_part3.JPG|thumb|right|150px|The [[Rutan]] takes on the form of [[Reuben]]]]
The Doctor and Leela go to investigate, but Reuben returns while they are away, behaving very oddly indeed, which others put down to shock. But the pattern of death now speeds up. Palmerdale is killed in the lamp room by a glowing alien presence on the outside of the lighthouse, and then Harker is killed when Reuben corners him in the boiler room. From the alien light emanating from Reuben it is clear he has become possessed or transformed by the alien creature. The Doctor determines that their best protection is to secure the lighthouse to keep the creature out.


While inspecting the boiler room, the Doctor and Leela find Harker's body and then Reuben's own - the latter cold for some time - which means the creature in Reuben's form, has chameleonic properties. In securing the lighthouse, the Doctor has in fact locked the creature in with them.
Leela then notices the light is shining so they head towards the lighthouse. She is shocked at the sound of the foghorn so the Doctor explains it to her. He then sets off but she stays where she is, muttering that she can feel something's wrong.


===Part 4===
The power then goes again so Ben heads back down to the generator. He then sees the green light which is followed by something advancing on him. He screams in terror though it is unheard due to Vince blasting the siren at that moment. Reuben is starting to become very sceptical of the events that have unfolded thus far as they have happened so quickly. He comments that he can always tell when fog is coming and there were no indications of it that day. Vince decides to go down and see if Ben needs help.
[[Image:Fang_rock_part4.JPG|thumb|left|150px|Definitely not humanoid!]]
The creature now stalks down and kills the others in the lighthouse. Vince dies first, then Adelaide. With its presence now revealed, the alien among them sheds its disguise: it is a [[Rutan]], a chameleonic life form, whose scout ship crash landed in the sea and is trying to summon its mother ship. The Rutans are losing their perennial war with the [[Sontaran]]s, but by using [[Earth]] as a launch point for a battle fleet the Rutans hope to gain the upper hand.


The Rutan ship is seemingly unstoppable, but the Doctor, Leela and Skinsale come up with a plan. First they kill the Rutan Scout - but not before it kills Skinsale - and then the Doctor uses Palmerdale's diamonds as a focus for a light beam, and converts the lighthouse into a high-energy laser by which the Doctor destroys the Rutan mother ship. The blinding flash even turns Leela's eyes from brown to blue. The Doctor quotes Wilfrid Gibson's poem ''[[wikipedia:Flannan Isle|Flannan Isle]]'' as they take their leave.
The Doctor and Leela then enter the lighthouse. He notes that the generator is working so wonders what's happening to the power. He decides they should speak to the crew and soon come across Vince. The Doctor quickly claims that they're lost and that their ship is on the other side of the island. Vince then leads them up to the crew room.


==Cast==
The Doctor asks Vince what the trouble is with the power and Vince tells him about the generator cutting out and that it's driving Ben nuts. They ask who Ben is and Vince talks about his two fellow keepers. Having been told by Vince that Reuben is up in the lamp room, the Doctor asks where Ben is but Vince is confused as he knows Ben was in the generator room, assuming that the Doctor and Leela must have seen him. He presumes that Ben must have stepped outside but Leela says that if he had been there she would have heard him. Vince wants to go and look for him but the Doctor says he will, leaving Vince to look after Leela. He is excited to have a lady in the lighthouse but she doesn't notice this. He initially offers her a drink but she remarks she would rather have dry clothes. He says they don't have anything suitable for a lady but she laughs and says she's no lady. She starts to undress so he quickly goes to find her some clothes.
*[[Fourth Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Tom Baker]]
*[[Leela]] - [[Louise Jameson]]
*[[Reuben]] - [[Colin Douglas]]
*[[Vince Hawkins|Vince]] - [[John Abbott]]
*[[Ben]] - [[Ralph Watson]]
*Lord [[Palmerdale]] - [[Sean Caffrey]]
*[[James Skinsale]] - [[Alan Rowe]]
*[[Adelaide Lessage]] - [[Annette Woollett]]
*[[Harker]] - [[Rio Fanning]]


==Crew==
The Doctor inspects the generator room but initially can't find any sign of Ben. Vince comes down and thinks the Doctor has fixed the problem and that Ben will be pleased. The Doctor says that won't be the case because Ben is dead; remarking that he was killed by a massive electric shock. Vince is distraught and goes off to tell Reuben. However, Leela knows the Doctor does not believe Ben was killed by the generator. He quickly inspects the coal hole but finds nothing inside. He remarks that whatever killed him has left no trace and probably has the ability to drain electricity. They then notice that Ben's lantern is completely shattered.
*[[Writer]] - [[Terrance Dicks]]
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Bill Hartley]]
*[[Costumes]] - [[Joyce Hawkins]]
*[[Designer]] - [[Paul Allen]]
*[[Film Cameraman]] - [[John Walker]]
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]]
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Jackie Hodgson]]
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Peter Grimwade]]
*[[Production Unit Manager]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
*[[Script Editor]] - [[Robert Holmes]]
*[[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
*[[Studio Lighting]] - [[Bob Gell]]
*[[Studio Sound]] - [[David Hughes]]
*[[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]]
*[[Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[Peter Pegrum]]
*[[Producer]] - [[Graham Williams]]
*[[Director]] - [[Paddy Russell]]


==References==
Reuben crosses himself having learned of Ben's death. He is sceptical of the Doctor and Leela from what Vince has told him; wondering if they could be spies. Vince doesn't believe it but Reuben remarks that all these events have happened at the time they arrived. He decides to go down and see them himself.


===[[:Category:Rutans|Rutans]]===
The Doctor and Leela are in the crew room. He is telling her about the old telegraph machine in the room which the Doctor realises the keepers use to communicate with the mainland but Reuben comes in and tells him to leave it alone. He is rather hostile towards them and the Doctor works out he thinks they're connected to Ben's death.
*This is the first appearance of the [[Rutan]]s, who were at war with the [[Sontaran]]s.  
*The Rutan is a scout from the [[Rutan Empire]].


===[[:Category:Technology|Technology]]===
Leela goes out to hunt for whatever may have killed Ben while Vince is telling the Doctor about the light he saw earlier which the latter finds interesting. While Leela is outside, she notices that all the local [[fish]] are dead. Reuben sends Vince downstairs to have his [[dinner]] while he stays in the lamp room with the Doctor. As Vince is going down the stairs, he hears a strange electric crackling sound. Leela continues to wander around outside, unaware she is being watched. Vince then discovers that Ben's body has gone and he hurriedly informs Reuben. Leela then comes back inside, making Vince jump with fright. The Doctor then tells Reuben that he's seen a light outside. A horn then starts sounding from out in the fog. Vince and Leela hurry upstairs.
*While the Doctor is talking about the electrical generator, Leela reminds him that she is not a "[[Tesh]]nician". The Doctor later remarks at her mispronunciation/pun.
*The Doctor turns the lighthouse into a [[laser]].


==Story notes==
Reuben realises it's a steam yacht going too fast and that it's heading straight for the rocks. He tells Vince to continue sounding the siren. Cries of distress are heard coming from the yacht. Reuben fires flares into the air but the ship soon runs aground upon the rocks......
*This story had the working titles; '''The Rocks Of Doom''', '''The Monster Of Fang Rock''' and '''The Beast Of Rang Rock'''.
*'''Horror of Fang Rock''' was in fact a late replacement for the scripts [[Terrance Dicks]] had originally submitted, a vampire-based tale entitled ''[[The Witch Lords]]'', which was canceled close to production as it was feared it could detract from the BBC's high-profile adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel ''Count Dracula'', which was due for transmission close to when the serial would have aired. A re-written version did, however, eventually see production in [[1980]] as ''[[State of Decay]]'', part of [[Season 18]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
*At the end of the final episode, as the [[the Doctor's TARDIS|TARDIS]] leaves the island, the Doctor recites some lines from "[[Wikipedia:The Ballad of Flannan Isle|Flannan Isle]]" by [[Wikipedia:Wilfred Wilson Gibson|Wilfred Gibson]].
*The "pigment dispersal" scene at the end of the story when [[Leela]]'s eyes change from brown to blue was a practical (rather than story) motivated event, it was so [[Louise Jameson]] did not have to continue wearing brown contact lenses. This was done to keep her as a member of the cast, as she found wearing the lenses uncomfortable and considered leaving the show.
*The story's exact year is never made explicit, but a reference to the beast being seen "eighty years ago" in the "twenties" suggests the early 20th century, as does a reference to King [[Edward VII]], who reigned from 1901-1910. Lance Parkin's unofficial chronology A History dates it to c.1902. Colonel Skinsale also refers to his feeling uneasy in the presence of Balfour, Salisbury and Bonar Law while Lord Palmerdale makes him feel uneasy when he is not in his presence - Lord Salisbury died in [[1903]], Balfour was PM in the second half of the first decade of the [[20th century]] and had been First Lord of the Treasury under Salisbury, and Bonar Law was a notable MP already in that decade and early that decade was Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade, although yet to be in the cabinet. All three were prominent Conservatives who became Prime Minister. Marconi's Wireless Telegraph prominently featured in the story and was the latest thing in the first decade of the 20th century most notably being used on the [[Titanic]]. Electric lamps in lighthouses started to replace oil at the turn of the 20th century.
*According to the DVD commentary supplied by [[Louise Jameson]], a scene in Part 3 was crucial to the behind-the-scenes relationship between her and co-star [[Tom Baker]]. In one scene, he consistently came in ahead of his cue, thereby upstaging her. On the grounds that this move was "not what they had rehearsed" she insisted on three successive retakes until he came in at the rehearsed time. This eventually won his respect. From that point forward, she claims their working relationship was much smoother.
*This is the second of two serials in which Leela is not shown wearing either of her famous leather outfits. After this, however, it was decided to return her to her original, more revealing costume as introduced in [[DW]]: ''[[The Face of Evil]]''.
*This story marks the last time the Doctor travels with only a single companion until [[DW]]: ''[[The Caves of Androzani]]'' in [[1984]] (although if the appearance of [[Nyssa]] [[DW]]: ''[[The Keeper of Traken]]'' doesn't qualify her as a companion, then the next occasion really occurs in that story.  


===Ratings===
=== Part two ===
*Part 1 - 6.8 million viewers
The Doctor, Reuben, and Vince run down to see if there are any survivors on the yacht, leaving Leela to sound the siren. While she is waiting for them, she spots something strange moving along the rocks.
*Part 2 - 7.1 million viewers
*Part 3 - 9.8 million viewers
*Part 4 - 9.9 million viewers


===Myths===
There are four survivors of the yacht's wreck: the bo'sun, [[Harker (Horror of Fang Rock)|Harker]]; an MP, [[James Skinsale|Colonel James Skinsale]]; the yacht's owner, [[Henry Palmerdale|Lord Palmerdale]]; and his highly strung secretary, [[Adelaide Lessage]]. It slowly emerges that Palmerdale has bought government secrets from Skinsale and was desperate to reach the [[Stock Exchange]] in [[London]] to make a killing — that was why the ship was travelling at such high speed in the appalling weather. When Harker comes inside he is carrying Ben, or rather, what's left of him. The Doctor speculates that whatever killed him wanted to study his body and therefore learn more about human anatomy.
*Designer [[Paul Allen]] researched the lighthouse sets from a book called ''Lighthouses, Lightships and Buoys'' by E G Jerrome. ''(He didn't. He visited two lighthouses, took lots of photographs of them, and based his designs on those.)''
*Louise Jameson breaks character and corpses on camera after delivering Leela's "pep talk" to the Doctor in the boiler room. ''(She can be seen breaking into a smile and laughing after Tom Baker turns his back, but Jameson says on the DVD commentary that the laughter was scripted.)''


===Filming locations===
The Doctor continues to analyse the threat being faced. Reuben believes the [[Beast of Fang Rock]] is back, but the Doctor assures Leela there is no such thing. He thinks the light which fell from the sky was a spaceship landing. Aliens unfamiliar with humans are attracted to the lighthouse's electricity. They are keeping themselves out of sight while isolating Fang Rock by creating the fog. The Doctor deduces an attack is imminent.
*Horror of Fang Rock was the only story of the classic series run to be made entirely outside of [[London]]. Due to engineering work at BBC Television Centre, the programme's usual production base, its principal studio location was [[Pebble Mill Studios]] in Birmingham.


===Production errors===
Reuben goes to stoke the boiler. While he is in the boiler room, Leela feels another cold wave, and the electricity fails again. All is silent in the dark, save for Reuben screaming in the boiler room...
{{discontinuity}}
 
*There are some obvious use of models, like the ship that crashes in part one, the tower as the Rutan climbs up it and the TARDIS materialising and dematerialising.
=== Part three ===
*It is quite obvious that the background on the top of the lighthouse is done by bluescreen. The serial then compensates for that by blowing smoke machines to hide that. ''(Whether the bluescreened background is "obvious" is up to the individual. But many of the smoke effects were overlayed, not "dry ice" or "smoke machine" effects.)''
The Doctor and Leela go outside to investigate. Harker goes down as well and Reuben appears but, behaving very strangely, returns to the bunk room. The Doctor and Leela come back believing that the creature has killed Reuben, but Harker informs them that he's seen Reuben. The Doctor decides they should ask Reuben about the creature as he must have seen it. He then orders Harker to secure the lighthouse door.
 
The power returns but Palmerdale is getting more anxious about needing to return to London and leaves after arguing with Skinsale. Reuben meanwhile has locked himself in the bunk room and (unseen by the Doctor and Leela) is glowing a strange green colour. In the lamp room, Palmerdale then gives Vince £50 to send a message to London using the telegraph machine, with a further £50 once he returns to the capital (though this bribe is overheard by Skinsale). While they are talking, something is shown to be climbing up the outside of the lighthouse. Palmerdale hears the Doctor coming and hides outside on the lamp gallery. Vince is nervous, as events seem to playing out in the same way as the last time the Beast of Fang Rock appeared, but the Doctor reassures him that they outnumber the beast. While Palmerdale is outside waiting for the Doctor to leave, a strange green light appears from below him and he is killed.
 
Skinsale continues to voice his doubts about Palmerdale, making Adelaide furious; she goes to speak to the man himself about it. Leela breaks a hole in the bunk room door with a sledgehammer, through which she and the Doctor see that Reuben is standing completely still and can't seem to hear them. As Adelaide comes past them on the stairs, the Doctor promptly orders her to go back down. Vince finds that Palmerdale has disappeared from the lamp gallery, and burns the money the lord gave him.
 
The Doctor tells Skinsale and Adelaide that the creature they are dealing with is [[extraterrestrial]], which they both dismiss. Vince then tells them that Palmerdale has fallen from the lamp gallery. Upon hearing this news, Adelaide howls in despair but is promptly silenced by a slap from Leela. The Doctor and Skinsale go outside to retrieve his body and Harker secures the door again. The Doctor then discovers that the telegraph machine has been sabotaged, thereby cutting them off from the outside world. Skinsale admits he did it to prevent Palmerdale from sending the message and thereby protect his own reputation.
 
Down in the boiler room, Reuben corners Harker. Vince tries the siren but finds it won't sound, meaning the boiler pressure has dropped. Adelaide and Skinsale cannot understand why Palmerdale would have fallen but the Doctor tells them that he was killed by an electric current, and therefore dead before he hit the ground. Vince then informs them about the siren and the Doctor realises something has happened to Harker.
 
They all go down and discover Harker's body. Adelaide and Skinsale then go back upstairs and the Doctor remarks that Harker was killed the same way as the others. They inspect the boiler room and find Reuben's body, which has been hidden. The Doctor says that he's in ''[[rigor mortis]]'' — he's been dead for hours. Leela is confused, as she knew that Reuben was in his room. The shocked Doctor realises that he has overlooked the chameleon factor, which he says is sometimes called [[lycanthropy]]. In securing the lighthouse, the Doctor has locked the creature inside with them...
 
=== Part four ===
The creature, in the guise of Reuben, appears to Vince with a grin, and kills him in a flash of blue light by placing a hand on his head.
 
The Doctor and Leela discuss the creature as Leela fills the boiler. The Doctor says it has great power, but it needed to study the human life pattern first. He says that "organic restructuring is elementary physiology for [[Time Lord]]s". Leela misunderstands, believing that if the creature is a Time Lord, then they have no chance to stop it. The Doctor corrects her, saying that what his people consider ''elementary'' might take other species thousands of years to master. Leela responds, "Then we have nothing to worry about," because the Doctor, as a Time Lord, should be able to deal with the creature easily. The Doctor seems to be buffered by her blind faith in his people and begins to consider why the creature took the form of Reuben. Leela suggests trying to deceive the creature into thinking its ruse was effective, but the Doctor says it's too dangerous. They then find an alien power relay being used with a [[distress beacon]]. He goes to look for the signal modulator but sends Leela to gather the rest of the survivors and bring them to the lamp room.
 
Adelaide begs Skinsale to stop pacing. They're startled by the appearance of Leela, who tells them that Harker has died, the creature is inside, and they must fight for their lives. To Leela's consternation, Adelaide faints. "Reuben" interrupts the Doctor as he searches someone's bunk; the Doctor evades him by climbing out the window, dangling by his fingertips. Adelaide is revived by Skinsale but doesn't want to go. They get her moving, only to find that "Reuben" has found ''them''. The Doctor laboriously climbs back inside, revealing that he has found a device. "Reuben" kills Adelaide right in front of Leela and Skinsale, and they run for it. The Doctor confronts the alien and it sheds its disguise, revealing a tentacled glowing green gelatinous sphere resembling a giant jellyfish. The Doctor immediately recognises it as a [[Rutan]], who uses plural pronouns to reference itself and declares that it is a scout trained in the "new metamorphosis techniques". The Doctor says it'll get better at them in time. It refuses to tell the Doctor why it is there, but it is angered when the Doctor suggests that the Rutans must be losing their never-ending war with the [[Sontaran]]s. The Rutan Scout declares that the Rutan Host is instead making "a series of strategic withdrawals", and although the [[Earth]] is remote, it has a sound enough strategic position to launch a counterattack. The Doctor is alarmed, as the Sontarans will use [[Photonic missile|photonic]] bombardment to dislodge the Rutan presence, thereby killing many people. He realises that the Rutan Scout ship crash landed in the sea, and it confirms that it is trying to summon its mother ship. The Doctor reveals that he has deactivated both the primary transmitter and the backup. The Rutan Scout says it was transmitting long enough, and the Doctor says it won't last long before fleeing upstairs to the lamp room.
 
Leela and Skinsale have made it to the lamp room and start following the Doctor's instructions to break open the maroons ([[maroon flare]]s) and spread the powder down the stairs. The Doctor rushes in and uses the powder and a fuse to hurt the Rutan Scout, who retreats back down the stairs. He explains that [[Ruta III]] is an icy planet (so its inhabitants find heat painful) and asks if they have more [[gunpowder]] or, hopefully, a [[flamethrower]].
 
Skinsale shows him a kind of mortar they brought up from below. The Doctor grabs a flare device, and they stuff it with items from their pockets to create [[shrapnel]]. As they do so, he explains that the ''real'' threat is the Rutan ship that is on the way.
 
The three devise a plan, with Leela suggesting that the Doctor change the lighthouse into a laser, but the Doctor needs crystalline [[carbon]] — [[diamond]] — to focus it. Skinsale says that Palmerdale always carried diamonds, and they get to work.
 
The men make their way downstairs while Leela covers them with the flare. Skinsale retrieves the diamonds from a hidden pouch. The Doctor selects one, then throws the rest on the floor before running back upstairs. Skinsale tries to collect the other diamonds, and so doesn't see the Scout approaching. The Doctor glances back and watches as the Scout kills Skinsale. Leela shoots it with the mortar before gloating over its death. As the Doctor converts the lighthouse into a high-energy laser using the diamond, they watch the mother ship approach. The Doctor warns Leela that once he turns it on, they cannot look back and they will have 117 seconds to get out of the lighthouse. They flee the lighthouse and run for cover as the laser destroys the Rutan mothership. Leela sneaks a look back despite the Doctor's orders not to and is blinded by the flash; she gives her [[knife]] to the Doctor and begs to be killed, as amongst the [[Sevateem]] that is the fate of the old and crippled. Although he takes the knife, the Doctor laughs as he gets a closer look at her eyes. He explains that the blindness is temporary, but he is surprised to find that the flash has caused pigmentation dispersal in Leela's eyes — in plain English, they've changed colour and are now [[blue]]. The Doctor quotes Wilfrid Gibson's poem {{wi|Flannan Isle}} as they leave Fang Rock, which echoes eerily on the empty island as the TARDIS fades away:
::Aye: though we hunted high and low,
::And hunted everywhere,
::Of the three men's fate we found no trace
::Of any kind in any place,
::But a door ajar, and an untouch'd meal,
::And an overtoppled chair...
 
== Cast ==
* [[Fourth Doctor|Doctor Who]] - [[Tom Baker]]
* [[Leela]] - [[Louise Jameson]]
* [[Reuben Whormby|Reuben]] - [[Colin Douglas]]
* [[Vince Hawkins|Vince]] - [[John Abbott]]
* [[Ben Travers|Ben]] - [[Ralph Watson]]
* [[Henry Palmerdale|Lord Palmerdale]] - [[Sean Caffrey]]
* [[James Skinsale]] - [[Alan Rowe]]
* [[Adelaide Lessage]] - [[Annette Woollett]]
* [[Harker (Horror of Fang Rock)|Harker]] - [[Rio Fanning]]
 
=== Uncredited cast ===
* [[Rutan scout|Rutan]] voice - [[Colin Douglas]] ([[DWM 319]])
 
== Crew ==
* [[Writer]] - [[Terrance Dicks]]
* [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[William Hartley|Bill Hartley]]
* [[Costumes]] - [[Joyce Hawkins]]
* [[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Paul Allen]]
* [[Film Cameraman]] - [[John Walker]]
* [[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]]
* [[Make-Up]] - [[Jackie Hodgson]]
* [[Production Assistant]] - [[Peter Grimwade]]
* [[Production Unit Manager]] - [[John Nathan-Turner]]
* [[Script Editor]] - [[Robert Holmes]]
* [[Special Sounds]] - [[Dick Mills]]
* [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Bob Gell (lighting technician)|Bob Gell]]
* [[Studio Sound]] - [[David Hughes]]
* [[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]]
* [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]]
* [[Visual Effects]] - [[Peter Pegrum]]
* [[Producer]] - [[Graham Williams]]
* [[Director (crew)|Director]] - [[Paddy Russell]]
 
=== Uncredited crew ===
* [[Technical manager|Technical Operations Manager]] - [[John Jeavons]] ([[INFO]]: ''Horror of Fang Rock'')
 
== Worldbuilding ==
=== Humans ===
* Leela [[Slapping|slaps]] Adelaide out of irritation and [[Eye rolling|rolls her eyes]] after she sees Adelaide faint.
 
=== Animals ===
* Vince Hawkins tells Leela that he talks to [[seal (animal)|seals]] to combat boredom.
 
=== Cultural references from real world ===
* Adelaide believes in [[astrology]] and consults Miss [[Nethercott]] every month.
* On [[Pharos Lighthouse|Pharos]] they had [[slave]]s to keep the bonfires of the lighthouse going.
 
=== Rutans ===
* The Rutan is a scout from the [[Rutan Empire]].
* The Rutan used to control the whole [[Mutter's Spiral]] but the Sontarans have driven them to the far fringes of the galaxy.
 
=== Technology ===
* The Doctor sets up an amplified [[carbon oscillator]] which, through [[diamond|crystallised carbon]], can lock onto the [[carbon resonator]] of the Rutan mothership and knock out its [[anti-gravity|anti-grav]].
* Skinsale finds a [[Schermuly]].
 
=== Influences ===
 
* The story was inspired by [[Wilfred Gibson]]'s [[1912]] poem ''[[The Ballad of Flannan Isle|Flannan Isle]]'', which was in turn based upon true events which occurred in [[1900]], when a supply ship discovered that the lighthouse crew on the Flannan Isles in the Outer Hebrides had vanished without a trace. [[Terrance Dicks]] also drew on [[Ray Bradbury]]'s [[1951]] short story "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fog_Horn The Fog Horn]", about an aquatic dinosaur which has survived in the ocean's depths but is attracted by the call of a lighthouse's fog horn.
 
== Story notes ==
* This story had the working titles ''The Rocks of Doom'' (also ''Rocks of Doom''), ''The Monster of Fang Rock'' and ''The Beast of Fang Rock''.
* ''Horror of Fang Rock'' was a late replacement for the scripts [[Terrance Dicks]] had originally submitted, a vampire-based tale entitled ''The Vampire Mutations'', which was cancelled close to production lest it detract from the BBC's {{w|Count Dracula (1977 film)|high-profile adaptation}} of ''[[Dracula]]'', due for transmission close to when the serial would have aired. A re-written version of ''The Vampire Mutations'' eventually saw production in 1980 as ''[[State of Decay (TV story)|State of Decay]]''.
* [[John Abbott]] recalled that director [[Paddy Russell]] cast him as [[Vince Hawkins]] after seeing him play {{w|Snoopy}} in a play in the {{w|Edinburgh Festival Fringe|Edinburgh Fringe}}.
* [[Paddy Russell]] didn't particularly enjoy her experience working on this story, largely because she much preferred [[Terrance Dicks]]' original script and didn't think much of the hastily written replacement, but was contractually obligated to still direct the new story. Filming also wasn't a particularly happy experience for her, in part due to constantly clashing with [[Tom Baker]] and [[Louise Jameson]], and also because the facilities at the BBC's Birmingham studios (where they had to move production of the story to, due to scheduling conflicts at the BBC Television Centre) weren't up to scratch. This resulted in her deciding not to direct for the show again.
* In the DVD commentary, [[Terrance Dicks]] says he was unhappy about [[Tom Baker]]'s delivery of the line "Dead, with honour", when telling Leela of Colonel Skinsale's fate. In the episode, Baker says "Dead with honour", with no pause. In his novelisation of the story, Dicks writes the line as "Dead. With honour", to emphasise what he had intended — that Skinsale was dead, but after a moment's thought adding that it was "with honour" (even though it wasn't).
* The "pigment dispersal" scene at the end of the story when [[Leela]]'s eyes change from brown to blue was a practical (rather than story) motivated event. It was so [[Louise Jameson]] did not have to continue wearing brown contact lenses. This was done to keep her as a member of the cast, as she found wearing the lenses uncomfortable and seriously considered leaving the show. ''Horror of Fang Rock'' was actually the second story filmed of the season, after ''[[The Invisible Enemy (TV story)|The Invisible Enemy]]'', so when the time came to don the contacts for this story, Jameson's eyes had had a rest for several weeks and she was better able to cope.
* In the scene where Leela slaps Adelaide to stop her screaming, Louise Jameson did indeed slap [[Annette Woollett]] quite hard. Jameson stated in the DVD commentary that Woollett insisted that she not hold anything back when doing the slap.
* The story's exact year is never made explicit, but a reference to the beast being seen "eighty years ago" in the "twenties" suggests the early 20th century. [[Lance Parkin]]'s unofficial chronology ''[[aHistory]]'' dates it to c.1902.
* According to the DVD commentary by [[Louise Jameson]], a scene in part three was crucial to the behind-the-scenes relationship between her and co-star [[Tom Baker]]. In the scene where he comes in carrying Palmerdale's body, he consistently came in ahead of his cue, thereby upstaging her. On the grounds that this move was "not what [they] had rehearsed", she insisted on three successive retakes until he finally came in at the rehearsed time. This apparently won his respect. From that point forward, she claims, their working relationship was much smoother.
* Though not stated in the televised story, the reason Vince burns Lord Palmerdale's bribe money following his death is because he is concerned that he may be accused of murdering Palmerdale should he be found to have the money. This is clarified by Terrance Dicks in both the novelisation and the DVD commentary.
* This is the second of two serials in which Leela does not wear either of her famous leather outfits. After this, however, it was decided to return her to her original, more revealing costume introduced in ''[[The Face of Evil (TV story)|The Face of Evil]]''.
* This story marks the last time that the Doctor travels with only a single companion until ''[[The Caves of Androzani (TV story)|The Caves of Androzani]]'' in 1984. However, if the introduction of [[Nyssa]] in ''[[The Keeper of Traken (TV story)|The Keeper of Traken]]'' does not qualify her as a companion, then the next occasion really occurs in that story.
* This was the final televised story in which every character other than the Doctor and his companion(s) is killed until ''[[The Doctor's Wife (TV story)|The Doctor's Wife]]'' in 2011. In early drafts of the story, Adelaide and Skinsale survived; however, this was changed to make the story more resonant with the poem {{wi|Flannan Isle}}. ([[INFO]]: ''Horror of Fang Rock'') Stories in which ''most'' of the characters die include ''[[Pyramids of Mars (TV story)|Pyramids of Mars]]'' (also directed by Paddy Russell), ''[[Warriors of the Deep (TV story)|Warriors of the Deep]]'', ''[[The Caves of Androzani (TV story)|The Caves of Androzani]]'', ''[[The Parting of the Ways (TV story)|The Parting of the Ways]]'' and ''[[Sleep No More (TV story)|Sleep No More]]''.
* Although they are referenced in several other stories, particularly those featuring their enemies the Sontarans, this is to date the only televised appearance of the Rutans in ''[[Doctor Who]].''
* [[Paddy Russell]] claimed that [[Tom Baker]] so infuriated the crew that they tried to swing a pair of mole cranes at his head, until she saw what they were doing and ordered them to stop. "Tom Baker was easy to deal with at first, but the part went to his head completely. By the time I did ''Horror of Fang Rock'', he was desperately difficult to work with. His input got totally out of hand. His attitude to his fellow actors was extremely difficult, his attitude to his director was extremely difficult, and his attitude to the crew was extremely difficult. For instance, it was always everybody else’s fault, and never Tom’s. His idea was to have that show to himself. He didn’t want an assistant, and he made their lives hell. [[Louise Jameson]] went through hell on that show, and that lady is a very good actress. Fortunately, she’s very tough, and she got a lot of support from everyone else. I found her excellent to work with, but Tom hardly spoke to her, and when he did it was usually something nasty".
* [[Tom Baker]] began an on-off relationship with [[Sue Jerrard Baker|Sue Jerrard]], who was working as an editor on this serial. He broke it off to marry [[Lalla Ward]], and then, after divorcing Lalla, rekindled his relationship with Sue and married her. They've been married ever since.
* In the original script, Colonel Skinsale's wife Veronica appeared. She was ultimately removed.
* This was the first time that [[Ron Grainer]], the original composer and writer of the ''Doctor Who'' Theme Music, was not credited for the "Title Music", even though [[Delia Derbyshire]]'s theme arrangement was used in this story. This would occur until ''[[The King's Demons (TV story)|The King's Demons]],'' and in ''[[Warriors of the Deep (TV story)|Warriors of the Deep]]''. ''[[The Five Doctors (TV story)|The Five Doctors]]'' was the first time Ron Grainer was credited for the title music after his death in 1981. He was credited from ''[[The Awakening (TV story)|The Awakening]]'' to ''[[Survival (TV story)|Survival]].'' He was not credited in the [[Doctor Who (TV story)|TV Movie]] but has been credited for the "Original Theme Music" in every episode of the revived series.
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Middlemass Frank Middlemass] was originally offered the role of Reuben Crockett.
* Reuben was originally named Jonathan, Vince was originally named Davy, Lord Palmerdale was originally named Peach-Palmer and Herbert Berkin was originally named Harker.
* [[Paddy Russell]] was particularly underwhelmed by the lighthouse setting, as it meant dealing with a lot of curved sets, which were challenging to film. Furthermore, the exterior walls of the lamp room, in which much of the action took place, would be largely comprised of glass windows. Their transparent nature would therefore require extensive use of chroma key, imposing even more limitations on Russell's choice of shots.
* [[Louise Jameson]] felt that the scripts required Leela to behave uncharacteristically on several occasions, reportedly even screaming at one point, and she had to fight to ensure that these issues were addressed. She came to believe that [[Terrance Dicks]] had written the serial with [[Sarah Jane Smith]] in mind.
* The Pebble Mill staff were keen to attract more productions away from London, and consequently made an exceptional effort to be as helpful and efficient as possible, even stealing cameras from an adjacent studio to ensure that one sequence could be recorded the way [[Paddy Russell]] wanted.
* [[Tom Baker]] and [[Paddy Russell]] had clashed while filming ''[[Pyramids of Mars (TV story)|Pyramids of Mars]].'' That tension resurfaced during production. Russell found Baker more difficult than usual, while Baker was frustrated that Russell turned a deaf ear to any discussions about enhancing the material. During the recording a scene in the crew room, Baker repeatedly entered too quickly to be kept in shot; Russell finally gave up, and instructed the cameraman to train his lens on [[Louise Jameson]] instead.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Middlemass]
 
=== Updated Special Effects ===
[[File:Rutan scout Updated Special Effects.jpg|thumb|left|The new Rutan.]]A visual update of the story was created by [[Chris Thompson (graphic designer)|Chris Thompson]] for the story's 2024 blu-ray release in ''[[The Collection]]''. It notably featured a new design for the [[Rutan scout]] which was created with a physical puppet, inspired by elements of the Rutan design from {{cs|The Gunpowder Plot (video game)}}.<ref>[https://x.com/JasonArnopp/status/1774092039543463969 Interview with Thompson]</ref>
 
The update was covered in [[DWM 601]].
 
==== Deviations from original serial ====
* The fog is updated with new effects.
* The ship crashing is updated to be more realistic.
* The Rutan's true form is obscured more in scenes where it climbs the outside of the lighthouse.
* The effects of the Rutan shifting form are changed such that [[Reuben Whormby]] is splits apart from the middle, revealing wriggling tendrils.
* The Rutan has a new design with an eye, which lets it stands.
[[File:Rutan ship Updated Special Effects.jpg|thumb|right|The new [[Rutan ship]].]]
* The [[Rutan ship]] has a new physical appearance which appears prominently at the climax.
 
==== Crew ====
* Design and effects - [[Chris Thompson (graphic designer)|Chris Thompson]]
* Puppeteers - [[Ben Page]], [[Andrew Clements]], [[Connor Flanagan]], [[Ryan Wade]]


==Continuity==
=== Ratings ===
*The Rutans were previously mentioned in [[DW]]: ''[[The Time Warrior]]'' and ''[[The Sontaran Experiment]]''. They would be mentioned again in [[The Two Doctors]], and 2008's ''[[The Poison Sky]]''.
* Part one - 6.8 million viewers
*An [[Eighth Doctor]] audio story written by [[Paul Magrs]] for [[Big Finish Productions]], broadcast on BBC 7 on [[14th January]] [[2007]], is entitled ''[[Horror of Glam Rock]]'', a play on this serial's title.
* Part two - 7.1 million viewers
*The Doctor eventually does visit [[Brighton]] with [[Romana]] in [[DW]]: ''[[The Leisure Hive]]''.
* Part three - 9.8 million viewers
*The Rutans appear on screen again in the independent film [[RP]]: ''[[Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans]]''. In the novelisation of the film, [[NA]]: ''[[Shakedown]]'', which was expanded to include the [[Seventh Doctor]], the Rutan host mentions to the Doctor the events of this story.
* Part four - 9.9 million viewers
*The Rutans also appear in [[MA]]: ''[[Lords of the Storm]]'' and [[PDA]]: ''[[The Infinity Doctors]]''.
*Leela has blue eyes hereafter as a result of the climax of this story.


==Max Headroom signal intrusion incident==
=== Myths ===
[[Image:Maxheadroomhijack.JPG|thumb|right|150px|Screen capture taken during the hijacked broadcast.]]
* [[Louise Jameson]] breaks character and corpses on camera after delivering Leela's "pep talk" to the Doctor in the boiler room. ''(She can be seen breaking into a smile and laughing after [[Tom Baker]] turns his back, but Jameson says on the DVD commentary that the laughter was scripted.)''
: ''Main article: [[wikipedia:Max Headroom broadcast signal intrusion incident|Wikipedia: Max Headroom broadcast signal intrusion incident]].''
* This story was originally written while [[Sarah Jane Smith]] was still a companion but was shelved and then brought back after [[Terrance Dicks]]'s original script had to be changed. ''(Dicks confirmed on the DVD commentary that this was an original story and had not been written beforehand.)''


On [[22nd November]] [[1987]], a rebroadcast of ''Horror of Fang Rock'' on [[PBS]] affiliate WTTW in Chicago, Ill., was the target of a prank in which individuals managed to hijack WTTW's broadcast feed and, for nearly 90 seconds, the pranksters aired footage of two individuals, one wearing a [[wikipedia: Max Headroom|Max Headroom]] mask, spouting gibberish and advertising catchphrases including those at the time associated with Max Headroom and Coca-Cola, and humming music. The two also engage in mildly risque behaviour. The signal intrusion occurred twice that evening: first during a newscast on commercial station WGN-TV, and later during the broadcast of ''Horror of Fang Rock'' on WTTW. The first attempt appeared to be partially unsuccessful as those responsible were unable to broadcast sound; the ''Doctor Who'' interruption had sound, albeit distorted.
=== Filming locations ===
* ''Horror of Fang Rock'' was the only story of the classic series run to be made entirely outside of [[London]]. Due to engineering work at BBC Television Centre — the programme's usual production base — its principal studio location was [[Pebble Mill Studios]] in Birmingham.


The ''Doctor Who'' interruption appeared to have been pre-recorded. It begins with the individual in the mask appearing to parody commercial pitchmen and can be heard cursing. A reference to his brother is also heard and he can be heard saying "I still see the X", possibly referencing the camera, then humming the theme tune to the animated series ''[[wikipedia:Clutch Cargo|Clutch Cargo]]''. Then the tape cuts to another angle where a second individual appears to slap the first individual on his bare rear end with a flyswatter several times. The transmission cuts to black and then ''Doctor Who'' resumes; representatives for the TV station later admitted they were powerless to stop the broadcast.
=== Production errors ===
{{discontinuity}}
* As the Rutan is about to kill Ben, the POV shot makes it seem like the Rutan almost as tall as him when in fact it's barely one foot high in its natural form.
* Palmerdale's death was filmed in reverse to achieve the right effect. However, he reacts too slowly to the tentacle being pulled off him, which leads to him looking like he is screaming before even being attacked.


In the days following, the scene from ''Fang Rock'' that had been interrupted was rebroadcast on local Chicago and national media.
== Continuity ==
* The Rutans were previously mentioned as the [[Sontaran]]s' adversaries, ([[TV]]: ''[[The Time Warrior (TV story)|The Time Warrior]]'', ''[[The Sontaran Experiment (TV story)|The Sontaran Experiment]]'') and would be again. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Two Doctors (TV story)|The Two Doctors]]'', ''[[The Poison Sky (TV story)|The Poison Sky]]'')
* The Doctor eventually does visit [[Brighton]] with [[Romana II]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Leisure Hive (TV story)|The Leisure Hive]]'')
* The Rutans appear on screen again in the independent film ''[[Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans (home video)|Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans]]''. In the novelisation of the film, ''[[Shakedown (novelisation)|Shakedown]]'', which was expanded to include the [[Seventh Doctor]], the Rutan host mentions to the Doctor the events of this story.
* The Rutans also appear in [[PROSE]]: ''[[Lords of the Storm (novel)|Lords of the Storm]]'' and [[PROSE]]: ''[[The Infinity Doctors (novel)|The Infinity Doctors]]''.
* Leela has blue eyes hereafter as a result of the [[explosion]] she witnesses here. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Invisible Enemy (TV story)|The Invisible Enemy]]'' et al.)
* The [[Fifth Doctor]] would later encounter the Rutans in [[Stockbridge]] in [[1199]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Castle of Fear (audio story)|Castle of Fear]]'')
* Leela would be blinded once again, for a considerably longer period, during the [[Gallifrey|Gallifreyan Civil War]] ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Fractures (audio story)|Fractures]]'') but her sight was eventually restored through the transfusion of [[Vampire]] blood on the Gallifrey of an [[alternative timeline]]. ([[AUDIO]]: ''[[Annihilation (audio story)|Annihilation]]'')
* When explaining about the Fog Horn keeping the [[ship]]s off the rocks, the Doctor reminds Leela they both had seen ships on the [[River Thames]]. ([[TV]]: ''[[The Talons of Weng-Chiang (TV story)|The Talons of Weng-Chiang]]'')
* While the Doctor is talking about the electrical generator, Leela reminds him that she is not a "[[Tesh]]nician". ([[TV]]: ''[[The Face of Evil (TV story)|The Face of Evil]]'') The Doctor later remarks at her mispronunciation/pun.


As of 2009 the individuals responsible for the illegal hijacking of the two broadcast signals have never been identified or apprehended. Also a mystery is whether the ''Doctor Who'' broadcast had been targeted specifically, or if the pranksters just happened to choose that moment to begin their hijack.
== Max Headroom signal hijacking ==
[[File:Maxheadroomhijack.JPG|thumb|right|Screen capture of "Max Headroom" taken during the hijacked broadcast.]]
: ''Main article: {{w|Max Headroom signal hijacking|Wikipedia:Max Headroom signal hijacking}}.''
On [[22 November (releases)|22 November]] 1987, a rebroadcast of ''Horror of Fang Rock'' on [[PBS]] affiliate WTTW in [[Chicago]], Ill., was the target of a bizarre prank in which individuals managed to hijack WTTW's broadcast feed and, for nearly 90 seconds, the pranksters aired footage of two individuals, one wearing a {{w|Max Headroom}} mask, spouting gibberish and advertising catchphrases including those at the time associated with Max Headroom and Coca-Cola, and humming music. The two also engaged in mildly risqué behaviour near the end of the tape. The signal intrusion occurred twice that evening: first during highlights from an American Football game on a newscast on the then-independent commercial station WGN-TV, and later during the broadcast of ''Horror of Fang Rock'' on public television station WTTW. The first attempt appeared to be partially unsuccessful as those responsible were unable to properly broadcast sound, only managing to provide electronic buzzing and screeches in the signal's audio channels, and were quickly cut off by WGN-TV. The ''Doctor Who'' interruption had proper sound, albeit distorted, and ran in its entirety.


==Home video and audio releases==
The ''Doctor Who'' interruption appeared to have been pre-recorded, and was transmitted during the first part of ''Horror of Fang Rock'', just as Vince is offering to get Leela a hot drink. The footage starts with a man disguised as television personality Max Headroom, referring to an unknown individual who the presenter describes as a "frickin' nerd" before mentioning sports personality Chuck Swirsky and laughing. The presenter proceeds to toss a Pepsi Cola can at the camera while saying "Catch the Wave" (referencing the actual Max Headroom, who used the slogan as part of a marketing campaign for Coca-Cola's then-current "New Coke") before raising his middle finger up to the camera (an obscene gesture in the United States, akin to the inverted V-sign in Britain) while wearing a rubber finger atop the former. The presenter then states that "your love is fading," a reference to the 1966 Temptations song "(I Know) I'm Losing You," and removes the rubber finger. He then sings the theme tune to the 1959 American synchro-vox cartoon ''Clutch Cargo'' and states, "I can still see the 'X'" midway (a reference to ''Clutch Cargo''{{'}}s final episode, "Big X"). Groaning, the presenter then moans, "My piles," referring to haemorrhoid pain, and gyrates while making flatulent noises, describing it as "a giant masterpiece for all the greatest world newspaper nerds" (an apparent insult at WGN). He proceeds to don a cloth glove on his left hand (stating that the other one is "dirty" and in his brother's possession) before taking it off in disgust after complaining that there are bloodstains on it. At this point, the tape cuts to another angle where a second individual is visible. The first individual's rear end is visible, yet his face is left off-camera. He holds his mask up to the camera with the rubber finger in its mouth, claiming that "they're coming to get me," before the second individual (dressed as a French maid) commands him to bend over. The second individual repeatedly spanks the first with a flyswatter while the latter pleads to "make it stop." The transmission cuts to black and then ''Doctor Who'' resumes at the scene where the Fourth Doctor surmises that Ben had died of electrocution. Representatives for WTTW later admitted that they were powerless to stop the broadcast because the engineers were not on duty at the Sears Tower transmitters.
===DVD releases===
 
Released as ''Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock''.
In the days following, the scene from ''Horror of Fang Rock'' that had been interrupted was rebroadcast on local Chicago and national media. The individuals responsible for the illegal hijacking of the two broadcast signals have never been identified or apprehended; it is also a mystery as to whether the ''Doctor Who'' broadcast had been targeted specifically, or if the pranksters just happened to choose that moment to begin their hijack.
 
== Home video and audio releases ==
=== DVD releases ===
This story was released as ''Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock''.


Released:
Released:
*Region 2 - [[17th January]] [[2005]]
* Region 2 - [[17 January (releases)|17 January]] [[2005 (releases)|2005]]
*Region 4 - [[7th April]] [[2005]]
* Region 4 - [[7 April (releases)|7 April]] 2005
*Region 1 - [[6th September]] [[2005]]
* Region 1 - [[6 September (releases)|6 September]] 2005


Contents:
==== Special Features ====
*Commentary by [[Louise Jameson]], [[John Abbott]] and [[Terrance Dicks]].
* Commentary by [[Louise Jameson]] ([[Leela]]), [[John Abbott]] ([[Vince Hawkins|Vince]]) and [[Terrance Dicks]] (Writer)
*[[Terrance Dicks: Fact & Fiction]] - With a writing career spanning 6 decades, this special documentary looks at Terrance Dicks' work for books and television, with contributions from many of his friends and colleagues.
* ''[[Terrance Dicks: Fact & Fiction (documentary)|Terrance Dicks: Fact & Fiction]]'' - With a writing career spanning 6 decades, Terrance Dicks is featured in this special documentary that looks at his work for books and television, with contributions from many of his friends and colleagues
*[[Paddy Russell: A Life in Television]] - In this specially shot interview, Paddy looks back over her forty year career in television as an actress, stage manager and director.
* ''[[Paddy Russell: A Life in Television]]'' - In this specially shot interview, [[Paddy Russell|Paddy]] looks back over her forty year career in television as an actress, stage manager and director.
*The Antiques Doctor Who Show - This short film from [[1993]] gives an insightful look into the merchandising of ''[[Doctor Who]]''.
* ''[[The Antique Doctor Who Show]]'' - This short film from 1993 gives an insightful look into the merchandising of ''[[Doctor Who]]''
*Photo Gallery
* Photo Gallery
*Production Subtitles
* Production Subtitles
*Easter Egg - Countdown clock for Part 3. To access, go to the special features menu and press left at the cursor for 'The Antiques Doctor Who Show'.
* [[Easter Egg]]: VT countdown clock for Part 3. To access this hidden feature, press left at ''The Antiques Doctor Who Show'' on the Special Features menu to reveal a hidden ''Doctor Who'' logo.


Notes:
Notes:
* Editing for DVD release completed by [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].  
* Editing for the DVD release was completed by the [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].


<gallery>
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Image:Fang_rock_region2.jpg|DVD Region 2 UK cover
File:Fang_rock_region2.jpg|DVD Region 2 UK cover
File:Horror of Fang Rock DVD Australian cover.png|Region 4 Australian cover
File:Horror of Fang Rock DVD Australian cover.png|Region 4 Australian cover
File:Horror of Fang Rock DVD US cover.jpg|Region 1 US cover
File:Horror of Fang Rock DVD US cover.jpg|Region 1 US cover
Line 168: Line 280:
</gallery>
</gallery>


===VHS releases===
=== VHS releases ===
 
This story was released as ''Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock''.
Released as ''Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock''.


Released:
Released:
* [[UK]] July 1998
* [[US]] March 1999
* [[Australia]] November 1998


*[[UK]] [[July]] [[1998]]
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
*[[US]] [[March]] [[1999]]
*[[Australia]] [[November]] [[1998]]
 
<gallery>
File:Horror of Fang Rock VHS UK cover.jpg|VHS UK cover
File:Horror of Fang Rock VHS UK cover.jpg|VHS UK cover
File:Horror of Fang Rock VHS US cover.jpg|VHS US cover
File:Horror of Fang Rock VHS US cover.jpg|VHS US cover
Line 184: Line 294:
</gallery>
</gallery>


==Novelisation and its audiobook==
=== Audio releases ===
[[Image:Horror of Fang Rock novel.jpg|right|75px]]
* The story was released as a soundtrack CD by BBC Audio in September 2012 with linking narration by [[Louise Jameson]].
: ''Main article: [[Doctor Who and the Horror of Fang Rock]]''
* The story was re-released on Vinyl by Demon Records, also with the Louise Jameson narration, on [[19 February (releases)|19 February]] [[2021 (releases)|2021]].


*Novelised as ''[[Doctor Who and the Horror of Fang Rock]]'' by [[Terrance Dicks]] in [[1978]].
<gallery position="center" captionalign="center" hideaddbutton="true">
Horror_of_Fang_Rock_CD_Soundtrack.jpg|CD release
Horror of Fang Rock Vinyl.jpg|Vinyl Record release
</gallery>


==External links==
== External links ==
*{{bbcepguideclassic|horrorfangrock/|Horror of Fang Rock}}
* {{bbcepguideclassic|horrorfangrock/|Horror of Fang Rock}}
*{{dwrefguide|who_4v.htm|Horror of Fang Rock}}
* {{radiotimes|2010-10-06/horror-of-fang-rock}}
*{{briefhistory|serials/4v.html|Horror of Fang Rock}}
{{dwcast}}
*[http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.asp?857 The Tardis Library: Video release information for '''Horror of Fang Rock''']
{{dwrefguide|who_4v.htm|Horror of Fang Rock}}
* [http://adelaideshrine.tripod.com/id4.html Adelaide: The Annette Woollett Online Center (An Adelaide Lesage fan site)]
* {{briefhistory|serials/4v.html|Horror of Fang Rock}}
* [http://www.timelash.com/tardis/display.asp?857 The Tardis Library: Video release information for '''Horror of Fang Rock''']
* [http://adelaideshrine.tripod.com/id4.html Adelaide: The Annette Woollett Online Centre (An Adelaide Lesage fan site)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1mUk04_ho The Max Headroom incident] archive footage (YouTube) (language and content warning)
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pj1mUk04_ho The Max Headroom incident] archive footage (YouTube) (language and content warning)
{{DWTV}}
{{Rutan stories}}
{{Revised editions of Doctor Who TV stories}}
{{TitleSort}}


{{season 15}}
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{{Wikipedia|Horror_of_Fang_Rock}}
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[[Category:Pseudohistorical serials]]
[[Category:Season 15 stories]]
[[Category:Season 15 stories]]
[[Category:Rutan Host stories]]
[[Category:Four part serials]]
[[Category:Stories set in 1902]]
[[es:Horror of Fang Rock]]
[[he:האימה של פאנג רוק]]
[[ru:Ужас проклятой скалы]]

Latest revision as of 16:49, 12 October 2024

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You may be looking for the reference book of the same name.

Horror of Fang Rock was the first serial of season 15 of Doctor Who. Graham Williams' three-year stint as producer of the series began with this story. It is the only time that the Rutan Host — the oft-mentioned mortal enemies of the Sontarans — have been depicted in a broadcast television story.

Synopsis[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor and Leela arrive at a lighthouse on the island of Fang Rock off the south coast of England, a place of rumour and tales of beasts from the sea. In the minutes before their arrival, a strange light fell from the sky which was followed by an unnatural glow in the ocean, a thick fog has appeared out of nowhere, the lighthouse power flow has become strangely erratic and one of the keepers is dead. Has the fabled Beast of Fang Rock returned?

Plot[[edit] | [edit source]]

Part one[[edit] | [edit source]]

On the island of Fang Rock, home to nothing but a lighthouse, off the south coast of England around the start of the 20th century, a light falls from the sky which is soon followed by a strange glow in the ocean.

Vince, one of the lighthouse keepers, notices this and swiftly informs the head keeper, old and superstitious Reuben though he doesn't see anything, remarking it was probably just a meteor. The third keeper, Ben, arrives and Reuben informs him that Vince has been "seeing stars", leading the pair of them to lightly mock him about it. Vince is left on watch but it still intrigued about the light.

Though Vince's curiosities are well founded as something is watching the lighthouse.

Down in the crew room of the lighthouse, Reuben is remarking to Ben about how much simpler it was back when the lights were powered by oil rather than electricity though Ben remarks that they weren't as safe back then. Vince then informs them that a fog is coming in fast, which Ben finds curious as there was no sign of it previously and goes to see for himself.

The TARDIS then materialises on the island.

Sure enough, the entire island is now smothered in a thick fog. The keepers stare at it in disbelief as they've never known such a thick fog come in so quickly. It is also rather cold; leading Ben to comment it has probably come from Iceland but Vince says it's come from the spot he saw the light hit but Ben dismisses that and tells the young man to start sounding the siren. Though Reuben comments to Ben that Vince may be right as it does seem rather unnatural but Ben still doesn't believe it. Reuben comments that oil lights produced better light in fog but Ben doesn't agree, remarking that electricity is very reliable. At that moment, the light switches off, leading Reuben to remark "Reliable?!" sarcastically while chuckling.

The Doctor's plans to show Brighton to Leela are on hold for now, as yet again the TARDIS has taken its occupants to the wrong time and place. Noticing that the lighthouse isn't functioning properly, the Doctor decides to investigate and to ask for directions.

Ben is inspecting the lighthouse generator when the power comes back on though Vince believes Ben fixed it. As Ben heads back upstairs, he fails to notice the door to the lighthouse opening and a green light appearing outside. Vince changes into his jersey due to the cold weather and Ben remarks that the light came back on it's own which they both find strange, leading Ben to comment that something is going on there that he doesn't understand.

Leela then notices the light is shining so they head towards the lighthouse. She is shocked at the sound of the foghorn so the Doctor explains it to her. He then sets off but she stays where she is, muttering that she can feel something's wrong.

The power then goes again so Ben heads back down to the generator. He then sees the green light which is followed by something advancing on him. He screams in terror though it is unheard due to Vince blasting the siren at that moment. Reuben is starting to become very sceptical of the events that have unfolded thus far as they have happened so quickly. He comments that he can always tell when fog is coming and there were no indications of it that day. Vince decides to go down and see if Ben needs help.

The Doctor and Leela then enter the lighthouse. He notes that the generator is working so wonders what's happening to the power. He decides they should speak to the crew and soon come across Vince. The Doctor quickly claims that they're lost and that their ship is on the other side of the island. Vince then leads them up to the crew room.

The Doctor asks Vince what the trouble is with the power and Vince tells him about the generator cutting out and that it's driving Ben nuts. They ask who Ben is and Vince talks about his two fellow keepers. Having been told by Vince that Reuben is up in the lamp room, the Doctor asks where Ben is but Vince is confused as he knows Ben was in the generator room, assuming that the Doctor and Leela must have seen him. He presumes that Ben must have stepped outside but Leela says that if he had been there she would have heard him. Vince wants to go and look for him but the Doctor says he will, leaving Vince to look after Leela. He is excited to have a lady in the lighthouse but she doesn't notice this. He initially offers her a drink but she remarks she would rather have dry clothes. He says they don't have anything suitable for a lady but she laughs and says she's no lady. She starts to undress so he quickly goes to find her some clothes.

The Doctor inspects the generator room but initially can't find any sign of Ben. Vince comes down and thinks the Doctor has fixed the problem and that Ben will be pleased. The Doctor says that won't be the case because Ben is dead; remarking that he was killed by a massive electric shock. Vince is distraught and goes off to tell Reuben. However, Leela knows the Doctor does not believe Ben was killed by the generator. He quickly inspects the coal hole but finds nothing inside. He remarks that whatever killed him has left no trace and probably has the ability to drain electricity. They then notice that Ben's lantern is completely shattered.

Reuben crosses himself having learned of Ben's death. He is sceptical of the Doctor and Leela from what Vince has told him; wondering if they could be spies. Vince doesn't believe it but Reuben remarks that all these events have happened at the time they arrived. He decides to go down and see them himself.

The Doctor and Leela are in the crew room. He is telling her about the old telegraph machine in the room which the Doctor realises the keepers use to communicate with the mainland but Reuben comes in and tells him to leave it alone. He is rather hostile towards them and the Doctor works out he thinks they're connected to Ben's death.

Leela goes out to hunt for whatever may have killed Ben while Vince is telling the Doctor about the light he saw earlier which the latter finds interesting. While Leela is outside, she notices that all the local fish are dead. Reuben sends Vince downstairs to have his dinner while he stays in the lamp room with the Doctor. As Vince is going down the stairs, he hears a strange electric crackling sound. Leela continues to wander around outside, unaware she is being watched. Vince then discovers that Ben's body has gone and he hurriedly informs Reuben. Leela then comes back inside, making Vince jump with fright. The Doctor then tells Reuben that he's seen a light outside. A horn then starts sounding from out in the fog. Vince and Leela hurry upstairs.

Reuben realises it's a steam yacht going too fast and that it's heading straight for the rocks. He tells Vince to continue sounding the siren. Cries of distress are heard coming from the yacht. Reuben fires flares into the air but the ship soon runs aground upon the rocks......

Part two[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor, Reuben, and Vince run down to see if there are any survivors on the yacht, leaving Leela to sound the siren. While she is waiting for them, she spots something strange moving along the rocks.

There are four survivors of the yacht's wreck: the bo'sun, Harker; an MP, Colonel James Skinsale; the yacht's owner, Lord Palmerdale; and his highly strung secretary, Adelaide Lessage. It slowly emerges that Palmerdale has bought government secrets from Skinsale and was desperate to reach the Stock Exchange in London to make a killing — that was why the ship was travelling at such high speed in the appalling weather. When Harker comes inside he is carrying Ben, or rather, what's left of him. The Doctor speculates that whatever killed him wanted to study his body and therefore learn more about human anatomy.

The Doctor continues to analyse the threat being faced. Reuben believes the Beast of Fang Rock is back, but the Doctor assures Leela there is no such thing. He thinks the light which fell from the sky was a spaceship landing. Aliens unfamiliar with humans are attracted to the lighthouse's electricity. They are keeping themselves out of sight while isolating Fang Rock by creating the fog. The Doctor deduces an attack is imminent.

Reuben goes to stoke the boiler. While he is in the boiler room, Leela feels another cold wave, and the electricity fails again. All is silent in the dark, save for Reuben screaming in the boiler room...

Part three[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Doctor and Leela go outside to investigate. Harker goes down as well and Reuben appears but, behaving very strangely, returns to the bunk room. The Doctor and Leela come back believing that the creature has killed Reuben, but Harker informs them that he's seen Reuben. The Doctor decides they should ask Reuben about the creature as he must have seen it. He then orders Harker to secure the lighthouse door.

The power returns but Palmerdale is getting more anxious about needing to return to London and leaves after arguing with Skinsale. Reuben meanwhile has locked himself in the bunk room and (unseen by the Doctor and Leela) is glowing a strange green colour. In the lamp room, Palmerdale then gives Vince £50 to send a message to London using the telegraph machine, with a further £50 once he returns to the capital (though this bribe is overheard by Skinsale). While they are talking, something is shown to be climbing up the outside of the lighthouse. Palmerdale hears the Doctor coming and hides outside on the lamp gallery. Vince is nervous, as events seem to playing out in the same way as the last time the Beast of Fang Rock appeared, but the Doctor reassures him that they outnumber the beast. While Palmerdale is outside waiting for the Doctor to leave, a strange green light appears from below him and he is killed.

Skinsale continues to voice his doubts about Palmerdale, making Adelaide furious; she goes to speak to the man himself about it. Leela breaks a hole in the bunk room door with a sledgehammer, through which she and the Doctor see that Reuben is standing completely still and can't seem to hear them. As Adelaide comes past them on the stairs, the Doctor promptly orders her to go back down. Vince finds that Palmerdale has disappeared from the lamp gallery, and burns the money the lord gave him.

The Doctor tells Skinsale and Adelaide that the creature they are dealing with is extraterrestrial, which they both dismiss. Vince then tells them that Palmerdale has fallen from the lamp gallery. Upon hearing this news, Adelaide howls in despair but is promptly silenced by a slap from Leela. The Doctor and Skinsale go outside to retrieve his body and Harker secures the door again. The Doctor then discovers that the telegraph machine has been sabotaged, thereby cutting them off from the outside world. Skinsale admits he did it to prevent Palmerdale from sending the message and thereby protect his own reputation.

Down in the boiler room, Reuben corners Harker. Vince tries the siren but finds it won't sound, meaning the boiler pressure has dropped. Adelaide and Skinsale cannot understand why Palmerdale would have fallen but the Doctor tells them that he was killed by an electric current, and therefore dead before he hit the ground. Vince then informs them about the siren and the Doctor realises something has happened to Harker.

They all go down and discover Harker's body. Adelaide and Skinsale then go back upstairs and the Doctor remarks that Harker was killed the same way as the others. They inspect the boiler room and find Reuben's body, which has been hidden. The Doctor says that he's in rigor mortis — he's been dead for hours. Leela is confused, as she knew that Reuben was in his room. The shocked Doctor realises that he has overlooked the chameleon factor, which he says is sometimes called lycanthropy. In securing the lighthouse, the Doctor has locked the creature inside with them...

Part four[[edit] | [edit source]]

The creature, in the guise of Reuben, appears to Vince with a grin, and kills him in a flash of blue light by placing a hand on his head.

The Doctor and Leela discuss the creature as Leela fills the boiler. The Doctor says it has great power, but it needed to study the human life pattern first. He says that "organic restructuring is elementary physiology for Time Lords". Leela misunderstands, believing that if the creature is a Time Lord, then they have no chance to stop it. The Doctor corrects her, saying that what his people consider elementary might take other species thousands of years to master. Leela responds, "Then we have nothing to worry about," because the Doctor, as a Time Lord, should be able to deal with the creature easily. The Doctor seems to be buffered by her blind faith in his people and begins to consider why the creature took the form of Reuben. Leela suggests trying to deceive the creature into thinking its ruse was effective, but the Doctor says it's too dangerous. They then find an alien power relay being used with a distress beacon. He goes to look for the signal modulator but sends Leela to gather the rest of the survivors and bring them to the lamp room.

Adelaide begs Skinsale to stop pacing. They're startled by the appearance of Leela, who tells them that Harker has died, the creature is inside, and they must fight for their lives. To Leela's consternation, Adelaide faints. "Reuben" interrupts the Doctor as he searches someone's bunk; the Doctor evades him by climbing out the window, dangling by his fingertips. Adelaide is revived by Skinsale but doesn't want to go. They get her moving, only to find that "Reuben" has found them. The Doctor laboriously climbs back inside, revealing that he has found a device. "Reuben" kills Adelaide right in front of Leela and Skinsale, and they run for it. The Doctor confronts the alien and it sheds its disguise, revealing a tentacled glowing green gelatinous sphere resembling a giant jellyfish. The Doctor immediately recognises it as a Rutan, who uses plural pronouns to reference itself and declares that it is a scout trained in the "new metamorphosis techniques". The Doctor says it'll get better at them in time. It refuses to tell the Doctor why it is there, but it is angered when the Doctor suggests that the Rutans must be losing their never-ending war with the Sontarans. The Rutan Scout declares that the Rutan Host is instead making "a series of strategic withdrawals", and although the Earth is remote, it has a sound enough strategic position to launch a counterattack. The Doctor is alarmed, as the Sontarans will use photonic bombardment to dislodge the Rutan presence, thereby killing many people. He realises that the Rutan Scout ship crash landed in the sea, and it confirms that it is trying to summon its mother ship. The Doctor reveals that he has deactivated both the primary transmitter and the backup. The Rutan Scout says it was transmitting long enough, and the Doctor says it won't last long before fleeing upstairs to the lamp room.

Leela and Skinsale have made it to the lamp room and start following the Doctor's instructions to break open the maroons (maroon flares) and spread the powder down the stairs. The Doctor rushes in and uses the powder and a fuse to hurt the Rutan Scout, who retreats back down the stairs. He explains that Ruta III is an icy planet (so its inhabitants find heat painful) and asks if they have more gunpowder or, hopefully, a flamethrower.

Skinsale shows him a kind of mortar they brought up from below. The Doctor grabs a flare device, and they stuff it with items from their pockets to create shrapnel. As they do so, he explains that the real threat is the Rutan ship that is on the way.

The three devise a plan, with Leela suggesting that the Doctor change the lighthouse into a laser, but the Doctor needs crystalline carbondiamond — to focus it. Skinsale says that Palmerdale always carried diamonds, and they get to work.

The men make their way downstairs while Leela covers them with the flare. Skinsale retrieves the diamonds from a hidden pouch. The Doctor selects one, then throws the rest on the floor before running back upstairs. Skinsale tries to collect the other diamonds, and so doesn't see the Scout approaching. The Doctor glances back and watches as the Scout kills Skinsale. Leela shoots it with the mortar before gloating over its death. As the Doctor converts the lighthouse into a high-energy laser using the diamond, they watch the mother ship approach. The Doctor warns Leela that once he turns it on, they cannot look back and they will have 117 seconds to get out of the lighthouse. They flee the lighthouse and run for cover as the laser destroys the Rutan mothership. Leela sneaks a look back despite the Doctor's orders not to and is blinded by the flash; she gives her knife to the Doctor and begs to be killed, as amongst the Sevateem that is the fate of the old and crippled. Although he takes the knife, the Doctor laughs as he gets a closer look at her eyes. He explains that the blindness is temporary, but he is surprised to find that the flash has caused pigmentation dispersal in Leela's eyes — in plain English, they've changed colour and are now blue. The Doctor quotes Wilfrid Gibson's poem Flannan Isle as they leave Fang Rock, which echoes eerily on the empty island as the TARDIS fades away:

Aye: though we hunted high and low,
And hunted everywhere,
Of the three men's fate we found no trace
Of any kind in any place,
But a door ajar, and an untouch'd meal,
And an overtoppled chair...

Cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited cast[[edit] | [edit source]]

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Uncredited crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Worldbuilding[[edit] | [edit source]]

Humans[[edit] | [edit source]]

Animals[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Vince Hawkins tells Leela that he talks to seals to combat boredom.

Cultural references from real world[[edit] | [edit source]]

Rutans[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The Rutan is a scout from the Rutan Empire.
  • The Rutan used to control the whole Mutter's Spiral but the Sontarans have driven them to the far fringes of the galaxy.

Technology[[edit] | [edit source]]

Influences[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The story was inspired by Wilfred Gibson's 1912 poem Flannan Isle, which was in turn based upon true events which occurred in 1900, when a supply ship discovered that the lighthouse crew on the Flannan Isles in the Outer Hebrides had vanished without a trace. Terrance Dicks also drew on Ray Bradbury's 1951 short story "The Fog Horn", about an aquatic dinosaur which has survived in the ocean's depths but is attracted by the call of a lighthouse's fog horn.

Story notes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • This story had the working titles The Rocks of Doom (also Rocks of Doom), The Monster of Fang Rock and The Beast of Fang Rock.
  • Horror of Fang Rock was a late replacement for the scripts Terrance Dicks had originally submitted, a vampire-based tale entitled The Vampire Mutations, which was cancelled close to production lest it detract from the BBC's high-profile adaptation of Dracula, due for transmission close to when the serial would have aired. A re-written version of The Vampire Mutations eventually saw production in 1980 as State of Decay.
  • John Abbott recalled that director Paddy Russell cast him as Vince Hawkins after seeing him play Snoopy in a play in the Edinburgh Fringe.
  • Paddy Russell didn't particularly enjoy her experience working on this story, largely because she much preferred Terrance Dicks' original script and didn't think much of the hastily written replacement, but was contractually obligated to still direct the new story. Filming also wasn't a particularly happy experience for her, in part due to constantly clashing with Tom Baker and Louise Jameson, and also because the facilities at the BBC's Birmingham studios (where they had to move production of the story to, due to scheduling conflicts at the BBC Television Centre) weren't up to scratch. This resulted in her deciding not to direct for the show again.
  • In the DVD commentary, Terrance Dicks says he was unhappy about Tom Baker's delivery of the line "Dead, with honour", when telling Leela of Colonel Skinsale's fate. In the episode, Baker says "Dead with honour", with no pause. In his novelisation of the story, Dicks writes the line as "Dead. With honour", to emphasise what he had intended — that Skinsale was dead, but after a moment's thought adding that it was "with honour" (even though it wasn't).
  • The "pigment dispersal" scene at the end of the story when Leela's eyes change from brown to blue was a practical (rather than story) motivated event. It was so Louise Jameson did not have to continue wearing brown contact lenses. This was done to keep her as a member of the cast, as she found wearing the lenses uncomfortable and seriously considered leaving the show. Horror of Fang Rock was actually the second story filmed of the season, after The Invisible Enemy, so when the time came to don the contacts for this story, Jameson's eyes had had a rest for several weeks and she was better able to cope.
  • In the scene where Leela slaps Adelaide to stop her screaming, Louise Jameson did indeed slap Annette Woollett quite hard. Jameson stated in the DVD commentary that Woollett insisted that she not hold anything back when doing the slap.
  • The story's exact year is never made explicit, but a reference to the beast being seen "eighty years ago" in the "twenties" suggests the early 20th century. Lance Parkin's unofficial chronology aHistory dates it to c.1902.
  • According to the DVD commentary by Louise Jameson, a scene in part three was crucial to the behind-the-scenes relationship between her and co-star Tom Baker. In the scene where he comes in carrying Palmerdale's body, he consistently came in ahead of his cue, thereby upstaging her. On the grounds that this move was "not what [they] had rehearsed", she insisted on three successive retakes until he finally came in at the rehearsed time. This apparently won his respect. From that point forward, she claims, their working relationship was much smoother.
  • Though not stated in the televised story, the reason Vince burns Lord Palmerdale's bribe money following his death is because he is concerned that he may be accused of murdering Palmerdale should he be found to have the money. This is clarified by Terrance Dicks in both the novelisation and the DVD commentary.
  • This is the second of two serials in which Leela does not wear either of her famous leather outfits. After this, however, it was decided to return her to her original, more revealing costume introduced in The Face of Evil.
  • This story marks the last time that the Doctor travels with only a single companion until The Caves of Androzani in 1984. However, if the introduction of Nyssa in The Keeper of Traken does not qualify her as a companion, then the next occasion really occurs in that story.
  • This was the final televised story in which every character other than the Doctor and his companion(s) is killed until The Doctor's Wife in 2011. In early drafts of the story, Adelaide and Skinsale survived; however, this was changed to make the story more resonant with the poem Flannan Isle. (INFO: Horror of Fang Rock) Stories in which most of the characters die include Pyramids of Mars (also directed by Paddy Russell), Warriors of the Deep, The Caves of Androzani, The Parting of the Ways and Sleep No More.
  • Although they are referenced in several other stories, particularly those featuring their enemies the Sontarans, this is to date the only televised appearance of the Rutans in Doctor Who.
  • Paddy Russell claimed that Tom Baker so infuriated the crew that they tried to swing a pair of mole cranes at his head, until she saw what they were doing and ordered them to stop. "Tom Baker was easy to deal with at first, but the part went to his head completely. By the time I did Horror of Fang Rock, he was desperately difficult to work with. His input got totally out of hand. His attitude to his fellow actors was extremely difficult, his attitude to his director was extremely difficult, and his attitude to the crew was extremely difficult. For instance, it was always everybody else’s fault, and never Tom’s. His idea was to have that show to himself. He didn’t want an assistant, and he made their lives hell. Louise Jameson went through hell on that show, and that lady is a very good actress. Fortunately, she’s very tough, and she got a lot of support from everyone else. I found her excellent to work with, but Tom hardly spoke to her, and when he did it was usually something nasty".
  • Tom Baker began an on-off relationship with Sue Jerrard, who was working as an editor on this serial. He broke it off to marry Lalla Ward, and then, after divorcing Lalla, rekindled his relationship with Sue and married her. They've been married ever since.
  • In the original script, Colonel Skinsale's wife Veronica appeared. She was ultimately removed.
  • This was the first time that Ron Grainer, the original composer and writer of the Doctor Who Theme Music, was not credited for the "Title Music", even though Delia Derbyshire's theme arrangement was used in this story. This would occur until The King's Demons, and in Warriors of the Deep. The Five Doctors was the first time Ron Grainer was credited for the title music after his death in 1981. He was credited from The Awakening to Survival. He was not credited in the TV Movie but has been credited for the "Original Theme Music" in every episode of the revived series.
  • Frank Middlemass was originally offered the role of Reuben Crockett.
  • Reuben was originally named Jonathan, Vince was originally named Davy, Lord Palmerdale was originally named Peach-Palmer and Herbert Berkin was originally named Harker.
  • Paddy Russell was particularly underwhelmed by the lighthouse setting, as it meant dealing with a lot of curved sets, which were challenging to film. Furthermore, the exterior walls of the lamp room, in which much of the action took place, would be largely comprised of glass windows. Their transparent nature would therefore require extensive use of chroma key, imposing even more limitations on Russell's choice of shots.
  • Louise Jameson felt that the scripts required Leela to behave uncharacteristically on several occasions, reportedly even screaming at one point, and she had to fight to ensure that these issues were addressed. She came to believe that Terrance Dicks had written the serial with Sarah Jane Smith in mind.
  • The Pebble Mill staff were keen to attract more productions away from London, and consequently made an exceptional effort to be as helpful and efficient as possible, even stealing cameras from an adjacent studio to ensure that one sequence could be recorded the way Paddy Russell wanted.
  • Tom Baker and Paddy Russell had clashed while filming Pyramids of Mars. That tension resurfaced during production. Russell found Baker more difficult than usual, while Baker was frustrated that Russell turned a deaf ear to any discussions about enhancing the material. During the recording a scene in the crew room, Baker repeatedly entered too quickly to be kept in shot; Russell finally gave up, and instructed the cameraman to train his lens on Louise Jameson instead.[1]

Updated Special Effects[[edit] | [edit source]]

The new Rutan.

A visual update of the story was created by Chris Thompson for the story's 2024 blu-ray release in The Collection. It notably featured a new design for the Rutan scout which was created with a physical puppet, inspired by elements of the Rutan design from The Gunpowder Plot [+]Loading...["The Gunpowder Plot (video game)"].[1]

The update was covered in DWM 601.

Deviations from original serial[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The fog is updated with new effects.
  • The ship crashing is updated to be more realistic.
  • The Rutan's true form is obscured more in scenes where it climbs the outside of the lighthouse.
  • The effects of the Rutan shifting form are changed such that Reuben Whormby is splits apart from the middle, revealing wriggling tendrils.
  • The Rutan has a new design with an eye, which lets it stands.
The new Rutan ship.
  • The Rutan ship has a new physical appearance which appears prominently at the climax.

Crew[[edit] | [edit source]]

Ratings[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Part one - 6.8 million viewers
  • Part two - 7.1 million viewers
  • Part three - 9.8 million viewers
  • Part four - 9.9 million viewers

Myths[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Louise Jameson breaks character and corpses on camera after delivering Leela's "pep talk" to the Doctor in the boiler room. (She can be seen breaking into a smile and laughing after Tom Baker turns his back, but Jameson says on the DVD commentary that the laughter was scripted.)
  • This story was originally written while Sarah Jane Smith was still a companion but was shelved and then brought back after Terrance Dicks's original script had to be changed. (Dicks confirmed on the DVD commentary that this was an original story and had not been written beforehand.)

Filming locations[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Horror of Fang Rock was the only story of the classic series run to be made entirely outside of London. Due to engineering work at BBC Television Centre — the programme's usual production base — its principal studio location was Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham.

Production errors[[edit] | [edit source]]

If you'd like to talk about narrative problems with this story — like plot holes and things that seem to contradict other stories — please go to this episode's discontinuity discussion.
  • As the Rutan is about to kill Ben, the POV shot makes it seem like the Rutan almost as tall as him when in fact it's barely one foot high in its natural form.
  • Palmerdale's death was filmed in reverse to achieve the right effect. However, he reacts too slowly to the tentacle being pulled off him, which leads to him looking like he is screaming before even being attacked.

Continuity[[edit] | [edit source]]

Max Headroom signal hijacking[[edit] | [edit source]]

Screen capture of "Max Headroom" taken during the hijacked broadcast.
Main article: Wikipedia:Max Headroom signal hijacking.

On 22 November 1987, a rebroadcast of Horror of Fang Rock on PBS affiliate WTTW in Chicago, Ill., was the target of a bizarre prank in which individuals managed to hijack WTTW's broadcast feed and, for nearly 90 seconds, the pranksters aired footage of two individuals, one wearing a Max Headroom mask, spouting gibberish and advertising catchphrases including those at the time associated with Max Headroom and Coca-Cola, and humming music. The two also engaged in mildly risqué behaviour near the end of the tape. The signal intrusion occurred twice that evening: first during highlights from an American Football game on a newscast on the then-independent commercial station WGN-TV, and later during the broadcast of Horror of Fang Rock on public television station WTTW. The first attempt appeared to be partially unsuccessful as those responsible were unable to properly broadcast sound, only managing to provide electronic buzzing and screeches in the signal's audio channels, and were quickly cut off by WGN-TV. The Doctor Who interruption had proper sound, albeit distorted, and ran in its entirety.

The Doctor Who interruption appeared to have been pre-recorded, and was transmitted during the first part of Horror of Fang Rock, just as Vince is offering to get Leela a hot drink. The footage starts with a man disguised as television personality Max Headroom, referring to an unknown individual who the presenter describes as a "frickin' nerd" before mentioning sports personality Chuck Swirsky and laughing. The presenter proceeds to toss a Pepsi Cola can at the camera while saying "Catch the Wave" (referencing the actual Max Headroom, who used the slogan as part of a marketing campaign for Coca-Cola's then-current "New Coke") before raising his middle finger up to the camera (an obscene gesture in the United States, akin to the inverted V-sign in Britain) while wearing a rubber finger atop the former. The presenter then states that "your love is fading," a reference to the 1966 Temptations song "(I Know) I'm Losing You," and removes the rubber finger. He then sings the theme tune to the 1959 American synchro-vox cartoon Clutch Cargo and states, "I can still see the 'X'" midway (a reference to Clutch Cargo's final episode, "Big X"). Groaning, the presenter then moans, "My piles," referring to haemorrhoid pain, and gyrates while making flatulent noises, describing it as "a giant masterpiece for all the greatest world newspaper nerds" (an apparent insult at WGN). He proceeds to don a cloth glove on his left hand (stating that the other one is "dirty" and in his brother's possession) before taking it off in disgust after complaining that there are bloodstains on it. At this point, the tape cuts to another angle where a second individual is visible. The first individual's rear end is visible, yet his face is left off-camera. He holds his mask up to the camera with the rubber finger in its mouth, claiming that "they're coming to get me," before the second individual (dressed as a French maid) commands him to bend over. The second individual repeatedly spanks the first with a flyswatter while the latter pleads to "make it stop." The transmission cuts to black and then Doctor Who resumes at the scene where the Fourth Doctor surmises that Ben had died of electrocution. Representatives for WTTW later admitted that they were powerless to stop the broadcast because the engineers were not on duty at the Sears Tower transmitters.

In the days following, the scene from Horror of Fang Rock that had been interrupted was rebroadcast on local Chicago and national media. The individuals responsible for the illegal hijacking of the two broadcast signals have never been identified or apprehended; it is also a mystery as to whether the Doctor Who broadcast had been targeted specifically, or if the pranksters just happened to choose that moment to begin their hijack.

Home video and audio releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

DVD releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

This story was released as Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock.

Released:

Special Features[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • Commentary by Louise Jameson (Leela), John Abbott (Vince) and Terrance Dicks (Writer)
  • Terrance Dicks: Fact & Fiction - With a writing career spanning 6 decades, Terrance Dicks is featured in this special documentary that looks at his work for books and television, with contributions from many of his friends and colleagues
  • Paddy Russell: A Life in Television - In this specially shot interview, Paddy looks back over her forty year career in television as an actress, stage manager and director.
  • The Antique Doctor Who Show - This short film from 1993 gives an insightful look into the merchandising of Doctor Who
  • Photo Gallery
  • Production Subtitles
  • Easter Egg: VT countdown clock for Part 3. To access this hidden feature, press left at The Antiques Doctor Who Show on the Special Features menu to reveal a hidden Doctor Who logo.

Notes:

VHS releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

This story was released as Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock.

Released:

Audio releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

  • The story was released as a soundtrack CD by BBC Audio in September 2012 with linking narration by Louise Jameson.
  • The story was re-released on Vinyl by Demon Records, also with the Louise Jameson narration, on 19 February 2021.

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]