The Invasion of Time (TV story)

The Invasion of Time
Doctor:	[[doctor::Fourth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Leela (departure) K-9 Mark I (departure)
Main enemy:	Vardans and Sontarans
Main setting:	Gallifrey
Key crew
Writer:	David Agnew
Director:	Gerald Blake
Producer:	Graham Williams
Release details
Release number:	97
Premiere broadcast:	4th February - 11th March 1978
Format:	6 25-minute Episodes
Production code:	4Z

Synopsis

The Doctor returns to Gallifrey but is arrested after bringing the Vardans to the planet, this breaks out into a bit of a battle until the Sontarans invasion force arrives and attempts to take over Gallifrey.

Plot

The Doctor is acting very strange. He has the TARDIS screen locked, and has Leela banished to a prison. He is actually posing as a madman to stop the Sontarans from invading Gallifrey. Leela choses to remain on Gallifrey, and the Doctor travels alone, sad, but then he smiles as he starts work on a new K9 Robot.

Cast

• The Doctor - Tom Baker
• Leela - Louise Jameson
• Voice of K9 - John Leeson
• Andred - Christopher Tranchell
• Borusa - John Arnatt
• Ablif - Ray Callaghan
• Rodan - Hilary Ryan
• Stor - Derek Deadman
• Sontaran - Stuart Fell
• Vardan - Stan McGowan
• Vardan - Tom Kelly
• Bodyguard - Michael Harley
• Castellan Guard - Eric Danot
• Gold Usher - Charles Morgan
• Guard - Christopher Christou
• Jasko - Michael Mundell
• Kelner - Milton Johns
• Lord Gomer - Dennis Edwards
• Lord Savar - Reginald Jessup
• Nesbin - Max Faulkner
• Presta - Gay Smith

Crew

• Assistant Floor Manager - Terry Winders, Romey Allison
• Costumes - Dee Kelly
• Designer - Barbara Gosnold
• Film Cameraman - Ken Westbury
• Film Editor - Chris Wimble
• Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
• Make-Up - Maureen Winslade
• OB Cameraman - David Goutier, Alan Hayward
• Producer - Graham Williams
• Production Assistant - Colin Dudley
• Production Unit Manager - John Nathan-Turner
• Script Editor - Anthony Read
• Special Sounds - Dick Mills
• Studio Lighting - Mike Jefferies
• Studio Sound - Anthony Philpott
• Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
• Title Music - Ron Grainer
• Visual Effects - Colin Mapson, Richard Conway

References

• While in the Matrix the Doctor learns of the Timewyrm but erases his memory to protect himself from it and leaves a message for his future self.
• The Sash of Rassilon, The Rod of Rassilon, The Great Key, The Coronet of Rassilon are all Artefacts of Rassilon given to a Gallifreyan President when they're elected.
• The Doctor has Rodan and K9 build the De-mat Gun, powered by The Great Key.
• The Capitol is a part of the Citadel.
• Those who live outside the Citadel are The Outsiders.

Story Notes

Leela remains on Gallifrey in the conclusion of this story. Louise Jameson chose to leave the show.

Ratings

• Part 1 - 11.2 million
• Part 2 - 11.4 million
• Part 3 - 9.5 million
• Part 4 - 10.9 million
• Part 5 - 10.3 million
• Part 6 - 9.8 million

Myths

to be added

Location Filming

to be added

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

• There are gaps around the collar of Stor's armour.
• The Doctor forgets his induction, though in later Gallifrey stories such as Arc of Infinity and The Five Doctors, he seems to remember the events very well. (he was faking forgetfullness to get out of it)
• What happens to the Sontarans waiting to invade Gallifrey?
• Why don't the Sontaran ships just come in one at a time? The first one got through alright.
• And why are there only 4 sontarans in a single ship?
• After taking ages wandering round the Tardis, they find their way out rather quickly.
• This serial features one of the more frequently-replayed on-air bloopers when an actor playing a Sontaran stumbles and trips over a chair while running through the swimming pool area.

Continuity

• The Vardans reappear in No Future.
• The Doctor receives his past self's message of the Timewyrm in Timewyrm: Genesys.
• Leela and K9 re-meet the Doctor in Lungbarrow and Zagreus.
• Lord Savar is mentioned in Seeing I and The Infinity Doctors.
• The Doctor is again offered the Presidancy in The Five Doctors.
• Gallifrey is invaded again in The Apocalypse Element.
• The Sontarans return in this story making it their third appearence on TV.

DVD, Video and Other Releases

• DVD release

This story was released on the 5th May. Bonus features:

• • Out of Time: the making of this story.
  • CGI effects: new CGI effects to accompany this story.
  • The elusive David Agnew: a feature on the writer (who is, in fact, a house pseudonym used by several Doctor Who writers)
  • The Rise and fall of Gallifrey: a feature on the planet of the Time Lords.
  • Deleted Scenes: scenes removed from this story.
  • Continuity Compilation: continuity announcements from the BBC.
  • Radio Times billings: artwork and articles for this story from the Radio Times.
  • Photo Gallery: a selection of rare production photos from this story.
  • Coming Soon: a preview of the K-9 Adventures Box set.

• Boxset release

This story was released in the Bred for War DVD boxset on the 5th May alongside all the classic series Sontaran stories. The DVD is the same as the one sold seperately.

Video Releases

Released as Doctor Who: The Invasion of Time

Released:

• UK March 2000 (Double tape set)
• Australia August 2000 (Single tape set)
• US August 2000 (Same as UK edition)

Target Novelisations

Released as Doctor Who and the Invasion of Time

• February 1980

See Also

to be added

External Links

• BBC Episode Guide for The Invasion of Time, with video clips
• Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed sypnosis of The Invasion of Time
• The Invasion of Time entry at A Brief History of Time (Travel)
• Outpost Gallifrey entry for The Invasion of Time
• The Tardis Library: Video release information for The Invasion of Time
• The Tardis Library: Target book release information for The Invasion of Time

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