The Space Pirates (TV story): Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox ClassicTV| | {{Infobox ClassicTV| | ||
story name= The Space Pirates| | story name= The Space Pirates| | ||
image= [[ | image= [[File:Spacepirates_title.jpg|250px]]| | ||
series=[[Doctor Who]] - [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]] | | series=[[Doctor Who]] - [[List of Doctor Who television stories|TV Stories]] | | ||
number= [[Season 6]] | | number= [[Season 6]] | | ||
story number= 49| | story number= 49| | ||
doctor=[[Second Doctor]] | | doctor=[[Second Doctor]] | | ||
companions= [[Jamie McCrimmon]]<br/>[[Zoe Heriot]]| | companions= [[Jamie McCrimmon]]<br />[[Zoe Heriot]]| | ||
enemy= [[Caven]]| | enemy= [[Caven]]| | ||
year= <ul><li>[[Space Beacon Alpha 4]]</li><li>[[V Ship]]</li><li>[[LIZ 79]]</li><li>[[Ta]]</li></ul>| | year= <ul><li>[[Space Beacon Alpha 4]]</li><li>[[V Ship]]</li><li>[[LIZ 79]]</li><li>[[Ta]]</li></ul>| | ||
| Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
'''''The Space Pirates''''' was the sixth story in the [[Season 6|sixth season]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the last story made under the reign of producer [[Peter Bryant]], and the first to employ [[John Nathan-Turner]], albeit in a minor and uncredited capacity. | '''''The Space Pirates''''' was the sixth story in the [[Season 6|sixth season]] of ''[[Doctor Who]]''. It was the last story made under the reign of producer [[Peter Bryant]], and the first to employ [[John Nathan-Turner]], albeit in a minor and uncredited capacity. | ||
==Synopsis== | == Synopsis == | ||
The TARDIS materialises in Earth's future on a space beacon just before it is attacked by pirates. The travellers find themselves trapped in a sealed section of the beacon as it is blown apart and flown to where the pirates will plunder it of the precious mineral argonite. They then witness a conflict between the pirates and the Interstellar Space Corps, led by General Hermack and Major Warne. | The TARDIS materialises in Earth's future on a space beacon just before it is attacked by pirates. The travellers find themselves trapped in a sealed section of the beacon as it is blown apart and flown to where the pirates will plunder it of the precious mineral argonite. They then witness a conflict between the pirates and the Interstellar Space Corps, led by General Hermack and Major Warne. | ||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
== Plot == | == Plot == | ||
[[ | [[File:TSP_0-01.jpg|thumb|Dervish (l) and Caven]] | ||
===Episode One=== | === Episode One === | ||
Space beacons on the space lanes are being blown up and plundered for precious argonite by a gang of space pirates led by Caven, and his associate Dervish. The Earth Space Corps cruiser V-41 notices the destruction of the beacon and, with General Hermack and Major Warne in charge, sets out to apprehend the pirates. Another beacon is destroyed despite their best intentions, and the fragments are stolen using rocket propulsion. Hermack deploys troops to all nearby Beacons to prevent another robbery. | Space beacons on the space lanes are being blown up and plundered for precious argonite by a gang of space pirates led by Caven, and his associate Dervish. The Earth Space Corps cruiser V-41 notices the destruction of the beacon and, with General Hermack and Major Warne in charge, sets out to apprehend the pirates. Another beacon is destroyed despite their best intentions, and the fragments are stolen using rocket propulsion. Hermack deploys troops to all nearby Beacons to prevent another robbery. | ||
[[ | [[File:ZoeOverShoulderSP2.jpg|thumb|left|The Doctor considers the dangerous position he, Jamie and Zoe are in onboard a segment of Beacon Alpha Four]] | ||
The TARDIS crew has arrived on Beacon Alpha Four shortly before the pirates reach it. Caven and his men mop up the security force on the Beacon, and the pirates seal the time travellers in part of the Beacon before blowing it to pieces. | The TARDIS crew has arrived on Beacon Alpha Four shortly before the pirates reach it. Caven and his men mop up the security force on the Beacon, and the pirates seal the time travellers in part of the Beacon before blowing it to pieces. | ||
===Episode Two=== | === Episode Two === | ||
Fortunately the beacon falls into discrete, sealed pieces and the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find themselves inside one. The Doctor attempts to use the compartment's magnetics to attract the next segment, but sends their segment hurdling off into space instead. | Fortunately the beacon falls into discrete, sealed pieces and the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find themselves inside one. The Doctor attempts to use the compartment's magnetics to attract the next segment, but sends their segment hurdling off into space instead. | ||
| Line 47: | Line 47: | ||
Meanwhile, Clancey has found the segment with the TARDIS crew and upon entering, shoots Jamie! | Meanwhile, Clancey has found the segment with the TARDIS crew and upon entering, shoots Jamie! | ||
===Episode Three=== | === Episode Three === | ||
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> Clancy has just stunned Jamie: he rescues them from the station segment, deploying copper needles which immobilise Major Warne's ship. Zoe works out where the space pirates went: The planet Ta where Clancy wishes to hide under the nose of Madeline Issigri. Pirate leader Craven orders his subordinate Dervish to route the space station segments to Lobos, where Clancy's headquarters is located, to throw suspicion on him. Once on Ta The Doctor, Jamie & Zoe leave the ship but are chased by pirate guards and end up falling down a chasm.</p> | <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"> Clancy has just stunned Jamie: he rescues them from the station segment, deploying copper needles which immobilise Major Warne's ship. Zoe works out where the space pirates went: The planet Ta where Clancy wishes to hide under the nose of Madeline Issigri. Pirate leader Craven orders his subordinate Dervish to route the space station segments to Lobos, where Clancy's headquarters is located, to throw suspicion on him. Once on Ta The Doctor, Jamie & Zoe leave the ship but are chased by pirate guards and end up falling down a chasm.</p> | ||
===Episode Four=== | === Episode Four === | ||
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Tardis crew find the injured Lt Zorba, seized from station Alpha 4. General Hermack retrieves Major Warne and they pursue a Beta Dart used by the pirates. The Doctor opens the audio lock on the door of the cell they fell into. They find Clancy and escape to Madeline Issigri's office telling her of the pirates on Ta but when Caven enters killing Sorba they realise she's in league with them.</p> | <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Tardis crew find the injured Lt Zorba, seized from station Alpha 4. General Hermack retrieves Major Warne and they pursue a Beta Dart used by the pirates. The Doctor opens the audio lock on the door of the cell they fell into. They find Clancy and escape to Madeline Issigri's office telling her of the pirates on Ta but when Caven enters killing Sorba they realise she's in league with them.</p> | ||
===Episode Five=== | === Episode Five === | ||
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">The Doctor, his friends and Clancy are flung into an old fashioned study by Caven. Inside they find Dom Issigri, Madeline's Father who Caven has been holding prisoner. Caven sabotages Clancy's ship and fits it with a remote control device. Madeline Issigri, finding that Caven intends to kill the prisoners, calls General Hermack for help with dealing with the pirates, but Caven coerces her into keeping quiet when he reveals he has her Father. The Doctor, Clancy & Dom Issigri and Jamie & Zoe escape, but the Doctor is separated from his friends and is caught in the blast as Clancy takes off.</p> | <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">The Doctor, his friends and Clancy are flung into an old fashioned study by Caven. Inside they find Dom Issigri, Madeline's Father who Caven has been holding prisoner. Caven sabotages Clancy's ship and fits it with a remote control device. Madeline Issigri, finding that Caven intends to kill the prisoners, calls General Hermack for help with dealing with the pirates, but Caven coerces her into keeping quiet when he reveals he has her Father. The Doctor, Clancy & Dom Issigri and Jamie & Zoe escape, but the Doctor is separated from his friends and is caught in the blast as Clancy takes off.</p> | ||
===Episode Six=== | === Episode Six === | ||
<p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Jamie & Zoe escape their guards and find the Doctor. Milo Clancy and Dom Issigri are trapped on Clancy's ship which is out of their control and a diminishing oxygen supply. Caven has Dervish booby trap the Issigri base by setting demolition charges in the atomic fuel store before they leave. The Doctor reactivates the Oxygen supply on Clancy's ship and instructs Clancy in how to disconnect the remote control. Reaching a safe distance the pirates send the signal to detonate the explosives but the Doctor has successfully removed the detonator preventing an explosion. Major Warne in a Minnow tracks the pirates Beta Dart and destroys it. Madeline is taken to Earth to stand trial in her part in proceedings while Milo Clancy offers to take the Doctor, Jamie & Zoe to Lobos to retrieve the orbiting space station fragment containing the Tardis.</p> | <p style="margin-bottom: 0cm">Jamie & Zoe escape their guards and find the Doctor. Milo Clancy and Dom Issigri are trapped on Clancy's ship which is out of their control and a diminishing oxygen supply. Caven has Dervish booby trap the Issigri base by setting demolition charges in the atomic fuel store before they leave. The Doctor reactivates the Oxygen supply on Clancy's ship and instructs Clancy in how to disconnect the remote control. Reaching a safe distance the pirates send the signal to detonate the explosives but the Doctor has successfully removed the detonator preventing an explosion. Major Warne in a Minnow tracks the pirates Beta Dart and destroys it. Madeline is taken to Earth to stand trial in her part in proceedings while Milo Clancy offers to take the Doctor, Jamie & Zoe to Lobos to retrieve the orbiting space station fragment containing the Tardis.</p> | ||
==Cast== | == Cast == | ||
*[[Second Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Patrick Troughton]] | * [[Second Doctor|The Doctor]] - [[Patrick Troughton]] | ||
*[[Jamie McCrimmon]] - [[Frazer Hines]] | * [[Jamie McCrimmon]] - [[Frazer Hines]] | ||
*[[Zoe Heriot]] - [[Wendy Padbury]] | * [[Zoe Heriot]] - [[Wendy Padbury]] | ||
*[[Dervish]] - [[Brian Peck]] | * [[Dervish]] - [[Brian Peck]] | ||
*[[Caven]] - [[Dudley Foster]] | * [[Caven]] - [[Dudley Foster]] | ||
*General [[Hermack]] - [[Jack May]] | * General [[Hermack]] - [[Jack May]] | ||
*Major [[Ian Warne]] - [[Donald Gee]] | * Major [[Ian Warne]] - [[Donald Gee]] | ||
*Technician [[Penn]] - [[George Layton]] | * Technician [[Penn]] - [[George Layton]] | ||
*Lt. [[Sorba]] - [[Nik Zaran]] | * Lt. [[Sorba]] - [[Nik Zaran]] | ||
*[[Space Guard]] - [[Anthony Donovan]] | * [[Space Guard]] - [[Anthony Donovan]] | ||
*[[Milo Clancey]] - [[Gordon Gostelow]] | * [[Milo Clancey]] - [[Gordon Gostelow]] | ||
*[[Madeleine Issigri]] - [[Lisa Daniely]] | * [[Madeleine Issigri]] - [[Lisa Daniely]] | ||
*[[Pirate Guard]] - [[Steve Peters]] | * [[Pirate Guard]] - [[Steve Peters]] | ||
*[[Dom Issigri]] - [[Esmond Knight]] | * [[Dom Issigri]] - [[Esmond Knight]] | ||
==Crew== | == Crew == | ||
*[[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Liam Foster]] | * [[Assistant Floor Manager]] - [[Liam Foster]] | ||
*[[Costumes]] - [[Nicholas Bullen]] | * [[Costumes]] - [[Nicholas Bullen]] | ||
*[[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Ian Watson]] | * [[Designer (crew)|Designer]] - [[Ian Watson]] | ||
*[[Film Cameraman]] - [[Peter Hall]] | * [[Film Cameraman]] - [[Peter Hall]] | ||
*[[Film Editor]] - [[Martyn Day]] | * [[Film Editor]] - [[Martyn Day]] | ||
*[[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]] | * [[Incidental Music]] - [[Dudley Simpson]] | ||
*[[Make-Up]] - [[Sylvia James]], [[Sallie Evans]] | * [[Make-Up]] - [[Sylvia James]], [[Sallie Evans]] | ||
*[[Producer]] - [[Peter Bryant]] | * [[Producer]] - [[Peter Bryant]] | ||
*[[Production Assistant]] - [[Snowy Lidiard-White]] | * [[Production Assistant]] - [[Snowy Lidiard-White]] | ||
*[[Script Editor]] - [[Derrick Sherwin]] | * [[Script Editor]] - [[Derrick Sherwin]] | ||
*[[Special Sounds]] - [[Brian Hodgson]] | * [[Special Sounds]] - [[Brian Hodgson]] | ||
*[[Studio Lighting]] - [[Peter Winn]] | * [[Studio Lighting]] - [[Peter Winn]] | ||
*[[Studio Sound]] - [[David Hughes]] | * [[Studio Sound]] - [[David Hughes]] | ||
*[[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]] | * [[Theme Arrangement]] - [[Delia Derbyshire]] | ||
*[[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | * [[Doctor Who theme|Title Music]] - [[Ron Grainer]] | ||
*[[Visual Effects]] - [[John Wood]] | * [[Visual Effects]] - [[John Wood]] | ||
==References== | == References == | ||
*[[Argonite]], a metal, is the most valuable mineral known to man, and is only found on certain planets of the fourth sector of [[Earth]]'s galaxy, including [[Ta]] in the [[Pliny system]]. | * [[Argonite]], a metal, is the most valuable mineral known to man, and is only found on certain planets of the fourth sector of [[Earth]]'s galaxy, including [[Ta]] in the [[Pliny system]]. | ||
*Argonite is practically indestructible, and a [[black market]] exists for it on [[Ruta Magnum]]. | * Argonite is practically indestructible, and a [[black market]] exists for it on [[Ruta Magnum]]. | ||
*The [[Second Doctor]] carried [[Drawing-pin]]s around with him. | * The [[Second Doctor]] carried [[Drawing-pin]]s around with him. | ||
==Story notes== | == Story notes == | ||
*Only Episode 2 of this story survives intact in the BBC archives, though one film clip exists from Episode 1. This is the most recent story from which episodes are still missing (although some [[Jon Pertwee]]-era episodes only exist in black and white, none are technically lost). | * Only Episode 2 of this story survives intact in the BBC archives, though one film clip exists from Episode 1. This is the most recent story from which episodes are still missing (although some [[Jon Pertwee]]-era episodes only exist in black and white, none are technically lost). | ||
*Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury appear only in pre-filmed inserts in Episode Six as they all were away on location for The War Games. This thus became the only sixties episode apart from ''[[Mission to the Unknown]]'' to have none of the regulars present for a studio recording. | * Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury appear only in pre-filmed inserts in Episode Six as they all were away on location for The War Games. This thus became the only sixties episode apart from ''[[Mission to the Unknown]]'' to have none of the regulars present for a studio recording. | ||
*More than a decade before becoming the producer of ''Doctor Who'', [[John Nathan-Turner]] had his first exposure to the series working as a floor assistant during production at Lime Grove Studios. | * More than a decade before becoming the producer of ''Doctor Who'', [[John Nathan-Turner]] had his first exposure to the series working as a floor assistant during production at Lime Grove Studios. | ||
*The story title, episode number, and writer's caption credits for each episode are shown in black against a white background following (except in Episode 1's case) the reprise from the previous episode. | * The story title, episode number, and writer's caption credits for each episode are shown in black against a white background following (except in Episode 1's case) the reprise from the previous episode. | ||
. | . | ||
===Ratings=== | === Ratings === | ||
*Episode 1 - 5.8 million viewers | * Episode 1 - 5.8 million viewers | ||
*Episode 2 - 6.8 million viewers | * Episode 2 - 6.8 million viewers | ||
*Episode 3 - 6.4 million viewers | * Episode 3 - 6.4 million viewers | ||
*Episode 4 - 5.8 million viewers | * Episode 4 - 5.8 million viewers | ||
*Episode 5 - 5.5 million viewers | * Episode 5 - 5.5 million viewers | ||
*Episode 6 - 5.3 million viewers | * Episode 6 - 5.3 million viewers | ||
===Myths=== | === Myths === | ||
''to be added'' | ''to be added'' | ||
===Filming locations=== | === Filming locations === | ||
*[[Lime Grove Studios]], Studio D, Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham | * [[Lime Grove Studios]], Studio D, Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham | ||
*[[BBC Television Centre]], Studio 4, Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham | * [[BBC Television Centre]], Studio 4, Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham | ||
*[[Ealing Studios]], Stage 2, Ealing Green, Ealing | * [[Ealing Studios]], Stage 2, Ealing Green, Ealing | ||
===Production errors=== | === Production errors === | ||
{{discontinuity}} | {{discontinuity}} | ||
*In the cliffhanger to episode three the screams of the Doctor and the others can be heard for ages: in the next episode they've only fallen a few feet. | * In the cliffhanger to episode three the screams of the Doctor and the others can be heard for ages: in the next episode they've only fallen a few feet. | ||
==Continuity== | == Continuity == | ||
*Zoe does not know how candles work. However, in [[DW]]: ''[[The Mind Robber]]'' she recognised them without hesitation. | * Zoe does not know how candles work. However, in [[DW]]: ''[[The Mind Robber]]'' she recognised them without hesitation. | ||
==Timeline== | == Timeline == | ||
*This story occurs after [[CC]]: ''[[The Glorious Revolution]]'' | * This story occurs after [[CC]]: ''[[The Glorious Revolution]]'' | ||
*This story occurs before [[MA]]: ''[[The Menagerie]]'' | * This story occurs before [[MA]]: ''[[The Menagerie]]'' | ||
==Home video and audio releases== | == Home video and audio releases == | ||
*The surviving episode (episode 2) was released on the [[The Troughton Years|Troughton Years]] video. | * The surviving episode (episode 2) was released on the [[The Troughton Years|Troughton Years]] video. | ||
*Episode 2 was reissued on the [[Lost in Time (DVD box set)|Lost in Time]] DVD, together with film footage from Episode 1. | * Episode 2 was reissued on the [[Lost in Time (DVD box set)|Lost in Time]] DVD, together with film footage from Episode 1. | ||
**Editing of surviving episodes DVD release completed by [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].[[File:The_Space_Piratesaudio.jpg|thumb|CD cover]] | ** Editing of surviving episodes DVD release completed by [[Doctor Who Restoration Team]].[[File:The_Space_Piratesaudio.jpg|thumb|CD cover]] | ||
<gallery hideaddbutton="true" captionalign="left"> | <gallery hideaddbutton="true" captionalign="left"> | ||
| Line 142: | Line 142: | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
*This story's soundtrack has been released on audio CD. | * This story's soundtrack has been released on audio CD. | ||
==Novelisation and its audiobook== | == Novelisation and its audiobook == | ||
[[ | [[File:Space Pirates novel.jpg|right|75px]] | ||
: ''Main article: [[The Space Pirates (novelisation)]]'' | : ''Main article: [[The Space Pirates (novelisation)]]'' | ||
*This story was novelised as ''[[The Space Pirates (novelisation)|The Space Pirates]]'' in [[1990]] by [[Terrance Dicks]]. | * This story was novelised as ''[[The Space Pirates (novelisation)|The Space Pirates]]'' in [[1990]] by [[Terrance Dicks]]. | ||
==External links== | == External links == | ||
*{{bbcepguideclassic|spacepirates|The Space Pirates}} | * {{bbcepguideclassic|spacepirates|The Space Pirates}} | ||
*{{dwrefguide|who_2y.htm|The Space Pirates}} | * {{dwrefguide|who_2y.htm|The Space Pirates}} | ||
*{{briefhistory|serials/yy.html|The Space Pirates}} | * {{briefhistory|serials/yy.html|The Space Pirates}} | ||
* [http://www.recons.com/recons/lc05.htm Loose Canon Productions reconstruction page for '''The Space Pirates'''] | * [http://www.recons.com/recons/lc05.htm Loose Canon Productions reconstruction page for '''The Space Pirates'''] | ||
* [http://homepages.bw.edu/~jcurtis/Scripts/Space/intro.html Transcript of '''The Space Pirates'''] | * [http://homepages.bw.edu/~jcurtis/Scripts/Space/intro.html Transcript of '''The Space Pirates'''] | ||
{{DWTV}} | {{DWTV}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Space Pirates}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Space Pirates}} | ||
[[Category:Doctor Who (1963) television stories]] | |||
[[Category:Second Doctor television stories]] | [[Category:Second Doctor television stories]] | ||
[[Category:1969 television stories]] | [[Category:1969 television stories]] | ||
[[Category:Missing episodes]] | [[Category:Missing episodes]] | ||
[[Category:Season 6 stories]] | [[Category:Season 6 stories]] | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 5 November 2011
- Not to be confused with other similarly-titled things.
The Space Pirates was the sixth story in the sixth season of Doctor Who. It was the last story made under the reign of producer Peter Bryant, and the first to employ John Nathan-Turner, albeit in a minor and uncredited capacity.
Synopsis
The TARDIS materialises in Earth's future on a space beacon just before it is attacked by pirates. The travellers find themselves trapped in a sealed section of the beacon as it is blown apart and flown to where the pirates will plunder it of the precious mineral argonite. They then witness a conflict between the pirates and the Interstellar Space Corps, led by General Hermack and Major Warne.
The ISC are convinced that the pirates' mastermind is an innocent yet eccentric space mining pioneer named Milo Clancey, while their true leader is a man named Caven. Caven has a secret base on the planet Ta and is assisted by Madeleine Issigri, daughter of his ex-partner Dom, who - unknown to her - is now his captive.
When Madeleine discovers Caven's full treachery she helps to bring him to justice. The time travellers are given a lift back to the TARDIS by Clancey in his rickety old ship, the LIZ 79.
Plot
File:TSP 0-01.jpg
Dervish (l) and Caven
Episode One
Space beacons on the space lanes are being blown up and plundered for precious argonite by a gang of space pirates led by Caven, and his associate Dervish. The Earth Space Corps cruiser V-41 notices the destruction of the beacon and, with General Hermack and Major Warne in charge, sets out to apprehend the pirates. Another beacon is destroyed despite their best intentions, and the fragments are stolen using rocket propulsion. Hermack deploys troops to all nearby Beacons to prevent another robbery.
The TARDIS crew has arrived on Beacon Alpha Four shortly before the pirates reach it. Caven and his men mop up the security force on the Beacon, and the pirates seal the time travellers in part of the Beacon before blowing it to pieces.
Episode Two
Fortunately the beacon falls into discrete, sealed pieces and the Second Doctor, Jamie and Zoe find themselves inside one. The Doctor attempts to use the compartment's magnetics to attract the next segment, but sends their segment hurdling off into space instead.
The eccentric Milo Clancey, in his aged ship the LIZ-79, is discovered in the vicinity by the V-41 crew. Clancey is brought onboard by General Hermack, questioned, and released (although Major Warne disapproves). Hermack explains that he suspects Clancey and places his spacecraft under observation.
The nearest inhabited world is Ta, dominated by the Issigri Mining Corporation, whose leader is Madeleine Issigri. The firm was founded by her father and Clancey, and the latter is now suspected of Dom Issigri’s murder although nothing has been proved. Hermack visits Ta, believing that Clancey, whom he suspects of being the pirate leader, will end up there in due course.
Meanwhile, Clancey has found the segment with the TARDIS crew and upon entering, shoots Jamie!
Episode Three
Clancy has just stunned Jamie: he rescues them from the station segment, deploying copper needles which immobilise Major Warne's ship. Zoe works out where the space pirates went: The planet Ta where Clancy wishes to hide under the nose of Madeline Issigri. Pirate leader Craven orders his subordinate Dervish to route the space station segments to Lobos, where Clancy's headquarters is located, to throw suspicion on him. Once on Ta The Doctor, Jamie & Zoe leave the ship but are chased by pirate guards and end up falling down a chasm.
Episode Four
The Tardis crew find the injured Lt Zorba, seized from station Alpha 4. General Hermack retrieves Major Warne and they pursue a Beta Dart used by the pirates. The Doctor opens the audio lock on the door of the cell they fell into. They find Clancy and escape to Madeline Issigri's office telling her of the pirates on Ta but when Caven enters killing Sorba they realise she's in league with them.
Episode Five
The Doctor, his friends and Clancy are flung into an old fashioned study by Caven. Inside they find Dom Issigri, Madeline's Father who Caven has been holding prisoner. Caven sabotages Clancy's ship and fits it with a remote control device. Madeline Issigri, finding that Caven intends to kill the prisoners, calls General Hermack for help with dealing with the pirates, but Caven coerces her into keeping quiet when he reveals he has her Father. The Doctor, Clancy & Dom Issigri and Jamie & Zoe escape, but the Doctor is separated from his friends and is caught in the blast as Clancy takes off.
Episode Six
Jamie & Zoe escape their guards and find the Doctor. Milo Clancy and Dom Issigri are trapped on Clancy's ship which is out of their control and a diminishing oxygen supply. Caven has Dervish booby trap the Issigri base by setting demolition charges in the atomic fuel store before they leave. The Doctor reactivates the Oxygen supply on Clancy's ship and instructs Clancy in how to disconnect the remote control. Reaching a safe distance the pirates send the signal to detonate the explosives but the Doctor has successfully removed the detonator preventing an explosion. Major Warne in a Minnow tracks the pirates Beta Dart and destroys it. Madeline is taken to Earth to stand trial in her part in proceedings while Milo Clancy offers to take the Doctor, Jamie & Zoe to Lobos to retrieve the orbiting space station fragment containing the Tardis.
Cast
- The Doctor - Patrick Troughton
- Jamie McCrimmon - Frazer Hines
- Zoe Heriot - Wendy Padbury
- Dervish - Brian Peck
- Caven - Dudley Foster
- General Hermack - Jack May
- Major Ian Warne - Donald Gee
- Technician Penn - George Layton
- Lt. Sorba - Nik Zaran
- Space Guard - Anthony Donovan
- Milo Clancey - Gordon Gostelow
- Madeleine Issigri - Lisa Daniely
- Pirate Guard - Steve Peters
- Dom Issigri - Esmond Knight
Crew
- Assistant Floor Manager - Liam Foster
- Costumes - Nicholas Bullen
- Designer - Ian Watson
- Film Cameraman - Peter Hall
- Film Editor - Martyn Day
- Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
- Make-Up - Sylvia James, Sallie Evans
- Producer - Peter Bryant
- Production Assistant - Snowy Lidiard-White
- Script Editor - Derrick Sherwin
- Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
- Studio Lighting - Peter Winn
- Studio Sound - David Hughes
- Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
- Title Music - Ron Grainer
- Visual Effects - John Wood
References
- Argonite, a metal, is the most valuable mineral known to man, and is only found on certain planets of the fourth sector of Earth's galaxy, including Ta in the Pliny system.
- Argonite is practically indestructible, and a black market exists for it on Ruta Magnum.
- The Second Doctor carried Drawing-pins around with him.
Story notes
- Only Episode 2 of this story survives intact in the BBC archives, though one film clip exists from Episode 1. This is the most recent story from which episodes are still missing (although some Jon Pertwee-era episodes only exist in black and white, none are technically lost).
- Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury appear only in pre-filmed inserts in Episode Six as they all were away on location for The War Games. This thus became the only sixties episode apart from Mission to the Unknown to have none of the regulars present for a studio recording.
- More than a decade before becoming the producer of Doctor Who, John Nathan-Turner had his first exposure to the series working as a floor assistant during production at Lime Grove Studios.
- The story title, episode number, and writer's caption credits for each episode are shown in black against a white background following (except in Episode 1's case) the reprise from the previous episode.
.
Ratings
- Episode 1 - 5.8 million viewers
- Episode 2 - 6.8 million viewers
- Episode 3 - 6.4 million viewers
- Episode 4 - 5.8 million viewers
- Episode 5 - 5.5 million viewers
- Episode 6 - 5.3 million viewers
Myths
to be added
Filming locations
- Lime Grove Studios, Studio D, Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham
- BBC Television Centre, Studio 4, Shepherd's Bush, Hammersmith and Fulham
- Ealing Studios, Stage 2, Ealing Green, Ealing
Production errors
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.
- In the cliffhanger to episode three the screams of the Doctor and the others can be heard for ages: in the next episode they've only fallen a few feet.
Continuity
- Zoe does not know how candles work. However, in DW: The Mind Robber she recognised them without hesitation.
Timeline
- This story occurs after CC: The Glorious Revolution
- This story occurs before MA: The Menagerie
Home video and audio releases
- The surviving episode (episode 2) was released on the Troughton Years video.
- Episode 2 was reissued on the Lost in Time DVD, together with film footage from Episode 1.
- Editing of surviving episodes DVD release completed by Doctor Who Restoration Team.
Lost in Time Region 2
Lost in Time Region 4
Lost in Time Region 1
Lost in Time Region 1 (Disc 3)
- This story's soundtrack has been released on audio CD.
Novelisation and its audiobook
- Main article: The Space Pirates (novelisation)
- This story was novelised as The Space Pirates in 1990 by Terrance Dicks.
External links
- The Space Pirates at the BBC's official site
- The Space Pirates at the Doctor Who Reference Guide
- The Space Pirates at Shannon Sullivan's A Brief History of Time (Travel)
- Loose Canon Productions reconstruction page for The Space Pirates
- Transcript of The Space Pirates
