The Ark in Space (TV story)

The Ark in Space
Doctor:	[[doctor::Fourth Doctor]]
Companion(s):	Sarah Jane Smith Harry Sullivan
Main enemy:	The Wirrrn
Main setting:	Nerva Beacon
Key crew
Writer:	Robert Holmes
Director:	Rodney Bennett
Producer:	Philip Hinchcliffe
Release details
Release number:	76
Premiere broadcast:	25th January - 15th February 1975
Format:	4 25-minute episodes
Production code:	4C

Synopsis

Planet Earth has been crippled by solar flares, and Space Station Nerva houses the survivors in suspended animation. However, an infestation of insect-like Wirrn threaten the future of the human race...

Plot

to be added

Cast

• The Doctor - Tom Baker
• Sarah Jane Smith - Elisabeth Sladen
• Harry Sullivan - Ian Marter
• Noah/Lazer — Kenton Moore
• Vira — Wendy Williams
• Rogin — Richardson Morgan
• Lycett — John Gregg
• Libri — Christopher Master
• The Wirrn — Stuart Fell, Nick Hobbs
• High Minister's Voice — Gladys Spencer
• Voices on Nerva — Peter Tuddenham

Crew

• Assistant Floor Manager - Russ Karel
• Costumes - Barbara Kidd
• Designer - Roger Murray-Leach
• Incidental Music - Dudley Simpson
• Make-Up - Sylvia James
• Producer - Philip Hinchcliffe
• Production Assistant - Marion McDougall
• Production Unit Manager - George Gallacio
• Script Editor - Robert Holmes
• Special Sounds - Dick Mills
• Studio Lighting - Nigel Wright
• Studio Sound - John Lloyd
• Theme Arrangement - Delia Derbyshire
• Title Music - Ron Grainer
• Visual Effects - John Friedlander, Tony Oxley

References

• Solar flares are said to have wiped out all life on Earth.
• The Doctor states that his scarf was knitted by Madame Nostradamus.

Story Notes

• The Nerva Beacon sets are reused for Revenge of the Cybermen.
• The whole story bears resemblance to the Ridley Scott film 'Alien' released in 1979.
• It is only mentioned once by Vira but Noah's name is Lazer, Noah being a joke on his role on Nerva.

Ratings

to be added

Myths

to be added

Location Filming

• None; the whole story was recorded in the studio.

Discontinuity, Plot Holes, Errors

• If there are thousands of people on Nerva, why is there only 1 shuttle and a transmat with only 3 pads?

Continuity

• The Ark in Space is part of a set concerning Nerva Beacon without TARDIS travel; beginning in The Ark in Space and continuing through The Sontaran Experiment, Genesis of the Daleks and then ending in Revenge of the Cybermen set back aboard Nerva beacon at an earlier point in time.

• Placebo Effect features the Wirrrn and delves further into their psychology.

DVD, Video and Other Releases

• The Ark in Space was released on DVD in 2002 by BBC Worldwide.

Target Novelisations

• Published by Target as Doctor Who and the Ark in Space by Ian Marter.

External Links

• BBC The Ark in Space page
• A Brief History of Time (Travel): The Ark in Space
• The Doctor Who Reference Guide detailed synopsis of The Ark in Space
• Outpost Gallifrey