Last updated 09 January 2020


The Cave of Skulls

Series Episode Number: 2

World Premiere: Sat 30 Nov 1963 - 5:29pm GMT [BBC One] (United Kingdom)
First Broadcast: Mon 4 Aug 2014 - 8:30pm EDT [Retro TV]
Running Time: 24 minutes 37 seconds

5.90 Million (UK)

Appreciation Index: 59 (UK)

Chart Position: 85 () (UK)

Recorded on Fri 25 Oct 1963 in Lime Grove D
Archive State: 16mm t/r
BBC Genome Project: see entry



Ian and Barbara are aboard the TARDIS uninvited. The Doctor ignores Susan's pleas to let them go. The TARDIS takes off and travels back to Stone Age times, where the crew make the mistake of venturing outside.

Characters hide uncredited
Dr. WhoWilliam Hartnell
Ian ChestertonWilliam Russell
Barbara WrightJacqueline Hill
Susan ForemanCarole Ann Ford
ZaDerek Newark
HurAlethea Charlton
Old MotherEileen Way
KalJeremy Young
HorgHoward Lang
KalLeslie Bates (uncredited)Info
TribeswomanJean Denyer (uncredited)
TribeswomanBrenda Proctor (uncredited)
TribeswomanElizabeth Body (uncredited)
TribeswomanVeronica Dyson (uncredited)
TribeswomanDiane Gay (uncredited)
TribeswomanDoreen Ubels (uncredited)
TribeswomanLyn Turner (uncredited)
TribesmanFrank Wheatley (uncredited)
TribesmanAl Davis (uncredited)
TribesmanBillie Davis (uncredited)
TribesmanRoy Denton (uncredited)
TribesmanBill Nicholas (uncredited)
TribesmanLeslie Bates (uncredited)
TribesmanBob Haddow (uncredited)
ChildAntonia Moss (uncredited)Info
ChildJulie Moss (uncredited)Info
ChildTrevor Thomas (uncredited)Info
ChildDavid Rosen (uncredited)Info
Production Teamhide uncredited
WriterAnthony Coburn
DirectorWaris Hussein
ProducerVerity Lambert
Associate ProducerMervyn Pinfield
DesignerBarry Newbery
Story EditorDavid Whitaker
Incidental MusicNorman Kay
Title MusicRon Grainer
with the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Special Effects Visual Effects Department of the BBC
Vision MixerClive Doig (uncredited)
Costume SupervisorMaureen Heneghan (uncredited)
Makeup SupervisorElizabeth Blattner (uncredited)
LightingGeoff Shaw (uncredited)
Studio SoundJack Clayton (uncredited)
Assistant Floor ManagerCatherine Childs (uncredited)
Film CameramanRobert Sleigh (uncredited)
Production AssistantTony Lightley (uncredited)
Special SoundBrian Hodgson (uncredited)
Film EditorJohn House (uncredited)
Title SequenceBernard Lodge (uncredited)
Title Music ArrangerDelia Derbyshire (uncredited)
SecretaryMargaret Allen (uncredited)
Grams OperatorAdrian Bishop-Lagget (uncredited)
Floor AssistantRobert Fort (uncredited)
Makeup (Assistant)Beryl Sanderson (uncredited)
Boom OperatorPeter Fletcher (confirmed)
Director's AssistantPeggy Lupton (uncredited)
Producer's SecretaryValerie Speyer (uncredited)