Last updated 17 August 2023


Part One

Series Episode Number: 484

World Premiere: Sat 30 Sep 1978 - 6:22pm BST [BBC One] (United Kingdom)
First Broadcast: Sun 30 Aug 1981 - 11:00pm CDT [WTTW 11 Chicago]
Running Time: 25 minutes 5 seconds

9.10 Million (UK)

Appreciation Index: 61 (UK)

Chart Position: 30 () (UK)

Recorded on Mon 22 May 1978 in Television Centre 6



The Doctor, Romana and K9 face new dangers searching for the second segment to the Key to Time. What has happened to the planet it is hidden on?

Instead of landing on Calufrax as originally intended, they arrive on a different planet and encounter the Mentiads, and the strange Captain.

Characters hide uncredited
Doctor WhoTom Baker
RomanaMary Tamm
CaptainBruce Purchase
Mr. FibuliAndrew Robertson
BalatonRalph Michael
PralixDavid Sibley
KimusDavid Warwick
MulaPrimi Townsend
CitizenClive Bennett
MentiadBernard Finch
Guard (Pirate Planet)Adam Kurakin
Voice of K-9John Leeson
Technician (Pirate Planet)Franklyn Arbisman (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)Derek Hunt (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)James Muir (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)Clinton Morris (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)Gus Roy (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)John Cannon (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)Malcolm Ross (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)Terence Ward (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)Les Conrad (uncredited)
Technician (Pirate Planet)Douglas Roe (uncredited)
Citizen (Pirate Planet)Julie La Rousse (uncredited)
Citizen (Pirate Planet)Barbara Hampshire (uncredited)
Citizen (Pirate Planet)Annette Peters (uncredited)
Guard (Pirate Planet)Bill Hughes (uncredited)
Guard (Pirate Planet)Barry Hayes (uncredited)
MentiadRay Knight (uncredited)
MentiadBrychan Powell (uncredited)
MentiadColin Thomas (uncredited)
MentiadClive Rogers (uncredited)
MentiadPeter Whitaker (uncredited)
MentiadDerek Southern (uncredited)
MentiadMichael Britton-Jones (uncredited)
MentiadBudd Breoon (uncredited)
MentiadJohn Cadwallader (uncredited)
MentiadJeff Cryer (uncredited)
MentiadJack Sholomire (uncredited)
MentiadEdward Wyman (uncredited)
MentiadBernard Plant (uncredited)
MentiadKenny Kordell (uncredited)
MentiadMichael Kelligan (uncredited)
MentiadDennis Johns (uncredited)
MentiadJohnny Daulton (uncredited)
MentiadStuart McNiel (uncredited)
MentiadRoger Middleton (uncredited)
MentiadRalph Lincoln (uncredited)
Production Teamhide uncredited
WriterDouglas Adams
DirectorPennant Roberts
ProducerGraham Williams
DesignerJohn Pusey
Script EditorAnthony Read
Studio LightingMike Jefferies
Studio SoundMike Jones
Costume DesignerL Rowland-Warne
Makeup ArtistJanis Gould
Visual Effects DesignerColin Mapson
Electronic Effects OperatorDave Chapman
Videotape EditorRod Waldron
Film CameramanElmer Cossey
Film RecordistDoug Mawson
Film EditorJohn Dunstan
Production AssistantMichael Owen Morris
Production Unit ManagerJohn Nathan-Turner
Incidental MusicDudley Simpson
Special SoundDick Mills
Assistant Floor ManagerRuth Mayorcas (uncredited)
Title Music ArrangerDelia Derbyshire (uncredited)
Title MusicRon Grainer (uncredited)
Title SequenceBernard Lodge (uncredited)
Vision MixerSue Thorne (uncredited)
Senior CameramanSpencer Payne (uncredited)
Grams OperatorIan Tomlin (uncredited)
Floor AssistantPeter Leslie (uncredited)
Director's AssistantHazel Marriot (uncredited)
Film Operations ManagerIan Brindle (uncredited)
Title Music BBC Radiophonic Workshop (uncredited)
K9 OperatorNigel Brackley (uncredited)
Technical Manager (TM2)Tony Bate (uncredited)
Assistant Sound RecordistNorman Johnstone (uncredited)
Assistant Film CameramanBrian Hall (uncredited)
Visual Effects AssistantChris Lawson (uncredited)
Design AssistantPeter Higgins (uncredited)
Makeup ArtistLinda Burr (uncredited)
Makeup ArtistMiranda Davidson (uncredited)
Makeup ArtistSally Millican (uncredited)
Makeup ArtistCatherine Whitfield (uncredited)