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.


Production Team hide uncredited
WriterDouglas Adams
DirectorPennant Roberts
ProducerGraham Williams
DesignerJohn Pusey
Script EditorAnthony Read
Studio LightingMike Jefferies
Studio SoundMike Jones
Costume DesignerL Rowland-Warne
Make-up 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 ManagerTony Bate (uncredited)
Assistant Sound RecordistNorman Johnstone (uncredited)
Assistant Film CameramanBrian Hall (uncredited)
Visual Effects AssistantChris Lawson (uncredited)
Design AssistantPeter Higgins (uncredited)
Make-Up ArtistLinda Burr (uncredited)
Make-Up ArtistMiranda Davidson (uncredited)
Make-Up ArtistSally Millican (uncredited)
Make-Up ArtistCatherine Whitfield (uncredited)