Last updated 24 March 2024


Part One

Series Episode Number: 444

World Premiere: Sat 29 Jan 1977 - 6:20pm GMT [BBC One] (United Kingdom)
First Broadcast: Tue 27 May 1980 - 5:30pm CDT [WTTW 11 Chicago]
Running Time: 24 minutes 6 seconds

12.10 Million (UK)

Appreciation Index: 62 (UK)

Chart Position: 14 () (UK)

Recorded on Tue 23 Nov 1976 in TC1



The TARDIS takes the Doctor and Leela to a huge sandminer on an alien world. One of the crew is killed and the murderer may not be human.


Production Team hide uncredited
WriterChris Boucher
DirectorMichael E Briant
ProducerPhilip Hinchcliffe
DesignerKenneth Sharp
Script EditorRobert Holmes
Costume DesignerElizabeth Waller
Make-up ArtistAnn Briggs
Film CameramanPeter Chapman
Visual Effects DesignerRichard Conway
Special SoundDick Mills
LightingDuncan Brown
SoundTony Millier
Title SequenceBernard Lodge
Production AssistantPeter Grimwade
Production Unit ManagerChris D'Oyly-John
Incidental MusicDudley Simpson
Title MusicRon Grainer
and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop
Assistant Floor ManagerDavid Tilley (uncredited)
Title Music ArrangerDelia Derbyshire (uncredited)
Technical ManagerRichard Ashman (uncredited)
Vision MixerJoan Duncan (uncredited)
Grams OperatorAndy Stacey (uncredited)
Floor AssistantTony Vanden Ende (uncredited)
Film Operations ManagerIan Brindle (uncredited)
Film SoundJohn Gatland (uncredited)
Film Sound AssistantMorton Hardaker (uncredited)
Electronic EffectsA J Mitchell (uncredited)
Director's AssistantMargaret Lewty (uncredited)
Make-Up AssistantJudith Dalton (uncredited)
Make-Up AssistantAnne Spiers (uncredited)
Make-Up AssistantHeather Squires (uncredited)
Scenic Props BuyerRuth Hyde (uncredited)
Artist BookingNansi Davis (uncredited)
Post Production SoundR. Partridge (uncredited)
Post Production SoundAdrian Bishop-Lagget (uncredited)
Visual Effects AssistantChris Lawson (uncredited)
Visual Effects AssistantTony Harding (uncredited)
Production SecretaryAnn Rickard (uncredited)