Season 12 (1974-75)

Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) remained by the Doctor's side while they are joined by Harry Sullivan (Ian Marter). UNIT, led by the Brigadier (Nicholas Courtney) and Benton (John Levene), would appear in the first serial. In this season they would face the K1 Robot, the Wirrn, a Sontaran, the Daleks, and some Cybermen.

Philip Hinchcliffe took over from Barry Letts as producer, after the recording of Robot. Robert Holmes assumed duties as script editor.

Ron Grainer's theme tune had been re-arranged by Delia Derbyshire in 1970 and this version was used up to the end of Season 17 (1979-80). Bernard Lodge adapted the title sequence he developed in 1970 for the new Doctor, which was also used up to 1980.

1: Robot

2: The Ark In Space

3: The Sontaran Experiment

4: Genesis Of The Daleks

5: Revenge Of The Cybermen

1: Robot

Written by Terrance Dicks in four parts, and first broadcast between December 28, 1974 and January 18, 1975, this serial was directed by Christopher Barry with incidental music by Dudley Simpson.

The newly-regenerated Doctor attempts to thwart the plans of a group of unscrupulous scientists who threaten the Earth's destruction, and plan to use their giant robot to obtain the power they need to blackmail the world into obeying them.

This story features Michael Kilgarriff as the Robot. Nicholas Courtney and John Levine return as the Brigadier and Benton, respectively.

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2: The Ark In Space

Written by Robert Holmes in four parts, and first broadcast between January 25 and February 15, 1975, this serial was directed by Rodney Bennett with incidental music by Dudley Simpson.

The Earth has been devastated by solar flares and the Doctor, Sarah and Harry find survivors in cryogenic suspension aboard the Nerva Beacon space station. Also on board is the insectoid Wirrn who are determined to use Earth as their new breeding ground.

This story features Peter Tuddenham as "Voices on Nerva".

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3: The Sontaran Experiment

Written by Bob Baker & Dave Martin in two parts, and first broadcast between February 22 and March 1, 1975, this serial was directed by Rodney Bennett with incidental music by Dudley Simpson.

Beaming down from the Nerva Beacon, the Doctor and his friends discover Earth is habitable once more. Unfortunately a Sontaran officer is conducting tests on a group of human colonists to determine their ability to withstand a full-scale invasion...

This story features Kevin Lindsay, again in a Sontaran suit, this time playing Styre.

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4: Genesis Of The Daleks

Written by Terry Nation in six parts, and first broadcast in 1975, this serial was directed by David Maloney with incidental music by Dudley Simpson.

A re-edited 85-minute feature version of the story was broadcast on December 27, 1975. The serial was again re-edited as a two-part adventure for the Doctor Who And The Monsters season and broadcast on July 26 and August 2, 1982.

The serial was repeated in 1998 as part of The Take - a series of programmes celebrating the she show's 35th anniversary, presented by SYLVESTER McCOY on BBC Choice. The Take was repeated in 1999.

The Time Lords divert the Doctor, Sarah Jane and Harry to war-torn Skaro, and give the Doctor a mission: to try to ensure the Daleks evolve into less lethally aggressive beings or avert their creation altogether. The Doctor and Harry witness a Dalek demonstration by their creator, Davros, while Sarah is captured by the Thals who destroy the Kaled city with a huge rocket. But Davros has tricked them and the Daleks attack...

This story features Michael Wisher as Davros and Peter Miles as Nyder.

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Part 1

The Time Lords have a mission for the Doctor. He finds himself stranded on Skaro - the planet of the Daleks.

The Time Lords send the Doctor, Sarah and Harry to Skaro at a point in time shortly before the creation of the Daleks. The Doctor's mission is to destroy his greatest enemy.

Broadcast(s)

March 8, 1975 (BBC 1)
January 8, 1993 (BBC 2)
November 22, 1998 (BBC Choice)
February 1, 2000 (BBC One)

Part 2

Sarah, alone on Skaro, faces the horrors of the wastelands. The Doctor, in the hands of the Kaleds, meets an early Dalek.

The Doctor finds that some of Davros's fellow Kaleds are unhappy with the development of the Daleks. Sarah is forced to load a Thal war rocket with radioactive explosives.

Broadcast(s)

March 15, 1975 (BBC 1)
January 15, 1993 (BBC 2)
November 23, 1998 (BBC Choice)
February 8, 2000 (BBC One)

Part 3

A Thal rocket destroys the Kaled dome - but out of the ashes rises a new terrifying threat.

The Doctor informs the Kaled government of Davros's experiments and they move to shut down the bunker. But Davros is one step ahead and prepares to take drastic action.

Broadcast(s)

March 22, 1975 (BBC 1)
January 22, 1993 (BBC 2)
November 24, 1998 (BBC Choice)
February 8, 2000 (BBC One)

Part 4

Davros, creator of the Daleks, turns on his Thal allies. The Doctor is forced to give the Daleks the key to their future supremacy.

When the Kaled dome is destroyed by the Thals' rocket, the war appears to be over and the Thals rejoice at their victory. But then, the Daleks appear and a massacre begins.

Broadcast(s)

March 29, 1975 (BBC 1)
January 29, 1993 (BBC 2)
November 25, 1998 (BBC Choice)
February 15, 2000 (BBC One)

Part 5

The revolution begins against Davros. Can the Doctor finally destroy his hated foes, the Daleks?

With Harry and Sarah his prisoners, Davros interrogates the Doctor, forcing him to reveal the future of the Daleks so that he can learn from their defeats to make them stronger.

Broadcast(s)

April 5, 1975 (BBC 1)
February 5, 1993 (BBC 2)
November 26, 1998 (BBC Choice)
February 22, 2000 (BBC One)

Part 6

Exterminate! Exterminate! The Daleks take over the bunker.

The Kaled scientific elite move to prevent the development of the Daleks while the Doctor prepares to destroy his old enemies forever. But is it already too late?

Broadcast(s)

April 12, 1975 (BBC 1)
February 12, 1993 (BBC 2)
November 27, 1998 (BBC Choice)
February 29, 2000 (BBC One)

5: Revenge Of The Cybermen

Written by Gerry Davis in four parts, and first broadcast in 1975, this serial was directed by Michael Briant with incidental music by Dudley Simpson.

Arriving back on Nerva Beacon, the Doctor and his friends discover the satellite beset by space plague. Sarah falls victim to the plague. With time running out, they and the Nerva Beacon crew are captured by Cybermen who plan to use them in their plan to destroy Voga, the Planet of Gold.

In the cast is Ronald Leigh-Hunt, William Marlowe, Jeremy Wilkin, Kevin Stoney, and David Collings. Michael Wisher is also back, this time playing Magrik.

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Part 1

The Doctor and friends return to the Ark to recover the Tardis, but things have changed. What is behind the space plague?

The Doctor, Sarah and Harry return to Nerva, but at an earlier point in time. The crew are dying and blame a space plague, but the Doctor suspects a survivor may be responsible.

Broadcast(s)

April 19, 1975 (BBC 1)

Part 2

Sarah is infected by the venom from a cybermat. Can the Doctor save her life?

Sarah is the latest victim of the 'space plague'. But the poison can be removed from her body by transmatting her to the surface of the mysterious planetoid, Voga.

Broadcast(s)

April 26, 1975 (BBC 1)

Part 3

The Cybermen plan to destroy the planet of gold - but will the Vogans destroy them first?

The Cybermen who are intent on destroying Voga. The Doctor and two of the Nerva crew become walking bombs which they Cybermen will detonate once they reach their target.

Broadcast(s)

May 3, 1975 (BBC 1)

Part 4

Trapped by the Cybermen aboard Nerva Beacon, the Doctor and Sarah find themselves destined to be part of the biggest explosion in history.

Their plan to blow up Voga thwarted, the Cybermen intend to crash Nerva into it. Vorus is almost ready to launch his rocket at Nerva, but Sarah is still trapped on board.

Broadcast(s)

May 10, 1975 (BBC 1)

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