 This story was originally called "The Mutants", but is more commonly called "The Daleks" (mainly to avoid confusion with the Third Doctor story "The Mutants" - a story also directed by Christopher Barry). To avoid confusion, two titles have emerged as alternatives. "The Dead Planet" came into use after the 1973 Radio Times Tenth Anniversary Doctor Who Special referred to all the early stories by the title of their first episodes. "The Dead Planet" was then used in many licensed guides and magazines up until 1980, when it was displaced by "The Daleks", a title deriving from the story's book and film adaptations. This title has largely stuck, and was used for the script book published by Titan Books in 1989, as well as the VHS and DVD releases. However, some reference guides still refer to this story as "The Mutants".
The title of the final episode, "The Rescue" is not to be confused with the First Doctor story of the same name.
This story was a replacement for another story, "The Hidden Planet", and other stories including "Beyond the Sun" and "The Masters of Luxor" (aka "The Robots").
This story was originally to be designed by Ridley Scott, who later went on to become a very successful Hollywood director (Alien and Blade Runner).
This is the very first story to feature the Daleks - and due to the high ratings helped propel Doctor Who to popularity and quickly established the show as a hit - which it has remained ever since.
The Daleks though are not the first alien creatures to be seen in Doctor Who - The show's first monster is in fact the dead Magneton that the time travellers discover in the petrified forest.
Although many parts of the Dalek mythos were established in this story, several key elements were changed over the years. The most notable change regarded the nature of the war with the Thals and the transformation into the Daleks. In this story, the Daleks mutated as a direct result of the war, and their previous species was called the Dals. In the later "Genesis of the Daleks", their mutation was accelerated by the machinations of Davros, their previous species was the Kaleds, and the mutation marked the end of the war with the Thals.
The Doctor talks about the gulf between Susan's age and his own, and says that he was once a pioneer amongst his own people.
This story was also the only instance in which the Daleks' had a dependence on static electricity from the floors of their city for their motive power. In the next story they appear, "The Dalek Invasion of Earth", they find a way around this restriction by having small satellite-type dishes to receive power transmissions. Their need for static electricity was occasionally referenced in future stories, such as in the Second Doctor story"The Power of the Daleks", and the plot of the Third Doctor story "Death to the Daleks" required an explanation that for basic movement they now utilised telekinesis.
The famous Dalek catchphrase – "Exterminate!" – is first used in episode 4 as The Doctor and his companions escape via a lift. One Dalek is heard to order the other: ‘Make no attempt to capture them, they are to be exterminated, you understand, exterminated’.
The mercury-filled fluid links in the TARDIS console feature again in subsequent stories including "The Wheel in Space", written by "The Daleks" script editor David Whitaker.
The Thals feature again in "Planet of the Daleks" and "Genesis of the Daleks". In "Destiny of the Daleks", they appear to have abandoned Skaro.
The 1965 Amicus Doctor Who film Doctor Who and the Daleks, staring Peter Cushing as Doctor Who, was inspired by this production, with many plot elements being carried over to the film version. The film version starred Roy Castle (as Ian), Jill Curzon (as Barbara) and Roberta Tovey (as Susan).
This was the first Doctor Who story to be adapted as a novel. Written by David Whitaker, the book was first published in November 1964 by Frederick Muller as "Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks". A paperback release by Armada Books followed in 1965. Then in 1973 Target Books published this story under the cover title Doctor Who and the Daleks, although the original title was still given on the inside frontpage. This was story was the very first novelisation published under the Target imprint (these adaptations of the Doctor Who stories would continue for the next 20 years).
The VHS video release of this story in 1989 was BBC Video's first Doctor Who release in episodic format.
In 1999 during a BBC2 themed evening, "Doctor Who Night" a special edit of episode 7 'The Rescue' was broadcast which included 5 minutes of footage from episode 6, not only that but due to a mistake when mastering a short section of episode 7 was omitted. This story was also chosen to be broadcast on BBC Four, as part of a celebration of the life and work of producer Verity Lambert. It was shown in three blocks from 5 April to 9 April 2008.
In March 2005, BBC Audio released an MP3 CD of William Russell reading the complete text of David Whitaker's novelisation of this story. The book was written in the first character of Ian Chesterton. The CD format allowed inclusion of the Arnold Schwartzman line drawings (used in the Muller/Target editions), displayed on a TARDIS-style screen. This was the first time an unabridged reading of a Doctor Who novelisation had been commercially available. In November 2005, BBC Audio rereleased the audiobook on 5 CDs as part of a limited edition "Travels in Time and Space" box set. The tin contained William Russell's unabridged reading of "Doctor Who and the Daleks" alongside first-time releases of the actor reading "Doctor Who and the Zarbi" (based on "The Web Planet") and "Doctor Who and the Crusaders" (based on "The Crusade").
On the 23rd November 2023, for the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who, this story was broadcast on BBC Four as "The Daleks in Colour". The 7 original 25 minute episodes have been colourised and weaved together into a 75 minute single episode story. It stars the original cast, but with new visual effects, new scenes and new music - created by Mark Ayres. This version will be made available on Blu-Ray (a standard release and as a Limited Edition Steelbook) and on DVD in February 2024.
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The Firsts:
The first time the TARDIS lands on an alien planet.
The first appearance of the Daleks.
The first appearance of the Thals.
The first Doctor Who story to be written by Terry Nation.
The first Doctor Who story to be directed by Christopher Barry and Richard Martin.
Raymond P Cusick's first involvement in the show as Designer.
Daphne Dare's first involvement in the show as Costume Designer.
Tristram Cary's first involvement in the show providing the incidental music.
The first Doctor Who story to be converted into a film. This being "Doctor Who and the Daleks".
The first Doctor Who story to have an individual episode watched by more than 10 million viewers. This being the sixth episode.
The first Doctor Who story to be novilised. As: "Doctor Who In An Exciting Adventure With The Daleks".
The first Doctor Who story to be released on a double VHS set.
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(Position = 22 out of 159)
(Position = 37 out of 200)
