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Patrick Troughton
The Web of Fear
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Synopsis


Londoner’s Flee
Londoner’s Flee
 After narrowly avoiding being caught up in a web-like substance on its journey through space, the TARDIS arrives in the tunnels of the London Underground railway system. Only to find that the web is also in the tunnels - as is the Great Intelligences Yeti.

 How has this happened? The team learn that the impending disaster was triggered nearly forty years before, after their previous encounter with the Intelligence. Professor Travers accidentally reactivated a Yeti, thus giving the Intelligence the ammunition it needed to plan another invasion attempt. The aim is simple: the Intelligence wants to drain The Doctor’s mind. Army forces, led by Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, help The Doctor and his team race against time to stop them in their mission. Can they make it?

Source: BBC Audio


General Information

Season: Five
Production Code: QQ
Story Number: 41
Episode Numbers:192 - 197
Number of Episodes: 6
Number of Incomplete/Missing Episodes:1
Percentage of Episodes Held:83%
Production Dates: December 1967 - February 1968
Broadcast Started: 03 February 1968
Broadcast Finished: 09 March 1968
Colour Status: B&W
Studio: Ealing Television Film Studios and Lime Grove (Studio D)
Location: Old Brewer's Yard and Shelton Street (Covent Garden, London) and stills of other famous London landmarks.
Writers:Henry Lincoln and Mervyn Haisman
Director:Douglas Camfield
Producer:Peter Bryant
Story Editor:Derrick Sherwin
Editors:Colin Hobson and Philip Barnikel
Production Assistant:Gareth Gwenlan
Assistant Floor Manager:Roselyn Parker
Designer:David Myerscough-Jones
Costume Designer:Martin Baugh
Make-Up Designer:Sylvia James
Cameramen:Alan Jonas and Jimmy Court
Lighting:Clive Leighton
Visual Effects:Ron Oates
Fights Arranged By:Derek Ware
Incidental Music:From Stock
Special Sounds (SFX Editor):Brian Hodgson
Studio Sounds:Ray Angel
Title Sequence:Bernard Lodge
Title Music:Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Arranged by Delia Derbyshire
Yeti Originally Created By: Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln
Number of Doctors: 1
The Doctor: Patrick Troughton (The Second Doctor)
Number of Companions: 2The Companions: Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon) and Deborah Watling (Victoria Waterfield) Number of Acquaintances: 1The Acquaintance: Nicholas Courtney (Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart) (Joins and Departs) Guest Cast: Jack Watling (Travers) Additional Cast: Tina Packer (Anne Travers), Frederick Schrecker (Julius Silverstein), Rod Beacham (Corporal Lane), Richardson Morgan (Corporal Blake), Ralph Watson (Captain Knight), Jon Rollason (Harold Chorley), Jack Woolgar (Staff Sgt. Arnold), Stephen Whittaker (Craftsman Weams), Bernard G. High (Soldier), John Levene (Yeti), John Lord (Yeti), Gordon Stothard (Yeti), Colin Warman (Yeti), Jeremy King (Yeti), Roger Jacombs (Yeti), Joseph O'Connell (Soldier), Derek Pollitt (Driver Evans)Setting: London Underground (1970s) Villains: The Great Intelligence and Yeti

The Episodes

No. Episodes Broadcast
(UK)
Duration Viewers
(Millions)
In Archive
192Episode 103 February 196824'53"7.216mm telerecording
193Episode 210 February 196824'38"6.816mm telerecording
194Episode 317 February 196824'34"7.0Missing
195Episode 424 February 196824'50"8.416mm telerecording
196Episode 502 March 196824'19"8.016mm telerecording
197Episode 609 March 196824'51"8.316mm telerecording

Total Duration 2 Hours 28 Minutes


Audience Appreciation

Average Viewers (Millions) 7.6
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (1998)84.00%  (Position = 10 out of 159)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2003)656 Points (Position = 19 out of 159)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2009)83.36% Lower (Position = 23 out of 200)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2014)85.50% Higher (Position = 16 out of 241)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2023) Position = 5 out of 21


Archives


 Until 2013 only episode 1 of this story existed as a 16mm telerecording. All the other episodes were thought as being lost except for some New Zealand censor clips, from episodes 2, 4 and 5, which had been recovered. Then in 2013 it was announced that five episodes had been discovered, along with all six episodes of "The Enemy of the World", at a television station in the Nigerian city of Jos. For this story the episodes discovered were episodes one, two, four, five and six. Unfortunately, episode three is still missing. Telesnaps (off-air camera photographs) from this story also exist in the BBC Archives.



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Notes


This story - which marks the return of the Yeti, the Great Intelligence, and Professor Travers (played again by Jack Watling) – is a sequel to the popular story "The Abominable Snowmen" that was shown earlier in the season.

This story follows directly on from the events of "The Enemy of the World". Reference is made to Salamander being sucked out of the TARDIS and The Doctor is seen to have a plaster on his head - later this is removed and a small scar is visible.

Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (aka The Brigadier) makes his first appearance in this story (but with the rank of Colonel) in episode three. Played by Nicholas Courtney (who played a different role, Bret Vyon, in "The Daleks' Master Plan"). Nicholas Courtney was due to play Captain Knight in this story until actor David Langton pulled out). Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart, later to be promoted to Brigadier (in "The Invasion") would go on to be the longest-running non-regular and one of the most memorable characters in the shows' long history.

The part of Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart was originally to be played by David Langton. But when he pulled out before recording Nicholas Courtney (who was originally cast as Captain Knight) was given the part instead.

The Colonel's debut is actually in episode two, when only his boots are seen walking through the tunnels. For this sequence, the part was played by an uncredited Maurice Brooks. Maurice Brooks carried out this role to avoid the BBC having to hire Nicholas Courtney for an extra week. Nicholas Courtney joined the cast in studio on the 27th February 1968.

Anne Travers, Professor Travers’ daughter, also makes an appearance in the Virgin Books' The Missing Adventures novel "Millennial Rites", which also features the Great Intelligence.

John Levene also makes his second appearance as one of the Yeti. John Levene later went on to play regular character Sergeant Benton - one of the regular members of UNIT during the seventies.

Jack Watling, as the older Professor Travers, was achieved with the use of heavy make-up.

Patrick Troughton took a week's holiday during the rehearsals and recording of episode two. Consequently, The Doctor appears only in the reprise from episode one, and The Doctor's first meeting with Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart actually takes place off screen.

The design of the Yeti is significantly different from those in this story's predecessor, "The Abominable Snowmen". The scenes in Julius Silverstein's private museum, in the first episode, marked the only appearance of an original Yeti costume in this story. Once inhabited by the control sphere, this Yeti ‘transformed’ into one of the new-style outfits. The Doctor describes the subsequent Yeti as ‘Mark II’. As well as the change in their appearance the Yeti can now roar, have glowing eyes when attacking, and carry web guns. Several other props were reused from the previous Yeti story. These included control spheres and the model Yeti.

Aiming for the utmost authenticity, Director, Douglas Camfield, hoped to carry out some location filming in the London Underground, specifically the Aldwych platform and the entrance to Covent Garden. The BBC duly wrote to London Transport seeking permission but as London Transport demanded an exorbitant fee, and restricted filming to just a handful of overnight hours, the decision was made to replicate the Underground in the studio using sets designed by David Myerscough-Jones. The Underground sets proved to be so accurate that midway through the story's broadcast the BBC were accused of illegally filming on London Underground property without permission or payment. London Transport were eventually convinced that what they were seeing was in fact David Myerscough-Jones' very convincing sets.

Various tube stations within or on the Circle Line, (including Covent Garden, Charing Cross, Piccadilly Circus, Holborn, Goodge Street, Cannon Street and Monument) were represented in this story.

When talking about 'underground trains', The Doctor says that this is 'a little after your time, I think, Victoria'. However, as Victoria Waterfield comes from 1866 he is wrong as the Underground line between Farringdon Street and Edgeware Road opened in 1863.

In this story the events in "The Abominable Snowmen" are said to have taken place in 1935, which Professor Travers is heard to say was over forty years previously (possible an approximation).

The TARDIS is seen to become trapped in space by the Great Intelligence's web like material - which it seems the Great Intelligence can create anywhere and which has properties which interfere with the TARDIS systems. It is also indicated that the Great Intelligence can observe The Doctor's travels.

"The Web of Fear" is the first hint of the future of Doctor Who in the 1970's.

The stock incidental music accompanying the Yeti attack at Covent Garden in episode four is the same as that previously used as a theme for the Cybermen.

The final few moments of the closing credits of each episode (except for episode six) were displayed over a pulsating web instead of the regular black screen.

A trailer for this story was recorded, featuring the Second Doctor. It included a special warning advising young viewers that they might find "The Web of Fear" scary and suggesting that they watch the programme with their parents. It was broadcast at the conclusion of episode six of the previous story "The Enemy of the World" on the 27th January 1968.

The Seventh Doctor refers to this adventure in "Remembrance of the Daleks", asking his companion Ace if she remembers ‘the Yeti in the Underground’.

This is the last on-screen appearance in Doctor Who for the Yeti - except for a brief appearance in the 1983 Twentieth Anniversary Special "The Five Doctors". The Yeti would also return in the video spin-off story "Downtime".

For a number of years only the first episode of this six part story existed in the BBC Archives. All six episodes had been initially lost in the BBC's stock clearance of the 1970s and so all were reported missing from the BBC Film and Videotape Library following an audit in 1978. However, in 1978 a 16mm film of the first episode was discovered on the floor of a loading bay at BBC Enterprises. Of the remaining episodes all were missing except for some New Zealand censor clips, from episodes two, four and five.

In 2003, episode one of this story, along with episodes one and three of "The Faceless Ones" were the final episodes of Doctor Who to be released on VHS by BBC Worldwide.

Episode one was also shown during BBC Four's "London Underground" season in 2007.

Five episodes, of this six part story, where then discovered, along with all six episodes of "The Enemy of the World", at a television station in the Nigerian city of Jos in 2013. For this story the episodes discovered were episodes one, two, four, five and six. Unfortunately episode three is still missing.

Along with "The Enemy of the World" the newly discovered episodes were promptly released on iTunes, with episode 3 included as a tele-snap reconstruction. A Limited Edition DVD release of this story quickly followed in February 2014.



First and Last

The Firsts:

 The first appearance in Doctor Who of Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart (aka The Brigadier) played by Nicholas Courtney.

 Derrick Sherwin's first involvement in the show as Story Editor.


The Lasts (Subject to Future Stories):

 The last story involving The Yeti - until the Twentieth Anniversary Special "The Five Doctors"

 Episode one was included in the final Doctor Who VHS release by BBC Worldwide.


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Story Images

Show Text
The Yeti Comes Alive
The Yeti Comes Alive
Victoria's New Look
Victoria's New Look
The TARDIS is Attacked
The TARDIS is Attacked
The Doctor and Jamie
The Doctor and Jamie
 
Londoner’s Flee
Londoner’s Flee
Professor Travers and Anne
Professor Travers and Anne
Jamie and Victoria
Jamie and Victoria
Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and The Doctor
Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart and The Doctor
 
Yeti in the Underground
Yeti in the Underground
Yeti on the Streets of London
Yeti on the Streets of London
UNIT Soldiers
UNIT Soldiers
A Yeti Control Sphere
A Yeti Control Sphere
 




Quote of the Story


 'It's more than likely that we won't be able to defeat this menace. And that London, in fact the whole of England, might be completely wiped out'

Professor Travers



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Release Information

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)Code NumberCover ArtRemarks
Video
VHS
The Troughton YearsJune 1991BBCV 4609PhotoIncludes a clip from episode 1 Introduced by Jon Pertwee
Audio
CD
30 Years at the Radiophonic Workshop1993BBC CD 871Photo-montageSound effects
Audio
CD
The Web of FearMarch 2000Photo-montageNarrated by Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon) Triple CD Release
Audio
CD
Doctor Who at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Volume One - The Early Years 1963-1969June 2000WMSF 6023-2Music and sound effects
Audio
MP3
The Abominable Snowmen/The Web of FearMay 2003Photo-montageMP3 format Narrated by Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon) Double release including "The Abominable Snowmen"
Audio
CD
Yeti AttackJuly 2003Photo-montageNarrated by Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon) Audio box set including "The Abominable Snowmen"
Video
VHS
The Reign of Terror Box SetNovember 2003BBCV 7539Photo-montageEpisode 1 only Part of "The Reign of Terror Box Set" (BBCV 7335)
Video
DVD
Doctor Who: Lost in TimeNovember 2004BBCDVD 1353Photo-montageEpisode 1 only Also includes censor clips, recovered in New Zealand, from episodes 2, 4 and 5
Audio
CD
The Web of FearAugust 2012Photo-montagePart of the "Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes: Collection Five 1967 - 1969" Box Set Narrated by Frazer Hines (Jamie McCrimmon)
Audio
CD
The 50th Anniversary CollectionDecember 2013Photo-montageOriginal Television Soundtracks
Video
DVD
The Web of FearFebruary 2014BBCDVD 3867Photo-montageIncludes a reconstucted version of the missing episode 3
Video
DVD
The Web of FearAugust 2021BBCDVD 4459Photo-montageIncludes an animated version of episode 3.
Video
Blu-Ray
The Web of FearAugust 2021BBCBD 0521Photo-montageIncludes an animated version of episode 3.
Video
Blu-Ray
The Web of FearAugust 2021BBCBD 0522Photo-montageLimited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook. Includes an animated version of episode 3.


In Print

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)PublisherAuthorCover ArtRemarks
Novel
Novel
Doctor Who and the Web of FearAugust 1976Target No. 72Terrance DicksChris AchilleosISBN: 0-426-11084-6 (Purple Logo Cover)
Novel
Novel
The Doctor Who Omnibus1977Target No. 72Terrance DicksBook Club Associates edition. Released along with "Doctor Who and the Space War" and "Doctor Who and the Revenge of the Cybermen".
Novel
Novel
Doctor Who and the Web of FearAugust 1978Target No. 72Terrance DicksChris AchilleosISBN: 0-426-11084-6 (Blue Logo Cover)
Novel
Novel
Doctor Who and the Web of Fear1983Target No. 72Terrance DicksAndrew SkilleterNew cover reprint.
ISBN: 0-426-11084-6
Novel
Novel
The Web of FearDecember 1993Target No. 72Terrance DicksAlister PearsonVirgin new cover reprint.
ISBN: 0-426-11084-6
Novel
Novel
Doctor Who and the Web of FearApril 2016Target No. 72Terrance DicksChris AchilleosBBC Reprint. ISBN: 978-1-78594-036-1
CD
CD
The Web of FearAugust 2017Target No. 72Terrance DicksChris AchilleosAudio version of the Target Novel read by David Troughton.
Doctor Who CMS Magazine (An Adventure in Space and Time)Issue 41
Doctor Who Magazine - NostalgiaIssue 115 (Released: August 1986)
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap ArchiveIssue 211 (Released: April 1994)
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap ArchiveIssue 212 (Released: May 1994)
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap ArchiveIssue 213 (Released: June 1994)
Doctor Who Magazine - ArchiveIssue 235 (Released: February 1996)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 305 (Released: June 2001)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 306 (Released: July 2001)
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of FictionIssue 568 (Released: October 2021)
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of FictionIssue 569 (Released: November 2021)
Doctor Who Magazine Special - Archive1984 Winter Special (Released: 1984)
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap ArchiveIssue 18 (Released: March 1994)
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap ArchiveIssue 19 (Released: April 1994)
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap ArchiveIssue 20 (Released: May 1994)

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Photo Gallery


The Doctor and Companions/Acquaintance

 
Patrick Troughton
The Second Doctor

   

Frazer Hines
Jamie McCrimmon
Deborah Watling
Victoria Waterfield
Nicholas Courtney
Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart
   




On Release

Troughton Years VHS Video Cover
Troughton Years VHS Video Cover

BBC
VIDEO
Sound Effects CD Cover
Sound Effects CD Cover

BBC
AUDIO
Soundtrack CD Cover
Soundtrack CD Cover

BBC
AUDIO
Audio - Volume 1: The Early Years
Audio - Volume 1: The Early Years

BBC
AUDIO
   
MP3 Release Cover
MP3 Release Cover

BBC
AUDIO
Yeti Attack CD Cover
Yeti Attack CD Cover

BBC
AUDIO
VHS Video Cover
VHS Video Cover

BBC
VIDEO
Lost In Time DVD Cover
Lost In Time DVD Cover

BBC
VIDEO
   
The Lost TV Episodes: Collection Five CD Cover
The Lost TV Episodes: Collection Five CD Cover

BBC
AUDIO
The 50th Anniversary Collection Cover
The 50th Anniversary Collection Cover

BBC
AUDIO
DVD Cover
DVD Cover

BBC
VIDEO
DVD Animated Version Cover
DVD Animated Version Cover

BBC
VIDEO
   
Blu-Ray Animated Version Cover
Blu-Ray Animated Version Cover

BBC
VIDEO
Limited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook Animated Version Cover
Limited Edition Blu-Ray Steelbook Animated Version Cover

BBC
VIDEO



In Print

Original Target Book Cover (Purple Logo)
Original Target Book Cover (Purple Logo)

Target
NOVEL
Book Club Associates Edition
Book Club Associates Edition

Book Club Associates
NOVEL
Original Target Book Cover (Blue Logo)
Original Target Book Cover (Blue Logo)

Target
NOVEL
Reprinted Target Book Cover
Reprinted Target Book Cover

Target
NOVEL
   
Reprinted Virgin Book Cover
Reprinted Virgin Book Cover

Virgin
NOVEL
Reprinted BBC Book Cover
Reprinted BBC Book Cover

BBC
NOVEL
Target Audio CD Cover
Target Audio CD Cover

BBC
CD



Magazines

Doctor Who CMS Magazine (An Adventure in Space and Time): Issue 41
Doctor Who CMS Magazine (An Adventure in Space and Time): Issue 41

CMS
Doctor Who Magazine - Nostalgia: Issue 115
Doctor Who Magazine - Nostalgia: Issue 115

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap Archive: Issue 211
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap Archive: Issue 211

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap Archive: Issue 212
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap Archive: Issue 212

Marvel Comics
   
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap Archive: Issue 213
Doctor Who Magazine - Telesnap Archive: Issue 213

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Archive: Issue 235
Doctor Who Magazine - Archive: Issue 235

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 305
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 305

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 306
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 306

Marvel Comics
   
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 568
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 568

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 569
Doctor Who Magazine - The Fact of Fiction: Issue 569

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine Special - Archive: 1984 Winter Special
Doctor Who Magazine Special - Archive: 1984 Winter Special

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap Archive: Issue 18
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap Archive: Issue 18

Marvel Comics
   
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap Archive: Issue 19
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap Archive: Issue 19

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap Archive: Issue 20
Doctor Who Classic Comics - Telesnap Archive: Issue 20

Marvel Comics


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