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William Hartnell
The Sensorites
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Synopsis


The Sensorites
The Sensorites
 The TARDIS crew arrive on a seemingly deserted spaceship, only to find what appears to be the dead bodies of the ship’s original crew. But the crewmembers are far from dead - instead they are under some form of mental attack that keeps them prisoners in space..:

 The ship is trapped in orbit around the Sense-Sphere, home world of the alien Sensorites. The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan are warned to leave, but before they can do so, the TARDIS is attacked, and its lock is stolen.

 The Sensorites are using their telepathic powers against the human visitors to their world. And the TARDIS crew now find themselves helpless captives of the Sensorites, and their mental powers…

Source: BBC VHS Video


General Information

Season: One
Production Code: G
Story Number: 7
Episode Numbers:31 - 36
Number of Episodes: 6
Percentage of Episodes Held:100%
Production Dates: May - July 1964
Broadcast Started: 20 June 1964
Broadcast Finished: 01 August 1964
Colour Status: B&W
Studio: Ealing Television Film Studios, BBC Television Centre (TC3 and TC4) and Lime Grove (Studio D)
Location: None
Writer:Peter R Newman
Directors:Mervyn Pinfield (Episodes 1-4) and Frank Cox (Episodes 5 & 6)
Producer:Verity Lambert
Associate Producer:Mervyn Pinfield
Story Editor:David Whitaker
Production Assistant:David Conroy
Assistant Floor Managers:Dawn Robertson and Val McCrimmon
Designer:Raymond P Cusick
Costume Designer:Daphne Dare
Make-Up Designers:Jill Summers and Sonia Markham (Episode 6)
Lighting:Peter Murray
Incidental Music:Norman Kay
Special Sounds (SFX Editor):Brian Hodgson
Studio Sounds:Jack Brummitt and Les Wilkins
Title Sequence:Bernard Lodge
Title Music:Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop. Arranged by Delia Derbyshire
Number of Doctors: 1
The Doctor: William Hartnell (The First Doctor)
Number of Companions: 3The Companions: Carole Ann Ford (Susan), Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright) and William Russell (Ian Chesterton) Guest Cast: Peter Glaze (Third Sensorite) Additional Cast: Stephen Dartnell (John), Ilona Rodgers (Carol), Lorne Cossette (Maitland), John Bailey (Commander), Martyn Huntley (First Human), Giles Phibbs (Second Human), Ken Tyllsen (First Sensorite), Joe Greig (Second Sensorite), Arthur Newall (Fourth Sensorite), Eric Francis (First Elder), Bartlett Mullins (Second Elder), Ken Tyllsen (First Scientist), Joe Greig (Second Scientist), Joe Greig (Warrior), Gerry Martin (Anthony Rogers)Setting: The Sense Sphere (28th century) Villain:The Administrator

The Episodes

No. Episodes Broadcast
(UK)
Duration Viewers
(Millions)
In Archive
31Strangers in Space20 June 196424'46"7.916mm telerecording
32The Unwilling Warriors27 June 196424'44"6.916mm telerecording
33Hidden Danger11 July 196424'53"7.416mm telerecording
34A Race Against Death18 July 196424'49"5.516mm telerecording
35Kidnap25 July 196425'47"6.916mm telerecording
36A Desperate Venture01 August 196424'29"6.916mm telerecording

Total Duration 2 Hours 29 Minutes


Audience Appreciation

Average Viewers (Millions) 6.9
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (1998)57.45%  (Position = 133 out of 159)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2009)54.06% Lower (Position = 183 out of 200)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2014)55.25% Higher (Position = 225 out of 241)
Doctor Who Magazine Poll (2023) Position = 27 out of 29


Archives


 All episodes exist as 16mm telerecordings.



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Notes


This story is known for Susan's use of telepathy. Therefore reminding the viewer that she is no ordinary teenage girl but has unusual abilities.

Whether Time Lords in general have telepathy is unclear. At the climax of 1969 story "The War Games", The Doctor displays telepathic (and apparent telekinetic) abilities, sending a message home on this occasion by entering a trance and placing his thoughts into an assembling box, that is then somehow transmitted through time and space. Also in the 1973 Tenth Anniversary Special "The Three Doctors" and the 1983 Twentieth Anniversary Special "The Five Doctors" the different incarnations of The Doctor telepathically communicate with each other - though it was never clarified in these stories whether this was just due to the fact that they were the same person. It has also been revealed that the TARDIS has 'telepathic circuits.

Jacqueline Hill (who plays Barbara Wright) did not appear in episode 4, "A Race Against Death", and episode 5, "Kidnap", as the actress was on holiday during the recording of these two episodes.

Peter Glaze (Third Sensorite) is famous for his involvement with the BBC children's series Crackerjack. However, his familiar face is obscured by his Sensorite mask. He plays the part of the scheming City Administrator.

Stephen Dartnell, who plays John, previously appeared as Yartek in "The Keys of Marinus".

John Bailey, who plays the Commander, returned to the show to play Edward Waterfield in "The Evil of the Daleks" and Sezom in "The Horns of Nimon".

The TARDIS crew are heard to discuss their adventures so far (but miss out "The Edge of Destruction").

In the Doctor Who Confidential episode, "You've Got the Look" (released to accompany "The Impossible Planet/The Satan Pit"), Russell T. Davies said that he wanted the Ood to resemble the Sensorites, and that he likes to think they come from a planet near the Sense Sphere. This was later confirmed in the Tenth Doctor story "Planet of the Ood", in which The Doctor visits the Ood's homeworld (the Ood-Sphere) and mentions that he once visited the Sense-Sphere in the same system.

Susan's experiences in this story carry over into the Big Finish Productions audio story "Transit of Venus".

Susan's description of her home planet as having a burnt orange sky and silver leaved trees is backed up by a similar description of the planet by the Tenth Doctor to Martha Jones in "Gridlock". It also bears similarities to the description given to Grace in the 1996 television movie "Doctor Who: The Movie".

Designer Raymond Cusick used almost all curves in his sets for the Sense Sphere, feeling that this would give a more alien look.

This story was the subject of a studio dispute (concerning production facilities) that nearly led to its cancellation.

Episode 2, "The Unwilling Warriors", was shown 15 minutes later then scheduled due to extra coverage given to the Wimbledon tennis tournament.

The weeks gap between "The Unwilling Warriors" and "Hidden Danger" was due to extra coverage given to the Wimbledon tennis tournament and a cricket test match. This was the only time in the show's history that such a break has occurred mid story.



First and Last

The Firsts:

 The first time that The Doctor’s home planet of Gallifrey is mentioned (though not by name).

 The first Doctor Who story to contain a guest appearance - this being Peter Glaze as the Third Sensorite.

 For the first time there was a weeks break between episodes. This was caused due to extra coverage given to the Wimbledon tennis tournament and a cricket test match.

 The first Doctor Who story to be written by Peter R Newman.

 The first Doctor Who story to be directed by Mervyn Pinfield.

 Sonia Markham's first involvement in the show as Makeup Artist (in episode 6).


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Story Images

Show Text
Susan with the Sensorites
Susan with the Sensorites
The Sensorites and Carol
The Sensorites and Carol
Ian's First Glimpse of a Sensorite
Ian's First Glimpse of a Sensorite
Meeting the Sensorites
Meeting the Sensorites
 
A Sensorite Steals the TARDIS Lock
A Sensorite Steals the TARDIS Lock
Two Sensorites
Two Sensorites
Barbara, Ian and The Doctor
Barbara, Ian and The Doctor
A Defiant Susan
A Defiant Susan
 
The Doctor with Two Sensorites
The Doctor with Two Sensorites
The Doctor
The Doctor
Meeting the Sensorites
Meeting the Sensorites
The Sensorites Communicate with Susan
The Sensorites Communicate with Susan




Quote of the Story


 'It all started out as a mild curiosity in the junkyard and now it's turned out to be quite a great spirit of adventure.'

The Doctor



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Release Information

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)Code NumberCover ArtRemarks
Audio
CD
30 Years at the Radiophonic Workshop1993BBC CD 871Photo-montageSound effects
Audio
CD
Doctor Who at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop Volume One - The Early Years 1963-1969June 2000WMSF 6023-2Music and sound effects
Video
VHS
The SensoritesNovember 2002BBCV 7276Photo-montagePart of "The First Doctor Box Set" (BBCV 7268)
Audio
CD
The SensoritesJuly 2008Photo-montageNarrated by William Russell (Ian Chesterton)
Video
DVD
The SensoritesJanuary 2012BBCDVD 3377
Audio
CD
The SensoritesSeptember 2013Photo-montagePart of the "Doctor Who: The TV Episodes: Collection Six" Box Set Narrated by William Russell (Ian Chesterton)
Audio
LP
The SensoritesJuly 2022Photo-montageLimited Edition LP - Narrated by William Russell (Ian Chesterton)


In Print

FormatTitleRelease Date (UK)PublisherAuthorCover ArtRemarks
Novel
Novel
The SensoritesJuly 1987Target No. 118Nigel RobinsonNick SpenderISBN: 0-426-20295-3
CD
CD
The SensoritesMay 2012Target No. 118Nigel RobinsonNick SpenderAudio version of the Target Novel read by William Russell (Ian Chesterton).
Doctor Who CMS Magazine (An Adventure in Space and Time)Issue 7
Doctor Who WeeklyIssue 9 (Released: December 1979)
Doctor Who Magazine - ArchiveIssue 248 (Released: February 1997)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 282 (Released: September 1999)
Doctor Who Magazine - Time TeamIssue 284 (Released: November 1999)

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Photo Gallery


The Doctor and Companions

 
William Hartnell
The First Doctor

   

Carole Ann Ford
Susan
Jacqueline Hill
Barbara Wright
William Russell
Ian Chesterton
   




On Release

Sound Effects CD Cover
Sound Effects CD Cover

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

BBC
AUDIO
VHS Video Cover
VHS Video Cover

BBC
VIDEO
Soundtrack CD Cover
Soundtrack CD Cover

BBC
AUDIO
   
DVD Cover
DVD Cover

BBC
VIDEO
The TV Episodes: Collection Six CD Cover
The TV Episodes: Collection Six CD Cover

BBC
AUDIO
Original Television Soundtrack LP Cover
Original Television Soundtrack LP Cover

Demon Records
AUDIO



In Print

Target Book Cover
Target Book Cover

Target
NOVEL
 
Target Audio CD Cover
Target Audio CD Cover

BBC
CD
   


Magazines

Doctor Who CMS Magazine (An Adventure in Space and Time): Issue 7
Doctor Who CMS Magazine (An Adventure in Space and Time): Issue 7

CMS
Doctor Who Weekly: Issue 9
Doctor Who Weekly: Issue 9

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Archive: Issue 248
Doctor Who Magazine - Archive: Issue 248

Marvel Comics
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 282
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 282

Marvel Comics
   
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 284
Doctor Who Magazine - Time Team: Issue 284

Marvel Comics


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