 The Android Invasion was penned by Terry Nation, the first non-Dalek story he had written for the show since the 1964 First Doctor story "The Keys of Marinus" during the Season One. This would be his last script for the show for four years until his final contribution, the 1979 story "Destiny of the Daleks".
As with the all the stories from this season this story contains elements that are attributed to classic horror and science fiction films. This particular story was influenced by the films Invasion of the Body Snatchers and The Stepford Wives.
After leaving the show, as Producer, in 1974 Barry Letts was assigned to direct this story. He had been commissioned to write a storyline for Doctor Who entitled "The Prisoner of Time", but nothing came of this. Finally, he secured permission to serve out the remainder of his BBC contract in a directorial capacity, and took the reins of "The Android Invasion".
Nicholas Courtney was originally due appear as The Brigadier, but was not available, so his character was re-written as Colonel Faraday.
Patrick Newell, who plays the part of Colonel Faraday, was better known as ‘Mother’ in the espionage thriller series The Avengers.
This story marks the last appearances of John Levene (as Sergeant Benton) and Ian Marter (as Harry Sullivan) in the show. Both companions last appeared in "Terror of the Zygons". As well as playing themselves, in "The Android Invasion", John Levene and Ian Marter also played their android doubles.
Benton's final appearance on-screen shows him being attacked, then left on the floor as he is replaced by his android double; his fate is not made clear at the end of this story. However, in the 1983 Fifth Doctor story "Mawdryn Undead", it is revealed that Benton eventually left the Army to become a used car salesman. For John Levene, "The Android Invasion" marked the last of a long series of regular appearances as Benton dating back to 1968. John Levene later reprised the role of Benton, in a cameo role in the 1983 Twentieth Anniversary Special "The Five Doctors". He also appeared in the Reeltime Pictures video production "Wartime" - in an adventure that takes place prior to his departure from UNIT.
Harry Sullivan was also mentioned in the 1983 Fifth Doctor story "Mawdryn Undead". It was revealed that he is went to work with NATO to do something ‘hush-hush at Porton Down’. Harry also figured in montage sequences in the 1981 story "Logopolis" and the 1984 Fifth Doctor story "Resurrection of the Daleks". This companion was also mentioned in The Sarah Jane Adventures story "Invasion of the Bane" which also featuring a photograph of Harry.
Ian Marter would continue his acting career. He returned to the show; to write several Doctor Who novelisations for the Target Books range, an original novel featuring Harry and the script for the aborted film "Doctor Who Meets Scratchman", prior to his death in 1986.
UNIT would play a role in one more story, "The Seeds of Doom", and thereafter vanish until the 1989 Seventh Doctor story "Battlefield".
Location filming for the Kraal-replicated village of Devesham took place in East Hagbourne, Oxfordshire, a few miles from Didcot.
Tom Baker was injured during the production as he swallowed too much water during the scene in which The Doctor was submerged in a river to escape from his pursuers; consequently his voice is much huskier than usual during these scenes.
During the recording of this story Director Barry Letts ran out of time to complete certain shots. This included the loss of a key scene from late in the final episode which would have explained how The Doctor reactivated his android duplicate, as well as accounting for the Kraal invasion armada.
Only three Kraals are seen throughout the story. Styggron was played by Martin Friend. Marshal Chedaki, was played by Roy Skelton (more famous for voicing the Daleks). Amusingly, Roy Skelton speaks in the same voice he used for his character in the children's series Rainbow. The silent Kraal underling that appears in one scene was played by the show's long time stuntman Stuart Fell.
This story marks the first appearance of The Doctor's seldom-seen light grey coat, with its black elbow patches. This version of his costume would alternate with others for the next couple of seasons.
Like the Skystriker in the previous season's "Revenge of the Cybermen", Guy Crayford's rocket taking off in part three was actually stock footage from NASA of a Saturn V rocket blasting off.
It is revealed that the planet Oseidon has the highest natural radiation level in the galaxy, but an Earth type atmosphere, gravity etc.
It is revealed that The Doctor likes tea and muffins. He also likes and drinks ginger beer, though Sarah Jane Smith does not.
The Doctor’s Sonic Screwdriver has different settings, usable in different situations. When tied up The Doctor is heard to instruct Sarah to set it to ‘Theta Omega’ to break the material he's bound by.
A novelisation of this story, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in November 1978. This novelisation features an excised scene of Guy Crayford and Grierson detecting the TARDIS arriving at the beginning. The final scene in the woods is missing. The novelisation was later designated number 2 when Target opted to number the first seventy-three novelisations alphabetically. However, no edition using the number was ever released.
| |
|
The Firsts:
The first non-Dalek story to be written by Terry Nation since the 1964 First Doctor story "The Keys of Marinus".
The first appearance of The Doctor's seldom-seen light grey coat, with its black elbow patches.
|
|
(Position = 88 out of 159)
(Position = 123 out of 200)
(Position = 146 out of 241)
