XX. The Seeds Of Death

Season Six - 1968/1969

Script Editor: Terrance Dicks
Writer: Brian Hayles
Produced by: Peter Bryant
Director: Michael Ferguson
Designer: Paul Allen
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises on Earth in the 21st century inside a private space museum. A monitor shows that all travel on the planet is now done using the T-mat system providing instant trans-mat from point to point, including the moon.

The base on the moon appears to be non-functional, but the truth is that it has been invaded by the Ice Warriors. The Doctor, along with Jamie and Zoe, assist a London T-mat station by travelling up to the moon in an antiquated rocket - they are the only people with the necessary experience.

The Doctor finds that the Ice Warriors have taken over the moon base. Using the T-mat system they transport seed pods to Earth. The pods produce a strange foam that is able to suck the oxygen out of the Earth atmosphere.

The only way to disperse the pods is by water. An Ice Warrior transports to a weather station and locks the controls so that rain is not produced. The Doctor is able to rewire the controls and produce rain, dispersing the foam. Using a satellite he is able to draw the Ice Warrior fleet into orbit around the sun. The heat destroys them.

Regular Cast

  • Jamie McCrimmon: Frazer Hines
  • Zoe Heriot: Wendy Padbury

Guest Cast

  • Gia Kelly: Louise Pajo
  • Commander Julian Radnor: Ronald Leigh-Hunt
  • Professor Daniel Eldred: Philip Ray
  • Computer Voice: John Witty
  • Slaar: Alan Bennion
  • Ice Warriors: Sonny Caldinez (2-4), Tony Harwood (2-6), Steve Peters
  • Fewsham: Terry Sculler (1-5)
  • Phipps: Christopher Coll (1-4)
  • Brent: Ric Felgate (1-4)
  • Locke: Martin Cort (1-2)
  • Harry Osgood: Harry Towb (1)
  • Grand Marshall: Graham Leaman (5-6)
  • Sir James Gregson: Hugh Morton (5)
Uncredited:
  • Weather Station Operator: Peter Whitaker (4)
  • Double for the Doctor: Tommy Laird (4)
  • Technicians: Monique Bryant, Derek Chafer, Alan Cuntz, Ernie Claydon, Edward Cogdell, Ron Conrad, Royston Farrell, Pat Gorman, Jimmy Haswell, Eric Kent, Crawford Lyle
  • Guards: John Crease, Fred Clemson, Keith Goodman, Tony Hutchins, Phil Lundgren, Douglas Roe, Peter Roy, Derrick Slater

Original broadcast on the BBC

Channel Title Date Viewers Rating
BBC 1 232. Episode 1 Saturday, 25 January 1969 17:15 - 17:40 6.6M 57%
BBC 1 233. Episode 2 Saturday, 1 February 1969 17:15 - 17:40 6.8M 59%
BBC 1 234. Episode 3 Saturday, 8 February 1969 17:15 - 17:40 7.5M 55%
BBC 1 235. Episode 4 Saturday, 15 February 1969 17:15 - 17:40 7.1M 55%
BBC 1 236. Episode 5 Sunday, 23 February 1969 17:15 - 17:40 7.6M 57%
BBC 1 237. Episode 6 Saturday, 1 March 1969 17:15 - 17:40 7.7M 59%

Studios

  • Ealing Television Film Studios
  • Lime Grove Studio D

Outside Locations

  • Hampstead Heath, London

Working Titles

The Lords Of The Red Planet

Notes

The story title, writer and episode number is brought up over model work of the Earth and Moon which varies from episode to episode.

Patrick Troughton is absent from Episode 4 (a double plays the unconscious Doctor).