JJ. The Macra Terror

Season Four (continued) - 1966/1967

Story Editor: Gerry Davis
Writer: Ian Stuart Black
Produced by: Innes Lloyd
Director: John Davies
Designer: Kenneth Sharp
Incidental Music: Dudley Simpson

Synopsis

The TARDIS materialises on a planet where the Earth colony is run more like a holiday camp. The Doctor learns from a man named Medok that at night the colony is being infiltrated.

The Doctor finds that the infiltrators are in fact the Macra who have taken over the human colonists and are using them to mine gas that is necessary for their survival.

The Doctor is imprisoned, and Ben falls under the influence of the Macra. It is left to Jamie and Polly to free the others before they to succumb to the Macra.

Under the guidance of the Doctor, Ben destroys the gas pumping equipment, destroying the Macra and freeing the colonists.

Regular Cast

  • Ben Jackson: Michael Craze
  • Polly Wright: Anneke Wills
  • Jamie McCrimmon: Frazer Hines

Guest Cast

  • Jugles: Wilfred Jones (uncredited)
  • Pilot: Peter Jeffrey
  • Ola: Gertan Klauber
  • Controller: Graham Leaman
  • Macra Operator: Robert Jewell
  • Medok: Terence Lodge (1-3)
  • Control Voice: Denis Goacher (1-3)
  • Broadcast Voice: Richard Beale (1-3)
  • Sunnae: June Enshawe (1,4)
  • Chicki: Sandra Bryant (1)
  • Drum Majorette: Maureen Lane (1,4)
  • Alvis: Anthony Gardner (1)
  • Barney: Graham Armitage (1)
  • Questa: Ian Fairbarn (1)
  • Official: John Harvey (3-4)
  • Guards: (all 4) John Caeser, Steve Emerson, Danny Rae
  • Cheerleaders: (all 4) Ralph Carrigan, Roger Jerome, Terry Wright
Uncredited:
  • Pilot's Secretary: Linda Reynolds
  • Scientist: Paul Philips
  • Girl: Nina Huby
  • Band: Fiona Frazer, Avril Gaynor, Maris Hendrick, Janice Hoy, Jill Paris, Amanda Scott
  • Dancers: Joe Finlay, Maureen Hillman, Sheelah McGrath, Ted Merwood, Judy Nichols, Anthony Rayner
  • Citizens: Bill Beesley, Deryn Fisher, George Gibbs, Edwina King, Leonard Kingston, Maureen Morris, Leslie Pitt
  • Mine Workers: Walter Henry, Maureen Hillman, Leonard Kingston, Sheelah McGrath, Judy Nichols, Anthony Rayner, Tony Starr, Alan Troy

Original broadcast on the BBC

Channel Title Date Viewers Rating
BBC 1 153. Episode 1 Saturday, 11 March 1967 17:50 - 18:15 8.0M 50%
BBC 1 154. Episode 2 Saturday, 18 March 1967 17:50 - 18:15 7.9M 48%
BBC 1 155. Episode 3 Sunday, 26 March 1967 17:50 - 18:15 8.8M 52%
BBC 1 156. Episode 4 Saturday, 1 April 1967 17:50 - 18:15 8.4M 49%

Studios

  • Ealing Television Film Studios
  • Lime Grove Studio D

Outside Locations

  • Brighton Rubbish Tip, East Sussex; Dunstable

Working Titles

The Spidermen

Notes

This story was the first to use a new title sequence, again by an uncredited Bernard Lodge.