C. The Edge Of Destruction

Season One - 1963/1964

Story Editor: David Whitaker
Writer: David Whitaker
Directors: Richard Martin (1) and Frank Cox (2)
Produced by: Verity Lambert
Designer: Raymond P. Cusick
Incidental Music: Stock

Synopsis

The Doctor, in an attempt to return Ian and Barbara to their own time, experiments with a new combination on the TARDIS console. The result is an explosion, and everyone blacks out. When they recover, Susan and Barbara believe that an alien force was influencing the TARDIS.

The Doctor accuses Ian and Barbara of sabotage, claiming that they were blackmailing him to return them to their own time. Even susan begins to suspect her former teachers.

They all realise that the effects were the TARDIS's defence mechanism warning them of impending disaster, which has also been causing the pshycological disturbances that they had all been experiencing.

The fast return switch that the Doctor had used on leaving Skaro had become jammed, and was leading the TARDIS towards Event One - the release of energy that created the Universe. The problem is a faulty spring, and once replaced the TARDIS begins to operate the same as before, leaving the Doctor with some apologies.

Regular Cast

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

Original broadcast on the BBC

Channel Title Date Viewers Rating
BBC 1 12. The Edge Of Destruction Saturday, 8 February 1964 17:15 - 17:40 10.4M 61%
BBC 1 13. The Brink Of Disaster Saturday, 15 February 1964 17:15 - 17:40 9.9M 60%

Studios

  • Lime Grove Studio D

Bloopers

Part 1: You can see the studio floor in the "white void" outside the TARDIS door in early shots.

Working Titles

Inside The Spaceship

Beyond The Sun

Notes

This story features no guest cast and is set entirely within the TARDIS.