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Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet
The Cybermen make their first ever appearance whilst William Hartnell's Doctor nears the end of his first incarnation in this classic soundtrack adventure with linking narration by Anneke Wills.
'Millions of years ago there was a twin planet to Earth...'
The year is 1986, and at the South Pole the crew of the Snowcap Base have detected a new planet on their radar. The arrival of the Doctor, Ben and Polly at the Base coincides with another landing — that of a spaceship whose humanoid passengers have used cybernetics to replace their limbs and vital organs.
The new arrival in the solar system is in fact a tenth planet, and Earth's twin. Its return has brought with it the emotionless Cybermen, their sole aim to ensure the survival of their race. To this end they plan to drain Earth's energy into the dying Mondas, whilst using the human population as fodder for a continuing programme of cyber-conversion.
Battling alongside the humans to save their planet, the Doctor appears to weaken and age before the eyes of his companions. An ultimate collapse appears to signal his death — but then...
In an exclusive bonus interview, Anneke Wills — who also narrates the story's soundtrack — recalls her memories of making The Tenth Planet.
'Millions of years ago there was a twin planet to Earth...'
The year is 1986, and at the South Pole the crew of the Snowcap Base have detected a new planet on their radar. The arrival of the Doctor, Ben and Polly at the Base coincides with another landing — that of a spaceship whose humanoid passengers have used cybernetics to replace their limbs and vital organs.
The new arrival in the solar system is in fact a tenth planet, and Earth's twin. Its return has brought with it the emotionless Cybermen, their sole aim to ensure the survival of their race. To this end they plan to drain Earth's energy into the dying Mondas, whilst using the human population as fodder for a continuing programme of cyber-conversion.
Battling alongside the humans to save their planet, the Doctor appears to weaken and age before the eyes of his companions. An ultimate collapse appears to signal his death — but then...
In an exclusive bonus interview, Anneke Wills — who also narrates the story's soundtrack — recalls her memories of making The Tenth Planet.
2 pages, Audio CD
31 people want to read
About the author
Kit Pedler
29 books6 followersChristopher Magnus Howard "Kit" Pedler was a British medical scientist, science fiction author and writer on science in general.
He was the head of the electron microscopy department at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University of London, where he published a number of papers. Pedler's first television contribution was for the BBC programme Tomorrow's World.
In the mid-1960s, Pedler became the unofficial scientific adviser to the Doctor Who production team. Hired by Innes Lloyd to inject more hard science into the stories, Pedler formed a particular writing partnership with Gerry Davis, the programme's story editor. Their interest in the problems of science changing and endangering human life led them to create the Cybermen.
Pedler wrote three scripts for Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet, The Moonbase and The Tomb of the Cybermen. He also submitted the story outlines that became The War Machines, The Wheel in Space and The Invasion.
Pedler and Davis devised and co-wrote Doomwatch, a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme which ran on BBC One for three seasons from 1970 to 1972 (37 50-minute episodes plus one unshown) covered a government department that worked to combat technological and environmental disasters. Pedler and Davis contributed to only the first two series.
Pedler and Davis re-used the plot of the first episode of the series, The Plastic Eaters, for their 1971 novel Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters.
His non-fiction book The Quest for Gaia gave practical advice on creating an ecologically sustainable lifestyle, using James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis.
He died of a heart attack at his home in Doddington, Kent, while completing production of Mind Over Matter, a series for Thames Television on the paranormal that he presented with Tony Bastable.
Pedler is buried at All Saints' Church in the Kent village of Graveney, where he lived before moving to nearby Doddington.
His daughter is novelist Carol Topolski
He was the head of the electron microscopy department at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University of London, where he published a number of papers. Pedler's first television contribution was for the BBC programme Tomorrow's World.
In the mid-1960s, Pedler became the unofficial scientific adviser to the Doctor Who production team. Hired by Innes Lloyd to inject more hard science into the stories, Pedler formed a particular writing partnership with Gerry Davis, the programme's story editor. Their interest in the problems of science changing and endangering human life led them to create the Cybermen.
Pedler wrote three scripts for Doctor Who: The Tenth Planet, The Moonbase and The Tomb of the Cybermen. He also submitted the story outlines that became The War Machines, The Wheel in Space and The Invasion.
Pedler and Davis devised and co-wrote Doomwatch, a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme which ran on BBC One for three seasons from 1970 to 1972 (37 50-minute episodes plus one unshown) covered a government department that worked to combat technological and environmental disasters. Pedler and Davis contributed to only the first two series.
Pedler and Davis re-used the plot of the first episode of the series, The Plastic Eaters, for their 1971 novel Mutant 59: The Plastic Eaters.
His non-fiction book The Quest for Gaia gave practical advice on creating an ecologically sustainable lifestyle, using James Lovelock's Gaia hypothesis.
He died of a heart attack at his home in Doddington, Kent, while completing production of Mind Over Matter, a series for Thames Television on the paranormal that he presented with Tony Bastable.
Pedler is buried at All Saints' Church in the Kent village of Graveney, where he lived before moving to nearby Doddington.
His daughter is novelist Carol Topolski
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 31, 2024
It is a shame that this story is part of the lost episodes of the Classic Doctor Who. This story has the first appearance of the Cyber men and the First Regeneration of the Doctor.
I really like the interview that was at the end of the book with the actress that played Polly talked about how William Hartnell's health was failing so he didn't play too large a role in the show and it also meant that Polly and Ben were able to deliver more lines then they probably would have otherwise.
The story ends with the first doctor regeneration. I am interested to see how the story continues from here. Unfortantly almost all of Season 4 of Doctor Who is missing so the only way to get the stories is to read them in books.
I really like the interview that was at the end of the book with the actress that played Polly talked about how William Hartnell's health was failing so he didn't play too large a role in the show and it also meant that Polly and Ben were able to deliver more lines then they probably would have otherwise.
The story ends with the first doctor regeneration. I am interested to see how the story continues from here. Unfortantly almost all of Season 4 of Doctor Who is missing so the only way to get the stories is to read them in books.
October 11, 2024
I am rolling through these soundtracks/audiobook/audio-dramas of Classic Doctor Who. For fans of the classic show, these radio shows can't be missed.
They're not perfect, but if you're a Classic Doctor Who fan like me, you probably weren't looking for perfection anyway.
They're not perfect, but if you're a Classic Doctor Who fan like me, you probably weren't looking for perfection anyway.
February 7, 2019
Audio from Hartnell’s last adventure as the Doctor with narration by Anneke Wills, who played companion Polly in the episode. There is a nice interview with Wills as well.
May 20, 2016
This was an oddity and no mistake. It had most of the usual flaws of a First Doctor audio, with a cor blimey male companion as well as the usual oh gosh female. But William Hartnell's Doctor is influenced here by the real man's state of health and it is remarkable for a regeneration... the first, genius, one... to be available.
I confess that was was genuinely worried about the appearance of the Cybermen who have always given me the willies. My son assured me these were not the scary ones and whilst I knew from clips there are some downright silly versions from the early days, I wasn't convinced such a thing existed. But the voices were soooooooo bad it was almost funny, and no, not at all scary.
The plot itself rattled along at a better pace than is often the case for early stories and had some interesting features to it, along with a father and son who seemed straight out of Thunderbirds.
I confess that was was genuinely worried about the appearance of the Cybermen who have always given me the willies. My son assured me these were not the scary ones and whilst I knew from clips there are some downright silly versions from the early days, I wasn't convinced such a thing existed. But the voices were soooooooo bad it was almost funny, and no, not at all scary.
The plot itself rattled along at a better pace than is often the case for early stories and had some interesting features to it, along with a father and son who seemed straight out of Thunderbirds.
June 16, 2016
For a last appearance of William Hartnell, it was a good story to be remembered as the leaving episode. He was increasingly ill, so his role is a small one.
The first showing of the Cybermen. They are one of my favorite of the recurring bad guys. This isn't their best story, yet, a decent introduction to them. Even if their stocking-covered heads looks odd. Costuming definitely improves over the years.
I enjoyed the action, and the science added in by an actual scientist writing this episode. It doesn't go too far over the head, but the vocabulary is accurate, while having fun.
This recording offers and interview with the narrator that unites the sound from the lost episode, Anneke Willis, the actress that portrayed Polly, one of the Doctor's companions in this story. I appreciate the addition of these to share with fans to learn from those that were there, what it was like to be a party of history.
The first showing of the Cybermen. They are one of my favorite of the recurring bad guys. This isn't their best story, yet, a decent introduction to them. Even if their stocking-covered heads looks odd. Costuming definitely improves over the years.
I enjoyed the action, and the science added in by an actual scientist writing this episode. It doesn't go too far over the head, but the vocabulary is accurate, while having fun.
This recording offers and interview with the narrator that unites the sound from the lost episode, Anneke Willis, the actress that portrayed Polly, one of the Doctor's companions in this story. I appreciate the addition of these to share with fans to learn from those that were there, what it was like to be a party of history.
September 15, 2014
Not really a book, this is a recording of original episodes from Doctor Who from the 60s. Taken for what it is, it's a wonderful documentation of the old series, and a great format. One of the original actors returned to narrate the action between dialogue where necessary to keep the listener informed. Love it, and would like to hear many other series treated the same way.
July 20, 2012
Story is typical early Doctor Who, although it is the first occasion of a regeneration. Mr. Hartnell was ill and had to leave the series. Interesting part is that the voice over narration is done by Anneke Wills who was the female companion of the Doctor at the time.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews