'The Romans' (4 Parts) Story Code 'M' by Dennis Spooner

The TARDIS crew are enjoying a holiday in a villa not far from Rome, in 64AD. The Doctor soon becomes restless, and sets off to visit the city, taking Vicki with him. Meanwhile, slave traders kidnap Ian and Barbara - Ian is sold as a galley slave and Barbara to the court of Nero. Having been mistaken for the famous lyre player, Maximus Pettulian, the Doctor is asked to perform at the Emperor Nero's court, and he has to continually devise more and more elaborate ways to hide the fact that he is unable to play the instrument. Ian and Delos, a fellow slave, escape from the galley when it is shipwrecked, and they attempt to find Barbara in Rome. But they are recaptured, and forced to fight as gladiators in the arena. The Doctor accidentally sets fire to the Emperor's plans for a New Rome, when sunlight is concentrated through his spectacle lens, an act that gives Nero the idea of having the city razed to the ground. Nero fiddles whilst Rome burns, and the time travellers escape the conflagration and are reunited back at the villa.

William Hartnell (Dr Who), William Russell (Ian Chesterton), Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright), Maureen O'Brien (Vicki), Derek Sydney (Sevcheria), Nicholas Evans (Didius), Dennis Edwards (Centurian), Margot Thomas (Stall Holder), Edward Kelsey (Slave Buyer), Bart Allison (Maximus Pettulian), Barry Jackson (Ascaris) , Peter Diamond (Delos), Michael Peake (Tavius), Dorothy-Rose Gribble (Woman Slave), Gertan Klauber (Galley Master), Ernest Jennings (st Man in Market), John Caesar (2nd Man in Market), Tony Lambden (Court Messenger) , Derek Francis (Nero), Brian Proudfoot (Tigilinus / Tigilinus (Cup Bearer)), Kay Patrick (Poppaea), Ann Tirard (Locusta)

Produced by Verity Lambert
Directed by Christopher Barry

TX:
'The Slave Traders' - 16th January, 1965 @ 5.40pm - 6.05pm
'All Roads Lead to Rome' - 23th January, 1965 @ 5.40pm - 6.05pm
'Conspiracy' - 30th January, 1965 @ 5.40pm - 6.05pm
'Inferno' - 6th February, 1965 @ 5.40pm - 6.05pm

Notes:
*Featuring the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Vicki

*Working title: 'Romans'