'Spearhead From Space' (4 Parts) Story Code 'AAA' by Robert Holmes

In the middle of a meteorite shower in Essex, the TARDIS materialises, and a newly regenerated Doctor stumbles out and collapses. He is found by troops from UNIT, the United Intelligence Taskforce, and taken to a local hospital. Here he again meets Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, who is investigating the meteorites, and also dealing with Ransome, an ex-employee of a local plastics factory, who claims that he has seen a walking mannequin. The Doctor discovers that the meteorites are actually hollow globes containing the Nestene Consciousness, a disembodied alien intelligence, which has an affinity for plastic. A Nestene agent, Channing, has taken over the plastics factory, and is using energy from the globes to create deadly animated mannequins called Autons. He and the Nestene Consciousness are using realistic Auton replicas to replace prominent Cabinet members in order to infiltrate the government, so that they can dominate the world. The Doctor and a newly recruited UNIT scientist, Dr Liz Shaw, work together to stop the Autons, who have now gone on a killer rampage. Breaking into the factory, the Doctor and UNIT neutralise the Autons, and face a monstrous tentacled creature that the Consciousness has created for itself. The Doctor repels the Nestene energy back into deep space, and Channing, now revealed to be a sophisticated Auton, is also deactivated. The Doctor agrees to work for UNIT as a scientific advisor, in return for facilities which will aid him to repair the TARDIS, which has been grounded on Earth as part of his exile by the Time Lords.

Jon Pertwee (Doctor Who), Caroline John (Liz Shaw), Nicholas Courtney (Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart), Hugh Burden (Channing), Neil Wilson (Seeley), Talfryn Thomas (Mullins), John Breslin (Captain Munro), Antony Webb (Dr. Hendersdon), Helen Dorward (Nurse), George Lee (Corporal Forbes), Tessa Shaw (UNIT Officer), Ellis Jones (Technician), Alan Mitchell (Wagstaffe), Prentis Hancock (2nd Reporter), Hamilton Dyce (Major General Scobie), Henry McCarthy (Dr. Beavis)

Produced by Derrick Sherwin
Directed by Derek Martinus

TX:
Part 1 - 3rd January, 1970 @ 5.15pm - 5.40pm
Part 2 - 10th January, 1970 @ 5.15pm - 5.40pm
Part 3 - 17th January, 1970 @ 5.15pm - 5.40pm
Part 4 - 24th January, 1970 @ 5.15pm - 5.40pm

Notes:
*Featuring the Third Doctor, the Brigadier and UNIT, and introducing Liz Shaw

*First appearance of the Nestenes and the Autons

*We learn that the Doctor has two hearts, which beat at 10 beats per minute, an inhuman blood type and cardiovascular system, and is able to put himself into a coma which gives no indication of detectable brain electrical activity

*This story was made completely on film, due to the unavailability of studios caused by industrial action at the B.B.C., and is also the first colour story transmitted

*As well as a new logo, this story also sees the introduction of a new title sequence designed by Bernard Lodge, a matching closing credits background sequence, and a slightly rearranged version of the theme music

*The Doctor is credited as 'Doctor Who' in the closing credits for the first time, instead of 'Dr. Who'

*Working title: 'Facsimile'

*Music heard in this episode: 'Oh Well' by Fleetwood Mac