Doctor Who: Four to Doomsday

The TARDIS lands on board a huge spaceship where the fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) and his companions come upon the frog-like Urbankans, whose leader, Monarch, is engaged in a complex and poisonous scheme to conquer humanity so Earth can be repopulated with his androids. Fascinating extras include commentary by actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding (Tegan) and Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) with director John Black. Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.

The TARDIS arrives on board a huge spaceship where the Doctor and his companions encounter the frog-like Urbankans and a population of human androids. The androids are drawn from four different ethnic groups - Greek (led by Bigon), Chinese (led by Lin Futu), Mayan (led by Villagra) and Aboriginal Australian (led by Kurkutji) - and perform regular displays of dance and other rituals termed 'recreationals'.
The Urbankans' leader, Monarch, aided by his ministers Persuasion and Enlightenment, is engaged in a complex scheme to plunder from Earth the raw materials needed to enable him to travel back in time and thereby confirm his belief in his own status as the universe's divine creator.
Monarch has a poison that he intends to use to conquer humanity so that Earth can be repopulated with his androids. The Doctor, however, throws a canister of the poison at Monarch, causing him to shrink away to virtually nothing.

Directed by John Black
Choreographed by Sue Lefton
Costumes by Colin Lavers
Incidental Music by Roger Limb
Produced by John Nathan-Turner
Title Music by Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, arranged by Peter Howell
Visual Effects by Mickey Edwards
Written by Terence Dudley

1 - 18/01/1982 18:55
2 - 19/01/1982 19:05
3 - 25/01/1982 18:55
4 - 26/01/1982 19:05

Stratford Johns, best known for his starring role as Barlow in the BBC police series Z Cars and its Softly, Softly spin-offs, plays Monarch.

Look out for the monopticons - floating, ball-like security cameras aboard Monarch's ship.