The Doctor joins UNIT's investigation into the mystery surrounding Mars Probe 7. Space Control, headed by Professor Ralph Cornish, has had no contact with three astronauts on board since it started back from Mars seven months ago, and now the Recovery 7 rescue mission has run into similar difficulties. This second ship does get back to Earth, but the astronauts are kidnapped after landing. It transpires the ships occupants were not the original human astronauts after all but a trio of radiation-dependent alien ambassadors who had swapped places with them. Why this swap? Who has kidnapped the ambassadors and why? And what has happened to the astronauts? Only the Doctor can solve these questions.

The Ambassadors of Death has been described as "a curious mixture of James Bond-style action and hardware and science-fiction concepts". It surprised many with is adult tone and message - illustrating the lengths to which some people are capable of going in their irrational hatred of other races - which is as pertinent today as it was when first screened. It also allowed Jon Pertwee to demonstrate his considerable acting talents, which would help take the series' ratings, popularity and reputation to new heights. Eerily, life imitated art as the Apollo 13 mission occurred during original transmission.

Jon Pertwee page | BBC VHS Index page

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