Episode: Trial of a Timelord
Serial: 7A - 7C
Number of Viewers: 4.9m, 4.8m, 5.2m, 5.6m
First Transmitted: 06/09/86 04/10/86, 01/11/86, 06/11/86
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Producer: John Nathan Turner

Regular Cast

Guest Cast: The Mysterious Planet

Lynda Bellingham (The Inquisitor), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), Joan Sims (Katryca), Tony Selby (Glitz), Glen Murphy (Dibber), Tom Chadbon (Merdeen) Roger Brierley, (Drathro). David Rodigan (Broken Tooth), Adam Blackwood (Balazar), Timothy Walker (Grell), Billy McColl (Humker), Sion Tuder Owen (Tandrel)

Story By: Robert Holmes

Directed By: Ron Jones

Guest Cast: Mindwarp

Lynda Bellingham (The Inquisitor), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), Brian Blessed (King Yrcanos), Nabil Shaban (Sil), Christopher Ryan (Kiv). Patrick Ryecart (Crozier), Alibe Parsons (Matrona Kani), Trevor Laird (Frax), Thomas Branch (The Lukoser), Gordon Warnecke (Tuza), Richard Harvey (Mentor)

Story By: Phillip Martin

Directed By: Nicholas Mallett

Guest Cast: Terror of the Vervoids

Lynda Bellingham (The Inquisitor), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), Honor Blackman (Professor Lasky), Michael Craig (Commodore), Denys Hawthorne (Rudge), Yolande Palfrey (Janet), Malcolm Tierney (Doland), David Allister (Bruchner), Tony Scoggo (Grenville/Enzu), Arthur Hewlett (Kimber), Simon Slater (Edwardes), Sam Howard (Atza), Leon Davis (Ortezo), Hugh Beverton (Guard/First Guard), Mike Mungarvan (Duty Officer), Martin Weedon (Second Guard), Barbara Ward (Mutant/Ruth Baxter), Peppi Borza (First Vervoid), Bob Appleby (Second Vervoid)

Story By: Pip & Jane Baker

Directed By: Chris Clough

Guest Cast: The Ultimate Foe

Lynda Bellingham (The Inquisitor), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), Anthony Ainley (The Master), Lynda Bellingham (The Inquisitor), Tony Selby (Glitz), Geoffrey Hughes (Popplewick), James Bree (Keeper of the Matrix)

Story By: Pip & Jane Baker

Directed By: Chris Clough

Story Synopsis

The Mysterious Planet - Serial 7A

The TARDIS is drawn down into a large space station, where the Doctor, appearing rather dazed, exits alone from his ship. His memory of recent events has apparently gone, along with his companion Peri. He steps through a doorway to find himself in a courtroom. Opposite him is the Valeyard (Michael Jayston), who chides the Doctor for being late. The court stands as the Inquisitor (Lynda Bellingham) enters and takes her place. The Valeyard, the prosecuting Time Lord, explains that this is an impartial inquiry into the Doctor's behaviour, which, he hopes to prove, is unbecoming of a Time Lord. Furthermore, he intends to prove that the first law of time has been broken.

Mindwarp - Serial 7B

The Valeyard's evidence against the Doctor continues with an account of his adventure on the planet Thoros-Beta in the 24th century, last quarter, fourth year, seventh month, third day. The Doctor and Peri arrive on a coastal beach on Thoros-Beta, the Doctor having decided to investigate after learning from the dying words of a Warlord of Thordon that phasers - technologically advanced and highly dangerous weapons - are being supplied from this planet. Exploring a tidal cave, the travellers are attacked by a squid-like creature, the Raak, which has apparently been stationed there to operate machinery extracting energy from the sea water. The Doctor kills the Raak with the phaser which he acquired from the dying Warlord.

Terror of the Vervoids - Serial 7C

After a short recess to allow the Doctor to come to terms with Peri's death, the Valeyard rests his case for the prosecution. It is now the Doctor's turn to present a case for the defence. He announces that by showing the court an adventure from his own future, he hopes to demonstrate that he mends his ways. The Doctor is now travelling with a young girl named Melanie - a keep-fit fanatic who has him exercising and drinking carrot juice - and their latest adventure begins when the TARDIS picks up a distress call from someone aboard an intergalactic liner, the Hyperion III.

The Ultimate Foe - Serial 7C

The Inquisitor calls the Keeper of the Matrix (James Bree) into the Court and he denies that the Matrix can be tampered with as the Doctor has alleged. He states that entry into the Matrix can be achieved only with the Key of Rassilon, which he alone holds. The Doctor accuses the Valeyard of tampering. Two coffin-like containers arrive at the trial ship. Inside the pods are Glitz and Mel, who enter the courtroom. Glitz states that he has been sent here to assist, and when the Inquisitor asks by whom, the reply comes from the Matrix screen. An image of the Master appears, proof that the Matrix can indeed be breached - the Master has a copy of the Key of Rassilon.

Things to look for:

Joan Sims, Brian Blessed and Honor Blackman appearances.

The Doctor Who Archive: The complete reel exists.

Locations for Mysterious Planet

Notes for Mindwarp

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