Production
| Episode | Broadcast date | Run time | Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Part One" | 27 October 1979 (1979-10-27) | 23:32 | 9.3 |
| "Part Two" | 3 November 1979 (1979-11-03) | 24:03 | 10.8 |
| "Part Three" | 10 November 1979 (1979-11-10) | 23:55 | 10.2 |
| "Part Four" | 17 November 1979 (1979-11-17) | 24:07 | 9.6 |
This was actually the first serial of the season to be filmed. As a result, Lalla Ward's performance and manner of dress as Romana is somewhat different than that seen in the previously broadcast serials, since she was still working out her character at the time. It was also the final story to be directed by Christopher Barry, one of Doctor Who's longest-serving contributors.
Although the Doctor's solution to the problem of the neutron star, weaving a shell of aluminium around it, has been criticised as silly, the idea was in fact proposed to David Fisher by members of the Cambridge University Institute of Astronomy. Director Christopher Barry and visual effects designer Mat Irvine were called on the carpet by the BBC management for the appearance of the creature Erato. The phallic appearance of the proboscis in the first episode resulted in uncontrolled laughter in the studio and prompted an overnight change to add a pair of pincers to the creature.
At the start of the story K9 is seen reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit to the Doctor.
Read more about this topic: The Creature From The Pit
Famous quotes containing the word production:
“To expect to increase prices and then to maintain them at a higher level by means of a plan which must of necessity increase production while decreasing consumption is to fly in the face of an economic law as well established as any law of nature.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
“The problem of culture is seldom grasped correctly. The goal of a culture is not the greatest possible happiness of a people, nor is it the unhindered development of all their talents; instead, culture shows itself in the correct proportion of these developments. Its aim points beyond earthly happiness: the production of great works is the aim of culture.”
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900)
“The society based on production is only productive, not creative.”
—Albert Camus (1913–1960)