Red Dalek - Mark I Daleks

Mark I Daleks

The Daleks first appeared in the 1963 Doctor Who serial The Daleks. There are no visual cues to distinguish one Dalek from another, or suggestions in the story of a hierarchy.

The Mark 1 Dalek differs from later variants in having no shoulder slats or mesh, nine eye discs (the greatest number of any version) and a ‘toffee apple’ shaped eyeball. The eye lenses are illuminated and shown to have an iris which can expand and contract. These Daleks have a silver colour scheme with blue/grey shoulders, blue hemispheres and eye discs, collars in natural aluminium and black fenders. The story refers to them being powered by static electricity, with mobility limited to the metal floors in the Dalek City on their home planet, Skaro.

In the episode "The Escape" a Dalek is seen with a tray at the end of its telescopic arm, although it is unclear whether this item has replaced its plunger or is attached to the top of it. A Dalek is also depicted using a device resembling a thermal lance to cut through a door in the episode "The Ambush". It consists of a long, slim tube flanked by two globes, surmounted by a clear disc-shaped ‘sight screen’. The implication is that this appendage is mounted to the Dalek’s arm in place of a plunger, although due to the use of a tight close-up on the device this isn’t actually seen on screen.

The Dalek concept was the creation of screenwriter Terry Nation, with the design being realised by BBC staff designer Raymond Cusick. The props were constructed by Shawcraft Engineering of Uxbridge, England under the direction of Bill Roberts, who also provided additional design input.