Production
| Episode | Broadcast date | Run time | Viewership |
Archive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "The Edge of Destruction" | 8 February 1964 (1964-02-08) | 25:04 | 10.4 | 16mm t/r |
| "The Brink of Disaster" | 15 February 1964 (1964-02-15) | 22:11 | 9.9 | 16mm t/r |
This story was written by story editor David Whitaker within two days. It was created as a hasty "filler" story so that the series would fit a thirteen episode run, which was all that had been granted at that stage. Budgetary restrictions meant that only the four regular actors and the TARDIS sets could be used for the filming. Paddy Russell was originally assigned to direct this serial, but she was unavailable for the recording dates so Mervyn Pinfield was suggested as her replacement. Richard Martin was in the end chosen, but he was unavailable for the second episode so Frank Cox had to take over. The episodes were recorded in Lime Grove studio D 17 and 24 January 1964.
The "fast return" switch label on the TARDIS console appears to be written in felt-tip pen. Exactly why this was done is uncertain; on the DVD, documentary designer Raymond Cusick guesses that it was written during rehearsals as a guide, and producer Verity Lambert surmises that it may have been written so that Hartnell could find the switch. Both agree, however, that the label was probably never intended to be seen. Carole Ann Ford states that she and William Hartnell labelled controls on the TARDIS control panel during rehearsal, and assumed they would be blotted out before production.
Read more about this topic: The Edge Of Destruction
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