Genesis of the Daleks
Encyclopedia
Genesis of the Daleks is a serial in the British
science fiction television series Doctor Who
that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros
, the creator of the Dalek
s.
is intercepted while travelling from Earth to the Ark by the Time Lord
s. He is instructed by them to interfere in the creation of the Dalek
s on the planet Skaro
in order to avert a future time where Daleks would dominate the universe. The Doctor is given a Time Ring to use to return to his own time and the TARDIS
when the task is completed. The Doctor finds that he is already on Skaro, and joins with his companions Sarah Jane Smith
and Harry Sullivan
. They find that Skaro is a war-torn planet, a generational war of attrition between the Thal
s and the Kaleds for dominance of the planet. In the midst of a poison gas attack by the Thals, the Doctor and Harry are dragged inside the Kaled dome, while Sarah is left outside. Sarah eventually runs into the Mutos, the exiled descendants of those mutated by chemical weapons early in the war, but they are then captured by the Thals and used for the dangerous task of manually loading radioactive components into a missile they wish to launch at the Kaled dome. Sarah attempts to lead an escape plan by climbing out of the rocket silo, but the plan fails.
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Harry are brought before the Kaled elite, General Ravon, the leader of the Kaled army and Security Commander Nyder. The Doctor attempts to explain that they are aliens, but Nyder refuses to believe it as their greatest scientist, Davros
has stated there is no life outside of Skaro. The two have their possessions, including the Time Ring, stripped from them, and are interrogated by another scientist, Ronson, who discovers they are truly alien. At that moment, Davros enters the laboratory, and demonstrates his new "Mark III travel machine", which he later dubs as a "Dalek". After Davros leaves, Ronson confides in the Doctor that he and other scientists believe Davros' research has become immoral and evil, using unethical mutations to create the Daleks, and seeks their help in stopping it. The Doctor promises to tell the Kaled leaders about Davros and the Daleks if Ronson helps them to escape. The Doctor meets with Mogran and other Kaled Councilors, and they agree to halt Davros' experiments, but this is overheard by Nyder's spies. Davros responds by preparing twenty Daleks under computer controller, and secretly meeting with the Thal leaders to give them a chemical that will weaken the Kaled dome and allow their rocket to penetrate it.
The Doctor and Harry mount a rescue attempt for Sarah at the Thal dome. They free Sarah, but as they escape, the Doctor is captured. He watches helplessly as the Thals launch their rocket and destroy the Kaled dome. At the Kaled bunker, Davros declares the Kaled race is dead, giving birth to the Daleks; he orders Ronson's death as a traitor that gave over the chemical secret, instructs the next scientist, Gharman, to remove compassion and pity from the new Dalek mutations, and send a troop of Daleks to the Thal dome to exterminate all those inside. In the confusion, the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry rejoin with the few Thal and Mutos survivors, and make their way back to the Kaled bunker. The Doctor instructs the Thals and Mutos to try to destroy the bunker, while he and his companions return inside. They are captured by Davros, who becomes aware of the Doctor's knowledge of the Daleks' future. The Doctor is forced to describe how the Daleks were defeated in the future to prevent the execution of Sarah or Harry. Davros records the information in order to prevent future Dalek defeats. The three are taken to a cell, where they realize they must also get the recording along with the Time Ring to prevent disaster to future time.
The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry are freed by another scientist, and told that Davros appears to have succumbed to the demands of the Kaled Councilors and will stop his research but wants to call a vote. While Davros pleads his case, the Doctor recovers their possessions including the Time Ring. On the vote, the remaining Kaled elite are split between Davros and Gharman, and fighting breaks out between them with Davros using the Daleks to kill those against him. The Doctor and his companions use the opportunity to rig explosives in the Kaled mutation room, but the Doctor is unable to bring himself detonating it. Instead, they turn their attention to destroying the recording by capturing Nyder who they force to take to where the recording has been stored. After destroying it, they learn that the Thals and Mutos have prepared to detonate explosives to seal the Daleks inside the bunker, and have little time to escape. The Doctor returns to destroy the Kaled mutants; a Dalek inadvertently completes the circuit and destroys the room. The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry escape just before the Thal explosives go off.
Meanwhile, the Daleks have exterminated everyone except Davros in the Kaled dome and started the production line against Davros' wishes. Davros, realizing that his creations have achieved sentience, attempts to destroy the dome, but he is shot by a Dalek, apparently killing him. The Daleks announce that they are the superior race and will dominate the universe.
The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry say goodbye to the surviving Thals and Mutos. While the Doctor did not stop the Daleks, he does believe he has hindered their development for some centuries, and thus successful in his mission. The three use the Time Ring to return to their own future.
episode guide, and as "a gem of a story" by David Howe and Stephen James Walker in their Doctor Who Television Companion, and in a 1998 poll of readers by Doctor Who Magazine
, over 2500 voters placed Genesis at the top of a poll to find the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time, and it has regularly featured in the top-tens of other similar polls down the years, such as in 2004 when it topped Doctor Who Magazine
's "greatest Doctor Who story ever" vote. However at the time of broadcast, there were some complaints about the level of violence portrayed. Mary Whitehouse
's National Viewers' and Listeners' Association
complained that Genesis contained "tea-time brutality for tots".
, was published by Target Books
in July 1976. From 1983 it was designated number 27 in the series, although it was not until 1991 that an edition was released bearing that number. According to the DVD Text commentary, the "Genesis of the Daleks" novelisation has the largest print run of any of the original series.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
science fiction television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
that was originally broadcast in six weekly parts from 8 March to 12 April 1975. It marks the first appearance of Davros
Davros
Davros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
, the creator of the Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
s.
Plot
The Fourth DoctorFourth Doctor
The Fourth Doctor is the fourth incarnation of the protagonist of the long-running BBC British television science-fiction series Doctor Who....
is intercepted while travelling from Earth to the Ark by the Time Lord
Time Lord
The Time Lords are an ancient extraterrestrial race and civilization of humanoids in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, of which the series' eponymous protagonist, the Doctor, is a member...
s. He is instructed by them to interfere in the creation of the Dalek
Dalek
The Daleks are a fictional extraterrestrial race of mutants from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Within the series, Daleks are cyborgs from the planet Skaro, created by the scientist Davros during the final years of a thousand-year war against the Thals...
s on the planet Skaro
Skaro
Skaro is a fictional planet from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who created by the writer Terry Nation as the home planet of the Daleks and, at times, the centre of the Dalek Empire....
in order to avert a future time where Daleks would dominate the universe. The Doctor is given a Time Ring to use to return to his own time and the TARDIS
TARDIS
The TARDISGenerally, TARDIS is written in all upper case letters—this convention was popularised by the Target novelisations of the 1970s...
when the task is completed. The Doctor finds that he is already on Skaro, and joins with his companions Sarah Jane Smith
Sarah Jane Smith
Sarah Jane Smith is a fictional character played by Elisabeth Sladen in the long-running British BBC Television science-fiction series Doctor Who and its spin-offs K-9 and Company and The Sarah Jane Adventures....
and Harry Sullivan
Harry Sullivan
Harry Sullivan is a fictional character from the British science-fiction television series Doctor Who and is a companion of the Fourth Doctor...
. They find that Skaro is a war-torn planet, a generational war of attrition between the Thal
Thal (Doctor Who)
The Thals are a fictional race of humanoid aliens from the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, originating on the planet Skaro.-History within the show:...
s and the Kaleds for dominance of the planet. In the midst of a poison gas attack by the Thals, the Doctor and Harry are dragged inside the Kaled dome, while Sarah is left outside. Sarah eventually runs into the Mutos, the exiled descendants of those mutated by chemical weapons early in the war, but they are then captured by the Thals and used for the dangerous task of manually loading radioactive components into a missile they wish to launch at the Kaled dome. Sarah attempts to lead an escape plan by climbing out of the rocket silo, but the plan fails.
Meanwhile, the Doctor and Harry are brought before the Kaled elite, General Ravon, the leader of the Kaled army and Security Commander Nyder. The Doctor attempts to explain that they are aliens, but Nyder refuses to believe it as their greatest scientist, Davros
Davros
Davros is a character from the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Davros is an archenemy of the Doctor and is the creator of the Doctor's deadliest enemies, the Daleks...
has stated there is no life outside of Skaro. The two have their possessions, including the Time Ring, stripped from them, and are interrogated by another scientist, Ronson, who discovers they are truly alien. At that moment, Davros enters the laboratory, and demonstrates his new "Mark III travel machine", which he later dubs as a "Dalek". After Davros leaves, Ronson confides in the Doctor that he and other scientists believe Davros' research has become immoral and evil, using unethical mutations to create the Daleks, and seeks their help in stopping it. The Doctor promises to tell the Kaled leaders about Davros and the Daleks if Ronson helps them to escape. The Doctor meets with Mogran and other Kaled Councilors, and they agree to halt Davros' experiments, but this is overheard by Nyder's spies. Davros responds by preparing twenty Daleks under computer controller, and secretly meeting with the Thal leaders to give them a chemical that will weaken the Kaled dome and allow their rocket to penetrate it.
The Doctor and Harry mount a rescue attempt for Sarah at the Thal dome. They free Sarah, but as they escape, the Doctor is captured. He watches helplessly as the Thals launch their rocket and destroy the Kaled dome. At the Kaled bunker, Davros declares the Kaled race is dead, giving birth to the Daleks; he orders Ronson's death as a traitor that gave over the chemical secret, instructs the next scientist, Gharman, to remove compassion and pity from the new Dalek mutations, and send a troop of Daleks to the Thal dome to exterminate all those inside. In the confusion, the Doctor, Sarah, and Harry rejoin with the few Thal and Mutos survivors, and make their way back to the Kaled bunker. The Doctor instructs the Thals and Mutos to try to destroy the bunker, while he and his companions return inside. They are captured by Davros, who becomes aware of the Doctor's knowledge of the Daleks' future. The Doctor is forced to describe how the Daleks were defeated in the future to prevent the execution of Sarah or Harry. Davros records the information in order to prevent future Dalek defeats. The three are taken to a cell, where they realize they must also get the recording along with the Time Ring to prevent disaster to future time.
The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry are freed by another scientist, and told that Davros appears to have succumbed to the demands of the Kaled Councilors and will stop his research but wants to call a vote. While Davros pleads his case, the Doctor recovers their possessions including the Time Ring. On the vote, the remaining Kaled elite are split between Davros and Gharman, and fighting breaks out between them with Davros using the Daleks to kill those against him. The Doctor and his companions use the opportunity to rig explosives in the Kaled mutation room, but the Doctor is unable to bring himself detonating it. Instead, they turn their attention to destroying the recording by capturing Nyder who they force to take to where the recording has been stored. After destroying it, they learn that the Thals and Mutos have prepared to detonate explosives to seal the Daleks inside the bunker, and have little time to escape. The Doctor returns to destroy the Kaled mutants; a Dalek inadvertently completes the circuit and destroys the room. The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry escape just before the Thal explosives go off.
Meanwhile, the Daleks have exterminated everyone except Davros in the Kaled dome and started the production line against Davros' wishes. Davros, realizing that his creations have achieved sentience, attempts to destroy the dome, but he is shot by a Dalek, apparently killing him. The Daleks announce that they are the superior race and will dominate the universe.
The Doctor, Sarah, and Harry say goodbye to the surviving Thals and Mutos. While the Doctor did not stop the Daleks, he does believe he has hindered their development for some centuries, and thus successful in his mission. The three use the Time Ring to return to their own future.
Continuity
- This serial forms part of a continuous series of televised adventures for the TARDIS crew, beginning from the end of RobotRobot (Doctor Who)Robot is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 28 December 1974 to 18 January 1975...
and continuing through to Terror of the ZygonsTerror of the ZygonsTerror of the Zygons is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 30 August to 20 September 1975...
. - In Part One, Sarah refers to "the beacon", which is apparently intended to be a reference to Space Station Nerva. However, the space station does not serve as a beacon in that story, and is not called a beacon until the following story, Revenge of the Cybermen. The error probably occurred because Revenge was recorded before Genesis.
- The novelisation of The Evil of the DaleksThe Evil of the DaleksThe Evil of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which originally aired in seven weekly parts from 20 May to 1 July 1967. This serial marked the debut of Deborah Watling as the Doctor's new companion, Victoria Waterfield.Evil was initially intended to...
by John PeelJohn Peel (writer)John Peel is a British writer, best known for his books connected to several television series. He has written under several pseudonyms, including John Vincent and Nicholas Adams. He lives in Long Island, New York and his wife is a U.S...
suggests that the very first Dalek seen is the one that exterminates Davros at the end of this story and eventually becomes the Dalek Prime mentioned in Peel's novelisation of The Daleks' Master PlanThe Daleks' Master PlanThe Daleks' Master Plan is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The twelve episodes were aired from 13 November 1965 to 29 January 1966...
and then the Dalek Emperor seen in Evil. - The Daleks and the Time Lords are later involved in a destructive Time WarTime War (Doctor Who)The Time War, more specifically called The Last Great Time War, is a conflict within the fictional universe of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
, alluded to in the 2005 series. Executive producer Russell T Davies stated in an episode of Doctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who ConfidentialDoctor Who Confidential is a documentary series created by the British Broadcasting Corporation to complement the revival of the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Each episode was broadcast on BBC Three on Saturdays, immediately after the broadcast of the weekly...
that the origins of the Time War date back to this story, where the Time Lords struck first. Davies also made reference to this attempted genocide as a root of the Time War in a text piece in the Doctor Who Annual 2006. The Doctor's own internal struggle with the morality of wiping out the entire Dalek race is revisited to a degree in the 2005 series episodes "DalekDalek (Doctor Who episode)"Dalek" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who that was first broadcast on 30 April 2005. It should not be confused with the first Dalek serial, The Daleks...
" and "The Parting of the WaysThe Parting of the Ways"The Parting of the Ways" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on 18 June 2005. It was the second episode of the two-part story that featured Christopher Eccleston making his last appearance as the Ninth Doctor...
" and is a story point in the 2008 season finale "Journey's EndJourney's End (Doctor Who)"Journey's End" is the thirteenth episode of the fourth series of British science fiction television series Doctor Who first broadcast on BBC One on 5 July 2008. It is the second episode of a two-part crossover story featuring the characters of spin-off shows Torchwood and The Sarah Jane...
". - The 2006 four part audio series I, Davros depicts Davros' early life, from his childhood, right up to a few weeks before Genesis of the Daleks. Peter MilesPeter MilesPeter Miles is a British actor. He has played many television roles including several different characters in Z-Cars and Doctor Who. His other television work has included Survivors, The Sweeney, Dixon of Dock Green, Moonbase 3, Poldark and Bergerac.In the science fiction series Blake's 7 he played...
reprises his role as Nyder in fourth episode, GuiltI, Davros: GuiltI, Davros: Guilt is a Big Finish Productions audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It stars Terry Molloy reprising his role as Davros, the twisted creator of the Dalek race. "Guilt" is the final part of the mini-series exploring Davros' early...
. - This story was referenced in the 2008 episode "Journey's End", when Davros again meets Sarah Jane, recognising her and commenting on her presence at the birth of the Daleks.
Production
- The title for the story when commissioned was Daleks — Genesis of Terror.
- Part Two is unusual in that it is one of the very few episodes not to begin with a reprise, and also one of the few to end in a freeze frame.
Cast notes
- Hilary Minster, who played a Thal soldier, had also played a Thal in Planet of the DaleksPlanet of the DaleksPlanet of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from April 7 to May 12, 1973.-Synopsis:...
. - Peter Miles previously played Dr. Lawrence in Doctor Who and the SiluriansDoctor Who and the SiluriansDoctor Who and the Silurians is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in seven weekly parts from January 31 to March 14, 1970. The story is the first appearance of a recurring family of Earth-dwelling reptiles...
and Professor Whitaker in Invasion of the DinosaursInvasion of the DinosaursInvasion of the Dinosaurs is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 12 January to 16 February 1974.-Synopsis:...
. - Stephen Yardley later appeared in Vengeance on VarosVengeance on VarosVengeance on Varos is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts from 19–26 January 1985.-Synopsis:...
. - Dennis Chinnery had previously been seen in The ChaseThe Chase (Doctor Who)The Chase is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 22 May to 26 June 1965. The story is set on multiple locations including the Mary Celeste, the Empire State Building, and the planet Aridius...
and would later appear in The Twin DilemmaThe Twin DilemmaThe Twin Dilemma is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from 22 March to 30 March 1984, the first to star Colin Baker in the title role.-Synopsis:...
.
Reception
The serial is described as "one of the most popular of all time" by the Outpost GallifreyOutpost Gallifrey
Outpost Gallifrey was a fan website for the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was active as a complete fan site from 1995 until 2007, then existing solely as a portal to the still-active parts of the site, including its news page and forums Outpost Gallifrey was a fan website...
episode guide, and as "a gem of a story" by David Howe and Stephen James Walker in their Doctor Who Television Companion, and in a 1998 poll of readers by Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
, over 2500 voters placed Genesis at the top of a poll to find the greatest Doctor Who stories of all time, and it has regularly featured in the top-tens of other similar polls down the years, such as in 2004 when it topped Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine
Doctor Who Magazine is a magazine devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
's "greatest Doctor Who story ever" vote. However at the time of broadcast, there were some complaints about the level of violence portrayed. Mary Whitehouse
Mary Whitehouse
Mary Whitehouse, CBE was a British campaigner against the permissive society particularly as the media portrayed and reflected it...
's National Viewers' and Listeners' Association
Mediawatch-uk
Mediawatch-uk, formerly known as the National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, is a pressure group in the United Kingdom, which campaigns against the publication and broadcast of media content that it views as harmful and offensive, such as violence, profanity, sex, homosexuality and...
complained that Genesis contained "tea-time brutality for tots".
Outside references
- The Time Lord who appears at the story's beginning is costumed to resemble Death in Ingmar BergmanIngmar BergmanErnst Ingmar Bergman was a Swedish director, writer and producer for film, stage and television. Described by Woody Allen as "probably the greatest film artist, all things considered, since the invention of the motion picture camera", he is recognized as one of the most accomplished and...
's film The Seventh SealThe Seventh SealThe Seventh Seal is a 1957 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman. Set during the Black Death, it tells of the journey of a medieval knight and a game of chess he plays with the personification of Death , who has come to take his life. Bergman developed the film from his own play...
. Gareth RobertsGareth Roberts (writer)Gareth John Pritchard Roberts is a British television screenwriter and novelist, best known for his work related to the science-fiction television series Doctor Who...
has compared this character to the ghost of Hamlet's fatherKing HamletThe ghost of Hamlet's father is a character from William Shakespeare's play Hamlet, also known as The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. In the stage directions he is referred to as "Ghost."...
, setting the protagonist (the Doctor) on a violent mission with which he has moral qualms. - Dalek creator Terry Nation based the Daleks on the NazisNazismNazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
, and this episode abounds with deliberate parallels. A madman leads his own race to its destruction. He is supported by security services that ride roughshod over the military and anybody else that gets in their way. They dress wholly in black, and salute each other by raising their hands and clicking the heels of their boots together. Their bespectacled leader, Nyder, is cold-hearted and ruthless, and even wears an Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
in earlier episodes before the medal later disappears from his costume. Much of the action takes place in "the Bunker". - The discussion between the Doctor and Davros about the hypothetical viral weapon is regarded as a classic moment from Doctor Who. The debate is reproduced almost word for word as a homageHomageHomage is a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic....
in the computer game Discworld NoirDiscworld NoirDiscworld Noir is a computer game based on Terry Pratchett's Discworld comic fantasy novels, and unlike the previous Discworld games is both an example and parody of the noir genre. The game was developed by Perfect Entertainment and published by GT Interactive. It was originally released in 1999...
. - Martin Wiggins, senior lecturer and fellow at the Shakespeare InstituteShakespeare InstituteThe Shakespeare Institute is a centre for postgraduate study dedicated to the study of William Shakespeare and the literature of the English Renaissance. It is part of the University of Birmingham, and is located in Stratford-upon-Avon....
at Stratford-upon-Avon, suggests that the Doctor's indecision about destroying the Dalek embryos in the "have I the right?" scene is derived from The Brothers KaramazovThe Brothers KaramazovThe Brothers Karamazov is the final novel by the Russian author Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Dostoyevsky spent nearly two years writing The Brothers Karamazov, which was published as a serial in The Russian Messenger and completed in November 1880...
.
In print
A novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance DicksTerrance Dicks
Terrance Dicks is an English writer, best known for his work in television and for writing a large number of popular children's books during the 1970s and 80s.- Early career :...
, was published by Target Books
Target Books
Target Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. The imprint was established as a children's imprint to complement the adult Tandem imprint, and became well known for their highly successful range of...
in July 1976. From 1983 it was designated number 27 in the series, although it was not until 1991 that an edition was released bearing that number. According to the DVD Text commentary, the "Genesis of the Daleks" novelisation has the largest print run of any of the original series.
LP, CD, VHS & DVD releases
- In 1979, the BBC released a condensed audio version of this serial as an LPGramophone recordA gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
. Tom Baker recorded newly written narration for this release. In 1988, this recording would be reissued by BBC Audio alongside a later radio play, SlipbackSlipbackSlipback is a radio audio drama based on the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced by the BBC and first broadcast in six episodes on BBC Radio 4 from 25 July to 8 August 1985, as part of a children's magazine show called Pirate Radio Four...
. It was subsequently released on CD in a revised and expanded version by BBC Audio paired with Exploration Earth: The Time MachineExploration Earth: The Time Machine"Exploration Earth: The Time Machine" is an episode of the BBC Schools radio drama series Exploration Earth, a series exploring geography. It was the third episode in this series. As it was an educational programme, it used the Doctor Who format and elements to explore the processes of the creation...
in 2001. - The serial was released on VHSVHSThe Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
by BBC EnterprisesBBC WorldwideBBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
in 1991 with The Sontaran ExperimentThe Sontaran ExperimentThe Sontaran Experiment is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast in two weekly parts on 22 February and 1 March 1975.-Synopsis:...
, and again as part of a box set of stories featuring Davros in 2001. - It was released on DVDDVDA DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
in the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by BBC WorldwideBBC WorldwideBBC Worldwide Limited is the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation, formed out of a restructuring of its predecessor BBC Enterprises in 1995. In the year to 31 March 2010 it made a profit of £145m on a turnover of £1.074bn. The company had made a profit of £106m...
on April 10, 2006 and in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by Warner Home VideoWarner Home VideoWarner Home Video is the home video unit of Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., itself part of Time Warner. It was founded in 1978 as WCI Home Video . The company launched in the United States with twenty films on VHS and Betamax videocassettes in late 1979...
on June 6, 2006 as a two disc special edition. It is also available as part of a box set along with Destiny of the DaleksDestiny of the DaleksDestiny of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 1 September to 22 September 1979. The story introduces Lalla Ward as the newly-regenerated Romana....
, Resurrection of the DaleksResurrection of the DaleksResurrection of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts between 8 February and 15 February 1984...
, Revelation of the DaleksRevelation of the DaleksRevelation of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in two weekly parts on 23 March and 30 March 1985...
and Remembrance of the DaleksRemembrance of the DaleksRemembrance of the Daleks is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 5 October to 26 October 1988....
. - In February 2011, AUDIO GO (the new home of BBC AUDIO) re-issued the 1979 condensed version on a single-disc CD as part of their "vintage beeb" range. This release is styled as a vinyl LP, and has been re-mastered by Mark Ayres.