Doctor Who The Key to Time
This season saw the introduction of the Black and White Guardians as well as the companion Romana, who became only the second female Time Lord companion since Susan. This season is sometimes colloquially known as The Key to Time season after the story arc involving the Key to Time. Although not the first season to consist of linked stories (Season 8 in 1971 was the first, as all the stories that year featured the Master), it was the first to be recognised as having a series long arc. Although multi serial arcs would occur again, such a full- season experiment wouldn't be attempted again until Season 23. The arc has a number of similarities to the Season 1 story The Keys of Marinus. The storyline was originally proposed for Season 15, but it required more planning.
01. The Ribos Operation (1)
The Magellanic Clouds, the planet Ribos, an unknown time. Ordered by the White Guardian to collect the pieces of the omnipotent Key to Time, The Doctor, K-9 and his new assistant Romana arrive. Collecting the first segment is not going to be easy…
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Cyril Luckham
The Guardian
Iain Cuthbertson
Garron
Nigel Plaskitt
Unstoffe
Paul Seed
Graff Vynda-K
Robert Keegan
Sholakh
Prentis Hancock
Captain
Oliver Maguire
Shrieve
John Hamill
Shrieve
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Robert Holmes
Writer
George Spenton-Foster
Director
Ken Ledsham
Production Design
June Hudson
Costume Design
Christine Walmesley-Cotham
Makeup Artist
John Turner
Editor
John Turner
Editor
John Turner
Editor
02. The Ribos Operation (2)
Trying to obtain the first segment of the Key to Time, the Doctor and Romana are swept up in an elaborate con. The target – the homicidal Graff Vynda K.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Iain Cuthbertson
Garron
Nigel Plaskitt
Unstoffe
Paul Seed
Graff Vynda-K
Robert Keegan
Sholakh
Prentis Hancock
Captain
Oliver Maguire
Shrieve
John Hamill
Shrieve
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Robert Holmes
Writer
George Spenton-Foster
Director
Ken Ledsham
Production Design
June Hudson
Costume Design
Christine Walmesley-Cotham
Makeup Artist
John Turner
Editor
03. The Ribos Operation (3)
Prisoners of the maniacal Graff Vynda K, the Doctor and Romana must break out and pursue the first segment – even as Unstoff takes it into the most dangerous place on Ribos.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Iain Cuthbertson
Garron
Nigel Plaskitt
Unstoffe
Paul Seed
Graff Vynda-K
Robert Keegan
Sholakh
Prentis Hancock
Captain
Oliver Maguire
Shrieve
Timothy Bateson
Binro
Anne Tirard
The Seeker
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Robert Holmes
Writer
George Spenton-Foster
Director
Ken Ledsham
Production Design
June Hudson
Costume Design
Christine Walmesley-Cotham
Makeup Artist
John Turner
Editor
04. The Ribos Operation (4)
Trapped in the catacombs between a mad warlord and ravenous monsters, the Doctor and Romana work desperately to obtain the segment of the Key to Time - and escape alive.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Iain Cuthbertson
Garron
Nigel Plaskitt
Unstoffe
Paul Seed
Graff Vynda-K
Robert Keegan
Sholakh
Prentis Hancock
Captain
Oliver Maguire
Shrieve
Timothy Bateson
Binro
Anne Tirard
The Seeker
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Robert Holmes
Writer
George Spenton-Foster
Director
Ken Ledsham
Production Design
June Hudson
Costume Design
Christine Walmesley-Cotham
Makeup Artist
John Turner
Editor
05. The Pirate Planet (1)
Planet Zanak, unknown time. The Doctor and Romana are seeking the planet Calufrax where the second segment waits. They are in the right place and the right time… but on the wrong planet.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Bruce Purchase
Captain
Andrew Robertson
Mr. Fibuli
Ralph Michael
Balaton
David Sibley
Pralix
David Warwick
Kimus
Primi Townsend
Mula
Clive Bennett
Citizen
Bernard Finch
Mentiad
Adam Kurakin
Guard
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Douglas Adams
Writer
Pennant Roberts
Director
Jon Pusey
Production Design
Janis Gould
Makeup Artist
L. Rowland-Warne
Costume Design
John Dunstan
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
Colin Mapson
Visual Effects
06. The Pirate Planet (2)
The Doctor begins to investigate the mysteriously wealthy planet Zanak. Mentiads, a deranged Captain, strange omens, miraculous mines – what does it all mean? And what does it have to do with the Key to Time?
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Bruce Purchase
Captain
Andrew Robertson
Mr. Fibuli
Ralph Michael
Balaton
David Warwick
Kimus
Primi Townsend
Mula
Bernard Finch
Mentiad
Adam Kurakin
Guard
Rosalind Lloyd
Nurse
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Douglas Adams
Writer
Pennant Roberts
Director
Jon Pusey
Production Design
Janis Gould
Makeup Artist
L. Rowland-Warne
Costume Design
John Dunstan
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
Colin Mapson
Visual Effects
07. The Pirate Planet (3)
The Mentiads take the Doctor, Romana and Kimus to a reunion with K9 and Mula, where they set about trying to defeat the Captain.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Bruce Purchase
Captain
Andrew Robertson
Mr. Fibuli
David Sibley
Pralix
David Warwick
Kimus
Primi Townsend
Mula
Bernard Finch
Mentiad
Adam Kurakin
Guard
Rosalind Lloyd
Nurse
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Douglas Adams
Writer
Pennant Roberts
Director
Jon Pusey
Production Design
Janis Gould
Makeup Artist
L. Rowland-Warne
Costume Design
John Dunstan
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
Colin Mapson
Visual Effects
08. The Pirate Planet (4)
The Captain and Xanxia work toward their secret goals. Both depends on the pirate planet consuming one more victim - Earth.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Bruce Purchase
Captain
Andrew Robertson
Mr. Fibuli
David Sibley
Pralix
David Warwick
Kimus
Primi Townsend
Mula
Bernard Finch
Mentiad
Rosalind Lloyd
Nurse
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Douglas Adams
Writer
Pennant Roberts
Director
Jon Pusey
Production Design
Janis Gould
Makeup Artist
L. Rowland-Warne
Costume Design
John Dunstan
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
Colin Mapson
Visual Effects
09. The Stones of Blood (1)
England, the late 1970s. The Doctor and Romana arrive in search of the third segment. But the Tracer readings are erratic and something ominous is happening with an ancient stone circle...
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Beatrix Lehmann
Professor Rumford
Susan Engel
Vivien Fay
Nicholas McArdle
De Vries
Elaine Ives-Cameron
Martha
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Darrol Blake
Director
John Stout
Production Design
Rupert Jarvis
Costume Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Malcolm Banthorpe
Editor
Mat Irvine
Visual Effects
10. The Stones of Blood (2)
The quest for the Third Segment has landed the Doctor and Romana in the midst of a druidic cult centred on a stone circle. But the stones are not what they seem, and somewhere out there is a blood-thirsty Celtic goddess.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Beatrix Lehmann
Professor Rumford
Susan Engel
Vivien Fay
Nicholas McArdle
De Vries
Elaine Ives-Cameron
Martha
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Darrol Blake
Director
John Stout
Production Design
Rupert Jarvis
Costume Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Malcolm Banthorpe
Editor
Mat Irvine
Visual Effects
11. The Stones of Blood (3)
Chased by blood-thirsty stones, the Doctor must find a way to rescue Romana. What awaits him in the theoretical absurdity of hyperspace?
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Beatrix Lehmann
Professor Rumford
Susan Engel
Vivien Fay
Gerald Cross
Megara Voice
David McAlister
Megara Voice
James Murray
Camper
Shirin Taylor
Camper
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Darrol Blake
Director
John Stout
Production Design
Rupert Jarvis
Costume Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Malcolm Banthorpe
Editor
Mat Irvine
Visual Effects
12. The Stones of Blood (4)
Facing a sentence of death from merciless justice machines, the Doctor must play for time while Romana tries to discover just who Vivian Fey really is.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Beatrix Lehmann
Professor Rumford
Susan Engel
Vivien Fay
Gerald Cross
Megara Voice
David McAlister
Megara Voice
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Darrol Blake
Director
John Stout
Production Design
Rupert Jarvis
Costume Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Malcolm Banthorpe
Editor
Mat Irvine
Visual Effects
13. The Androids of Tara (1)
Arriving on Tara, Romana locates the fourth segment of the Key to Time with ease. But getting it away proves more difficult, as she is captured by the scheming Count Grendel who wants the throne of Tara for himself.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Peter Jeffrey
Count Grendel
Simon Lack
Zadek
Neville Jason
Prince Reynart
Paul Lavers
Farrah
Lois Baxter
Lamia
Declan Mulholland
Till
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Valerie Warrender
Production Design
Doreen James
Costume Design
Jill Hagger
Makeup Artist
Alan Goddard
Editor
David Yates
Editor
Len Hutton
Visual Effects
14. The Androids of Tara (2)
The Doctor must employ a desperate gambit to keep the evil Grendel off the throne. And the Count has a new pawn to play - Romana.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Peter Jeffrey
Count Grendel
Simon Lack
Zadek
Neville Jason
Prince Reynart
Paul Lavers
Farrah
Lois Baxter
Lamia
Cyril Shaps
Archimandrite
Martin Matthews
Kurster
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Valerie Warrender
Production Design
Doreen James
Costume Design
Jill Hagger
Makeup Artist
Alan Goddard
Editor
David Yates
Editor
Len Hutton
Visual Effects
15. The Androids of Tara (3)
The battle for control of Tara turns into a duel of wits between the Doctor and Grendel. But the Count shows he has more treacherous tricks up his sleeve.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Peter Jeffrey
Count Grendel
Simon Lack
Zadek
Neville Jason
Prince Reynart
Paul Lavers
Farrah
Lois Baxter
Lamia
Declan Mulholland
Till
Cyril Shaps
Archimandrite
Martin Matthews
Kurster
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Valerie Warrender
Production Design
Doreen James
Costume Design
Jill Hagger
Makeup Artist
Alan Goddard
Editor
David Yates
Editor
Len Hutton
Visual Effects
16. The Androids of Tara (4)
Grendel plans two weddings and a funeral to cement his hold over Tara. The Doctor and K-9 race to foil him and save the Time Lady's life.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Peter Jeffrey
Count Grendel
Simon Lack
Zadek
Neville Jason
Prince Reynart
Paul Lavers
Farrah
Declan Mulholland
Till
Cyril Shaps
Archimandrite
Martin Matthews
Kurster
Tom Baker
The Doctor
David Fisher
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Valerie Warrender
Production Design
Doreen James
Costume Design
Jill Hagger
Makeup Artist
Terry Walsh
Fight Choreographer
Alan Goddard
Editor
David Yates
Editor
Len Hutton
Visual Effects
17. The Power of Kroll (1)
The Third Moon of Delta Magna, The Future. The Doctor and Romana arrive in search of the fifth segment and are immediately swept up in a conflict between the crew of a new refinery and the embittered natives…
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Neil McCarthy
Thawn
John Abineri
Ranquin
Philip Madoc
Fenner
Glyn Owen
Rohm-Dutt
Glyn Owen
Rohm-Dutt
Carl Rigg
Varlik
Frank Jarvis
Skart
Grahame Mallard
Harg
Terry Walsh
Mensch
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Mark Hardy
Swampie Warrior
Robert Holmes
Writer
Norman Stewart
Director
Don Giles
Production Design
Colin Lavers
Costume Design
Kezia De Winne
Makeup Artist
Michael Goldsmith
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
John Nathan-Turner
Producer
Tony Harding
Visual Effects
18. The Power of Kroll (2)
The Doctor and Romana try to avoid being sacrificed to Kroll – just in time for the real monster to appear.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Neil McCarthy
Thawn
John Abineri
Ranquin
Philip Madoc
Fenner
Glyn Owen
Rohm-Dutt
Glyn Owen
Rohm-Dutt
Carl Rigg
Varlik
Frank Jarvis
Skart
Grahame Mallard
Harg
Terry Walsh
Mensch
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Mark Hardy
Swampie Warrior
Robert Holmes
Writer
Norman Stewart
Director
Don Giles
Production Design
Colin Lavers
Costume Design
Kezia De Winne
Makeup Artist
Michael Goldsmith
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
Tony Harding
Visual Effects
19. The Power of Kroll (3)
The massive Kroll is awake and killing anyone in its path. And the swampies are determined to appease it – by sacrificing the Doctor and Romana.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Neil McCarthy
Thawn
John Abineri
Ranquin
Philip Madoc
Fenner
Glyn Owen
Rohm-Dutt
Glyn Owen
Rohm-Dutt
Carl Rigg
Varlik
Frank Jarvis
Skart
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Robert Holmes
Writer
Norman Stewart
Director
Don Giles
Production Design
Colin Lavers
Costume Design
Kezia De Winne
Makeup Artist
Michael Goldsmith
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
20. The Power of Kroll (4)
The Doctor and Romana are trapped between the monstrous Kroll and the insane refinery commander. And there is no sign of the fifth segment of the Key to Time.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Neil McCarthy
Thawn
John Abineri
Ranquin
Philip Madoc
Fenner
Carl Rigg
Varlik
Frank Jarvis
Skart
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Robert Holmes
Writer
Norman Stewart
Director
Don Giles
Production Design
Colin Lavers
Costume Design
Kezia De Winne
Makeup Artist
Michael Goldsmith
Editor
Rod Waldron
Editor
Tony Harding
Visual Effects
21. The Armageddon Factor (1)
Searching for the sixth segment, the Doctor and Romana land in the midst of a brutal nuclear war between the planets Atrios and Zeos.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
John Woodvine
Marshal
Lalla Ward
Princess Astra
Davyd Harries
Shapp
Ian Saynor
Merak
Ian Liston
'Hero'
Susan Skipper
'Heroine'
John Cannon
Guard
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Dave Martin
Writer
Bob Baker
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Richard McManan-Smith
Production Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Michael Burdle
Costume Design
Rod Waldron
Editor
John Horton
Visual Effects
22. The Armageddon Factor (2)
Swept up in an apocalyptic war, the Doctor must help the Marshal defend his planet. But who or what controls the Marshal?
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Harry Fielder
Guard
John Woodvine
Marshal
Lalla Ward
Princess Astra
Davyd Harries
Shapp
Ian Saynor
Merak
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Ian Saynor
Merak
Dave Martin
Writer
Bob Baker
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Richard McManan-Smith
Production Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Michael Burdle
Costume Design
Rod Waldron
Editor
John Horton
Visual Effects
23. The Armageddon Factor (3)
The Doctor meets a new enemy – the Shadow – who wants the Key to Time. And the Atrian-Zeon war is approaching an awful climax.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
John Woodvine
Marshal
Lalla Ward
Princess Astra
Davyd Harries
Shapp
William Squire
The Shadow
Ian Saynor
Merak
Iain Armstrong
Technician
Pat Gorman
Pilot
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Ian Saynor
Merak
Dave Martin
Writer
Bob Baker
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Richard McManan-Smith
Production Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Michael Burdle
Costume Design
Rod Waldron
Editor
John Horton
Visual Effects
24. The Armageddon Factor (4)
The Doctor is forced into a desperate gambit to prevent a massacre. But it is getting harder to tell friend from foe.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
John Woodvine
Marshal
Lalla Ward
Princess Astra
Davyd Harries
Shapp
William Squire
The Shadow
Ian Saynor
Merak
Pat Gorman
Pilot
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Ian Saynor
Merak
Dave Martin
Writer
Bob Baker
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Richard McManan-Smith
Production Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Michael Burdle
Costume Design
Rod Waldron
Editor
John Horton
Visual Effects
25. The Armageddon Factor (5)
The Doctor and Romana finally venture into the Shadow's lair. The Shadow appears to hold all the cards but the Doctor has found an old friend.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
Lalla Ward
Princess Astra
William Squire
The Shadow
Barry Jackson
Drax
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Dave Martin
Writer
Bob Baker
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Richard McManan-Smith
Production Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Michael Burdle
Costume Design
Rod Waldron
Editor
John Horton
Visual Effects
26. The Armageddon Factor (6)
The Doctor and the Shadow have their final confrontation to take control of the Key to Time. Completing it may entail an awful sacrifice. And the Black Guardian will do anything to obtain it and plunge the Universe into chaos.
Mary Tamm
Romana
John Leeson
K9 (voice)
John Woodvine
Marshal
Lalla Ward
Princess Astra
Davyd Harries
Shapp
Valentine Dyall
The Guardian
William Squire
The Shadow
Ian Saynor
Merak
Barry Jackson
Drax
Tom Baker
The Doctor
Ian Saynor
Merak
Dave Martin
Writer
Bob Baker
Writer
Michael Hayes
Director
Richard McManan-Smith
Production Design
Ann Briggs
Makeup Artist
Michael Burdle
Costume Design
Rod Waldron
Editor
John Horton
Visual Effects
