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109) THE LEISURE HIVE

30 August - 20 September 1980

Average Viewing Figure: 5.1M

Plot

On the planet Argolis, The Doctor and Romana uncover a plan involving the Argolins' and Foamsi

Cast

Tom Baker (The Doctor), Lalla Ward (Romana), Adrienne Corri (Mena), Laurence Payne (Morix), John Collin (Brock), David Haig (Pangol)

Nigel Lamsbert (Hardin), Martin Fisk (Vargos), David Allister (Stimson), Andrew Lane (Foamasi), Ray Montague (Guide), Ian Talbot (Klout)

John Leeson (Voice of K-9), Harriet Reynolds (Tannoy Voice), Clifford Norgate (Generator Voice)

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Uncredited Cast

Norman Bradley, Brian Massey, Joe Phillips, Inga Daley, Emmanuel Josiah, Pauline Lewis, Ranjit Nakara, Patti Patience, Ansley Pollard

John Salpeas, Huntley Young, Hi Ching, Ling Tai, Willow Wipp, Ina Claire, Sarah Gardener, Pearl Gillham, Maureen Stevens

Anna Van Karina (Holidaymakers), Derek Suthern (Guide Dorant), Maurice Connor, Douglas Stark, Annette Peters, Jenny Roberts, Ken Sedd

Mary Rennie, Mike Reynell (Guides), Graham Cole, Mitchell Horner (Squash Players), James Muir (Foamasi [Brock])

David Korff (Foamasi [Klout]), Fred Redford (Loman), Martin Clark, Brian Massey, Joe Phillips (Loman Body Parts)

Eileen Brady (Old Lady (Holo Demo), Nick Joseph (Earth Scientist), Julia Gaye (Young Woman (Holo Demo)), David Bulbeck (Foamasi)

Ray Lavender, Michael Leader, Douglas Auchterlonie, David Cole, Tim Gooding, Bruce Guest, Eric Hamilton, Bobby James, Ray Knight

Mark Middler, Mike Mungarvan, Stuart Myers, Kevin O'Brien, Tim Oldroyd, Harry Payne, Douglas Roe, Harry Van Engle, Leslie Weekes

Geoffrey Whitestone, Reg Wood (Pangol Army), Alys Dyer (Baby Pangol)

Crew

David Fisher (Writer), Peter Howell (Incidental Music), Dick Mills (Special Sound), Romey Allison (Production Assistant)

Angela Smith (Production Unit Manager), Carole Bisset (Director's Assistant), Val McCrimmon (Assistant Floor Manager)

Keith Burton (Film Cameraman), Bill Chesneau (Film Sound), Chris Wimble (Film Editor), Andrew Lazell (Visual Effects Designer)

Robin Lobb (Video Effects), Paul Del Bravo (Vision Mixer), Rod Waldron (Videotape Editor), Duncan Brown (Lighting)

John Howell (Sound), Bob Hignett (Technical Manager), Alec Wheal (Senior Cameraman), June Hudson (Costume Designer)

Dorka Nieradzik (Make-Up Artist), Christopher H Bidmead (Script Editor), Sid Sutton (Graphic Designer)

Tom Yardley-Smith (Designer), Barry Letts (Executive Producer), John Nathan-Turner (Producer), Lovett Bickford (Director)

Broadcast

Filming Locations

  • Brighton Beach, Fishmarket Head, Brighton, E Sussex

  • Television Centre: Studio 1

  • Television Centre: Studio 6

76) THE ARK IN SPACE

Deaths

  • Morix [dies of old age]

  • Stimson [killed by Klout]

  • Foamasi [Brock] [ship shot down by Pangol]

  • Foamasi [Klout] [ship shot down by Pangol]

  • Loman [pulled apart]

Production Days

  • 9 Days between Thursday 20 March - Monday 21 April 1980

Production Errors

  1. During part one, the wires which pull K9 along the beach are slightly visible 

  2. During part one, the number of nodules on Morix's horn change between shots during his death scene 

  3. During part two, the top of the sonic screwdriver is almost bent off  

  4. The Doctor and Romana at one point comment on a recording that finishes playing before they enter the room. 

  5. How exactly do the Foamasi disguise themselves as humans? Their heads are bigger than their human masks?

Working Titles

Number of Production Days: 5

  • [no known working titles] 

Verdict

The Leisure Hive marks a new change for Doctor Who with a new title sequence, new production values and a new Doctor with a new costume. Baker's performance is noticeably a lot more restraint due to the actor picking up an illness whilst holidaying in Australia. Baker still puts in a good performance and will continue to do so until his departure. The episodes delves into alien politics, economics, a nuclear war and even the possibilities of an alien race going extinct. There is an obvious jaggering effect throughout with continuous overlong than necessary shots, poor model shots and the worst opening five minutes in the shows' history. The design and direction are very basic but are still used to their full effect. The Foamasi are not remarkable and Pangol is a villain who has just never been told ‘no’ in his life, whose actions and desires are a little confusing. The Leisure Hive marks a new change for the show, the big space adventures are gone and the antics and likeable childish Fourth Doctor will never be seen again. In the words of the Sixth Doctor these changes are here to stay ‘where you like it or not’ ***​

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