1. "The Scope is about to break down.
This will mean the end
for all the living creatures inside -
including Jo Grant.Copy !req
2. "The Doctor struggles to save them,
while Kalik and Orum carry out the final
stages of their plot." (Radio Times)Copy !req
3. This episode was first shown
on 17 February 1973.Copy !req
4. It was seen by 9.2 million people.Copy !req
5. Remember we looked at the subject
of scale at the beginning of Episode 2?Copy !req
6. Judging by Shirna's feet, the Doctor
must be around six inches tall
when he emerges from the ScopeCopy !req
7. and yet the TARDIS was only
a couple of inches in size.Copy !req
8. Holmes originally planned to have both
the Doctor and Jo escape from the Scope
at the end of Episode Three.Copy !req
9. As they exit, they both "explode"
to full size. The internal shock
is tremendous and they both collapse.Copy !req
10. Later, Holmes amended this slightly.Copy !req
11. Now Jo is locked in the hold
of the SS Bernice as the Drashigs
burst in and attack.Copy !req
12. Vorg's hand waves them away
and Jo escapes from the ship
into the Scope's workings.Copy !req
13. The Doctor uses the Glo-sphere to keep
an eye on the roaming packs of Drashigs,Copy !req
14. and guides Jo through to the machine's
exit with "godlike" directions:Copy !req
15. "Turn left... through the hatch... Watch
out behind you..."Copy !req
16. Terrance Dicks felt that the dramatic
tension would be heightened
if Jo remained inside the machine,Copy !req
17. so Holmes was asked to keep her inside
the Scope until the story's climax.Copy !req
18. Starting with 'Day of the Daleks'
and going through to
'Planet of the Spiders',Copy !req
19. the Radio Times illustrated
each week's listing for Doctor Who
with a small drawing.Copy !req
20. Many were by artist Frank Bellamy,
and most were directly connected
with the story in question.Copy !req
21. For 'Carnival of Monsters', Bellamy drew
illustrations of the TARDIS, a Tribunal
member (either Kalik or Orum),Copy !req
22. a stylised Drashig and finally,
a close-up of Jon Pertwee's Doctor.Copy !req
23. Barry Letts completed the BBC's
director's training course in 1967,Copy !req
24. and shortly afterwards he was assigned
to direct his first Doctor Who,
'The Enemy of the World' (1967-8).Copy !req
25. He became the series' producer
in late 1969,Copy !req
26. but made the proviso that
he would also be allowed
to direct the occasional story.Copy !req
27. He ensured that any story he directed
would fall at either the beginning
or end of a year's block of recording,Copy !req
28. so that his directing role wouldn't have
too much impact on his work as producer.Copy !req
29. The first Jon Pertwee story he directed
was 1971 's 'Terror of the Autons'.Copy !req
30. After 'Carnival of Monsters',
he directed Pertwee's final story,
'Planet of the Spiders' (1974),Copy !req
31. followed by the 1975 Tom Baker story,
'The Android Invasion'.Copy !req
32. Vorg is played by Leslie Dwyer
(1906-86).Copy !req
33. Born in Catford, London, Dwyer began
his acting career as a child,Copy !req
34. and built up a huge repertoire
of performances
in both film and television.Copy !req
35. In 1944, he appeared
in the Carol Reed film, The Way Ahead,
which also starred William Hartnell.Copy !req
36. On television, he had multiple roles
in series such as Z- Cars (1962-76),
Dixon of Dock Green (1962-72)
And Coronation Street (1968-78).Copy !req
37. However, he is best remembered
as the cantankerous children's
entertainer, Mr Partridge,Copy !req
38. in the long-running BBC comedy series,
Hi-de-Hi (1980-4).Copy !req
39. We're about to hear Vorg speak Polari,Copy !req
40. a distinctive English argot used
amongst groups of theatrical,
circus and fairground performers.Copy !req
41. Derived largely from Italian,
it has been in existence
since at least the 18th century.Copy !req
42. It was subsequently adopted
by the gay communityCopy !req
43. and was famously used by the characters
Julian and Sandy in the BBC radio
comedy, Round the Horne (1965-8).Copy !req
44. Roughly translated: "Polari the
carny?" = "Do you speak Carnival?"Copy !req
45. "Varda the bona palone?" =
"See the lovely girl?"Copy !req
46. "Nanti dinari round here, y'gills" =
"No money round here, you understand?"Copy !req
47. Vorg also used Polari earlier
in the story.Copy !req
48. In Episode Two, he referred
to the All Star Dance Company,
Shirna's former troupe,
as a "third-rate bunch of hoofers".Copy !req
49. "Hoofer" is the Polari word
for a dancer.Copy !req
50. Only three minutes ago, the Doctor
was told by Pletrac that the Miniscope
belongs to Vorg,Copy !req
51. so you have to wonder why he's now
asking if Vorg owns the device!Copy !req
52. But this is only one of several
narrative inconsistencies in the story.Copy !req
53. For instance, in Episode One Vorg
comments on the rarity and distance
of the Tellurian species,Copy !req
54. but he later claims that he's worked
in Tellurian fairgrounds.Copy !req
55. Likewise, Vorg tells Pletrac
that the specimens are kept
in their own sealed chambers,Copy !req
56. when he has just seen the Doctor and Jo
wandering around in the workings
of the Scope.Copy !req
57. At the time of filming, the Robert
Dundas was owned by the ship breaking
firm, Thomas W. Ward Ltd of Sheffield.Copy !req
58. Agreement had been reached with the BBC
on 24 May 1972,Copy !req
59. that the on board filming would
take place on 30 and 31 May
for a facility fee of £50.Copy !req
60. However, for reasons unknown,
the production office had to shift the
filming dates to the end of the week -
1 and 2 June.Copy !req
61. This change of date caused
a slight problem for Thomas W. Ward Ltd.Copy !req
62. After the filming, the vessel was due
to be towed from Sheerness over
to Grays in Essex to be dismantled.Copy !req
63. This now had to be done on Saturday
5 June rather than during the week,Copy !req
64. so the tug contractor needed
to pay his two men
weekend overtime rates for the job.Copy !req
65. On 3 July 1972, the company wrote
to the production office, informing them
of the extra costs, totalling £218.Copy !req
66. Would Doctor Who be willing to share
the expense by paying 50% of the total?Copy !req
67. Barry Letts agreed that the BBC should
stump up, and a cheque for £109 was
forwarded to the firm ten days later.Copy !req
68. Shirna is played by Cheryl Hall
(born 1950).Copy !req
69. She has played a vast number of roles
in British television over the years,Copy !req
70. from Special Branch (1969) to Callan
(1970 and 1972), from Sykes (1972) to
The Sweeney (1975) to Survivors (1977),Copy !req
71. but she is best remembered as Shirley,
the girlfriend of Wolfie Smith
in the sitcom, Citizen Smith (1977-9).Copy !req
72. During the 1990s,
she entered the political arena,
standing in two general elections.Copy !req
73. In 1992, she was the Liberal candidate
for Ashton-under-Lyne,Copy !req
74. but came fourth with only
a 2.1% share of the vote.Copy !req
75. Five years later, in 1997,
she stood as the Labour candidate
for Canterbury in KentCopy !req
76. and came second, behind the
Conservative candidate,
with a 31.3% share of the vote.Copy !req
77. Later she served for a time
on Kent County Council
as the Leader of the Labour group.Copy !req
78. In Holmes's original
'Out of the Labyrinth' storyline,Copy !req
79. Pletrac 4 is horrified at the sudden
appearance of the Doctor and Jo.Copy !req
80. He says that they will have to be dealt
with by a decontamination squad.Copy !req
81. The Doctor is incensed and tells
Pletrac 4 that there is a grave danger
that the Drashigs will follow them out
of the Strobe.Copy !req
82. If they break free, then
the whole planet will be threatened.Copy !req
83. The Doctor tells them to bring their
most devastating weapons and destroy
the Drashigs as they break out.Copy !req
84. Pletrac 4 is appalled. They have no
Such barbarities were renounced
at the Andromeda Convention.Copy !req
85. Shirna tells Vorg that they have
to disconnect the power feed, which
will kill everything inside the Strobe.Copy !req
86. Vorg opposes this, but Shirna wrestles
the key from the power unit
and runs to the Doctor.Copy !req
87. She explains to him what must be done
to destroy the Strobe.Copy !req
88. Jo begs him to remember
the people on board the SS Bernice.
To cut the power would be murder.Copy !req
89. Pletrac 4 is unmoved: Shirna
has the solution and the Strobe
must be destroyed immediately.Copy !req
90. The Doctor asks for more time -
they must wait until
the last possible moment.Copy !req
91. Pletrac 4's nerve breaks
and he wrests the key from Shirna
and runs to the power unit,Copy !req
92. but the contacts are old and corroded
and they break off
as he tries to throw the switch,
leaving the power line intact.Copy !req
93. It seems that the last chance is gone,
but the Doctor hopes to activate
the Strobe's feedback circuit,Copy !req
94. sending all the life-forms
in the machine back
to their own place and time.Copy !req
95. The first Drashig emerges, and
the Doctor kills it with a power cable.Copy !req
96. He then energises the Strobe's hull,
temporarily deterring the rest
of the creatures.Copy !req
97. The Doctor frantically works
on the machine, knowing that one false
move would be enough to electrocute him,Copy !req
98. but he makes the final connection,
screws the trigger mechanism back
in place and throws the switch.Copy !req
99. The Strobe shudders and vibrates and
as the energy drains, the screen goes
black. Suddenly, the Strobe is empty.Copy !req
100. "It sags and corrodes like
a mechanical Dorian Gray
as its support system collapses."Copy !req
101. Pletrac 4 hands the Doctor and Jo buff
"Application for Immigration"
forms to be filled in.Copy !req
102. They go into the TARDIS "to fetch
a pen", and leave - irregular behaviour
which annoys Pletrac 4.Copy !req
103. Vorg and Shirna begin polishing up
their old song-and-dance act,Copy !req
104. and Major Daly finally finishes his book
and crosses June 5th off the calendar.
It has been a long day...Copy !req
105. On reading the outline,
Terrance Dicks noted,Copy !req
106. "Ep. 4 needs more in it -
needs to be more complex."Copy !req
107. Holmes's later amendments saw
the introduction of a device
called the Abstractor,Copy !req
108. which is "levelled at the Glo-sphere
and ready to suck away any noxious
substance that may emerge".Copy !req
109. This became the Eradicator
in the transmitted episode.Copy !req
110. With the Doctor and Vorg's help,
Jo escapes from the Scope
with the Drashigs in hot pursuit.Copy !req
111. As the creatures finally break out,
Pletrac attempts to cut
the main power feed to the machine,Copy !req
112. but nothing happens - evil X10
has already linked up
a secondary power input.Copy !req
113. Gloating over his triumph and with the
presidential sceptre within his grasp,
X10 is unexpectedly eaten
by the Drashigs.Copy !req
114. The creatures are then electrocuted
by the Doctor using a power lead
from the TARDIS.Copy !req
115. After 'Carnival of Monsters',
the Drashigs made two cameo appearances
in later Doctor Who stories.Copy !req
116. In the next story, 'Frontier in Space',
the Master tries to condition Jo's mind
by showing her the things
she most fears.Copy !req
117. One of the images she sees
is the head of a Drashig.Copy !req
118. Later, in 'Planet of the Spiders',
the Doctor asks Professor Clegg
to focus his psychic powers
on the sonic screwdriver.Copy !req
119. He sees mental images of the Drashigs
bursting from the Grundle swamps.Copy !req
120. The gag you've just seen,
of Vorg getting Shirna to identify
the live connection by touching it,Copy !req
121. is rather similar to a scene that Robert
Holmes had written for his earlier
story, 'The Space Pirates' (1969),Copy !req
122. where Milo Clancy is trying
to disconnect a control device, guided
by the Doctor's voice over the radio.Copy !req
123. Milo searches for a "little red wire",
and there is a loud crack as he gets
a shock, much to the Doctor's amusement.Copy !req
124. It looks like someone in the studio has
been trying to wipe the Scope's screen!Copy !req
125. Kalik is about to give Orum his hand
weapon, something that is not indicated
in the script.Copy !req
126. The reason for having Kalik completely
disarmed will become apparent
very shortly.Copy !req
127. "National Service" was the common term
for compulsory conscription
by the government,Copy !req
128. usually into military
or associated duties.Copy !req
129. In Britain, National Service Acts
were passed during the Second World War
and conscription lasted
until the end of 1960.Copy !req
130. In 1974, Malcolm Hulke, who had scripted
seven Doctor Who stories since 1967,Copy !req
131. published the book, Writing
for Television in the 70s -Copy !req
132. an "indispensable handbook
for those seeking to write successfully
for the medium".Copy !req
133. One of Hulke's examples of scripting
was 'Carnival of Monsters'.Copy !req
134. The book reproduced several pages
of script for the start of the first
episode, with comments by Barry Letts
and Robert Holmes.Copy !req
135. In the short passage he submitted
for the book, Holmes explained how much
he enjoyed writing for Doctor Who. ;Copy !req
136. the programme "releases a writer
from his normal mental straitjacket"
enabling him to
"leave the padded cell of reality'sCopy !req
137. for him, writing for Doctor Who was "an
enjoyable and refreshing experience".Copy !req
138. Having given Orum his handgun, Kalik now
has no defence against the Drashigs.Copy !req
139. In 1972, the BBC celebrated
its 50th anniversary.Copy !req
140. One of the programmes made that year
to commemorate the event was Looking In,
shown on 7 November 1972.Copy !req
141. This 90-minute documentary by film-maker
Robert Vas looked back at the output
of BBC television over the years,Copy !req
142. and featured material shot in Studio
Three during the final recording block
of 'Carnival of Monsters'.Copy !req
143. As well as rehearsals, scenery movementsCopy !req
144. and shots of Barry Letts
and his team in the gallery,Copy !req
145. the Looking In cameras also captured
an effects shot being recordedCopy !req
146. showing a Drashig with
a miniature figure of Kalik in its mouth
in the process of being devoured!Copy !req
147. Letts evidently didn't feel that the
shot was suitable, and it was edited out
of the final episode.Copy !req
148. The quantity of effects work to be
accomplished in the last studio dayCopy !req
149. meant that a substantial
80-minute overrun occurred.Copy !req
150. Barry Letts explained in his memo
to the Head of Serials:Copy !req
151. "The reason for the overrun was,
in the last analysis, the story itself.Copy !req
152. "The only possible way adequately
to cover a plotline involving
the intercutting of two entirely
dissimilar backgroundsCopy !req
153. "was to record each background
separately and later cut them together.Copy !req
154. "The result - which I should have
foreseen - was an inordinate number
of recording breaks on each recording.Copy !req
155. "One other factor was involved.
Our monsters were experimental.Copy !req
156. "Puppets on CSO turn out to be
in many ways more effective
that actors in costume,Copy !req
157. "but are much more time-consuming
in performance."Copy !req
158. Work on the studio floor finished
25 minutes into the agreed overrun,Copy !req
159. but then all the opening
and closing title sequences needed
to be recorded in the gallery,Copy !req
160. accounting for the extra time.Copy !req
161. Ready for a final time anomaly?Copy !req
162. Watch for the white-spined book
on the shelf, ninth from the right.Copy !req
163. That's Notes of A Hypocrite by Christine
Singer, first published in 1966.Copy !req
164. To paraphrase the Doctor in Episode One,
if this really is the SS Bernice,
and we are in 1926,Copy !req
165. then Christine Singer's book seems to
have slipped back in time some 40 years.Copy !req
166. It was Jon Pertwee's suggestion that
his friend Tenniel Evans (1926-2009)
Be cast in 'Carnival of Monsters'.Copy !req
167. Pertwee assumed that he would be given
the role of Vorg,Copy !req
168. but Barry Letts was already thinking
of Leslie Dwyer,
as he had a music hall background,Copy !req
169. so Evans was given the role
of Major Daly instead.Copy !req
170. In 1969, it was Tenniel Evans's
suggestion that Jon Pertwee put his name
forward to be the new Doctor Who.Copy !req
171. A section of the scene was edited out
after Vorg tells Pletrac that his
natural reaction was to stand and fight.Copy !req
172. Pletrac tells the Doctor that he cannot
leave as he'll have to give evidence
at a court of enquiry.Copy !req
173. Orum has confessed that he and Kalik
were plotting to discredit the President
by letting the Drashigs escape.Copy !req
174. Jo argues that if he has a confession,
their evidence won't be needed,Copy !req
175. but Pletrac retorts that they must
follow the correct procedures.Copy !req
176. Notice that the top of the space
container is no more than
some roughly-cut corrugated
cardboard sprayed silver!Copy !req
177. In November 1981, 'Carnival of Monsters'
was repeated as part of
the Five Faces of Doctor Who season.Copy !req
178. Barry Letts was so appalled by
the state of Peter Halliday's bald cap
in this sceneCopy !req
179. that he asked for the removal of most
of the shots of Vorg and Pletrac playing
the Magam pods game.Copy !req
180. The repeat version picks up
as the Doctor tells Jo that they don't
need to worry too much about Vorg.Copy !req
181. The 1981 repeat won respectable ratings
of 4.9, 4.5, 5.6 and 6 million viewers
respectively.Copy !req
182. Four days after the first transmission
of this episode,Copy !req
183. a meeting of senior BBC executives
noted that the adventure had ended
in fine form.Copy !req
184. Huw Weldon, the Managing Director
of Television, was (as usual)
Glad to hear that the Daleks
were about to return,Copy !req
185. a happy event due in the following
two stories - 'Frontier in Space'
and 'Planet of the Daleks'.Copy !req
186. Uncredited production contributorsCopy !req
187. Christopher D'Oyly-John
(Production Assistant)Copy !req
188. Karilyn Collier
(Assistant Floor Manager)Copy !req
189. Francis Alcock (Director's Assistant)Copy !req
190. Colin Munn (Film Assistant)Copy !req
191. Alec Christison (Sound Assistant)Copy !req
192. Lan Pleeth (Floor Assistant)Copy !req
193. Reg Hutchins (Technical Manager)Copy !req
194. Gordon Phillipson (Grams)Copy !req
195. Bill Morton (Vision Mixer)Copy !req
196. And Camera Crew 11.Copy !req
197. Production subtitles written
by Richard BignellCopy !req
198. with thanks to Keith Miller.
ve just got to fix this junction box.Copy !req
199. - Come on, Jo.
- I can't...Copy !req
200. - Come on!
- I can't get my breath.Copy !req
201. Come on, the circuits are going.
Come on, Jo!Copy !req
202. Come on, one last effort.
We're nearly there.Copy !req
203. - Daddy...
- Claire. (GRUNTS)Copy !req
204. - Oh, Daddy.
- My dear.Copy !req
205. - What's the matter?
- Give us a hand.Copy !req
206. Heat exhaustion. I should
never have brought her out here.Copy !req
207. Ah, the transporter has arrived at last.Copy !req
208. Yes, it is time to get
the aliens aboard.Copy !req
209. Why was it delayed?Copy !req
210. One understands that the functionaries
at the transporter depotCopy !req
211. are refusing to work double shifts.Copy !req
212. What impudence!Copy !req
213. Yes, the functionaries
are getting above themselves.Copy !req
214. We live in troubled times.Copy !req
215. Oh, do get out of the way, Orum.Copy !req
216. Quick! The eradicator!Copy !req
217. Sabotage! Run for your lives!Copy !req
218. This way!Copy !req
219. Vorg, look here!Copy !req
220. Look out!Copy !req
221. Vorg.Copy !req
222. Vorg. The phase two switch.Copy !req
223. Well, that's that.Copy !req
224. - What about the Doctor?
- Oh, it must be too late.Copy !req
225. - Well, we can try.
- If you like.Copy !req
226. It's no use.
The power's completely gone.Copy !req
227. No... No, wait a minute.Copy !req
228. - I'll have to switch it off.
- But you can't!Copy !req
229. Well, that's it, then.Copy !req
230. No, wait!Copy !req
231. It worked!Copy !req
232. Hello, Vorg.
You cut that a bit fine, didn't you?Copy !req
233. We had a spot of bother here.Copy !req
234. - Doctor?
- It's all right, Jo.Copy !req
235. It's all right, Jo. We've made it.Copy !req
236. - Well, where are the others?
- Others?Copy !req
237. - Well, yes, on the ship.
- Well, I reversed the original settingsCopy !req
238. and linked them to the Tardis,
so they should still be on the ship.Copy !req
239. But back in 1926 in the Indian Ocean?Copy !req
240. Yes, exactly.Copy !req
241. - Who is it?
- Only me.Copy !req
242. - I didn't wake you, did I?
- Of course not.Copy !req
243. I wouldn't want to wake you
just to say goodnight.Copy !req
244. - I've been reading.
- Have you finished it?Copy !req
245. Yeah.Copy !req
246. Seems like the longest book
I ever read in my life.Copy !req
247. It does seem to have been
a long trip somehow.Copy !req
248. - Daddy?
- Hmm?Copy !req
249. Oh... Nothing.Copy !req
250. Disappointing ending, you know.Copy !req
251. Fellow became a missionary.
I thought he was going to marry her.Copy !req
252. Oh, you are an old romantic,
aren't you, Daddy?Copy !req
253. I bet half your stories
about the East are just romances.Copy !req
254. You'll see for yourself
tomorrow, Claire. Bombay.Copy !req
255. Mmm-hmm. I'm looking forward to that.Copy !req
256. I don't think young Andrews is, though.
(CHUCKLES)Copy !req
257. That's what I mean, you see. Romantic.Copy !req
258. - Goodnight, Daddy.
- Goodnight, my child.Copy !req
259. Sleep well.Copy !req
260. There was this second monster,
barrelling in at 90 degrees,Copy !req
261. practically breathing down my neck and
I swung like this, you see, keeping low,Copy !req
262. and I gave him a quick burst
right in the vitals.Copy !req
263. Snap shot, it was.Copy !req
264. We are all extremely grateful to you.
Your valour will not be forgotten.Copy !req
265. Well, it's my natural reaction
to stand and fight, you know.Copy !req
266. Our President will almost certainly wish
to honour our Lurman guestsCopy !req
267. - for their courageous action.
- Some form of decoration, perhaps?Copy !req
268. But how are going to live?Copy !req
269. The scope's had it and we haven't
a credit bar to our name.Copy !req
270. You leave that to me, my dear.
I say, Pletrac, old man,Copy !req
271. now let me show you a little trick.
I'm so sorry.Copy !req
272. Now, I have here three magum pods
and a yarrow seed.Copy !req
273. Right?Copy !req
274. Now, I place the yarrow seed
under the middle pod, like so.Copy !req
275. Now, I move them very, very slowly.
Now watch.Copy !req
276. - Yes.
- Watch carefully. Are you watching?Copy !req
277. You tell me which pod
you think the seed is under.Copy !req
278. - The middle one.
- The middle one?Copy !req
279. You wouldn't like to wager, say,Copy !req
280. a couple of credit bars
on your judgement, would you?Copy !req
281. Certainly.
One will wager two credit barsCopy !req
282. if the seed is under the middle pod.Copy !req
283. (SCOFFS) One can hardly discount
the evidence of one's eyes.Copy !req
284. Oh. You're unlucky.Copy !req
285. One was obviously too hasty.Copy !req
286. One will not make the same
mistake the second time.Copy !req
287. - Another little wager?
- Five credit bars. No, 10.Copy !req
288. Whatever you say, Pletrac. Thank you.
You know, I'm going to like it here.Copy !req
289. You remind me of the Wallarians,
you know.Copy !req
290. They're great sportsmen, too. (LAUGHS)Copy !req
291. I don't think we need to worry
about our friend Vorg.Copy !req
292. He'll probably wind up President!Copy !req
293. Very, very slowly, like that.
Now keep watching.Copy !req
294. Now you tell me which pod you
think the seed is under.Copy !req
295. I'm giving you a chance to...Copy !req