Stories Television Doctor Who Season 15 Serial: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Horror of Fang Rock Original Story TV Soundtrack Original Story TV Soundtrack 1 image Overview Episodes Characters How to Watch Reviews 8 Statistics Related Stories Quotes 4 Transcript Overview First aired Saturday, September 3, 1977 Production Code 4V Written by Terrance Dicks Directed by Paddy Russell Runtime 100 minutes Time Travel Past Tropes (Potential Spoilers!) Base Under Siege, Shape Shifting, Spaceship Location (Potential Spoilers!) Earth, England, Fang Rock Synopsis The Doctor and Leela arrive at a lighthouse on the island of Fang Rock off the south coast of England, a place of rumour and tales of beasts from the sea. In the minutes before their arrival, a strange light fell from the sky which was followed by an unnatural glow in the ocean, a thick fog has appeared out of nowhere, the lighthouse power flow has become strangely erratic and one of the keepers is dead. Has the fabled Beast of Fang Rock returned? Watch Watched Favourite Favourited Add Review Edit Review Log a repeat Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Owned Save to my list Saved Edit date completed Custom Date Release Date Archive (no date) Save 4 Episodes Part One First aired Saturday, September 3, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terrance Dicks Directed by Paddy Russell UK Viewers 6.8 million Appreciation Index 58 Synopsis The English channel, the 1900s AD. The TARDIS lands on barren Fang Rock, inhabited until now only by three lighthouse keepers. But what is the strange fog covering the island, and can it be connected to the falling star sighted earlier that night? Part Two First aired Saturday, September 10, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terrance Dicks Directed by Paddy Russell UK Viewers 7.1 million Synopsis The survivors of a wrecked ship are stranded with the lighhouse crew on Fang Rock as a deadly menace slithers through the fog. Has the Beast of Fang Rock returned? Part Three First aired Saturday, September 17, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terrance Dicks Directed by Paddy Russell UK Viewers 9.8 million Appreciation Index 60 Synopsis The Doctor barricades everyone in the lighthouse to protect them from the mysterious deadly creature in the fog. But it may already be inside, biding its time… Part Four First aired Saturday, September 24, 1977 Runtime 25 minutes Written by Terrance Dicks Directed by Paddy Russell UK Viewers 9.9 million Appreciation Index 57 Synopsis The Rutan starts picking off the surviving humans one by one as the Doctor and Leela struggle to defeat not only the alien but an entire fleet waiting to occupy Earth. Show All Episodes Characters Fourth Doctor Leela Rutans First Appearance Show All Characters (3) How to watch Horror of Fang Rock: Watch on iPlayer Blu-Ray The Collection – Season 15 DVD Horror of Fang Rock VHS Horror of Fang Rock (VHS) Reviews Add Review Edit Review Sort: Date (Newest First) Date (Oldest First) Likes (High-Low) Likes (Low-High) Rating (High-Low) Rating (Low-High) Word count (High-Low) Word count (Low-High) Username (A-Z) Username (Z-A) Spoilers First Spoilers Last 8 reviews 16 April 2025 · 44 words Review by Rock_Angel 1 I think this might be hands down one of the best 4 n Leela stories it’s definitely the strongest opener for Tom so far and it’s such a hammer horror vibe the hinchcliff era tried and failed to do so many times for my liking Rock_Angel View profile Like Liked 1 19 March 2025 · 84 words Review by KieranCooper Right up my alley, this story is, spooky, by the sea, and gloomy as hell Leela and the Doctor as a Tardis team works so well here it's great This story is a little grim, considering everyone dies The Rutan makes for a great foe Honestly would 4 stars but I found the random introduction of the new character midway just a bit unnecessary, either have them all there already or not at all, felt a bit like they were starting to stretch the story KieranCooper View profile Like Liked 0 5 November 2024 · 130 words Review by dema1020 Spoilers 1 This review contains spoilers! I quite like Horror of Fang Rock overall, with a fun sense of characters in a distinct setting, and a very strong sense of atmosphere. I'd rate it higher but it really feels like we are giving similar plot beats to another season premiere story, Terror of the Zygons, and I much prefer the earlier version with Sarah and Harry over Leela. I don't have anything against Louise Jameson or her character, she just feels a little more awkward here compared to most other Fourth Doctor companions. I find the whole bit around changing her eye colours weirdly distracting for something so trivial. I don't know. I enjoyed this one overall but can see how this was a start of a bit of a weird season in Doctor Who history. dema1020 View profile Like Liked 1 26 October 2024 · 82 words Review by Bongo50 1 Horror of Fang Rock is an excellent serial with lots of tension and some genuinely scary moments. The plot completely engorossed me throughout, and I feel that the characters are really strong and well-put-together: the dislikable characters are really dislikable and all characters seem well-motivated. Yes, some of the special effects are dated (although there is a version with updated special effects on the The Collection - Season 15 Blu-ray boxset) but, if you can overlook that, there's a really solid story here. Bongo50 View profile Like Liked 1 24 September 2024 · 78 words Review by AndyUK Spoilers This review contains spoilers! This story still very much has the feel of the Hinchcliffe era, with a terrific claustrophobic atmosphere throughout as an alien force begins picking through the cast by one on one, and Tom Baker and Louise Jameson are on top form. Only thing that lets it down slightly is I think the Rutan is a slight anti-climax, mainly because the design is a bit too silly for my tastes. Definitely a great way to open the season though. AndyUK View profile Like Liked 0 Show All Reviews (8) Open in new window Statistics AVG. Rating444 members 3.98 / 5 Trakt.tv AVG. Rating361 votes 3.72 / 5 Member Statistics Watched 799 Favourited 97 Reviewed 8 Saved 7 Skipped 1 Related Stories The Lucy Wilson Mysteries The Keeper of Fang Rock Rating: ??? Story Skipped Book More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: The Lucy Wilson Mysteries Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved The Lucy Wilson Mysteries The Phantoms of Tusker Rock Rating: ??? Story Skipped Book More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: The Lucy Wilson Mysteries Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Other adaptations of this story: We define an adaptation as a recreation of a similar story but on a different medium or with different characters. Target Collection Doctor Who and the Horror of Fang Rock Rating: 3.93 Story Skipped Book Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: Target Collection Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Other variations of this story We define a variation as another way of experiencing the exact same story - like an autiobook, a reconstruction or an omnibus edition. BBC Audio Soundtracks Horror of Fang Rock (BBC Audio Soundtrack) Rating: ??? Story Skipped Soundtrack Reviews(1) More Actions View Sets Close Related Sets Set of Stories: BBC Audio Soundtracks Add Review Edit Review Skip Skipped Unowned Owned Save to my list Saved Quotes Add Quote Link to Quote Favourite LEELA: Silence! You will do as the Doctor instructs, or I will cut out your heart. — Leela, Horror of Fang Rock Show All Quotes (4) Open in new window Transcript Needs checking Part One [Lamp gallery] (A blazing object streaks through the atmosphere and lands in the sea near a lighthouse. One of the keepers, a young man, watches it through a telescope on the small gallery running round the outside of the lantern room. Although it is night, the lantern is not lit. All the men speak with 'yokel' accents, presumably meant to be West Country.) VINCE: Ere, Reuben. Come and look, quick.REUBEN: What is it, boy?VINCE: This light, shot across the sky. Went under the sea, it did, and the sea was all glowing. Over there. (Reuben looks through the telescope.) Show Full Transcript Open in new window