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Classic Who S15 • Serial 1 · (4 episodes)

Horror of Fang Rock

Other variations of this story: Horror of Fang Rock (BBC Audio Soundtrack)

3.93/ 5 296 votes

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!) Spaceship Base Under Siege Shape Shifting
Locations 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?

4 Episodes:

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?

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?

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…

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.

Ratings are from TARDIS Guide members only.

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Other adaptations of this story: