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Classic Who S7 • Serial 3 · (7 episodes)

The Ambassadors of Death

Other variations of this story: The Ambassadors of Death (BBC Audio Soundtrack)

3.54/ 5 330 votes

First aired Saturday, March 21, 1970
Production Code CCC
Directed by Michael Ferguson
Runtime 175 minutes
Time Travel Present
Tropes: (Potential Spoilers!) Black Hole The Doctor Falls Stranded on Earth
Story Arc: (Potential Spoilers!) Exile on Earth Working for UNIT
Inventory: (Potential Spoilers!) Bessie
Locations Earth England
Synopsis

The Third Doctor joins UNIT's investigation of the mystery surrounding Mars Probe 7. Space Control, headed by Professor Ralph Cornish, has had no contact with the astronauts on board since it started back from Mars seven months ago. Now the Recovery 7 rescue mission has run into similar difficulties.

This second ship gets back to Earth, but the astronauts are kidnapped after landing, and Liz Shaw notices that the Geiger counter is at maximum. It transpires that the ship's occupants were not the human astronauts after all but a trio of radiation-dependent alien ambassadors who had swapped places with them.

7 Episodes:

First aired Saturday, March 21, 1970
Runtime 25 minutes
Directed by Michael Ferguson
UK Viewers 7.1 million
Appreciation Index 60

Synopsis

While the Brigadier investigates a loss of contact with Mars Probe 7, the Doctor realises signals coming from the probe are of extra-terrestrial origin.

First aired Saturday, March 28, 1970
Runtime 25 minutes
Directed by Michael Ferguson
UK Viewers 7.6 million
Appreciation Index 61

Synopsis

UNIT retrieve the returned Recovery 7 but then Carrington hijacks it while the Doctor and Liz try to decode the signal he sent.

First aired Saturday, April 4, 1970
Runtime 25 minutes
Directed by Michael Ferguson
UK Viewers 8 million
Appreciation Index 59

Synopsis

Carrington is holding the astronauts at a secret location but when he takes the Doctor, Liz and the Brigadier there they find they have been kidnapped.

First aired Saturday, April 11, 1970
Runtime 25 minutes
Directed by Michael Ferguson
UK Viewers 9.3 million
Appreciation Index 58

Synopsis

Liz has been captured by Reegan's men and the Doctor begins to suspect Taltalian is more involved than he appeared.

First aired Saturday, April 18, 1970
Runtime 25 minutes
Directed by Michael Ferguson
UK Viewers 7.1 million

Synopsis

The Doctor decides to take Recovery 7 back into space to search for the missing astronauts but Reegan sabotages the launch.

First aired Saturday, April 25, 1970
Runtime 25 minutes
Directed by Michael Ferguson
UK Viewers 6.9 million
Appreciation Index 61

Synopsis

The Doctor speaks with the alien captain and learns the astronauts sent to Earth were ambassadors. However, before he can alert the authorities he is kidnapped by Reegan.

First aired Saturday, May 2, 1970
Runtime 25 minutes
Directed by Michael Ferguson
UK Viewers 6.4 million
Appreciation Index 62

Synopsis

Carrington is planning to expose the aliens on live television and call for an interplanetary war and the Brigadier must rescue the Doctor and Liz in time to stop him.

Ratings are from TARDIS Guide members only.

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Other adaptations of this story: