The Dalek Invasion of Earth

Directed by

Runtime

150 minutes

Story Type

Companion Exit

Time Travel

Future

Tropes (Potential Spoilers!)

Earth Invasion, Mind Control, Mining, Post apocalyptic, Slave Labour

Location (Potential Spoilers!)

Bedfordshire, Earth, England, London

Synopsis

The TARDIS returns to London; however, it's the 22nd century. With bodies in the river, and quiet in the Docklands, the city is a very different place. The Daleks have invaded and it's up to the Doctor to thwart them once again.

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6 Episodes

World’s End

First aired

Saturday, November 21, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

Ian and Barbara believe the TARDIS has finally returned to their contemporary London, but soon discover signs of plague and warfare. Their old enemies, the Daleks, have invaded the Earth of the 22nd century. Separated and fighting for their lives, the travellers must try to aid the remaining humans and overthrow the Daleks' cruel tyranny.

The Daleks

First aired

Saturday, November 28, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

12.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor and Ian are taken to the Dalek saucer while Susan and Barbara join the rebels in planning an attack.

Day of Reckoning

First aired

Saturday, December 5, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor manages to escape from the Dalek saucer and meet up with Susan and David but Ian is left trapped onboard. Meanwhile, Barbara and her new friends face a dangerous journey across London.

The End of Tomorrow

First aired

Saturday, December 12, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.9 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

While Susan and David try to find a way out of London, Ian and Larry infiltrate the Dalek mine workings.

The Waking Ally

First aired

Saturday, December 19, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

11.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Doctor's party investigate the Daleks' central control in Bedfordshire while Barbara and Jenny's attempt to reach it are derailed when they are betrayed.

Flashpoint

First aired

Saturday, December 26, 1964

Runtime

25 minutes

Written by

Directed by

UK Viewers

12.4 million

Appreciation Index

Synopsis

The Daleks' plan to transform Earth into a giant spaceship and wipe out its inhabitants is nearing completion and the Doctor and his friends face a race against time to prevent them from destroying the planet's core.

Characters

First Doctor

William Hartnell

Susan

Carole Ann Ford

How to watch The Dalek Invasion of Earth:

Watch on iPlayer

Blu-Ray

The Collection – Season 2

DVD

The Dalek Collection

DVD

40th Anniversary 1963-2003: Dalek Collector‘s Edition

DVD

The Dalek Invasion of Earth

VHS

The Dalek Invasion of Earth (VHS) (Part 1)

VHS

The Dalek Invasion of Earth (VHS) (Part 2)

VHS

Daleks: The Early Years (VHS)

Reviews
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19 reviews

This review contains spoilers!

Well I remembered this one being better, I still like it but the main issue is that the plot gets thinner the longer the serial goes on.

The main highlights are the worldbuilding with Britain's post-apolacyptic setting after the Dalek invasion and how the survivors are portrayed. I loved the first two episodes for capturing perfectly this doomed world, plus the first few minutes are amazing with the Roboman jumping into the river with the famous signpost behind him. The deserted streets of London with the Daleks patrolling are etched in my mind at this point too, for how powerful and famous scenes they are. The two ladies turning Barbara and her companion in after getting food from them was as dark as I remembered, especially when the older one justifies the decision by saying that they "would have been captured anyway". Yeah, I can believe they just survived an invasion. (The thing with the two brothers is good but not as impactful for me)

Then the middle episodes are practically filler, with some good bits in between like Dortmun's sacrifice or the shot of the slaves carrying the Daleks and the robomen into the mines. A lot of running around until they finally beat the Daleks, hurrah! The shot of the survivors leaving the mines while fighting the Daleks is pretty good too.

A part from all that, the highlight of the episode is Susan's departure. The Doctor is almost completely absent in this serial, Ian and Barbara are the true heroes here, but he (thankfully) gets the best part of the serial. His speech is so well written, and so wonderfully delivered, that makes this episode go from remarkable with several caveats to outstanding in my mind.

So yeah, I watched this two years ago and I remembered it as being exceptional compared to the other 1st Doctor serials, but my opinion of the episode has gone down a bit as a result of a problem that is practically found in every serial of Classic Who, the stories are made longer for production reasons and not because the scripts are better off (funnily enough the exact reverse problem happens with the most recent seasons haha). Even then, the heart of the story is still excellent and it is still one of my favourite 1st Doctor stories.

MarkOfGilead19

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Review last edited on 3-06-25

I was really surprised how genuinely action packed each episode of this serial were.

CastleNerevar

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Review last edited on 2-06-25

This review contains spoilers!

Why does nobody talk about that one bit where one of the rebels sees his brother who got turned into a Roboman and he tries to reach him but it doesn’t work and instead they end up killing each other? That’s what I like to see. Make a vivid world. Use your concepts for some emotional devastation. Have Barbara run over some Daleks. Poor Susan being left behind with only one shoe though 🙁

Song: Uprising by Muse

skarosdrones

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Review last edited on 10-05-25

This review contains spoilers!

if Barbara ploughing into a bunch of Daleks with a truck isn't in your top 15 doctor who moments I do not want to know you

kawaii2234

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Review last edited on 3-05-25

This review contains spoilers!

An indisputable classic. Iconic scenes of Daleks in London, the "it is forbidden to dump bodies in the river" sign, and of course the Doctor's farewell speech to Susan. Would of been even better with an episode or two less.

Scottybguud

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Review last edited on 20-03-25