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Classic Who S16 • Serial 2 · (4 episodes)

The Pirate Planet

3.64/ 5 1,312 votes

First aired Saturday, September 30, 1978
Production Code 5B
Written by Douglas Adams
Directed by Pennant Roberts
Runtime 100 minutes
Time Travel Present
Tropes: (Potential Spoilers!) Pirates Cult Breaking the Fourth Wall
Story Arc: (Potential Spoilers!) The Key to Time
Locations Zanak Calufrax
Synopsis

The Doctor and Romana learn the second segment of the Key to Time is on the planet Calufrax. Yet they arrive on a planet called Zanak, which has been hollowed out and fitted with hyperspace engines, allowing its insane, half-robot Captain to materialise it around smaller planets and plunder their resources.

4 Episodes:

First aired Saturday, September 30, 1978
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Douglas Adams
Directed by Pennant Roberts
UK Viewers 9.1 million
Appreciation Index 61

Synopsis

Planet Zanak, unknown time. The Doctor and Romana are seeking the planet Calufrax where the second segment waits. They are in the right place and the right time… but on the wrong planet.

First aired Saturday, October 7, 1978
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Douglas Adams
Directed by Pennant Roberts
UK Viewers 7.4 million

Synopsis

The Doctor begins to investigate the mysteriously wealthy planet Zanak. Mentiads, a deranged Captain, strange omens, miraculous mines – what does it all mean? And what does it have to do with the Key to Time?

First aired Saturday, October 14, 1978
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Douglas Adams
Directed by Pennant Roberts
UK Viewers 8.2 million
Appreciation Index 64

Synopsis

The Mentiads take the Doctor, Romana and Kimus to a reunion with K9 and Mula, where they set about trying to defeat the Captain.

First aired Saturday, October 21, 1978
Runtime 25 minutes
Written by Douglas Adams
Directed by Pennant Roberts
UK Viewers 8.4 million
Appreciation Index 64

Synopsis

The Captain and Xanxia work toward their secret goals. Both depends on the pirate planet consuming one more victim - Earth.

Ratings are from TARDIS Guide members only.

Other adaptations of this story: