Delta and the Bannermen

146 – Delta and the Bannermen
Doctor Who serial
The Bannermen, preparing to attack.
Cast
Doctor Sylvester McCoy (Seventh Doctor)
Companion Bonnie Langford (Mel Bush)
Others Don Henderson – Gavrok Belinda Mayne – Delta Richard Davies – Burton Stubby Kaye – Weismuller Morgan Deare – Hawk David Kinder – Billy Martyn Geraint – Vinny Sara Griffiths – Rachel 'Ray' Defwydd Hugh Lloyd – Goronwy Ken Dodd – Tollmaster Brian Hibbard – Keillor Johnny Dennis – Murray Leslie Meadows – Adlon Anita Graham – Bollitt Clive Condon – Callon Richard Mitchley – Arrex Tim Scott – Chima Jessica McGough, Amy Osborn – Young Chimeron Laura Collins, Carley Joseph – Chimeron Princess Robin Aspland, Keff McCulloch, Justin Myers, Ralph Salmins – The Lorells Tracey Wilson, Jodie Wilson – Vocalists
Production
Directed by	Chris Clough
Written by	Malcolm Kohll
Script editor	Andrew Cartmel
Produced by	John Nathan-Turner
Executive producer(s)	None
Incidental music composer	Keff McCulloch
Production code	7F
Series	Season 24
Length	3 episodes, 25 minutes each
Originally broadcast	2 November–16 November 1987
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → Paradise Towers Dragonfire
List of Doctor Who serials

Delta and the Bannermen

Author	Malcolm Kohll
Cover artist	Alister Pearson
Series	Doctor Who book: Target novelisations
Release number	135
Publisher	Target Books
Publication date	19 January 1989
ISBN

Delta and the Bannermen is the third serial of the 24th season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in three weekly parts from 2 November to 16 November 1987.

On an alien planet the genocide of the Chimeron by the merciless Bannermen led by Gavrok is almost complete. The last survivor, Chimeron Queen Delta, escapes clutching her egg, the future of her species. She reaches a space tollport where the Navarinos, a race of shape changing tourist aliens, are planning a visit to the planet Earth in 1959 in a spaceship disguised as an old holiday bus. She stows aboard, meeting Mel, while the Doctor follows in the TARDIS. The Doctor and Mel won the trip as a prize for arriving in the Navarino spaceport in time to be declared the ten billionth customers. As the tourist vehicle departs, the Bannermen arrive to hunt down the fugitive, and they kill the tollmaster.

The holiday vehicle from Nostalgia Tours collides with an Earth satellite and is diverted off track, landing at a holiday camp in South Wales rather than Disneyland. They reach the Shangri-La holiday camp, led by camp director Burton, played by Richard Davies. Delta's egg hatches into a bright green baby that starts to grow at a startling rate. The Chimeron Queen supports this development with the equivalent of royal jelly given to bees.

Delta captures the heart of Billy, the camp's mechanic, to the chagrin of Ray, who loves Billy herself. Ray confides her situation to the Doctor, and they stumble across a bounty hunter making contact with the Bannermen to tell them of the Chimeron's whereabouts. Gavrok and his troops soon arrive. Delta and Billy head off for a picnic while the Doctor busies himself coordinating things back at the camp. Meanwhile, the Bannermen have destroyed the Navarino bus with all its passengers.

Two American CIA agents, Hawk and Weismuller, appear on the scene, tracking the missing satellite. Gavrok booby-traps the TARDIS in an attempt to kill the Doctor. A battle ensues with Gavrok and his Bannermen against the Doctor and his crew: Ray & Billy, Goronwy, Mr. Burton and the two CIA agents. The Bannermen are foiled by honey, Goronwy's bees and finally by the amplified scream of the Chimeron child Princess – a sound which is painful to Bannermen.