Enlightenment (Doctor Who)

127 – Enlightenment
Doctor Who serial
Docking at the home of the Enlighteners
Cast
Doctor Peter Davison (Fifth Doctor)
Companions Janet Fielding (Tegan Jovanka) Mark Strickson (Vislor Turlough)
Others Cyril Luckham — White Guardian Valentine Dyall — Black Guardian Keith Barron — Striker Christopher Brown — Marriner Lynda Baron — Wrack Leee John — Mansell James McClure — First Officer Tony Caunter — Jackson Clive Kneller — Collier
Production
Directed by	Fiona Cumming
Written by	Barbara Clegg
Script editor	Eric Saward
Produced by	John Nathan-Turner
Executive producer(s)	None
Incidental music composer	Malcolm Clarke
Production code	6H
Series	Season 20
Length	4 episodes, 25 minutes each
Originally broadcast	1 March 1983 – 9 March 1983
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → Terminus The King's Demons
List of Doctor Who serials

Enlightenment

Author	Barbara Clegg
Cover artist	Andrew Skilleter
Series	Doctor Who book: Target novelisations
Release number	85
Publisher	Target Books
Publication date	24 May 1984
ISBN

Enlightenment is the fifth serial of the 20th season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which aired on BBC1 in four twice-weekly parts from 1 March 1983 to 9 March 1983. The 127th serial of the series,Enlightenment was the third of three loosely connected serials known as the Black Guardian Trilogy. It was written by Barbara Clegg and directed by Fiona Cumming.

In the serial, alien time traveller the Doctor (Peter Davison) and his companions Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding) and Vislor Turlough (Mark Strickson) encounter a group of god-like immortals who are racing historical Earth sailing vessels through space, crewed by humans they had plucked out of time, in an attempt to win the prize of the titular enlightenment. Turlough is under the control of the Black Guardian (Valentine Dyall), but struggles with the Guardian's orders to kill the Doctor.

The serial's production was beset by problems caused by industrial action taken by electricians at the BBC during filming. It was eventually finished three months behind schedule, but the unavailability of several actors for new filming dates forced the production team to recast their parts at short notice. Enlightenment averaged of 6.8 million viewers per episode on its first transmission and received generally positive reviews from critics. The story was novelised by its writer, Barbara Clegg, as part of the ongoing Target Books range in 1984 and was released on video and DVD in 1993 and 2009 respectively.