The Android Invasion

083 – The Android Invasion
Doctor Who serial
The android duplicate of Sarah is revealed
Cast
Doctor Tom Baker (Fourth Doctor)
Companion Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith)
Others Ian Marter — Harry Sullivan John Levene — RSM Benton Milton Johns — Guy Crayford Martin Friend — Styggron Roy Skelton — Chedaki Stuart Fell — Kraal Peter Welch — Morgan Max Faulkner — Corporal Adams Dave Carter — Grierson Patrick Newell — Colonel Faraday Hugh Lund — Matthews Heather Emmanuel — Tessa
Production
Directed by	Barry Letts
Written by	Terry Nation
Script editor	Robert Holmes
Produced by	Philip Hinchcliffe
Executive producer(s)	None
Incidental music composer	Dudley Simpson
Production code	4J
Series	Season 13
Length	4 episodes, 25 minutes each
Originally broadcast	22 November – 13 December 1975
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → Pyramids of Mars The Brain of Morbius
List of Doctor Who serials

Doctor Who and the Android Invasion

Author	Terrance Dicks
Cover artist	Roy Knipe
Series	Doctor Who book: Target novelisations
Release number	(Assigned 2, but never used)
Publisher	Target Books
Publication date	16 November 1978
ISBN

The Android Invasion is the fourth serial of the thirteenth season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on BBC1 in four weekly parts from 22 November to 13 December 1975. The story sees alien time traveller the Doctor (Tom Baker) and his companion Sarah Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) trying to foil an invasion of Earth by an alien race called the Kraals. The serial was directed by former series producer Barry Letts and written by Terry Nation — his first Doctor Who script for eleven years not to feature his creations, the Daleks. The serial marks the last appearances in the programme of both John Levene in his recurring role as Sergeant Benton, and also of Ian Marter, who makes a guest appearance as previous companion Harry Sullivan.

The TARDIS materialises, apparently in the English countryside, where the Doctor detects an odd energy reading. He and Sarah Jane meet a group of men in white suits and opaque helmets who shoot at them with their index fingers. As they flee, the Doctor and Sarah see a UNIT soldier run over a cliff and fall to his death. The Doctor searches the body, finding a wallet full of freshly-minted coins, all dated the same year. They also spot a casket-shaped pod nearby, which the Doctor finds familiar. Pursued again by the white-suited men, they reach a deserted village, which Sarah recognises as Devesham; it is located near to a Space Defence Station. The Doctor finds the same coins in the register of the empty pub. The white suits enter the village, accompanied by the "dead" soldier. Villagers in a trance-like state arrive and distribute themselves around the village. Morgan, the pub landlord, enters along with several others while Sarah and the Doctor hide. The villagers take their seats silently, waiting motionless until the clock strikes, when they suddenly come to life, acting normally.