The Curse of Fenric

154 – The Curse of Fenric
Doctor Who serial
Haemovore converts prepare to feast.
Cast
Doctor Sylvester McCoy (Seventh Doctor)
Companion Sophie Aldred (Ace)
Others Dinsdale Landen — Dr Judson Alfred Lynch — Commander Millington Stevan Rimkus — Captain Bates Marcus Hutton — Sgt Leigh Christien Anholt — Perkins Tomek Bork — Captain Sorin Peter Czajkowski — Sgt Prozorov Marek Anton — Vershinin Mark Conrad — Petrossian Nicholas Parsons — Rev Wainwright Janet Henfrey — Miss Hardaker Joann Kenny — Jean Joanne Bell — Phyllis Anne Reid — Nurse Crane Cory Pulman — Kathleen Dudman Aaron Hanley — Baby Audrey Raymond Trickett — Ancient Haemovore
Production
Directed by	Nicholas Mallett John Nathan-Turner (uncredited)
Written by	Ian Briggs
Script editor	Andrew Cartmel
Produced by	John Nathan-Turner
Incidental music composer	Mark Ayres
Production code	7M
Series	Season 26
Length	4 episodes, 25 minutes each
Date started	25 October 1989
Date ended	15 November 1989
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → Ghost Light Survival

The Curse of Fenric

Author	Ian Briggs
Cover artist	Alister Pearson
Series	Doctor Who book: Target novelisations
Release number	151
Publisher	Target Books
Publication date	15 November 1990
ISBN

Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric
Soundtrack album by Mark Ayres
Released	1991
Genre	Soundtrack
Length	72:09
Label	Silva Screen
Mark Ayres chronology
Myths and Other Legends (1990) Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric (1991) Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1992)
Doctor Who soundtrack chronology
The Doctor Who 25th Anniversary Album (1988) Doctor Who: The Curse of Fenric (1991) Doctor Who: The Greatest Show in the Galaxy (1991)

The Curse of Fenric is the penultimate serial of the 26th season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 25 October to 15 November 1989. Unusually, two further versions of this story exist: the 1991 video release incorporated about six minutes of extra material into the original narrative, and the 2003 DVD included a 'Special Edition' edited into a single movie-length feature, with new special effects, re-editing of some scenes, and 12 minutes of unbroadcast footage.

The Doctor and Ace arrive at a British naval installation near Maiden's Point on the Northumbrian coast during World War II. Befriending the base personnel, they learn that the base, run by Commander Millington, is being used as a listening post to intercept and translate German coded messages using the Ultima supercomputer and to stockpile a supply of a lethal nerve gas. Meanwhile, wheelchair-user Dr. Judson has also been using Ultima to help decipher Viking runes found in catacombs beneath the base, warning of a being called Fenric, which has attracted Millington's attention, he believing that he can gain Fenric's power. Outside the base, the Doctor and Ace discover a covert squad of Soviet commandos, led by Captain Sorin, who are seeking to capture Ultima; the Doctor warns them to lie low, while Ace and Sorin become smitten with each other.

The Doctor and Ace find a glowing oriental vase, a treasure captured by the Vikings and left in the catacombs, but it is taken by Millington when they return to the base. As Millington and Judson prepare to use Ultima to decipher the writings on the vase, vampire-like Haemovores begin to emerge from the sea, attack and convert the English and Soviet troops and other residents into more Haemovores. When Judson runs Ultima with the vase, energy strikes him and he becomes infused with Fenric. Fenric begins to give orders to the Ancient One, an old Haemovore in control of the other monsters, to continue to assault anyone in their path. Ace is able to warn one of the WRNS, Kathleen, in time for her to escape with her newborn child, Audrey.