The Deadly Assassin

088 – The Deadly Assassin
Doctor Who serial
The Lord President in the sights of the deadly assassin
Cast
Doctor Tom Baker (Fourth Doctor)
Others Peter Pratt — The Master Angus MacKay — Borusa Bernard Horsfall — Chancellor Goth Erik Chitty — Co-Ordinator Engin George Pravda — Castellan Spandrell Derek Seaton — Commander Hilred Maurice Quick — Gold Usher Hugh Walters — Runcible Llewellyn Rees — The President John Dawson, Michael Bilton — Time Lords Peter Mayock — Solis Helen Blatch — Voice
Production
Directed by	David Maloney
Written by	Robert Holmes
Script editor	Robert Holmes (uncredited)
Produced by	Philip Hinchcliffe
Executive producer(s)	None
Incidental music composer	Dudley Simpson
Production code	4P
Series	Season 14
Length	4 episodes, 25 minutes each
Originally broadcast	30 October – 20 November 1976
Chronology
← Preceded by Followed by → The Hand of Fear The Face of Evil

Doctor Who and the Deadly Assassin

Author	Terrance Dicks
Cover artist	Mike Little
Series	Doctor Who book: Target novelisations
Release number	19
Publisher	Target Books
Publication date	20 October 1977
ISBN

The Deadly Assassin is the third serial of the 14th season of the British science fiction television programme Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 30 October to 20 November 1976. It is the first story to feature the Doctor without a companion, with Sarah Jane Smith departing in the previous story and Leela joining in the next story. This serial also re-introduces the Doctor's long time nemesis, the Master, for the first time since Frontier in Space; in this story played by Peter Pratt.

The Fourth Doctor has arrived on Gallifrey after receiving a mysterious summons from the Time Lords and having a precognitive vision about the President of the Time Lords being assassinated.

As soon as the TARDIS materialises within the Citadel, it is surrounded by the Chancellery Guard. Commander Hilred reports to Castellan Spandrell, noting the TARDIS is a Type 40 time capsule, which is no longer in service. The soldiers are ordered to impound the TARDIS and arrest the occupant. The Doctor realises that the Time Lords did not summon him.

Spandrell goes to see Coordinator Engin in the Archives Section. Hilred and his troops enter the TARDIS, but the Doctor sneaks out and makes his way to a service lift that leads to the main tower. A soldier who threatens to place the Doctor under arrest is killed by a phantom-like figure who disappears. All of this has been observed by the Doctor's old adversary, the Master.

Chancellor Goth arrives outside the TARDIS. Inside the TARDIS, the Doctor is watching a news broadcast by a reporter he recognises as Runcible, a classmate from his days at the Academy. The President is set to retire and to name a successor. Runcible is talking to Cardinal Borusa, one of the Doctor's former teachers.