Doctor Who: Season 17

1979 · 20 episodes · ★ 6.9

What Season 17 of Doctor Who

The season opens with the Doctor and Romana traveling together, and Lalla Ward joins the cast as Romana II. On Skaro, the Daleks' home planet, creatures dig for something the Doctor fears, while the Movellans complicate matters. Later, in Paris in 1979, Count Scarlioni and his time travel experiments disrupt the flow of time. On Chloris, the ruthless Adrasta holds the Doctor captive and tests those who defy her with a deadly pit. The series closes the cycle with the ship Empress, fused with the Hecate over the planet Azure, and with the Skonnons and the Nimon in deep space.

20episodes

Sep 1, 1979premiered

Jan 12, 1980Latest episode

8.3 hrtotal runtime

Season 17 Episodes

17x01 Destiny of the Daleks (1)
Sep 1, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 7.7
Skaro, the Dalek homeworld, some time in the future. The TARDIS lands in the irradiated ruins of the old Kaled city and something is moving underneath the wasted surface of the planet…
Directing: Ken Grieve · Writer: Terry Nation · Cast: Suzanne Danielle, Tim Barlow, Tony Osoba, Peter Straker
17x02 Destiny of the Daleks (2)
Sep 8, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 7.4
Romana has been captured by the Daleks, the Doctor is the guest of the Movellans. The Daleks are drilling deep into Skaro for something and the Doctor has an awful suspicion about their objective…
Directing: Ken Grieve · Writer: Terry Nation · Cast: Suzanne Danielle, David Yip, Tim Barlow, Tony Osoba
17x03 Destiny of the Daleks (3)
Sep 15, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 7.4
The Daleks have awoken Davros in the heart of Skaro. Only the Doctor and the Movellans stand between them and their objective. But are the Movellans really on the Doctor's side?
Directing: Ken Grieve · Writer: Terry Nation · Cast: Suzanne Danielle, David Yip, Tim Barlow, Tony Osoba
17x04 Destiny of the Daleks (4)
Sep 22, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 7.5
Trapped between the Movellans and the Daleks, the Doctor must find a way to defeat both. Meanwhile, vast space fleets await new orders.
Directing: Ken Grieve · Writer: Terry Nation · Cast: Suzanne Danielle, David Yip, Tim Barlow, Tony Osoba
17x05 City of Death (1)
Sep 29, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 8.5
Paris, 1979. The Doctor and Romana are here on holiday, but something is disturbing the flow of time. Could the time travel experiments of Count Scarlioni be to blame?
Directing: Michael Hayes · Writers: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher · Cast: Catherine Schell, Tom Chadbon, Julian Glover, David Graham
17x06 City of Death (2)
Oct 6, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 8.2
Captured by the Count, the Doctor and Romana uncover an elaborate plan to steal the Mona Lisa. But there is more to Scarlioni's plans than a simple theft.
Directing: Michael Hayes · Writers: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher · Cast: Catherine Schell, Tom Chadbon, Julian Glover, David Graham
17x07 City of Death (3)
Oct 13, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 8.2
The Doctor and Romana unwrap an intricate plot involving aliens, time travel and the Mona Lisa. How is Count Scarlioni living in two times at once? And what does he want?
Directing: Michael Hayes · Writers: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher · Cast: Catherine Schell, Tom Chadbon, Julian Glover, David Graham
17x08 City of Death (4)
Oct 20, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 8.2
Scaroth is determined to go back 400 million years in time to prevent a mistake. But the Doctor must stop him – because the consequences would be disastrous.
Directing: Michael Hayes · Writers: Douglas Adams, Graham Williams, David Fisher · Cast: Catherine Schell, Eleanor Bron, Tom Chadbon, Julian Glover
17x09 The Creature from the Pit (1)
Oct 27, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.3
The planet Chloris. Drawn here by a mysterious distress signal, the Doctor becomes the prisoner of the ruthless Adrasta. A strange and deadly pit awaits those who displease her.
Directing: Christopher Barry · Writer: David Fisher · Cast: Morris Barry, Edward Kelsey, John Bryans, Terry Walsh
17x10 The Creature from the Pit (2)
Nov 3, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.6
The Doctor is in a pit with a deadly creature. And Adrasta has plans for Romana and K-9.
Directing: Christopher Barry · Writer: David Fisher · Cast: Geoffrey Bayldon, Edward Kelsey, Myra Frances, John Bryans
17x11 The Creature from the Pit (3)
Nov 10, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.2
The Doctor has come face to face with a massive green creature. Adrasta goes into the mines to kill the monster. But everything is not as it appears…
Directing: Christopher Barry · Writer: David Fisher · Cast: Geoffrey Bayldon, Edward Kelsey, Myra Frances, John Bryans
17x12 The Creature from the Pit (4)
Nov 17, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.2
The truth about the creature is revealed. But its imprisonment may have already set in motion a terrible revenge.
Directing: Christopher Barry · Writer: David Fisher · Cast: Geoffrey Bayldon, Edward Kelsey, Myra Frances, John Bryans
17x13 Nightmare of Eden (1)
Nov 24, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.8
The orbit of the holiday planet, Azure, the year 2116. The starships Empress and Hecate are fused together after an accident in hyperspace. Naturally the Doctor thinks he can find a solution, but has the accident unleashed a far more deadly menace?
Writer: Bob Baker · Cast: Gary Dean
17x14 Nightmare of Eden (2)
Dec 1, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.5
Two ships have collided above Azure but that may be the least of the Doctor's problems. Monsters and drug smugglers are loose on the ship. And it all seems to tie in with Tryst's electronic zoo…
Writer: Bob Baker
17x15 Nightmare of Eden (3)
Dec 8, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.4
The Doctor and Romana begin to uncover the truth about the strange events aboard the luxury liner Empress. They first have to separate the two ships from each other, but they've got Mandrells, drug smugglers and police chasing after them.
Directing: Graham Williams · Writer: Bob Baker
17x16 Nightmare of Eden (4)
Dec 15, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.6
The Doctor finally discovers the truth about the drug smuggling ring. But the villains are still one step ahead.
Directing: Graham Williams · Writer: Bob Baker · Cast: Peter Craze, Lewis Fiander, Geoffrey Hinsliff
17x17 The Horns of Nimon (1)
Dec 22, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.2
Deep space, an unknown time. The TARDIS encounters a disabled Skonnon battlecruiser transporting Anethan 'tribute'. The co-pilot is determined to reach Skonnos at any cost.
Directing: Kenny McBain · Writer: Anthony Read · Cast: Simon Gipps-Kent, Graham Crowden, Janet Ellis, Malcolm Terris
17x18 The Horns of Nimon (2)
Dec 29, 1979 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
Having reached Skonnos, Romana is sent with the Anethians to face the deadly Nimon.
Directing: Kenny McBain · Writer: Anthony Read · Cast: Simon Gipps-Kent, Janet Ellis, Malcolm Terris
17x19 The Horns of Nimon (3)
Jan 5, 1980 · 25 min · ★ 5.8
The Doctor and Romana are trapped in the Nimon's lair. Is he really the last of his race? What are his real intentions toward Skonnos?
Directing: Kenny McBain · Writer: Anthony Read · Cast: Simon Gipps-Kent, Graham Crowden, Janet Ellis, Malcolm Terris
17x20 The Horns of Nimon (4) Season Finale
Jan 12, 1980 · 25 min · ★ 6.0
Romana is trapped on a ruined planet. The Nimons are launching their invasion of Skonnos. Can the Doctor stop the 'Great Journey of Life' ?
Directing: Kenny McBain · Writer: Anthony Read · Cast: Simon Gipps-Kent, Graham Crowden, Janet Ellis, Malcolm Terris