| The following article is written from an Out of Universe perspective. |
Illegal Alien was the seventh and final story in Season 29. It was written by Mike Tucker and Robert Perry, directed by Chris Clough and features Richard Griffiths as the Doctor, Lisa Bowerman as Bernice Summerfield and John Banks as Henrick.
This story is notable for featuring the return of the Cybermen.
Synopsis
Britain is at war. Night after night the Luftwaffes are bombing London. A serial killer dubbed the Limehouse Lurker is stalking the rubble-strewn streets. But a deadlier threat falls from the sky in the shape of a sinister silver sphere... Cody McBride, ex-pat American private eye, sees the sphere crash-land and split open â and glimpses something emerging from within. But the military dismisses his account of events â the sphere is simply a new German secret weapon that has malfunctioned in some way. What else could it be? Arriving amid the chaos, the Doctor, Henrick and Bernice are the only people to believe McBride. The sphere bears all the hallmarks of sophisticated alien technology â and whatever was inside it is now loose in London. Before long, they have embarked on a trail that brings them face to face with hidden Nazi operatives â and some very old enemies...
Plot
Part 1
To be added.
Part 2
To be added.
Part 3
To be added.
Part 4
To be added.
Cast
- The Doctor - Richard Griffiths
- Bernice Summerfield - Lisa Bowerman
- Henrick - John Banks
- Cody McBride - John Alderton
- George Limb - Sean Arnold
- Chief Inspector Patrick Mullen - Bill Bailey
- Major Lazonby - Paul Barber
- Captain Hartman - Richard Armitage
- Wall - Terence Rigby
- Doctor Peddler - Simon Cadell
- The Limehouse Lurker - Michael Kilgariff
- Cyber-Leader - David Banks
- Cybermen - Mark Hardy, Brian Orrell
- Colonel T.P. Potter - Norman Lovett
- Washington/Mama - John Grillo
- Sharkey - Richard Cubison
- Caretaker - Leon Tanner
- Dr Ruth Walsh - Anne Havard
- Constable Quick - Mike Haywood
- SS Brigadier General Kraus - Ian Rose
- General Schumacher- Nick Orchard
- Rosemary - Cynthia Powell
- Sid Napley - Peter Laxton
- Josh - Daniel André Pageon
- Deputy ReichsfĂŒhrer Reinhard Heydrich - Chris Sanders
- Wilkins - Richard Jamieson
- Frank - Michael Robbins
Crew
- Writer - Mike Tucker & Robert Perry
- Producer - Ian Fraser
- Script Editor - Ben Aaronovitch
- Director - Chris Clough
- Lighting - Brian Handley
- Designer - Kim Ledsham
- Visual Effects Designers - Malcom James, Dave Chapman
- Make-Up Designer - Denise Baron
- Casting Director - Anne Henderson
- Music - Mark Ayres
- Costume Designer - Ken Trew
- Edited by - Howard Billingham
- Vision Mixer - Julie Miller
- Original Theme Music - Ron Grainer
- Title Music - Mark Ayres
- Title Sequence by CAL Video
Memorable Quotes
To be added.
Background Information
Production History
- To be added.
Development
- The original draft of this story was written for Season 26, and featured the Seventh Doctor and Ace. However, due to The Curse of Fenric being set in World War II, the story was canceled.
- The story was then proposed for Season 27, but was pushed back to Season 28; replacing the Seventh Doctor with the Eighth Doctor and Ace with Katie Tollinger. Henrick was also added into this draft.
- The story was pushed back to Season 29, where it was finally commissioned. Katie was removed from this draft and replaced with Bernice Summerfield.
Production
- To be added.
Post-Production
- To be added.
Reaction
- Official BARB ratings: 8.4m for Part One, 8.6m for Part Two, 8.8m for Part Three and 8.1m for Part Four.
Story Notes
- This story introduces a new design for the Cybermen, which would go on to be used in The Lords of Time and Iceberg.
- This is the first Cyberman story since Revenge of the Cybermen not to feature the Cyberman design introduced in Earthshock.
- This is the first story to feature the Cybermats since Revenge of the Cybermen in Season 12.
Continuity
- The Doctor expresses distain about his reputation as a manipulator and chess master. (DW: The Curse of Fenric)
- The Doctor carries a UNIT pass dated 1980 that was purchased by either his Third or Fourth incarnation. (DW: Battlefield)
- The Doctor mentions the Dalek Invasion of Earth in the 22nd century. (DW: The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
- The Cybermen repeatedly say âYou will be like usâ. (DW: The Tomb of the Cybermen)