# Image of the Fendahl

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Image_of_the_Fendahl
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Image_of_the_Fendahl.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_of_the_Fendahl
> Source revision: 1348259326
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

1977 Doctor Who serial

094 – Image of the Fendahl Doctor Who serial Cast Doctor Tom Baker – Fourth Doctor Companion Louise Jameson – Leela Others Denis Lill – Dr. Fendelman Scott Fredericks – Max Stael Wanda Ventham – Thea Ransome Edward Arthur – Adam Colby Daphne Heard – Martha Tyler Geoffrey Hinsliff – Jack Tyler Edward Evans – Ted Moss Derek Martin – David Mitchell Graham Simpson – Hiker Production Directed by George Spenton-Foster Written by Chris Boucher Script editor Robert Holmes Produced by Graham Williams Executive producer None Music by Dudley Simpson Production code 4X Series Season 15 Running time 4 episodes, 25 minutes each First broadcast 29 October – 19 November 1977 Chronology ← Preceded by The Invisible Enemy Followed by → The Sun Makers List of episodes (1963–1989)

***Image of the Fendahl*** is the third serial of the [15th season](/source/Doctor_Who_(season_15)) of the British [science fiction television](/source/Science_fiction_television) series *[Doctor Who](/source/Doctor_Who)*, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on [BBC1](/source/BBC1) from 29 October to 19 November 1977.

The serial was [Chris Boucher](/source/Chris_Boucher_(writer))'s third and final script for the series and is set in an English priory, where the cultist Max Stael ([Scott Fredericks](/source/Scott_Fredericks)) prepares the scientist Thea Ransome ([Wanda Ventham](/source/Wanda_Ventham)) to be possessed and transformed by an ancient gestalt alien called a Fendahl.

## Plot

In a priory near the village of Fetchborough, four scientists, Adam Colby, Max Stael, Thea Ransome and Dr. Fendelman, are doing tests on a human skull they found in Kenya, apparently twelve million years old. The skull pre-dates the known chronology of humans on earth, suggesting that humans originated not on Earth, which is the basis of the major scientific discovery the team is working in. When Dr. Fendelman starts using a sonic time scan, trying to get an image of the owner of the skull, the skull itself seems to react, locking onto Thea and releasing something in the priory grounds that kills a passing hiker, who eventually totally disintegrates.

The scan catches the attention of the [Fourth Doctor](/source/Fourth_Doctor) and [Leela](/source/Leela_(Doctor_Who)) when they are pulled down to Earth by it. They set off to find it before it creates a continuum implosion and destroys the planet. They separate and Leela finds the cottage of ‘Mother’ Tyler, a local modern-day witch gifted with psychic powers. The Doctor ends up narrowly avoiding death at the hands of the creature created by the skull, which then kills the leader of a detachment of guards Fendelman has brought in after the death of the hiker, sealing everyone into the priory.

Mrs Tyler then encounters the creature but survives and is saved from going into psychic shock by the Doctor, who by this time has worked out that the thing is a Fendahleen, a creature from his planet's mythology, supposedly destroyed when the Fifth Planet broke up. He makes his way into the priory and finds the skull, which tries to kill him. Leela saves him and they go off to the Fifth Planet, only to find that the Time Lords sealed the planet in a Time Loop, making all proper records invisible even to them.

Thea, meanwhile, has been gradually converted into the new core of the Fendahl, a creature that feeds off life energy and leaves nothing behind. Stael, leader of the local black magic cult, recognises this and believes he can control the Fendahl and use it to dominate. He and his followers capture Colby, kill Fendelman, who was actually influenced through his genetics by the Fendahl to bring this about, and set up the Sonic Time scanner to power the skull and Thea's final transformation.

The Doctor, Leela, Mrs Tyler and her grandson Jack head for the priory only to find the Fendahl core has formed and is converting the cult members into Fendahleen, to form the full circle. The Doctor frees Colby and helps Stael shoot himself after killing one of the new Fendahleen, in turn finding out that they are fatally allergic to salt, leaving the Fendahl core two short of the twelve it needs to be complete and form a [gestalt](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/gestalt). The Doctor rigs the scanner to implode upon itself and grabs the now dormant skull, leaving with the others only just before the priory is destroyed, along with the Fendahl core and the remaining Fendahleen. The Doctor and Leela then leave and plan to dump the skull near a supernova, thus ending the Fendahl race forever.

## Production

Writer [Chris Boucher](/source/Chris_Boucher_(writer)) was commissioned to write the story (his third for the series) on 2 May 1977. He delivered the first episode just two days later, the final one being submitted on the 17 June.[1] Boucher had drawn on the 1967 film (rather than the 1958 TV original) *[Quatermass and the Pit](/source/Quatermass_and_the_Pit_(film))* and the 1959 [Kurt Vonnegut](/source/Kurt_Vonnegut) novel *[The Sirens of Titan](/source/The_Sirens_of_Titan)* including the discovering of an alien skull linked to occult symbols, alien influence of mankind's evolution and the dormant alien influence being brought to bear in contemporary humanity.[2] He also took inspiration from the work of archaeologist [Louis Leakey](/source/Louis_Leakey) who had been excavating human remains for many years until his death in 1972. Boucher named Colby's dog Leakey as a tribute to him, although later realised that people would miss the reference and assume the name came because "he pissed all over everything!"[3] [Terrance Dicks](/source/Terrance_Dicks)' subsequent novelisation of the serial in fact gives both reasons for the name. At the initial read through [Tom Baker](/source/Tom_Baker) made numerous jokes about the script, picking out all the double entendres and sending it up. This caused Boucher great upset at the time, but had the knock-on effect of him combing through his scripts from there on for any signs of double entendres.[3] Boucher never wrote for the series again, immediately after this becoming script editor on *[Blake's 7](/source/Blake's_7)* for four years and as the BBC didn't want anyone working on two shows at the same time. Boucher would write another script concerning an alien gestalt entity, for the 1981 *Blake's 7* episode "Rescue".

Producer [Graham Williams](/source/Graham_Williams_(television_producer)) had worked with director [George Spenton-Foster](/source/George_Spenton-Foster) previously on *[Z-Cars](/source/Z-Cars)* and chose him to direct this serial due to his experience with night filming. Spenton-Foster would direct one more time for the series in the following year's *[The Ribos Operation](/source/The_Ribos_Operation)*. Script editor on the serial was [Robert Holmes](/source/Robert_Holmes_(scriptwriter)) in his final assignment. During the work he was trailed by incoming editor [Anthony Read](/source/Anthony_Read), who would subsequently take up the role solely for the next story in production order *[Underworld](/source/Underworld_(Doctor_Who))* (the following transmitted story *[The Sun Makers](/source/The_Sun_Makers)* having been recorded before *Image of the Fendahl*). Read had been a television producer but was asked by BBC Head of Serials [Graeme McDonald](/source/Graeme_McDonald) to be script editor to which Read refused until he learned it was for *Doctor Who*.[4] McDonald had read through the scripts for *Fendahl* and objected to a scene in part four which showed Stael raise a gun to his mouth. This was changed at the order of producer Williams and the gunshot is only heard. Following this serial, the horror elements under Holmes' guidance were considerably toned down at the order of McDonald.[4]

The exterior scenes were shot on the [Stargroves](/source/Stargroves) estate in [Hampshire](/source/Hampshire), which was owned by [Mick Jagger](/source/Mick_Jagger).[5] The same location had been used during the filming of *[Pyramids of Mars](/source/Pyramids_of_Mars)*. Filming began on Monday 1 August 1977 and continued until the following Thursday. This included two night shoots for the serial on the Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The first night's filming was disrupted when the generator caught fire. Another generator had to be ordered from London and arrived at 4 am. Filming at the estate had only been agreed on the 26 July – less than a week before filming began, with the instruction (as had been the case with "Pyramids of Mars") that no effects or explosions were to be undertaken given that the property was a [Grade II listed building](/source/Listed_building). Two days after filming was completed Tom Baker and [Louise Jameson](/source/Louise_Jameson) attended the world's first ever *Doctor Who* convention in London. Following rehearsals, studio recording for the serial began on Saturday 20 August and was completed on 6 September 1977.[1] Jameson regards this as one of her best stories due to it being written by Chris Boucher, who had created Leela. It was, however, during the making of this serial that she decided to leave at the end of the series.[4]

[Wanda Ventham](/source/Wanda_Ventham), playing Thea, had previously appeared in *[The Faceless Ones](/source/The_Faceless_Ones)*, and would subsequently appear in *[Time and the Rani](/source/Time_and_the_Rani)*, her three appearances each being ten years apart: 1967, 1977 and 1987. Ventham had in fact auditioned for the [James Bond](/source/James_Bond) film *[Goldfinger](/source/Goldfinger_(film))*, but lost out to [Shirley Eaton](/source/Shirley_Eaton) and therefore was excited to be painted gold in this serial, as would have been the case in *Goldfinger*. She also had to wear a dark wig as the human Thea, as Spenton-Foster thought that her natural blonde hair would lose credibility as a scientist.[4] [Denis Lill](/source/Denis_Lill), cast as Fendelman, was the production team's second choice after actor [Anthony Bate](/source/Anthony_Bate) became unavailable. Lill would subsequently appear in the 1984 story *[The Awakening](/source/The_Awakening_(Doctor_Who))* and was Ventham's husband in the sitcom *[Only Fools and Horses](/source/Only_Fools_and_Horses)*. [Scott Fredericks](/source/Scott_Fredericks) had played Boaz in 1972's *[Day of the Daleks](/source/Day_of_the_Daleks)* and was later cast by Spenton-Foster in the *Blake's 7* episode "Weapon" alongside [Graham Simpson](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Graham_Simpson_(businessman)&action=edit&redlink=1) who also appears in this story. [Derek Martin](/source/Derek_Martin) had appeared a number of times in *Doctor Who* as an extra, going back to 1965 and subsequently as a stuntman with the HAVOC group, who had taken part in a number of early serials featuring [Jon Pertwee](/source/Jon_Pertwee) as the Doctor. This was his first and only work on the series as an actor. [Geoffrey Hinsliff](/source/Geoffrey_Hinsliff) who played Jack would go on to appear in the 1979 story *[Nightmare of Eden](/source/Nightmare_of_Eden)*.

## Broadcast and reception

Episode Title Run time Original release date UK viewers (millions) [6] 1 "Part One" 24:38 29 October 1977 (1977-10-29) 6.7 2 "Part Two" 24:44 5 November 1977 (1977-11-05) 7.5 3 "Part Three" 24:22 12 November 1977 (1977-11-12) 7.9 4 "Part Four" 20:32 19 November 1977 (1977-11-19) 9.1

[Paul Cornell](/source/Paul_Cornell), [Martin Day](/source/Martin_Day_(writer)), and [Keith Topping](/source/Keith_Topping) wrote in *[The Discontinuity Guide](/source/The_Discontinuity_Guide)* (1995) that *Image of the Fendahl* was "one of the best stabs at outright horror in *Doctor Who'*s history". They said it was "possibly one episode too long... but the verve of the production more than makes up for this."[7] In *The Television Companion* (1998), [David J. Howe](/source/David_J._Howe) and Stephen James Walker felt that the scripts were "a little vague when it comes to certain details about the Fendahleen" and the Fendahl was "something of a disappointment", but they praised the supporting characters, in particular Daphne Heard's performance, who "plays the role to perfection and is largely responsible for conveying the sense of high tension and anticipation in the latter episodes". They considered *Image of the Fendahl* to be "one of the last truly frightening *Doctor Who* stories".[8]

Patrick Mulkern of *[Radio Times](/source/Radio_Times)* awarded it four stars out of five. He considered Chris Boucher's scripts "his strongest for the series" and described the story as "indeed a 'good one', if not quite great, and a highlight of a dodgy season." He praised Baker's performance, saying he was "fully engaged with the drama, providing a pleasing balance of gravitas and flippancy" but noted that Leela was "toned down". He acknowledged that it is "often cited as the last gasp of the horror sub-genre prevalent in earlier seasons" but added that "punches are pulled" and regarded it as "more like a tale of the supernatural" with "atmospheric night filming and an unusually eerie soundscape." Mulkern concluded that it was "a serial that is the sum of its admirable parts" and "one of the least fraught behind the scenes in season 15".[9] [DVD Talk](/source/DVD_Talk)'s John Sinnott gave *Image of the Fendahl* three and a half out of five stars, praising the atmosphere but noting that the slow start and "rather convoluted story" held it back from being a classic.[10]

The second episode of this serial attained a 75% score on the [Audience Appreciation Index](/source/Audience_Appreciation_Index), a record high up to this point.[1]

## Commercial releases

### In print

Doctor Who and the Image of the Fendahl Author Terrance Dicks Cover artist John Geary Series Doctor Who book: Target novelisations Release number 34 Publisher Target Books Publication date 26 July 1979 ISBN 0-426-20077-2

A novelisation of this serial, written by [Terrance Dicks](/source/Terrance_Dicks), was published by [Target Books](/source/Target_Books) in May 1979. The book's cover (painted by John Geary) was once voted as the worst in the series by readers of [DWB magazine](/source/Dreamwatch).

### Home media

This story was released on [VHS](/source/VHS) in March 1993 and on [DVD](/source/DVD) on 20 April 2009 (1 September 2009 in North America). This serial was also released as part of the [Doctor Who DVD Files](/source/Doctor_Who_DVD_Files) in issue 70 on 7 September 2011. In March 2024, the story was released again in an upgraded format for Blu-ray, being included with the other stories from Season 15 in the *Doctor Who - The Collection Box Set*.[11]

## Critical analysis

A book length study of the serial, written by [Simon Bucher-Jones](/source/Simon_Bucher-Jones), was published as part of [The Black Archive](/source/The_Black_Archive) series from [Obverse Books](/source/Obverse_Books) in 2016.[12]

The serial was covered in volume 27 of the [Doctor Who: The Complete History](/source/Doctor_Who_Magazine#Doctor_Who:_The_Complete_History_(2015–2019)) book series, which reprinted Andrew Pixley's *Archive* features from *Doctor Who Magazine* and the various *Doctor Who Magazine Special Editions*, as well as new articles created specifically for the book.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DVD_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DVD_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DVD_1-2) DVD Information text. BBC DVD, 2 Entertain, 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-pit_2-0)** [Barnes, Alan](/source/Alan_Barnes_(writer)) (28 February 2007). "The Fact of Fiction: Image of the Fendahl". *[Doctor Who Magazine](/source/Doctor_Who_Magazine)* (379): 42–50.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DWM_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DWM_3-1) *[Doctor Who Magazine](/source/Doctor_Who_Magazine)*, Chris Boucher interview. Issue 261 (11 February 1998)

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-after_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-after_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-after_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-after_4-3) *After Image*, Programme documentary, BBC DVD, 2009

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Mulkern, Patrick. ["Image of the Fendahl ★★★★"](http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2010-10-20/image-of-the-fendahl/). Radio Times. Retrieved 9 September 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-AllRatings_6-0)** ["Ratings Guide"](http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=date). *Doctor Who News*. Retrieved 28 May 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-discontinuity_7-0)** [Cornell, Paul](/source/Paul_Cornell); [Day, Martin](/source/Martin_Day_(writer)); [Topping, Keith](/source/Keith_Topping) (1995). ["Image of the Fendahl"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006q2x0). *[The Discontinuity Guide](/source/The_Discontinuity_Guide)*. London: [Virgin Books](/source/Virgin_Books). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-426-20442-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-426-20442-5).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-television_companion_8-0)** [Howe, David J](/source/David_J._Howe) & [Walker, Stephen James](/source/Stephen_James_Walker) (1998). [*Doctor Who: The Television Companion*](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006q2x0) (1st ed.). London: [BBC Books](/source/BBC_Books). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-563-40588-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-563-40588-7).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_multiple_names:_authors_list))

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Radio_Times_9-0)** Mulkern, Patrick (21 October 2010). ["Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl"](https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2010-10-20/image-of-the-fendahl/). *[Radio Times](/source/Radio_Times)*. Retrieved 20 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-DVD_Talk_10-0)** Sinnott, John (2 October 2009). ["Doctor Who: Image of the Fendahl"](http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/38642/doctor-who-image-of-the-fendahl-episode-94-2009/). [DVD Talk](/source/DVD_Talk). Retrieved 20 October 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Doctor Who – The Collection Season 15 Blu-Ray. Release date: 18 March 2024. BBC Video. ASIN: B0CRZ88MYK

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Bucher-Jones, Simon (2016). *Image of the fendahl*. Place of publication not identified: Obverse Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-909031-41-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-909031-41-8). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [945390720](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/945390720).

## External links

Wikiquote has quotations related to ***[Fourth Doctor](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Fourth_Doctor)***.

- [*Image of the Fendahl*](https://web.archive.org/web/201901/https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/imageoffendahl) at [BBC Online](/source/BBC_Online) (archived from [the original](https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/imageoffendahl) in 2019)

- [IMDB *Doctor Who* - *Image of the Fendahl*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0562853/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1)

- [*Image of the Fendahl*](https://tardis.wiki/wiki/Image_of_the_Fendahl_(TV_story)) on [Tardis Wiki](https://tardis.wiki/wiki/), the *Doctor Who* Wiki

- [*Image of the Fendahl*](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgbV3xiNYpM) on [YouTube](/source/YouTube_video_(identifier))

### Target novelisation

- [*Doctor Who and the Image of The Fendahl*](https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?10610) title listing at the [Internet Speculative Fiction Database](/source/Internet_Speculative_Fiction_Database)

v t e Doctor Who episodes Original series Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 Film Missing episodes Revived series Series 1 2 3 4 2008–2010 specials 5 6 7 2013 specials 8 9 10 11 12 13 2022 specials 2023 specials 14 15 Season 15 Horror of Fang Rock The Invisible Enemy Image of the Fendahl The Sun Makers Underworld The Invasion of Time Christmas and New Year's specials Supplementary episodes Missing episodes

v t e Doctor Who: Fourth Doctor stories Television Season 12 Robot The Ark in Space The Sontaran Experiment Genesis of the Daleks Revenge of the Cybermen Season 13 Terror of the Zygons Planet of Evil Pyramids of Mars The Android Invasion The Brain of Morbius The Seeds of Doom Season 14 The Masque of Mandragora The Hand of Fear The Deadly Assassin The Face of Evil The Robots of Death The Talons of Weng-Chiang Season 15 Horror of Fang Rock The Invisible Enemy Image of the Fendahl The Sun Makers Underworld The Invasion of Time Season 16 The Ribos Operation The Pirate Planet The Stones of Blood The Androids of Tara The Power of Kroll The Armageddon Factor Season 17 Destiny of the Daleks City of Death The Creature from the Pit Nightmare of Eden The Horns of Nimon Shada (unaired) Season 18 The Leisure Hive Meglos Full Circle State of Decay Warriors' Gate The Keeper of Traken Logopolis Minor appearances Planet of the Spiders "The Name of the Doctor" "The Day of the Doctor" "The Witch's Familiar" See also "The Five Doctors" Dimensions in Time Audio The Nest Cottage Chronicles Hornets' Nest Demon Quest Serpent Crest The Fourth Doctor Adventures Season 1 The Renaissance Man The Wrath of the Iceni Energy of the Daleks Trail of the White Worm / The Oseidon Adventure Season 2 The Auntie Matter The Sands of Life Novel adaptations The Romance of Crime The English Way of Death The Well-Mannered War Other "Exploration Earth: The Time Machine" Doctor Who and the Pescatons The Companion Chronicles Night of the Stormcrow Babblesphere Classic Doctors, New Monsters Someone I Once Knew Out of Time See also The Kingmaker Books Missing Adventures Evolution The Romance of Crime System Shock Managra The English Way of Death The Shadow of Weng-Chiang The Well-Mannered War Past Doctor Adventures Millennium Shock Corpse Marker Tomb of Valdemar Festival of Death Asylum Psi-ence Fiction Wolfsbane Match of the Day Novellas Ghost Ship Video games Dalek Attack Destiny of the Doctors Legacy Lego Dimensions

v t e Doctor Who: K9 stories Television Fourth Doctor The Invisible Enemy Image of the Fendahl The Sun Makers Underworld The Invasion of Time Destiny of the Daleks The Creature from the Pit Nightmare of Eden The Horns of Nimon Shada (unaired) The Leisure Hive Meglos Full Circle State of Decay Warriors' Gate Tenth Doctor "School Reunion" Other appearances Major K-9 and Company The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith K9 Minor "The Five Doctors" "Journey's End" See also Dimensions in Time Audio The Monthly Adventures Zagreus Shada Novel adaptions The Romance of Crime The English Way of Death The Well-Mannered War Other The Companion Chronicles The Sands of Life A Forever Home Tenth Doctor, Classic Companions Books Missing Adventures The Romance of Crime The English Way of Death The Shadow of Weng-Chiang The Well-Mannered War New Adventures Falls the Shadow Lungbarrow The Dying Days Beige Planet Mars Past Doctor Adventures Tomb of Valdemar Festival of Death Eighth Doctor Adventures Interference – Book One The Gallifrey Chronicles Other The Essential Book of K9 Video games Lego Dimensions

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Image of the Fendahl](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_of_the_Fendahl) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_of_the_Fendahl?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.