Having escaped the perils of the Daleks on the dead planet of Skaro, followed by their near destruction having been caught up in a destructive space incident, our TARDIS travellers have now come to terms with each other and their ongoing situations. Newly arrived on a world they believe to be Earth, our heroes discover an unusually large footprint in the snowy wastes nearby (in the location known as the Plain of Pamir). Then, adding further complications, the Doctor brings grave news: a key instrument in his ship had broken down and needs to be repaired with elements not currently available to him. As the group, led by Ian and Barbara, chase a mystery creature that could be the legendary Abominable Snowmen, they explore a weather brutal tundra area mountainous area (referred to by people at the time as 'the roof at the end of the world'), they are soon captured by the malevolent War Lord of the Noghai, Tegana (Derren Nesbitt), and taken to meet the legendary explorer from Ian and Barbara's history, the Venetian explorer Marco Polo (Mark Eden).
Selected images by Barry Newbery and Don Smith/ Radio Times/BBC Studios.
The TARDIS, newly arrived in the Himalayas.
Posed publicity image of Susan in her opening episode costume. Colorized by Clayton Hickman.
The Doctor and Ian prepare to join in the fun that Susan and Barbara are having, alongside the soon discovery of an eerily large footprint which would end the prior second episode to The Edge of Destruction.
The Doctor informs them that the lights inside the damaged TARDIS are no longer working and there is no water supply. A piece of vital equipment needs to be mended.
Publicity image of the companions on set.
Exploring the tundra region...
Believed to be evil spirits, Tegana (Derren Nesbitt) and his Mongol warriors prepare to kill the strangers.
Thankfully, the soon presence of Marco Polo stops his plans.
Image via The Black Archive.
One of the Mongol warriors on set, likely at Ealing.
As our heroes comforts are tended to within one of Polo's travelling caravan tents, after their bad experiences in the cold climes (notably altitude sickness), the recovering Doctor is given permission to join the expedition to Cathay so as to repair his unique 'caravan'. But by the time they reach a place of safety in the small area of Lop, Polo sees a unique opportunity and decides to use the TARDIS, against the Doctor's will, what with its unusual abilities as a 'flying caravan', to win the courtly favours of the mighty Chinese ruler Kublai Khan, to whom he's been in long and dutiful service and now wishes to be released from. On his way to seemingly make peace for his people with Kublai Khan, the evil Tegana, however, wants the TARDIS (which he believes is a spiritual contraption of some kind) for his own ambitious and power-boosting purposes, to deliver to his formerly defeated leader, Khan Noghai, and be the cornerstone to their new army's attack on Kublai Khan's sustained empire. Of which Tegana is willing to kill Marco Polo, his expedition, and the Doctor and his companions, in order to get it...
Now in the warmth of one of Marco Polo's tents, our heroes soon find new challenges ahead with their friendly but demanding custodian.
In the company of Marco Polo (Derren Nesbitt), the Doctor begins to recover from his altitude sickness.
Tegana and Marco talk about the Doctor's soon-to-be-picked-up caravan, of which Tegana doesn't believe in its abilities, saying that it looks more like a 'warlord's tomb', and that the newcomers are clearly evil spirits!
Now a part of the caravan, the TARDIS and its occupants depart the Himalayas. Lovely art by Daryl J. Joyce.
Publicity shots of Zienia Merton as Ping-Cho, escorting Marco Polo to Cathay, newly arrived at the way station at Lop.
In one of her earliest TV appearances, Merton would be a stand-out guest star in the story.
The Doctor and his friends hear the bad news from Marco Polo regarding the TARDIS's fate.
The Doctor is outraged by Polo's actions but the explorer remains resolute towards the older man as to the TARDIS's fate.
A contemplative Marco knows how the travellers will take his plans.
Ian confers with Marco about the situation.
Note Marco Polo is wearing the gold seal of Kublai Khan, which gives him total authority with his ruler's subjects.
A frustrated but also bemused Doctor has no idea yet how they'll get back the TARDIS and escape this time period...
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