SEASON TWELVE AT FIFTY (CODA): 'TERROR OF THE ZYGONS'

Saturday, November 15, 2025

SEASON TWELVE AT FIFTY (CODA): 'TERROR OF THE ZYGONS'

Beware the Zygons! Art by Alister Pearson.

In this thrilling adventure, the Doctor (Tom Baker) defends Earth from invasion by horrific transforming aliens. Arriving in Scotland at the request of the Brigadier, the Doctor discovers that the mysterious force which has destroyed three oil rigs has left giant teeth marks on the wreckage.

The mystery deepens leading them to the shores of Loch Ness where they find that the legendary monster really does exist. Part-Cyborg, part-organic, the terrible creature is the murderous tool of the Zygons, aliens intent on overpowering the planet.

The Doctor and his companions must find a way to defeat the deadly Loch Ness Monster and its controllers, but the Zygons have the terrifying power to change shape and the Doctor is in grave danger when he finds that his friends and allies are not always what they seem...

Original BBC Video VHS synopsis - 1988

With the Classic Series now entering the greatest phase in its audience popularity, I was immediately hooked by Terror of the Zygons - it was certainly very atmospheric and very, very scary - like Davros beforehand, I found the Zygons terrifying to look at for many years, especially deep within their brilliant lit sets and backed up with eerie music by Geoffrey Burgon. I recall vividly the scenes of the duplicate Harry attacking Sarah (I wasn't surprised the scene was trimmed on the later VHS compilation release!), the Skaresen chasing the Doctor and later emergent from the Thames (at my age back then I wasn't worried about how wonky it first looked!), plus the final confrontation between Broton and the Doctor at the Energy Commission headquarters. I also fondly remember seeing the Target paperback book cover for the story, for the first time, at the 'Book Boat' at Greenwich (whose selection of Who titles opened my eyes to how many books there had so far been in the range!), my mum and dad having prior bought a selection of Who novels there for me, but us not having enough money to buy it until a few years later...

And I loved seeing Terror on its aforementioned BBC Video VHS release with my family back in the late eighties. I recall how we all enjoyed it and how it brought back great memories of 1975. And no, I didn't get to see the Who's then glossy rival, Space: 1999, airing on the London Weekend Television region in September, 1975, until a good while after! Even though the story would ultimately be used as the introduction to the show's thirteenth season, I can't help watching the show at home these days as part of Season Twelve instead (of which it was originally planned for). To me, it works so perfectly as the closer to Tom Baker's first important, hugely successful year in the title role.

Terror of the Zygons ★★★★★ | Radio Times

James Acheson's iconic concept design for the Zygons.

Classic posed publicity image of the Doctor in danger.

A deleted beginning, as the Doctor, Sarah and Harry arrive in Scotland to answer the Brigadier's summons. The TARDIS becomes invisible.

A pensive publicity image of Tom in his distinctive Scottish get-up, during location filming in Surrey.

Arriving at the Fox Inn of Tulloch Moor, the Doctor and his friends must solve the mystery of the destroyed American/Scottish oil rigs.

The Doctor liaises with UNIT and American Rig Boss Mister Huckle (Tony Sibbald) on what has been determined as an underwater creature attack.

With Harry shot down for saving a stricken Oil Rig survivor, Sarah attends to him but is soon threatened by a shape-changing Zygon in the excellent Part One cliffhanger.For the Doctor Who DVD Files UK. Art by Tom Connell.

The same scene also brilliantly rendered by Daryl Joyce.

A Zygon snares the Doctor and Sarah in the medical centre's compression chamber, which they eventually escape from. Colourized image by Clayton Hickman.

The wounded Harry, now a prisoner of the Zygons, who soon outline to him their plans for the conquest of Earth.

Another great posed publicity image of Ian Marter with John Woodnutt as Broton, leader of the small force of Zygons located under the infamous Loch Ness.

Broton takes command of the underwater ship's bio-engineered controls. The Zygons must surely rank as the greatest monsters created for the Classic Series.

The Doctor must rid himself of the Skarasen beast's homing device at all costs.

The Zygon's pet creature, the Skarasen attacks the Doctor on Tulloch Moor.

Both escaped from the Zygons, a great publicity images of Elisabeth Sladen and Ian Marter.

Captured by the Zygons in a scene specially shot for publicity purposes.

The Doctor is almost killed sending a tracking signal to UNIT.

Broton, now the only surviving Zygon corners the Doctor in London.

Our heroes watch the Skarasen beast depart the Thames and head back to Loch Ness.

Sad to see him go, Harry elects to stay Earthbound as the Doctor and Sarah continue their adventures.

Behind the scenes of the Zygon interior, at BBC TV centre in 1975.

Leading in to the new Season 13, launched by the story, Tom Baker hosts a memorable Disney Time film clip special in September 1975. Colourized and restored image by Clayton Hickman.