Doctor Who: The Web Planet

The Menoptra captain Hilio is played by well-known actor Martin Jarvis in an early television role.

THE WEB PLANET (*6 Episodes: The Web Planet; The Zarbi; Escapto Danger; Crater of Needles; Invasion; The Centre) - The Tardis is drawn by an unknown force to the planet Vortis. While the Doctor and Ian are busy exploring, the force causes Barbara to leave the Tardis. Eventually she is captured by ant-like creatures - the Zarbi - who are at war with the butterfly-like Menoptera. Barbara is taken to a slave colony and the Zarbi drag the Tardis to their web headquarters. The Doctor and Ian follow the tracks and the Doctor talks to the Animus, an unseen force, about an invasion by the Menoptera to regain their planet. The invasion is a failure, but the Doctor manages to obtain an isotope brought to Vortis during the attack. When the Doctor and Vicki are taken to the Animus, Barbara manages to use the isotope to destroy the Animus. The Menoptera return to Vortis while the Zarbi become mindless creatures.

A mysterious force pulls the TARDIS off course, stranding the Doctor (William Hartnell), Ian, Barbara and Vicki on the alien world of Vortis. A fierce battle is raging between the moth-like Menoptra, and giant insects known as Zarbi. But what is the dark secret that hides at the center of Zerbi's lair?

Black and white.

Originally transmitted February 13 - March 20, 1965.

Cast
The Doctor - William Hartnell
Barbara Wright - Jacqueline Hill
Ian Chesterton - William Russell
Vicki - Maureen O'Brien
Animus Voice - Catherine Fleming
Hilio - Martin Jarvis
Hlynia - Jocelyn Birdsall
Hrhoonda - Arthur Blake
Hrostar - Arne Gordon
Nemini - Barbara Joss
Prapillus - Jolyon Booth
The Menoptera: Vrestin - Roslyn de Winter
The Optra: Hetra - Ian Thompson
Zarbi Operator/The Zarbi - Robert Jewell
Zarbi Operator/The Zarbi - Jack Pitt
Zarbi Operator/The Zarbi - Gerald Taylor
Zarbi Operator/The Zarbi - Hugh Lund
Zarbi Operator/The Zarbi - Kevin Manser
Zarbi Operator/The Zarbi - John Scott Martin
Production Credits
Director - Richard Martin
Assistant Floor Manager - Gillian Chardet
Assistant Floor Manager - Elisabeth Dunbar
Costumes - Daphne Dare
Designer - John Wood
Film Cameraman - Peter Hamilton
Film Editor - Gitta Zadek
Incidental Music - stock
Insect Movement By - Roslyn de Winter
Make-Up - Sonia Markham
Producer - Verity Lambert
Production Assistant - Norman Stewart
Special Sounds - Brian Hodgson
Story Editor - Dennis Spooner
Studio Lighting - Ralph Walton
Studio Sound - Ray Angel
Title Music - Ron Grainer and the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, arranged by Delia Derbyshire
Writer - Bill Strutton