*[[Tina Packer]] – Anne Travers

*[[Jack Woolgar]] – Staff Sgt.Sergeant Arnold{{efn|Jack Woolgar also supplied the voice of the Great Intelligence, uncredited.}}

'''''The Web of Fear''''' is the [[Doctor Who missing episodes|partly missing]] fifth serial of the [[Doctor Who (season 5)|fifth season]] of the British [[science fiction television]] series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from 3 February to 9 March 1968.

The serial is set on the [[London Underground]] railway over forty years after the 1967 serial ''[[The Abominable Snowmen]]''. InThe theplot serial,concerns the incorporeal [[Great Intelligence]] leadsleading the [[Time travel in fiction|time travellertravelling]] the [[Second Doctor]] ([[Patrick Troughton]]) into a trap where it can drain the Doctor's mind of all of his knowledge. ThisThe serial markedmarks the last regular appearance of the [[Yeti (Doctor Who)|Yeti]], although they would return for small cameos in ''"[[The Five Doctors]]''" and the [[Reeltime Pictures]] spin-off ''[[Downtime (Doctor Who)|Downtime]]''. ''The Web of Fear'' marks the first appearance of [[Nicholas Courtney]] as Colonel [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart|Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart]] and is a precursor to later serials involving the [[UNIT]] organisation.

Following the events at the end of ''The Enemy of the World'', [[Jamie McCrimmon|Jamie]] manages to close the [[TARDIS]]' doors, stabilising its flight. The TARDIS materialisesstalls in deepflight, space;however, anas unseenit entityis enshrouds the shipenshrouded in a web-like substance. As theThe web clears, and the [[Secondship Doctor]]lands operatesin a device to land the TARDIS away from its original flight course, bringing it todeserted [[Covent Garden tube station]]. The station is in darkness and deserted, with the city outside appearingappears completely abandoned.

Approximately 40 years after his Tibetan expedition in ''[[The Abominable Snowmen]]'', an elderly Professor Travers accidentally reactivates a control sphere duringwhich hisinserts studies. The sphere insertsitself into an intact robot [[Yeti (Doctor Who)|Yeti]] from Tibet at a private collection in London and escapes. In the following days, London is beset by thick fog and a deadly web-like fungus begins to infest the London Underground. Professor Travers is brought to the [[Second World War]] [[London deep-level shelters|deep-level shelter]] under [[Goodge Street tube station]], where his daughter Anne has asked for his help to defeat the menace affecting the tube system. Also present are Captain Knight, the current leader of the military manning HQ, Staff-Sergeant Arnold, who acts as Knight's deputy and Harold Chorley, the only journalist allowed to report on the crisis.

Moving through the underground train tunnels, the Doctor and his companions encounter the military, who are trying to stem the spread of the fungus by demolishing tunnels with explosives. Explosives laid at [[Embankment tube station|Charing Cross tube station]]<ref group=note>{{efn|At the time the story was made, "Charing Cross" was the name of current [[Embankment tube station]], while the current [[Charing Cross tube station|Charing Cross]] was two separate stations – the [[Bakerloo line]] "Trafalgar Square" and the [[Northern line]] "Strand."</ref>}} are neutralised by the robot Yeti by smothering the explosion with the fungus using web-spraying guns. The reappearance of the Yeti signifies to the Doctor that the [[Great Intelligence]] has returned. andWhile redirected the TARDIS' flightothers in order to bring him to the Underground as part of its plans to conquer the Earth. Knight, Arnold and Chorleyshelters are initially suspicious of the Doctor, Jamieand andhis Victoriacompanions, believing them to be responsible for sabotaging the explosion. Professor Travers, recognising them from their encounter in Tibet, convinces Captain Knight that the Doctor will be key to defeating the Yeti.

The group are joined by [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart|Lieutenant-Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart]] and PrivateDriver Evans, the sole survivors of an ammunition detail which was attacked by Yeti at [[Holborn tube station]]. Lethbridge-Stewart assumes command. ofThe HQweb fromsuddenly Knight.speeds The webup expandsits enormouslyexpansion, engulfing the whole of the [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle Line]] within minutes. Further attempts to use explosives to halt the web are blocked by Yeti attacks, and the military's explosives store is consumed by the fungus. The Doctor discovers a Yeti-attracting beacon at the scene, convincing him thatshowing someone at HQ must be in league with the Intelligence. Meanwhile,Harold Chorley, whothe intendsonly journalist allowed to desertreport andon the fleecrisis, is told of the TARDIS by [[Victoria Waterfield|Victoria]] and he rushes off to Covent Garden to find it; the Doctor, Jamie, Victoria and Evans rush to intercept himescape. When they reach Covent Garden, the Doctor's party discover it to be barred off by fungus. While they are gone, theThe base is attacked by Yeti, killing several of the soldiers and knocking out Anne and Professor Travers. The Yeti then leave with Professor Travers' unconscious body.

On returning, the group find Anne unconscious and Travers gone. The Doctor informs Lethbridge-Stewart and Knight about the intelligence and the TARDIS; the Colonel decides to recover the TARDIS from Covent Garden station, hoping that it will allow them to escape. The Colonel leadsfails to lead the remaining troops overground to Covent Garden,; whiledespite Arnold,downing Evansseveral androbots ain third soldier,the Corporalensuing Lanebattle, takeall aexcept baggageLethbridge-Stewart trolleyperish. throughStaff theSergeant undergroundArnold at the same time tovanishes transportinto the TARDISfungus on.while The Doctor and Anne attempt to builddelivering a controlbaggage boxtrolley to block the signal between the Intelligence and the control spheres, though the Doctor finds that they are low on components and is escorted above ground by Knight to find moreColonel.

ArnoldThe Doctor and LaneAnne putplan onto gasbuild masksa andcontrol attemptbox to go throughblock the fungusIntelligence's blockingcontrol Coventsignal, Garden withthough the baggageDoctor trolley,finds but whenthat they enterare the web Evans hears piercing screams. On pulling the trolley outlow on a rope, Evans finds Lane deadcomponents and Arnoldis gone.escorted Onabove theground surface,by theKnight Yetito ambushfind the soldiers at Covent Gardenmore. Despite downing several robots in the ensuing battle, all except Lethbridge-Stewart perish. At an electronics store on the surface, Knight is killed inby a Yeti attack, though the robots leave the Doctor alone. He discovers a Yeti beacon in Knight's pocket, which brought them to the shop. Later, theThe Colonel returns to HQ alone where the Doctor finds a model Yeti in his pocket, too. TheBased Doctoron deduces thatthis, the traitorDoctor in HQ slippedconcludes the beacontraitor ontois thestill Colonelactive andin KnightHQ. At that moment, two Yeti break in with Professor Travers, who is possessed by the Great Intelligence.

Through the controlled Professor Travers, theThe Great Intelligence explains that it brought the Doctor to London in order to drain his mind of all his knowledge. ofHe timeis andgiven space.20 Unless he submitsminutes to thesubmit, Intelligence,else it will drain the minds of Jamie and Victoria instead. The Intelligence gives the Doctor 20 minutes to submit. Travers is released from the Intelligence's control and is taken as a hostage by the Yeti along with Victoria, atand [[Piccadillyreleased Circusfrom tube station]]control. The Doctor and Anne work on the control box further and successfully reprogram a control sphere, which they load into a disabled Yeti to make a covert, voice-controlled ally within the Intelligence's ranks.

Staff-Sergeant Arnold, who turns upA dishevelled and bleeding, havingStaff somehowSergeant survived,Arnold links up withmeets the Colonel and Jamie in the tunnels. All threeThey agree to return to HQ to support the Doctor, though they find that he and Anne have left while searching for a Yeti to reprogram. At that moment, theThe fungus bursts through the walls of HQ, swamping [[Goodge Street tube station|Goodge Street]] shelter. Lethbridge-Stewart,They Jamieescape, Arnold and Evans meet up with the Doctor and Anne, before the group is ambushed by the Yeti, who herdand themherded to Piccadilly tube station. Arnold slips away and meets Chorley, who has been wandering the tube network and has become hysterical with fright.

[[David Langton]] was originally cast as Lethbridge-Stewart, but he pulled out before rehearsals and Nicholas Courtney (originally cast as Captain Knight) was given the part instead.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McManus|first=Michael|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/nicholas-courtney-actor-known-for-his-long-running-role-as-the-brigadier-in-doctor-who-2226111.html|title=Nicholas Courtney: Actor known for his long-running role as the Brigadier in Doctor Who|date=26 February 2011|website=The Independent|access-date=15 April 15, 2020|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000328/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/nicholas-courtney-actor-known-his-long-running-role-brigadier-doctor-who-2226111.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Nicholas Selby]] was also considered for the role, but was not interested in it.<ref name="Howe&Stammers1995">{{cite book |last1=Howe |first1=David J. |last2=Stammers |first2=Mark |title=Doctor Who Companions |date=1995 |publisher=Doctor Who Books an imprint of Virgin Publishing |location=London |isbn=1-85227-582-0 |page=52}}</ref> However, it is an extra named Maurice Brooks who is first seen in the role, his booted feet appearing briefly late in Episode Two.<ref>Anonymous, "The UNIT Story, Part One," ''[[Doctor Who Magazine|Doctor Who Magazine Special]]'', Winter 1991, [[Marvel UK|Marvel Comics, Ltd.]], p. 9.</ref> Actor Nicholas Courtney previously appeared in a different role, that of Bret Vyon, in ''[[The Daleks' Master Plan]]'' (1965–66).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2009-02-13/the-daleks-master-plan/|title=The Daleks' Master Plan ★★★★★|website=Radio Times|access-date=26 June 2019|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000420/https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/scifi/doctor-who-guide/2009-02-13/the-daleks-master-plan/|url-status=live}}</ref> Actor Richardson Morgan went on to appear in the Fourth Doctor serial [[The Ark in Space]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/doctor-who-guide/the-ark-in-space/|title = The Ark in Space ★★★★★}}</ref>

===Missing episodeepisodes===

Episode 3 of ''The Web of Fear'' was originally among the discovered episodes, but went missing in the months between the discovery of the films and their return to the BBC. Morris later explainedsaid it was most likely stolenthe forepisode itshad value,been beingsold theto firsta appearancecollector ofby thea member of Brigadierstaff.<ref name=web3_missing>{{cite web|title=Whatever Happened to Web of Fear 3 ?|url=http://www.doctorwhonews.net/2015/09/whatever-happened-to-web-of-fear-3.html|website=Doctor Who News|access-date=27 September 2015|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000336/https://www.doctorwhonews.net/2015/09/whatever-happened-to-web-of-fear-3.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The original DVD release of this story features episode 3 presented in tele-snap format, with the surviving off-air soundtrack.

On 23 November 2020, the BBC announced that theThe missing third episode was being re-created using animation for a new release of the serial.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alexander |first1=Susannah |title=Doctor Who's classic 'Web of Fear' story will be completed with animated missing episode |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a34759606/doctor-who-classic-web-of-fear-completed-animated-missing-episode/ |access-date=26 November 2020 |agencywork=Digital Spy |date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000337/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a34759606/doctor-who-classic-web-of-fear-completed-animated-missing-episode/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The special edition was released on 16 August 2021.

A week before Episode 1 was shown, BBC1 broadcast a special trailer following Episode 6 of ''[[The Enemy of the World]]'', featuring the Doctor (Patrick Troughton) warning viewers about the new, more frightening versions of the Yeti. Only the audio for this trailer survives. It was officially reconstructed by the BBC using animation to tease the animated release of Episode 3. <ref>{{Cite web|last=Potts|first=Lianne|date=2020-11-23|title=VIDEO: Doctor Who - 'The Web of Fear' - Animated Reconstruction (Teaser)|url=https://www.blogtorwho.com/video-doctor-who-the-web-of-fear-animated-reconstruction-teaser/|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Blogtor Who|language=en-GB}}</ref>

In 2003, Episode 1 of this story and episodes 1 & 3 of ''[[The Faceless Ones]]'' were the final episodes of ''Doctor Who'' to be released on [[VHS]] by [[BBC Worldwide]]. Episode 1 and the surviving clips were released on [[DVD]] in the United Kingdom in November 2004 in the three-disc ''[[Lost in Time (Doctor Who)|Lost in Time]]'' set.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

On 11 October 2013, the newly recovered episodes were released on iTunes along with the original episode 1 and a reconstruction of episode 3 from telephotos and the original soundtrack. This version was also made available on [[Virgin Media]]'s on demand service, together with numerous other stories, as part of the show's 50th anniversary commemoration.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

On 23 November 2020 it was announced that ''The Web of Fear'' will be released in 2021 on DVD and Blu-ray with the missing Episode 3 now animated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Classic Doctor Who story The Web of Fear is coming to Blu-ray |url=https://www.seenit.co.uk/classic-doctor-who-story-the-web-of-fear-is-coming-to-blu-ray/ |website=SEENIT |publisher=MayorWatch Publications Limited |access-date=23 November 2020 |date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000321/https://www.seenit.co.uk/classic-doctor-who-story-the-web-of-fear-is-coming-to-blu-ray/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Part-missing adventure ‘The'The Web of Fear’Fear' to be completed with new animation |url=https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?article=the-web-of-fear-new-animation |website=Doctor Who TV |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=29 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229000334/https://www.doctorwho.tv/news/?article=the-web-of-fear-new-animation |url-status=live }}</ref> The special edition was released on 16 August 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/the-web-of-fear-cover-art-and-special-features-revealed|title='Doctor Who: The Web of Fear' cover art and special features revealed|publisher=BBC|date=13 June 2021|accessdate=20 August 2024}}</ref>

{{Reflistnotelist|group=note2}}

*{{IsfdbISFDB title|id=10648|title=Doctor Who and the Web of Fear}}

{{UNIT stories|selected=Television}}