Doctor Who: The Web Planet 1st Doctor TV Soundtrack

This narrated TV soundtrack stars William Hartnell as the Doctor in one of his most weird and wonderful adventures.

"We seem to be caught! Trapped, somehow..."

In this vintage six-part serial, first shown on BBC TV in February and March 1965, a strange magnetic force pulls the TARDIS down to the craterous surface of Vortis. The Doctor and his friends learn that the planet has been invaded, and the parasitic Animus is slowly enveloping it in a web-like domain. The giant ant-like Zarbi are under its control, whilst the butterfly-like Menoptra are battling to reclaim their planet.

Narrated by Maureen O'Brien, this full-cast soundtrack evokes a classic Doctor Who adventure in all its aural magnificence. The alien ambience of Vortis, the insistent chirruping of the Zarbi, and the supernatural voice of the Animus are all accompanied by the eerie sonics of Ron Grainer & Delia Derbyshire's theme tune.

Written by Bill Strutton, this was the Doctor's most exotic and lavish adventure yet.

Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes
(P) 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
© 2020 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd
Cover art by Oink Creative
Narrated soundtrack produced by David Darlington
Project editor: Michael Stevens

Born in South Australia in 1918, Bill Strutton worked as a clerk before joining the Australian army during World War 2. He served in the Middle East and later in Greece. Captured by the Germans in Crete, he spent several years as a prisoner of war. After the war, Strutton came to live in England where he pursued a career writing. He worked as a journalist as well as writing novels and television scripts. Strutton’s only script for Doctor Who was The Web Planet, commissioned in late 1964 and broadcast in 1965. He died on 23 November 2003, the day of Doctor Who's 40th anniversary, aged 85 years.