We get space quaffles, the mannequin challenge and some good old-fashioned tentacle porn in Pertwee's first go as The Third Doctor

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Jon Pertwee excels in his first jab at playing The Third Doctor in this iconic 4-part serial.

The first serial to be shot in full colour – and coincidentally on film – and the first to feature not only Pertwee, but Autons and the Nestene Consciousness, Spearhead from Space in many ways feels a lot more dynamic and fast-paced than prior serials.

Plastic balls from outer space are crashing into Epping Forest in the outskirts of London and U.N.I.T. is called in to investigate. To aid them in their work, our old friend Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge Stewart, aka “BAGLS” (pronounced “bagels”) — Big hand to our listener, Chris Z, who thought of that nickname! — recruits soon-to-be-a-regular-companion, Dr Elizabeth Shaw, Liz to her friends.

And serendipitously, The Doctor materialises in Epping at the same time, loses consciousness and has a chance to do his own thing for a while before joining BAGLES and Liz.

It turns out it’s the Nestene Consciousness who, after conquering worlds for “a thousand million years” has come to Earth to execute a dastardly plan of we’re-not-entirely-sure-what and ultimately to take control.

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