A Matter of Time: The Sea Devils

ORIGINAL BROADCAST: 04/03/1972

Thirty-eight years ago today, the Sea Devils appeared in their first ever television adventure, starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, Katy Manning as Jo Grant, and Roger Delgado as the Master. The Master is seen imprisoned in a high-security island establishment, having been caught at the end of The Dæmons in the previous season.

This story introduces the aquatic cousins of the Silurians, known as the Sea Devils. The Silurians had first appeared two years earlier, and would return alongside the Sea Devils in Warriors of the Deep. The working title for this story was originally The Sea Silurians, before it was decided that the race should be called the Sea Devils instead.

The earlier Silurian story had resulted in many letters from scientists and geologists, arguing that it was impossible for a reptilian species to have existed in the Silurian era. In this story the Doctor admits that the name ‘Silurian’ is inaccurate, and states that they should instead be called ‘Eocenes’. Could this be the name they go under in Series 5?

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