The Doctor vs. a 1960s computer that wants to enslave humanity — and it's basically a room-sized Alexa with daddy issues.
The TARDIS arrives in London in 1966 and the First Doctor and Dodo visit the Post Office Tower. There they meet Professor Brett, whose revolutionary new computer WOTAN (Will Operating Thought ANalogue) can actually think for itself and is shortly to be linked up to other major computers around the world — a project overseen by civil servant Sir Charles Summer.
Production
Filmed at the actual Post Office Tower — peak sixties location scouting.
Acting
Hartnell's chaotic energy versus a literal wall of blinking lights.
Costume
War Machines: charmingly threatening traffic cones with robot arms.
Director
Michael Ferguson
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This is Polly and Ben's debut — the first companions to witness a regeneration, though they don't know it yet.
WOTAN predicting 'the end of the world' in 1966 tapped into genuine fears about automation and nuclear computing.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
GB
