Arc of Infinity is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from January 3 to January 12, 1983. Janet Fielding returned as companion Tegan Jovanka in this serial, rejoining the Fifth Doctor and Nyssa on their travels. Peter Davison (born 13 April 1951) is an English actor, best known for his roles as Tristan Farnon in the television version of James Herriots All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, which he played from 1981 to 1984. ... The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Johnny Byrne is a British writer and script editor for the BBC. He was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1935 and traveled extensively in his youth as a traveling poet. ... Ron Jones (August 1945 - 1995) was a British television director. ... Eric Saward (pronounced SAY-ward) was born in December 1944 and became a script writer and script editor for the BBC, resigning from the latter post on the TV programme Doctor Who in 1986. ... John Nathan-Turner. ... This is a list of Doctor Who television serials. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Time-Flight is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from March 22 to March 30, 1982. ... Snakedance is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from January 18 to January 26, 1983. ... This is a list of Doctor Who television serials. ... A broadcast of the long-running and popular British science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Doctor Who is a long-running British science fiction television programme (and 1996 television movie) produced by the BBC about the adventures of a mysterious time-traveller known as the Doctor, who explores time and space with his companions, solving problems and righting wrongs. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 12 is the 12th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Janet Fielding (publicity portrait). ... Companion, in the long-running BBC television science fiction programme Doctor Who and related works, is a term used to describe a character who travels with and shares the adventures of the Doctor. ... Tegan Jovanka is a fictional character played by Janet Fielding in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Sarah Sutton as Nyssa (from Snakedance). ...

Synopsis

Shielded by a collapsed star, lurks a malevolent presence, an alien consisting of pure anti-matter. Its intention? To bond with a Time Lord and so cross over into this dimension through the Arc of Infinity — the gateway to all dimensions. The chosen Time Lord is the Doctor. To avert disaster, he is recalled to Gallifrey before the collision of matter and anti-matter leads to the destruction of all dimensions Doctor Who. ...

Plot

Dressed to impress, the Fifth Doctor in costume - or is it?

On Gallifrey a Time Lord traitor is at work stealing the bio-data code of another Time Lord and killing a technician who stumbles across the crime. The traitor provides the bio-data to a creature known as the Renegade, which is composed of anti-matter and uses the bio-data to invade the TARDIS and then the Doctor's metabolism. His companion, Nyssa, helps him recover. The Renegade is shielded in this attempt by the Arc of Infinity, a curious curve between the dimensions containing quad radiation which can shield anti-matter. The Doctor decides to head to Gallifrey to track down the supplier of his bio-data, conscious that unless the creature trying to cross universes is stopped that its incursion could cause a fatal chain reaction to our universe. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Fifth Doctor is the name given to the fifth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... A Vardan spaceship approaches Gallifrey from space (from The Invasion of Time). ... Doctor Who. ... Antimatter is matter that is composed of the antiparticles of those that constitute normal matter. ... The Third Doctor emerging from the TARDIS in the 1970 serial Spearhead from Space. ...

The High Council of the Time Lords is also taking the matter seriously and has decreed that the Doctor’s TARDIS should be recalled for the same reason. The Chancellery Guard under the over-zealous Commander Maxil seizes the Doctor and Nyssa. He stuns the Doctor to ensure his delivery to the High Council. When the Doctor is brought before the High Council the new Lord President, Borusa, is inscrutable while Chancellor Thalia and Cardinal Zorac are openly hostile; only his old friend Councillor Hedin seems pleased to see him. The President stresses the gravity of the situation since the Renegade poses such a threat to the Universe, and the High Council has had no alternative but to issue a Warrant of Termination on the Doctor to ensure the Renegade can no longer bond with him. The Doctor is taken away protesting, sure his bio-data has been compromised and stolen from within the High Council. Fortunately an old friend, Damon, who is another technician in the records section, provides him with the proof he needs that a member of the High Council did indeed steal his bio-data extract. The Doctor is soon taken for execution, despite Nyssa’s attempts to save him, and placed in a dispersal chamber. Sentence is carried out. Borusa is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ...

The supposed death of the Doctor, however, has not solved the situation. Unbeknownst to the High Council, his mind has been taken into the Time Lord living repository of knowledge, the Matrix, while his body is hidden behind a force shield in the termination cubicle. The Renegade, who demands an opportunity to return to the Universe it once inhabited, contacts him. The truth of the aborted execution is discovered by the wily Castellan, who tells first Nyssa and Damon that the Doctor is alive; and then the High Council.

Meanwhile in Amsterdam, Netherlands the Doctor’s former companion Tegan Jovanka arrives looking for her cousin Robin Stuart. She is greeted by his friend Colin Frazer who explains that Robin has disappeared while they were crashing in the crypt of the Frankendael mansion. When neither of them can persuade the police to take an interest they decide to investigate the crypt themselves. They find a hypnotised Colin working for a curious birdlike creature which is armed with a deadly weapon. They are rendered unconscious and their minds scanned, revealing to the Renegade, who has established its base in a TARDIS hidden at the Frankendael, that Tegan knows the Doctor. The Renegade uses Tegan as bait to force the Doctor to obey him, also releasing Colin from his slavery as a reward. The Doctor is returned to normal space on Gallifrey where he makes for the High Council Chamber. Lord President Borusa has fallen under suspicion of being a traitor because the Castellan reveals it was his codes that were used to transmit the bio-data. The truth, however, is that Councillor Hedin is the Time Lord in league with the Renegade. He is in awe of his master - the mighty Omega, first of the Time Lords and pioneer of time travel (see The Three Doctors). Hedin wishes to release Omega from his exile in a universe of anti-matter, not realising the great Time Lord has been driven mad by his years of solitary confinement. The Castellan kills Hedin, but this does not prevent Omega using the Arc of Infinity to seize total control of the Matrix and, therefore, the organisation of Gallifrey. Nickname: Motto: Heldhaftig, Vastberaden, Barmhartig (Valiant, Determined, Compassionate) Location of Amsterdam Coordinates: Country Netherlands Province North Holland Government  - Mayor Job Cohen  - Aldermen Lodewijk Asscher Hennah Buyne Carolien Gehrels Tjeerd Herrema Maarten van Poelgeest Marijke Vos  - Secretary Erik Gerritsen Area [1][2]  - City 219 km²  (84. ... Omega is a fictional character from the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. ... The Three Doctors is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast in four weekly parts from the December 30, 1972 to January 20, 1973. ...

Fortunately the Doctor and Nyssa manage to slip away and return to the TARDIS. They use scant knowledge provided by Tegan to determine that Omega has established its base in Amsterdam on Earth, and head there immediately, desperately trying to find the Frankendael crypt she described. After a lengthy hunt they find the lair defended by the birdlike creature, the Ergon, and Nyssa disposes of it with its own matter-converter gun. They reach Omega’s TARDIS at the point at which both the ship is destroyed and Omega makes full transference to Earth using the arc of infinity. When he peels his decayed mask away he reveals the features of the Doctor. Omega heads off into Amsterdam with the Doctor and Nyssa in hot pursuit. Within a short time the Doctor’s prediction of an unstable transfer begins to come true: Omega’s flesh decays and it his clear his new body is not permanent. When the Doctor and Nyssa catch up with him it is a painful task for the Doctor to use the Ergon’s anti-matter converter on Omega, expelling him back to his own universe of anti-matter. The Time Lord High Council on Gallifrey detects the end of the threat.

Once Tegan has checked on her cousin’s progress in hospital, she decides to rejoin the TARDIS crew. This time it is as a willing traveller. The Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa depart Amsterdam.

Cast

• The Doctor — Peter Davison
• Nyssa — Sarah Sutton
• Tegan Jovanka — Janet Fielding
• President Borusa — Leonard Sachs
• Chancellor Thalia — Elspet Gray
• Councillor Hedin — Michael Gough
• The Castellan — Paul Jerricho
• Cardinal Zorac — Max Harvey
• Commander Maxil — Colin Baker
• Omega/The Renegade — Ian Collier
• Damon — Neil Daglish
• Talor — John D. Collins
• Colin Frazer — Alastair Cumming
• Robin Stuart — Andrew Boxer
• Hotel Receptionists — Maya Woolfe, Guy Groen
• The Ergon — Malcolm Harvey

Doctor Who or, see History of Doctor Who. ... Peter Davison (born 13 April 1951) is an English actor, best known for his roles as Tristan Farnon in the television version of James Herriots All Creatures Great and Small and as the fifth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who, which he played from 1981 to 1984. ... Sarah Sutton as Nyssa (from Snakedance). ... Sarah Sutton (publicity portrait). ... Tegan Jovanka is a fictional character played by Janet Fielding in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Janet Fielding (publicity portrait). ... Borusa is a fictional character in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Leonard Sachs (born 26 September 1909 in Roodeport, Transvaal, died 15 June 1990) was a British actor. ... Elspet Gray, formally , (born 12 April 1929 in Inverness, Scotland) is a Scottish actress best known as the wife of Brian Rix, with whom she has often appeared. ... This article is being considered for deletion in accordance with Wikipedias deletion policy. ... Michael Gough as Lord Ambrose DArcy in Hammers The Phantom of the Opera (1962) Michael Gough (born November 23, 1917 in Malaya) is an English character actor. ... Paul Jerricho (born 18 November 1948) is a British actor. ... Colin Baker (born London, June 8, 1943) is an English actor who is best known for playing the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who, from 1984 to 1986. ... Omega is a fictional character from the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. ... Ian Collier is a British actor. ... John D. Collins (born 2 December 1942 in London) is an English actor best known for appearing in the BBC sitcom Allo Allo! in which he played a stranded British airman in occupied France during World War II. He has also appeared in a succession of minor roles including Dad...

Cast notes

• Features a guest appearance by Michael Gough (who had previously played the malevolent Celestial Toymaker in the story of the same name). See also Celebrity appearances in Doctor Who.
• Colin Baker (who would later succeed Peter Davison as the Sixth Doctor) appeared in the serial as Commander Maxil. It was his performance in this role (which, according to Baker, producer John Nathan-Turner repeatedly told him to "tone down") that first brought him to the attention of the production office. Baker reprised the role of Maxil as an uncredited cameo in the 2006 Big Finish Productions audio play Gallifrey: Appropriation.

The Celestial Toymaker is a fictional character in the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. ... The Celestial Toymaker is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from April 2 to April 23, 1966. ... Several celebrities have made guest appearances in Doctor Who. ... The Sixth Doctor is the name given to the sixth incarnation of the Doctor seen on screen in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who. ... Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces audio plays released straight to compact disc, based on British cult science fiction properties. ...

Continuity

• Every story during Season 20 featured an adversary from the past. For this serial, it was Omega, who last faced the first three incarnations of the Doctor in the 10th anniversary story The Three Doctors (1973).
• Tegan is the first companion to have rejoined the Doctor on his travels, after having departed.
• This episode's Castellan, played by Paul Jerrico, would return in The Five Doctors (1983).

Omega is a fictional character from the long-running British science fiction television series, Doctor Who. ... The Three Doctors is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, first broadcast in four weekly parts from the December 30, 1972 to January 20, 1973. ... The Five Doctors was a special movie-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programmes twentieth anniversary. ...

Production

• The working titles for this story were The Time Of Neman and The Time Of Omega.
• For Parts One and Two, the character of Omega was credited as "The Renegade" on the end credits.

In print

Doctor Who book
Arc of Infinity
Series	Target novelisations
Release number	80
Writer	Terrance Dicks
ISBN	0 426 19342 3
Release date	20 October 1983
Preceded by	Terminus
Followed by	The Five Doctors

A novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in July 1983. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... by David Whitaker, published in 1964, was the very first Doctor Who novelisation. ... Terrance Dicks (born 1935 in East Ham, London) is an English writer, best known for his work in television and for writing a large number of popular childrens books during the 1970s and 80s. ... Terminus is a serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was originally broadcast in four twice-weekly parts from February 15 to February 23, 1983. ... The Five Doctors was a special movie-length episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, produced in celebration of the programmes twentieth anniversary. ... Terrance Dicks (born 1935 in East Ham, London) is an English writer, best known for his work in television and for writing a large number of popular childrens books during the 1970s and 80s. ... Target Books was a British publishing imprint, established in 1973 by Universal-Tandem Publishing Co Ltd, a paperback publishing company. ...

Broadcast and VHS release

• This story was released on VHS in March of 1994.
• This story along with Time Flight is being released on DVD on July 30, in a DVD Boxset called Tegan Tales

Bottom view of VHS cassette with magnetic tape exposed Top view of VHS cassette with front casing removed The Vertical Helical Scan, better known by its abbreviation VHS (and often confused to be Video Home System) is a recording and playing standard for analog video cassette recorders (VCRs), developed by...

External links

• Arc of Infinity episode guide on the BBC website
• Arc of Infinity at Doctor Who: A Brief History Of Time (Travel)
• Arc of Infinity at the Doctor Who Reference Guide

Reviews

• Arc of Infinity reviews at Outpost Gallifrey
• Arc of Infinity reviews at The Doctor Who Ratings Guide

Outpost Gallifrey is a fan website for the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ...

Target novelisation

• On Target — Arc of Infinity