The insectoid race known as the Wirrn swarmed across the galaxy after being driven from Andromeda by human star pioneers. The Wirrn came across the Ark, full of cryogenic chambers containing the last of humanity. Humans had fled into space tens of thousands of years into the future in order to avoid a cataclysmic event which left Earth devastated by solar flares (The Beast Below). The Ark was no longer a sanctuary for humans as the Wirrn infested the space station and the humans were gradually awoken from stasis and devoured or infected. Thankfully the Fourth Doctor, Sarah-Jane and Harry arrived on The Ark in Space and helped the humans to rid them of their Wirrn infestation. The Ark in Space is still regarded as a classic Doctor Who adventure by many fans (Whovians).

The Ark in Space

★★★★★

TX: 25/01/1975 – 15/02/1975

Written by Robert Holmes  Directed by Rodney Bennett

The Fourth Doctor, Sarah-Jane and Harry arrive on a space station in the far future, which contains the last survivors of humanity. The Ark was launched into space thousands of years previously after a solar fireball ravaged the Earth. The humans were frozen in suspended animation and kept in cryogenic chambers. Unfortunately, a parasitic insectoid species called the Wirrn has infested the Ark and the sleepers are in danger! Dr Harry Sullivan begins reviving some of the humans, including Vira and Noah. However, Noah becomes infected by the Wirrn and mutates into one of their kind. Soon the Wirrn are swarming all over the Ark. The Doctor plans to electrify the cryogenic chamber to prevent the Wirrn swarm from attacking more of the human crew. Because the Wirrn have disabled the station’s power supply, the crew decide to use the generators on board a transport ship docked at the space station. Sarah-Jane volunteers to crawl through a narrow conduit carrying the power cable from the ship, and the Doctor succeeds in electrifying the cryogenic chamber. The Wirrn offer the Doctor and his friends safe passage from the Ark in exchange for the sleepers, which they wish to devour. Vira and the rest of the crew lure all of the Wirrn into the transport ship. They set the transport ship on autopilot so that it fires into outer space where it detonates, destroying all the Wirrn including Noah. The Doctor assures Vira that humanity will continue and thrive. The Doctor, Sarah-Jane and Harry teleport down to the planet Earth to repair the receiver terminal and to allow the ark colonists to repopulate the Earth. The plot of The Ark in Space is very similar to that of the classic horror/sci-fi movie Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott and released four years after The Ark in Space (1975) was broadcast. Is there something that you are not telling us Ridley? Tom Baker was clearly the best classic Doctor! At university, I had a long term girlfriend who bought me a remote control K-9 and her mum knitted me a Tom Baker Doctor Who scarf! This is one of many presents I have received over the years from my many girlfriends. And Little Britain, Come Fly With Me and Doctor Who star Matt Lucas filmed me doing my Tom Baker impression because he was so impressed by it!