The Vespiforms were a wasp-like species with hives in the Silfrax Galaxy. The Vespiforms went to war with the Quarks, although the outcome is uncertain. One Vespiform arrived on Earth in India during the 19th Century. It then impregnated a British aristocrat called Lady Eddison, who later gave birth to a boy who could change into a Vespiform at will. The Vespiforms were one of many insectoid monsters to have appeared in Doctor Who over the years.
The Dominators
★☆☆☆☆
TX: 10/08/1968 – 07/09/1968
Written by Norman Ashby (pseudonym for Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln)
Directed by Morris Barry
The Second Doctor, Zoe and Jamie land on an island on the volcanic planet of Dulkis. The pacifist society on Dulkis abhors violence and therefore they have got rid of all their weapons, in an allegory for the Flower Power/nuclear disarmament movement that was going on at the time of this story’s broadcast. Unfortunately for the Dulcians, a spaceship arrives carrying the hostile Dominators and their robotic servants, the Quarks. The Dominators intend to enslave the planet with ease because the Dulcians will not resist or put up a fight. The Quarks begin to lay landmines to create a volcanic eruption. However, the Doctor intercepts one of the bombs and smuggles it onboard the Dominators’ ship. This causes the Dominators’ ship to explode shortly after takeoff. The TARDIS crew make an emergency takeoff in order to escape the localised volcanic eruption on the island. This story leads directly into the events of The Mind Robber.
The Unicorn and the Wasp
★★★★★
TX: 17/05/2008
Written by Gareth Roberts Directed by Graeme Harper
The Tenth Doctor and Donna arrive at a posh garden party in 1926. Lady Eddison is delighted to introduce her star guest: the murder mystery novelist Agatha Christie! The Doctor and Donna fangirl over Agatha Christie throughout this adventure, referencing many of her greatest books featuring Hercule Poirot and Ms Marple! However, something is afoot at the manor house… A murderer is at large and suddenly the situation becomes a whodunnit! I hate posh people, they are just all arrogant and snobby – eat the rich! I grew up in Kent and spent most of my youth in the posh Home Counties. People even used to tell me that I had a posh accent when I was younger! My hometown of Sevenoaks is one of the most Conservative constituencies in the UK. The murderer claims the lives of a Reverend, the housemistress and even Lady Eddison’s son! Even more confusingly, a giant wasp (a Vespiform) is flying around the house and Donna narrowly dodges being stung by it! Agatha Christie teams up with the Doctor to solve the mystery. However, the Doctor himself is poisoned by the murderer. But Donna kisses him to give him a shock required to detox and this saves his life. Agatha Christie gathers all of the guests in the drawing room to reveal who the murderer is. Lady Eddison reveals that many years ago she went to India and met an alien man called Christopher who was actually a Vespiform in disguise. The Vespiform impregnated her and gave her a Firestone jewel necklace. This was a Vespiform telepathic recorder. Lady Eddison gave away her baby to avoid public shame. However, the child grew up to be a vicar. Lady Eddison was reading the works of Agatha Christie one night whilst wearing the Firestone. This beamed the works of Agatha Christie directly into the Vespiform vicar’s mind, so that the mechanics of the novels formed the template in its brain. This is why the Vespiform began to kill people in the manner of a whodunnit at Lady Eddison’s manor. Having been found out, the Vicar shape shifts into a giant wasp and chases after Agatha Christie, who has the Firestone. The Doctor and Donna pursue them in a car to a nearby lake. Agatha Christie is about to drown herself with the Firestone. But Donna grabs the Firestone and throws it into the lake. The Vespiform follows it into the lake and drowns. Agatha Christie’s mind is wiped by the Firestone, so the Doctor and Donna drop her off at a hotel in Harrogate, in accordance with the famous short disappearance of Agatha Christie in 1926 (which others believed to be a publicity stunt). Back in the TARDIS, the Doctor reveals to Donna that some elements of their adventure with the wasp must have stayed with Agatha Christie. He also reveals that her detective novels are printed forever and that she is the bestselling novelist of all time.
Chris Olsen's TARDIS 