The Sensorites were a peaceful, telepathic race from the planet Sense-Sphere, which is in the same solar system as the Ood-Sphere (Planet of the Ood). The First Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara landed onboard a human spaceship that was under attack from the Sensorites. Susan communicates telepathically with the Sensorites and agrees to go down to the planet Sense-Sphere, where the time travellers discover a conspiracy within the Sensorite elite. The Sensorites and the Monoids formed the inspiration for the Ood, which are popular Doctor Who aliens that have appeared throughout the modern series.

The Sensorites

★★☆☆☆

TX: 20/06/1964 – 01/08/1964

Written by Peter R Newman    Directed by Mervyn Pinfield & Frank Cox

The TARDIS lands inside a spaceship that is under attack from telepathic aliens called the Sensorites. The Sensorites demand that one of their party travels down to their home planet with them, so Susan agrees to go as she communicates telepathically with the Sensorites. The First Doctor, Ian and Barbara follow Susan down to the planet Sense-Sphere, where they meet the Second Elder of the Sensorites. However, a conspiracy is afoot and the First Elder plans to overthrow the Second Elder and take control of the planet. Ian is poisoned as a result of drinking water and so the Doctor investigates an aqueduct. He sees and removes deadly nightshade, the cause of the poisoning, but while returning meets an unseen monster. Susan and Ian find him unconscious but unharmed. On recovering, he tells of his suspicion that some Sensorites are plotting to kill them. Ian and the Doctor discover humans that are trapped in the sewers beneath the Sensorite city, who have poisoned the water supply as revenge. This is the reason why Ian was accidentally poisoned earlier in the story. The human survivors’ deranged Commander leads them to the surface, where they are arrested by the Sensorites. The Doctor and his party return to the city, pleading clemency for the poisoners. The leader of the Sensorites agrees and sends them back with Maitland, John, and Carol to Earth for treatment. Back in the TARDIS, Ian expresses scepticism about the Doctor’s ability to pilot the ship, which annoys the Doctor so much that he decides to drop Ian off at the very next place that they land. This story leads directly into the events of The Reign of Terror.