Menu

Doctor Who The Ribos Operation TV Story

The Ribos Operation Synopsis

Having left Leela on Gallifrey, the Doctor and K9 Mark II don’t remain footloose for long. The TARDIS is soon intercepted by the White Guardian.

The White Guardian sets the Doctor on an urgent mission to locate the six segments of the Key to Time, which are well disguised and hidden in odd corners of time and space. Once assembled, the Key will allow the White Guardian to restore balance to a universe descending into evil and chaos.

To assist the Doctor, the White Guardian has appointed Romana, fresh out of the Time Lord Academy and none too well travelled. Despite an initial bout of “negative empathy,” the Doctor and Romana trace the first segment’s signal to Ribos, a remote, backward planet that suffers from 32-year winters. There they are surprised to meet other interplanetary travellers, who include two conmen, Garron and Unstoffe, and the Graff Vynda-K, a warlord in the market for an inexpensive planet.

Story Order

  • Story 98 from Doctor Who
  • Story 1 of 6 from Season 16

Episodes

Saturday
2nd September 1978
5:45PM
(25 mins)

Doctor Who - The Ribos Operation - Part One

The Doctor is given the task of reassembling the six parts of the Key to Time by the the White Guardian.

Saturday
9th September 1978
6:20PM
(24 mins)

Doctor Who - The Ribos Operation - Part Two

Trying to obtain the first segment of the Key to Time, the Doctor and Romana are swept up in an elaborate con.

Saturday
16th September 1978
6:30PM
(24 mins)

Doctor Who - The Ribos Operation - Part Three

Prisoners of the maniacal Graff Vynda K, the Doctor and Romana must break out and pursue the first segment.

Saturday
23rd September 1978
6:20PM
(24 mins)

Doctor Who - The Ribos Operation - Part Four

The Doctor and Romana work desperately to obtain the segment of the Key to Time - and escape alive.

Characters

  • Doctor WhoFourth DoctorTom Baker
  • RomanaRomana IMary Tamm
  • Voice of K-9K-9 (Voice)John Leeson

Credits

  • Doctor WhoTom Baker
  • RomanaMary Tamm
  • The GuardianCyril Luckham
  • GarronIain Cuthbertson
  • UnstoffeNigel Plaskitt
  • Graff Vynda-KPaul Seed
  • SholakhRobert Keegan
  • CaptainPrentis Hancock
  • ShrieveOliver Maguire
  • ShrieveJohn Hamill
  • Voice of K-9John Leeson
  • BinroTimothy Bateson
  • The SeekerAnn Tirard