Episode 21 - The Ark In Space

NEW TO WHO and THE ARK IN SPACE At a time in the far-off future, Earth has become uninhabitable.  A selection of Humanity is placed, deep-frozen, in a fully-automated space station, to await the day of their return to Earth… Thousands of years later, New To Who return.  Col, Dan, and Steven find things going suspiciously wrong, and the station under attack from the giant WIRRN, deadly creatures who, in their lust for power, now threaten the future of the whole Human Race… New To Who are back with a look at THE ARK IN SPACE, the first story proper of the vaunted Hinchcliffe and Holmes era of Classic Who (Seasons 12 to 14). The story is written by Robert Holmes, rewriting John Lucarotti’s original script, while Philip Hinchcliffe takes the reins from Barry Letts as producer for the first time – at the ripe old age of 29!  It boasts some beautiful set designs by Roger Murray-Leach complemented by gorgeous direction by Rodney Bennett and a haunting score from Australia’s own Dudley Simpson, while Tom Baker, Elisabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter are wonderful as one of the all-time very best TARDIS teams. With echoes of 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick from 1968 and foreshadowing Ridley Scott’s Alien of 1979, THE ARK IN SPACE combines existential and body horror genres to tell the story of cryogenically frozen human colony that revives only to find themselves in the midst of an insectoid alien horror that feeds on their bodies and souls!  The cover of the original imprint of the 1976 Target novelisation for THE ARK IN SPACE is used with the kind permission of Chris Achilleos.  The novelisation is written by Ian Marter himself, and the audiobook is ready by none other than Tom Baker. Theme by Our Colin (2019).  Much love and thanks, Col! ❤︎ Special thanks to Sarah Tout at Voice Box Media Training.   You can now find New To Who on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and PlayerFM. NEW TO WHO WILL RETURN