Orac

This Story: Season 1 Episode 13 (production code 1533)
B7 Overall: Episode 13
Airdate: 27 Mar 1978 (7:05 pm UK time)
Duration: 51:47
Filming Dates: 20-24 Feb & 14-15 Mar 1978
Written by Terry Nation
Directed by Vere Lorrimer

Notes

• The last episode of Series A.
• The second half of a story that started in the prior episode, but I’ve never know then to be a formal two parter.
• The last episode for Stephen Grief as Travis.  The character continues in Season 2, but recast.
• Orac is voiced in this episode by Derek Farr, who played his creator, Ensor. In all subsequent episodes, Orac is voiced by Peter Tuddenham, who also voices Zen.  The difference is not explained on screen.
• The first time Orac is seen.  He is initially shown to be much heavier and generally requires two people to carry. As the series goes on this is forgotten about until the last episode when Orac could be held by one person with just a single hand.
• The radiation plot line is similar to something else Terry Nation wrote in the original 1963 Doctor Who serial, “The Daleks“.

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