Editing Robot (Doctor Who)

{{about|a specific ''Doctor Who'' serial|robots in the series in general|List of Doctor Who robots}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Robot'' (''Doctor Who'')}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox Doctor Who episode
| number             = 075
| serial_name        = Robot
| show               = DW
| type               = serial
| image              = 
| caption            = 
| doctor             = [[Tom Baker]] – [[Fourth Doctor]]
| companions         = 
* [[Elisabeth Sladen]] – [[Sarah Jane Smith]]
* [[Ian Marter]] – [[Harry Sullivan (Doctor Who)|Harry Sullivan]]
| guests             = 
* [[Nicholas Courtney]] – [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]
* [[John Levene]] – RSM Benton
* [[Edward Burnham]] – Professor Kettlewell
* [[Patricia Maynard]] – Miss Winters
* Alec Linstead – Jellicoe
* [[Michael Kilgarriff]] – Robot K1
* Timothy Craven – Short
| director           = [[Christopher Barry]]
| writer             = [[Terrance Dicks]]
| script_editor      = [[Robert Holmes (scriptwriter)|Robert Holmes]]
| producer           = [[Barry Letts]]
| composer           = [[Dudley Simpson]]
| production_code    = 4A
| series             = [[Doctor Who (season 12)|Season 12]]
| length             = 4 episodes, 25 minutes each
| started            = {{Start date|1974|12|28|df=y}}
| ended              = {{End date|1975|1|18|df=y}}
| preceding          = ''[[Planet of the Spiders]]''
| following          = ''[[The Ark in Space]]''
}}

'''''Robot''''' is the first serial of the [[Doctor Who (season 12)|12th season]] in the British [[science fiction television]] series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', which was first broadcast in four weekly parts on [[BBC One|BBC1]] from 28 December 1974 to 18 January 1975. It was the first full serial to feature [[Tom Baker]] as the [[Fourth Doctor]], as well as [[Ian Marter]] as new [[companion (Doctor Who)|companion]] [[Harry Sullivan (Doctor Who)|Harry Sullivan]]. In the serial, the director of an English research institute plots to use an experimental robot to steal nuclear launch codes and blackmail the world's governments with them.

The serial brought a full end to the Pertwee era, as it was the final story with the production team of Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks. It was also the final regular appearance of UNIT, who had become regulars starting with the first Jon Pertwee serial ''[[Spearhead From Space]]''.

The episode received mixed reviews from critics, seeing praise for the acting, especially that of Baker and Marter, but criticisms due to stereotypical villains and a weak plot.

== Plot ==
Following his regeneration, the [[Fourth Doctor]] becomes delirious and erratic. The Doctor tries to sneak off in his [[TARDIS]], but the [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart|Brigadier]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith|Sarah Jane]] stop him, convincing him to help in finding the culprit in the theft of top secret plans for a [[disintegrator]] gun.

Sarah investigates the National Institute for Advanced Scientific Research, colloquially known as the "Think Tank". She finds that director Hilda Winters, her assistant Arnold Jellicoe, and Professor J.P. Kettlewell are developing a robot, K1, to be used to perform tasks in hazardous locations. Winters and Jellicoe have secretly instructed K1 to kill [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet Minister]] Joseph Chambers, and use a completed disintegrator gun to steal international nuclear launch codes from Chambers' safe. K1 discovers Sarah's presence, and Winters orders K1 to kill her. When [[UNIT]] arrives, the three conspirators and K1 escape with Sarah as their hostage.

Winters sends a list of demands to the world governments and gives them thirty minutes to comply, then orders Kettlewell to connect to the launch computers. Kettlewell, who never expected their plan to get to this stage, hesitates, and in the ensuing discussion, Sarah and Harry attempt to escape with Kettlewell's assistance. Winters orders K1 to stop them, but the robot inadvertently fires the disintegrator gun at Kettlewell, killing him. In a confused state due to the death of its creator, K1 falls to the ground and apparently shuts down.   

As UNIT forces take Winters and Jellicoe away, K1 reactivates and attacks UNIT. K1 seeks out Sarah to protect her, a result of an [[Oedipus complex]] it developed from Sarah's previous compassion, according to the Doctor. The Doctor finds out about the living metal that Kettlewell used in constructing K1 and the metal virus he designed to reduce the world's metallic waste. He races back to Kettlewell's lab to synthesise a batch of the virus.The Brigadier fires the disintegrator gun at the robot, but the blast is absorbed by the living metal- and K1 grows to an enormous size. The Doctor returns, throwing a bucket of virus solution onto K1; the robot slowly shrinks before the virus consumes it. As they regroup back at UNIT headquarters, Sarah is saddened by the loss of K1. The Doctor offers to cheer her up with a trip in the TARDIS, extending the invitation to Harry as well.

== Production ==
[[File:Doctor Who Experience London Olympia (5503353872).jpg|thumb|left|The K1 robot, on display at the [[Doctor Who Experience|''Doctor Who'' Experience]].]]

As the Doctor was transitioning from the third to the fourth incarnations, changes were also occurring in the production department of ''Doctor Who''. [[Barry Letts]], who had been the producer since the second [[Jon Pertwee]] serial in 1970, was leaving the series, but would stay on to cast the part of the new Doctor as well as produce this debut serial. Letts would be succeeded for the next story by [[Philip Hinchcliffe]], who trailed him on this story.

[[Terrance Dicks]], who had worked on the series as a script editor since 1968,<ref name="Leach 2009" /> was also leaving, to be replaced by [[Robert Holmes (scriptwriter)|Robert Holmes]]. Holmes had been a writer for the show since [[Doctor Who (season 6)|season six]] and penned four stories in Pertwee's era, including ''[[Spearhead from Space]]'' (1970), the [[Third Doctor]]'s first serial. Though Dicks was leaving as script editor, he would still be involved with the series as an occasional writer. Having previously helped write the serials ''[[The Seeds of Death]]'' and ''[[The War Games]]'' (both 1969), Dicks would write the first story for the incoming Fourth Doctor.

The K1 robot costume was designed by one of the series' regular costume designers at the time, [[James Acheson]], and built by sculptor<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/oct/13/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries | title= Allister Bowtell | first=Caroline| last=Richmond | work=The Guardian | date=13 October 2006 | access-date=27 March 2021}}</ref> Allister Bowtell.<ref name="BBC staff 2007" />

=== Conception and writing ===
Terrance Dicks stated that a major influence for this story was ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' (1933).<ref name="Muir 1999" /> The initial script was written before Tom Baker had been cast as the Fourth Doctor, and there was some discussion of returning to an older actor. This would have required a younger character to handle the action scenes, so the character of Harry Sullivan was created. This was Sullivan's debut story, but he had been mentioned in the final episode of the preceding serial, when the Brigadier telephoned him, requesting medical help for the Doctor.

Dicks included a number of elements from ''Spearhead from Space'': the Doctor being disorientated after [[Regeneration (Doctor Who)|regeneration]], going to hospital to recover, changing costume as a result of escaping from hospital in a hospital gown, viewing himself in a mirror to see his new face, and storing the [[TARDIS]] key in his shoe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/robot/detail.shtml|title=BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – Robot – Details|publisher=BBC}}</ref> These elements helped the audience with the transition between actors.<ref name="BBC staff 2007" /><ref name="Cornell 2004" /><ref name="Howe 2004" />

=== Casting ===
[[File:Tom Baker cropped.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Tom Baker made his debut as the fourth incarnation of the Doctor in ''Robot''.]]
It was known beforehand that Jon Pertwee would be leaving his role as the Third Doctor and that a new [[Fourth Doctor]] would need to be cast for the part.<ref name="Sladen 2012" /> [[Tom Baker]] had previously had major parts in several films, including ''[[Nicholas and Alexandra]]'' (1971) and ''[[The Vault of Horror (film)|The Vault of Horror]]'' (1973), but had found himself unemployed as an actor and working in construction at the time.<ref name="Westthorp 2008" /><ref name="Westthorp 2010" /> He had written to Bill Slater, the Head of Serials at the BBC, asking for work.<ref name="Westthorp 2010" /> Slater suggested Baker to ''Doctor Who'' producer [[Barry Letts]], who had been looking to fill the part.<ref name="Westthorp 2008" /><ref name="Westthorp 2010" /> Letts saw Baker's work in ''[[The Golden Voyage of Sinbad]]'' (1973) and hired him.<ref name="Rawson-Jones 2009" /> Baker would continue in his role as the Doctor for seven seasons, longer than any other actor.<ref name="AudioFile staff 2009" />

[[Nicholas Courtney]] and [[John Levene]] reprised their roles as [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]] and [[Sergeant Benton]] respectively.<ref name="Braxton 2010" /> Levene had started his role with the [[Second Doctor]] story ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]]'' (1968) as a member of the military organisation [[UNIT]] (the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce). Courtney started earlier in the same year in ''[[The Web of Fear]]'', with his character's rank being a colonel. They, along with Sladen, would be the transition cast to carry through from the Third Doctor to the Fourth Doctor, though this would be the only UNIT story for the twelfth season. The Earth-based stories involving UNIT, which had regularly featured in the Third Doctor's period, were introduced partly as an effort to reduce production costs when the series moved into colour by [[Peter Bryant]] and [[Derrick Sherwin]], the show's previous producer and script editor, as well as to base the series more on ''[[The Quatermass Experiment]]'' (1953).

Edward Burnham portrays Professor Kettlewell, the wild-haired, bespectacled [[boffin]] who creates the titular K1 robot.<ref name="Braxton 2010" /> Along with Courtney and Levene, Burnham had also appeared in ''The Invasion'', where he played another scientist, Professor Watkins. The part of the K1 robot is played by [[Michael Kilgarriff]]<ref name="Braxton 2010" /> who had played another robotic part in ''[[The Tomb of the Cybermen]]'' (1967), the [[Cyberman|Cyberman Controller]]. [[Patricia Maynard]] is cast in the part of Miss Hilda Winters, the director of the National Institute for Advanced Scientific Research.<ref name="Braxton 2010" /> Miss Winters' assistant, Arnold Jellicoe, is played by Alec Linstead.<ref name="Braxton 2010" /> Linstead had played the part of Sergeant Osgood—a member of the technical staff at UNIT—in ''[[The Dæmons]]'' (1971).

=== Filming ===
This was the first serial to be produced for the season.<ref name="Lofficier 2003" /> This was also the first ''Doctor Who'' serial to have its location material shot entirely on [[videotape]] using [[outside broadcasting]] facilities, as opposed to the more usual [[BBC television drama]] practice of the time of shooting studio interiors on videotape and location exteriors on [[16 mm film]]. This was due to the large number of video effects involving the eponymous robot required in exterior scenes (shot at the then BBC Engineering Training Department at [[Wood Norton, Worcestershire]]<ref name="Braxton 2010" /><ref name="Howe 1992" />), which were easier and more convincing to marry to videotape than to film. The team had learned that lesson during the previous season's ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]''. The Wood Norton facility was chosen for location shooting because it had an underground bunker, which director Christopher Barry felt would be suitable for the entrance to the underground complex in the story; however, they were refused permission to shoot in that area.<ref name="Howe 1992" />

== Broadcast and reception ==
{{Episode table
 |background =
 |series = 6 |title = 20 | aux1=6 | airdate = 10 | viewers = 6 | country = UK
 |seriesT    = Episode
 |aux1T      = Run time
 |viewersR   = <ref name="AllRatings" />
 |episodes   = 
{{Episode list/sublist|Robot (Doctor Who)
 |EpisodeNumber      = 1
 |Title              = Part One
 |RTitle             = 
 |OriginalAirDate    = {{Start date|1974|12|28|df=y}}
 |Viewers            = 10.8
 |Aux1               = 24:11
 |LineColor          = 
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Robot (Doctor Who)
 |EpisodeNumber      = 2
 |Title              = Part Two
 |RTitle             = 
 |OriginalAirDate    = {{Start date|1975|1|4|df=y}}
 |Viewers            = 10.7
 |Aux1               = 25:00
 |LineColor          = 
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Robot (Doctor Who)
 |EpisodeNumber      = 3
 |Title              = Part Three
 |RTitle             = 
 |OriginalAirDate    = {{Start date|1975|1|11|df=y}}
 |Viewers            = 10.1
 |Aux1               = 24:29
 |LineColor          = 
}}
{{Episode list/sublist|Robot (Doctor Who)
 |EpisodeNumber      = 4
 |Title              = Part Four
 |RTitle             = 
 |OriginalAirDate    = {{Start date|1975|1|18|df=y}}
 |Viewers            = 9.0
 |Aux1               = 24:29
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}}
}}

''Robot'' was the first serial of the [[Doctor Who (season 12)|twelfth season]] of ''Doctor Who''. Part one of ''Robot'' was first broadcast on [[BBC One]] on Saturday, 28 December 1974<ref name="Braxton 2010" /><ref name="Lofficier 2003" /> and had a viewership of 10.8 million, which was higher than the [[The Time Warrior|first serial]] for [[Doctor Who (season 11)|season eleven]]. The next three parts were broadcast over the next successive Saturdays, each having an audience of over 10 million with the exception of the part four on Saturday, 18 January 1975 which only had viewership of 9 million.<ref name="Braxton 2010" />

=== Reception ===
[[File:Kingkongposter.jpg|thumb|150px|''Robot'' is considered to have been influenced by the 1933 film ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'']]
Viewer reaction was mixed as defined in an ''Audience Research Report'' conducted by the BBC. About 30% felt the show was "definitely enjoyable" with a lower percentage being "distinctly unimpressed". A number of viewers thought the new Doctor would "take some getting used to", but most younger viewers gave positive comments about the serial.<ref name="BBC staff 2007" /><ref name="Howe 2004" /> As with all of the Doctors, Baker received some criticism by the audience, who felt he was a "loony" and presented as "stupid".<ref name="Doctor approvals">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8616413.stm|title=Doctor Who regeneration was 'modelled on LSD trips'|publisher=[[BBC News]]|date=12 April 2010|access-date=19 January 2013}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[Doctor Who Bulletin]]'' in 1988, Jonathan Way felt the serial was fun,<ref name="Way 1988" /> and for the same publication, Robert Cope praised Baker's performance as the new Doctor, also noting that the relationship between Baker's Doctor and Sladen's Sarah worked well.<ref name="Cope 1991" /> [[David J. Howe]] and [[Stephen James Walker]], writing in ''The Television Companion'', admired the performances of Nicholas Courtney and Elisabeth Sladen and felt Marter's debut as Harry Sullivan was promising. They also commended the K1 robot costume, but criticised the use of CSO ([[colour-separation overlay]]) effects for a number of shots involving the K1 robot, as did Robert Cope.<ref name="BBC staff 2007" /><ref name="Howe 2004" /><ref name="Cope 1991" /> In ''Doctor Who Episode by Episode'', Ray Dexter described Baker's "over-the-top" performance as "compelling" but the plot as "a little lazy and derivative, with some terrible science." He considered the dialogue "some of the best we've seen" but added that "the story falls into the typical Dicks trap of just having baddies being bad because they're bad, and a logical robot behaving utterly illogically". He also thought the location work on video "cheapens the look of the show" and criticised the effects as "not good enough, not even for this era".<ref name="dexter">{{cite book |last=Dexter |first=Ray |title=Doctor Who Episode By Episode: Volume 4 Tom Baker |date=2012 |publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781291174076 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IAI4CgAAQBAJ&q=philip+hinchcliffe+cambridge&pg=PT29}}</ref>

Mark Braxton of ''[[Radio Times]]'' awarded the serial three stars out of five, praising the introduction of Baker and Marter, as well as the K1 concept. However, he felt that the villains were stereotypical and wrote that ''Robot'' "boasts perhaps the show's worst visual effect ever".<ref name="Braxton 2010"/> [[IGN]] reviewer Arnold Blumburg gave the story a rating of 7 out of 10, attributing its success to Baker. He too criticised the effects, feeling that it made the story "[fail] when trying to present an epic conclusion".<ref name="Blumberg 2007" /> [[DVD Talk]]'s Nick Lyons wrote that it "may not be the most original episode, but it is one of the stronger episodes of the Baker years simply because it never drags and is a breezy action-adventure. It doesn't hurt that the robot itself is a nifty villain". He gave the serial three and a half out of five stars.<ref name="Lyons 2007"/> In 2010, ''[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]'' named the scene where the Doctor tries on many different costumes as one of the silliest moments in the show's history.<ref>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=O'Brian|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/doctor-whos-25-silliest-moments/|title=Doctor Who's 25 Silliest Moments|work=[[SFX (magazine)|SFX]]|date=November 2010|access-date=21 March 2013}}</ref>

Reviewing the serial in 2007, literary critic [[John Kenneth Muir]] noted several influences on the writing of ''Robot''. Kettlewell's K1 robot is programmed so that it cannot harm humans; Muir traces the inspiration for this directly from the [[Three Laws of Robotics]] devised by [[Isaac Asimov]] in his 1950 story collection, ''[[I, Robot]]''. He also considers the relationship of Sarah Jane Smith with the K1 robot, its transformation into gigantic antagonist (holding a captive [[damsel in distress]], Sarah, in its claw) and its tragic destruction by military force as an [[analogue (literature)|analogue]] of the 1933 film, ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]''.<ref name="Muir 1999" />

== Commercial releases ==
''Robot'' has had a number of commercial releases on video, in print, audio and other merchandise.

=== In print===
{{Infobox book
|name = Doctor Who and the Giant Robot
|image = Doctor Who and the Giant Robot.jpg
|border = yes
|caption =
|author = [[Terrance Dicks]]
|cover_artist = [[Peter Brookes]]
|series = ''[[Doctor Who]]'' book:<br />[[List of Doctor Who novelisations|Target novelisations]]
|release_number = 28
|subject = Featuring:<br />[[Sarah Jane Smith]], [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]], [[Harry Sullivan (Doctor Who)|Harry Sullivan]]
|release_date = 13 March 1975
|publisher = [[Target Books]]
|pages = 124
|isbn= 0-426-10858-2
|italic title = no
}}

A novelisation of this serial, written by [[Terrance Dicks]], was published by [[Target Books]] in 1975, titled ''Doctor Who and the Giant Robot''.<ref name="programmeguide"/> A second edition was released in 1978 by [[Virgin Books|W. H. Allen Ltd]] with new cover art; a third edition, retitled ''Doctor Who – Robot'' and using the VHS release artwork, was released in 1992.<ref name="programmeguide">{{cite book|first=Jean-Marc and Randy|last=Lofficier|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-60i_3373McC&q=doctor+who|chapter=Fourth Doctor|title=The Doctor Who Programme Guide|date=1 May 2003|publisher=iUniverse|isbn=0595276180|page=119}}</ref>

It was also one of two ''Doctor Who'' serials to have a second novelisation written, aimed at younger readers using simpler language (the other being ''Junior Doctor Who and the Brain of Morbius''). Also written by Dicks, this edition was titled ''Junior Doctor Who and the Giant Robot''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?445328|title=Publication: Doctor Who and the Giant Robot: A Junior Doctor Who Book|website=isfdb.org}}</ref>

==== Audio book ====
An unabridged reading of the novelisation by actor Tom Baker was released on [[compact disc]] on 5 November 2007 by [[BBC Audiobooks]].<ref name="CD release 2007" /> The audio book was released as ''Doctor Who: The Giant Robot'' on 4 CDs for an American audience in 2008 by Chivers Children's Audio Books.<ref name="AudioFile staff 2009" /><ref name="CD release 2008" /> The audio book was released a third time as a pre-loaded [[Playaway]] digital audio book in 2009 by BBC Audiobooks.<ref name="digital release 2009" />

=== Home media ===
{{See also|List of Doctor Who DVD releases|List of Doctor Who Blu-ray releases}}
''Robot'' first entered the home video market as a [[VHS]] release in February 1992.<ref name="programmeguide"/> The North American VHS release occurred in 1994 when [[CBS/Fox Video]] released the serial.<ref name="VHS release 1994" />

[[BBC Video]] first released ''Robot'' on DVD in the United Kingdom on 4 June 2007.<ref name="Wilkins 2007" /><ref name="DVD release 2007" /> It was released later in the United States on 14 August 2007.<ref name="Lyons 2007"/> The DVD release received generally positive reviews and was praised for the extras, including a documentary titled ''Are Friends Electric?'' detailing the production and casting of the show.<ref name="Blumberg 2007" /><ref name="Lyons 2007" /><ref name="Wilkins 2007" /> ''Robot'' was released as part of issue 49 of [[Doctor Who DVD Files]], published 17 November 2010.

===Other merchandise===

[[Denys Fisher|Denys Fisher Toys]] released an 8" posable action figure of Robot K1 named "Doctor Who Giant Robot" in 1976.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O48509/doctor-who-giant-robot-toy-robot-denys-fisher-group/ | title=Doctor Who Giant Robot | date=19 February 1976 }}</ref>

Eaglemoss Collections released a special issue magazine that included a hand painted figurine of Robot K1 on 2 September 2014. It was presented as the fourth special in the Doctor Who Figurine Collection.

[[Doctor Who – Battles in Time|Doctor Who Battles in Time]] released a rare card number 787 of Robot K1 in the Ultimate Monsters which was part of the other card category collections of Exterminator, Annihilator, Invader and Devastator.

== References ==
{{clear}}
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="AllRatings">{{cite web|title=Ratings Guide |url=http://guide.doctorwhonews.net/info.php?detail=ratings&type=date |website=Doctor Who News |access-date=28 May 2017}}</ref>
<ref name="Howe 1992">
{{cite book
 | last1 = Howe
 | first1 = David J.
 | author-link1 = David J. Howe
 | last2 = Stammers
 | first2 =Mark
 | last3 = Walker
 | first3 = Stephen James
 | author-link3 = Stephen James Walker
 | title = The Fourth Doctor Handbook: The Tom Baker Years 1974–1981
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=lug9NgAACAAJ
 | date = 1 November 1992
 | publisher = [[Virgin Books|Doctor Who Books]]
 | location = London, England, UK
 | isbn = 9780426203698
 | oclc = 31709926
 | page = 214
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Lofficier 2003">
{{cite book
 | last1 = Lofficier
 | first1 = Jean-Marc
 | author-link1 = Jean-Marc Lofficier
 | author2 = Jean-Marc
 | last3 = Randy
 | first3 = Lofficier
 | author-link3 = Randy Lofficier
 | title = The Doctor Who Programme Guide: Fourth Edition
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-60i_3373McC&q=Robot+%22Doctor+Who%22+%224A%22+1974+1975+%22Nicholas+Courtney%22&pg=PA118
 | access-date = 9 January 2013
 | edition = 4th
 | date = 1 May 2003
 | publisher = [[iUniverse]]
 | location = Bloomington, Indiana, US
 | isbn = 9780595276189
 | page = 118
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Leach 2009">
{{cite book
 | last = Leach
 | first = Jim
 | title = "Doctor Who": TV Milestones Series
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=In0DduOsBvoC&q=%22Terrance+Dicks%22+%22Doctor+Who%22+1968+1974+%22script+editor%22&pg=PT19
 | access-date = 9 January 2013
 | edition = illustrated
 | date = 1 April 2009
 | publisher = [[Wayne State University Press]]
 | location = Detroit, Michigan, US
 | isbn = 9780814333082
 | oclc = 768120206
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Muir 1999">
{{cite book
 | last = Muir
 | first = John Kenneth
 | author-link = John Kenneth Muir
 | title = A critical history of Doctor Who on television
 | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qMKSCgAAQBAJ&q=doctor%20who%20robot%20king%20kong&pg=PA222
 | access-date = 1 November 2016
 | edition = illustrated
 | year = 1999
 | publisher = [[McFarland & Company]]
 | location = Jefferson, North Carolina, US
 | isbn = 9780786404421
 | oclc = 40926632
 | pages = 222–223
 | chapter = Season 12 
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Rawson-Jones 2009">
{{cite web
 | url          = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s7/doctor-who/news/a181678/a-tribute-to-doctor-who-legend-barry-letts.html
 | title        = A tribute to 'Doctor Who' legend Barry Letts
 | last         = Rawson-Jones
 | first        = Ben
 | date         = 14 October 2009
 | work         = [[Digital Spy]]
 | location     = New York City, New York, US
 | access-date   = 9 January 2013
 | quote        = Having seen unknown hod-carrier Baker in The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, Letts took the goggle-eyed aspiring actor away from the building site and into the Tardis in 1974.
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Westthorp 2008">
{{cite web
 | url          = http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/doctor-who/19477/who-couldve-been-who-an-alternate-history-of-doctor-who
 | title        = Who could've been Who? An alternate history of Doctor Who
 | last1        = Westthorp
 | first1       = Alex
 | date         = 24 April 2008
 | work         = Den of Geek
 | publisher    = [[Dennis Publishing]]
 | location     = London, England, UK
 | access-date   = 9 January 2013
 | quote        = Eventually a suggestion by the wife of BBC drama head Bill Slater was followed up and the production team found the wild-eyed and naturally eccentric Tom Baker mixing cement on a building site.
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Westthorp 2010">
{{cite web
 | url          = http://www.denofgeek.com/tv/thor/20398/top-10-doctor-who-producers-part-two
 | title        = Top 10 Doctor Who producers: Part Two
 | last1        = Westthorp
 | first1       = Alex
 | date         = 1 April 2010
 | work         = Den of Geek
 | publisher    = [[Dennis Publishing]]
 | location     = London, England, UK
 | access-date   = 9 January 2013
 | quote        = Letts found casting a new Doctor more difficult, however, until a tip-off from his boss Bill Slater. An unemployed actor, then working on a building site, called Tom Baker had written to Slater asking for work. In, arguably, one of the best decisions ever made on Doctor Who, Letts cast Tom Baker as the fourth Doctor.
}}
</ref>

<ref name="BBC staff 2007">
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/episodeguide/robot/detail.shtml
 | title = BBC – Doctor Who Classic Episode Guide – Robot – Details
 | author = BBC staff
 | year = 2007
 | work = Doctor Who The Classic Series
 | publisher = [[BBC]]
 | access-date = 10 January 2013
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Cornell 2004">
{{cite book
 | last1 = Cornell
 | first1 = Paul
 | author-link1 = Paul Cornell
 | last2 = Day
 | first2 = Martin
 | author-link2 = Martin Day (writer)
 | last3 = Topping
 | first3 = Keith
 | author-link3 = Keith Topping
 | title = The Discontinuity Guide: The Unofficial Doctor Who Companion
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=3AoXAgAACAAJ&q=%22The+Discontinuity+Guide%22
 | access-date = 10 January 2013
 | edition = 2nd
 | date = 1 October 2004
 | publisher = [[MonkeyBrain Books]]
 | location = Austin, Texas, US
 | isbn = 9781932265095
 | oclc = 56773449
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Howe 2004">
{{cite book
 | last1 = Howe
 | first1 = David J.
 | author-link1 = David J. Howe
 | last2 = Walker
 | first2 = Stephen James
 | author-link2 = Stephen James Walker
 | title = The Television Companion: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to Doctor Who
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=kHOpAAAACAAJ
 | access-date = 10 January 2013
 | date = 30 October 2004
 | publisher = [[Telos Publishing]]
 | location = Tolworth, Surrey, England, UK
 | isbn = 9781903889527
 | oclc = 59332938
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Cope 1991">
{{cite magazine
 | last1 = Cope
 | first1 = Robert
 | editor-last = Leigh
 | editor-first = Gary
 |date=December 1991
 | title = (unknown)
 | magazine = [[Doctor Who Bulletin]]
 | issue = 96
 | location = Brighton, England, UK
 | publisher = [[Titan Magazines]]
 | issn = 1351-2471
 | oclc = 500077966
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Wilkins 2007">
{{cite web
 | url = http://totalscifionline.com/reviews/514-doctor-who-robot
 | title = Doctor Who: Robot Reviews – Total Sci-Fi
 | last = Wilkins
 | first = Jonathan
 | date = 15 May 2007
 | work = [[Dreamwatch]]
 | publisher = [[Titan Magazines]]
 | location = Brighton, England, UK
 | issn = 1351-2471
 | oclc = 500077966
 | access-date = 13 January 2013
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120607045920/http://totalscifionline.com/reviews/514-doctor-who-robot
 | archive-date=7 June 2012
}}
</ref>

<ref name="DVD release 2007">
{{cite AV media
 | year = 2007
 | title = Doctor Who / Robot
 | medium = DVD
 | publisher = [[BBC Video]]
 | location = London, England, UK
 | isbn = 9781419858604
 | oclc = 156824505
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Lyons 2007">
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/30755/doctor-who-robot/
 | title = Doctor Who – Robot : DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video
 | last = Lyons
 | first = Nick
 | date = 30 September 2007
 | work = [[DVD Talk]]
 | publisher = [[Internet Brands]]
 | location = El Segundo, California, US
 | access-date = 13 January 2013
}}
</ref>

<ref name="VHS release 1994">
{{cite AV media
 | year = 1994
 | title = Doctor Who / Robot
 | medium = VHS
 | publisher = [[CBS/Fox Video]]
 | location = New York City, New York, US
 | isbn = 9780793981038
 | oclc = 33954409
}}
</ref>

<ref name="CD release 2007">
{{cite AV media
 | year = 2007
 | title = Doctor Who and the Giant Robot
 | medium = CD
 | publisher = [[BBC Audiobooks]]
 | location = Bath, Somerset, England, UK
 | isbn = 9781405666671
 | oclc = 212781264
}}
</ref>

<ref name="CD release 2008">
{{cite AV media
 | year = 2008
 | title = Doctor Who: The Giant Robot
 | medium = CD
 | publisher = Chivers Children's Audio Books
 | location = North Kingstown, Rhode Island, US
 | isbn = 9781405657914
 | oclc = 271893995
}}
</ref>

<ref name="AudioFile staff 2009">
{{cite magazine
 | author = AudioFile staff
 | editor-last = Whitten
 | editor-first = Robin F.
 |date=July 2009
 | title = AudioFile audiobook review: DOCTOR WHO By Terrance Dicks, Read by Tom Baker
 | magazine = [[AudioFile (magazine)|AudioFile]]
 | location = Portland, Maine, US
 | publisher = AudioFile Publications
 | issn = 1063-0244
 | oclc = 25844569
 | access-date = 14 January 2013
 | url = http://www.audiofilemagazine.com/dbsearch/showreview.cfm?Num=43905
}}
</ref>

<ref name="digital release 2009">
{{cite AV media
 | year = 2009
 | title = Doctor Who and the Giant Robot
 | medium = Digital audio
 | publisher = [[BBC Audiobooks]]
 | location = Bath, Somerset, England, UK
 | isbn = 9781408415313
 | oclc = 752431922
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Blumberg 2007">
{{cite web
 | url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/08/13/doctor-who-robot-dvd-review?page=2
 | title = Doctor Who: Robot DVD Review – IGN
 | last = Blumberg
 | first = Arnold
 | date = 13 August 2007
 | work = [[IGN Entertainment]]
 | publisher = [[News Corporation]]
 | location = San Francisco, California, US
 | access-date = 13 January 2013
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Sladen 2012">
{{cite AV media
 | first = Elisabeth
 | last = Sladen
 | author-link1 = Elisabeth Sladen
 | year = 2012
 | title = Doctor Who Stories: Elizabeth Sladen Part 1
 | medium = DVD
 | volume = Doctor Who: Invasion of the Dinosaurs
 | publisher = [[BBC Video]]
 | location = London, England, UK
 | isbn = 9780780684416
 | oclc = 750279801
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Braxton 2010">
{{cite magazine
 | last1 = Braxton
 | first1 = Mark
 | editor-last = Preston
 | editor-first = Ben
 | date = 7 May 2010
 | title = Doctor Who: Robot – Radio Times
 | magazine = [[Radio Times]]
 | location = London, England, UK
 | publisher = [[Immediate Media Company]]
 | issn = 0033-8060
 | oclc = 240905405
 | access-date = 13 January 2013
 | url = http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2010-05-07/robot
}}
</ref>

<ref name="Way 1988">
{{cite magazine
 | last = Way
 | first = Jonathan
 | editor-last = Leigh
 | editor-first = Gary
 |date=December 1988
 | title = A Voyage Through 25 Years of Doctor Who
 | magazine = [[Doctor Who Bulletin]]
 | issue = #61, 25th Anniversary Special
 | location = Brighton, England, UK
 | publisher = [[Titan Magazines]]
 | issn = 1351-2471
 | oclc = 500077966
}}
</ref>

}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book
 | last1 = Howe
 | first1 = David J.
 | author-link1 = David J. Howe
 | last2 = Stammers
 | first2 = Mark
 | last3 = Walker
 | first3 = Stephen James
 | author-link3 = Stephen James Walker
 | title = Doctor Who: The Seventies
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=5hEhPwAACAAJ
 | access-date = 11 January 2013
 | edition = illustrated
 | date = 1 November 1995
 | publisher = [[Doctor Who Books]]
 | location = London, England, UK
 | isbn = 9780863698712
}}
* {{cite magazine
 | last = Pixley
 | first = Andrew
 | editor-last = Spilsbury
 | editor-first = Tom
 | editor-link = Tom Spilsbury
 | date = 3 May 2000
 | title = Archive: Robot
 | magazine = [[Doctor Who Magazine]]
 | issue = 290
 | location = Modena, Italy
 | publisher = [[Panini Comics]]
 | issn = 0957-9818
}}
* {{cite magazine
 | last = Pixley
 | first = Andrew
 | editor-last = Spilsbury
 | editor-first = Tom
 | editor-link = Tom Spilsbury
 | date = 1 September 2004
 | title = You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
 | magazine = [[Doctor Who Magazine]]
 | issue = Special Edition #8
 | location = Modena, Italy
 | publisher = [[Panini Comics]]
 | issn = 0957-9818
}}
* {{cite magazine
 | last1 = Richards
 | first1 = Justin
 | author-link1 = Justin Richards
 | last2 = Anghelides
 | first2 = Peter
 | author-link2 = Peter Anghelides
 |date=January 1988
 | title = Production
 | magazine = In-Vision
 | issue = #1
 | location = Warwickshire, England, UK
 | publisher = CyberMark Services
 | issn = 0953-3303
}}

== External links ==
{{wikiquote|Fourth Doctor}}
* {{BBCCDW | id=robot | title=Robot}}

=== Target novelisation ===
*{{Isfdb title|id=10604|title=Doctor Who and the Giant Robot}}

{{Doctor Who episodes|C12}}
{{navboxes|list1=
{{Fourth Doctor stories|selected=Television}}
{{Regeneration stories}}
{{Sarah Jane Smith stories}}
{{UNIT stories|selected=Television}}
}}

[[Category:1974 British television episodes]]
[[Category:1975 British television episodes]]
[[Category:Doctor Who serials novelised by Terrance Dicks]]
[[Category:Fourth Doctor serials]]
[[Category:Television episodes about robots]]
[[Category:UNIT serials]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in England]]
[[Category:Television episodes set in the 20th century]]