'The Time Meddler' (4 Parts) Story Code 'S' by Dennis Spooner

The Doctor and Vicki discover that Steven Taylor has managed to get on board the TARDIS during their escape from the planet Mechanus. The ship arrives on the English coastline in 1066, where the time travellers find a wristwatch and a gramophone player, and then meet the Saxon villagers Wulnoth, Edith and Eldred. They later encounter a party of Viking raiders, Ulf, Sven, and Gunnar the Giant, who are on a reconnaissance mission for their king, Harold Hardrada, as a precursor for a planned invasion of England. The Doctor investigates strange goings-on at a nearby monastery, and discovers that the monk living there is in fact one of his own people. The Monk is a mischievous meddler who attempts to 'improve' history; he is planning to wipe out the Viking fleet with an atomic bazooka, therefore allowing King Harold to face the forces of William of Normandy at Hastings with an army at full strength. The Doctor is appalled at such meddling, and thwarts the Monk's plans by interfering with his TARDIS's dimensional stabiliser. The Monk is left powerless and stranded on Earth, while history is allowed to continue on its natural course.

William Hartnell (Dr Who), Maureen O'Brien (Vicki), Peter Purves (Steven), Peter Butterworth (Monk), Alethea Charlton (Edith), Peter Russell (Eldred), Michael Miller (Wulnoth), Michael Guest (Saxon Hunter), Norman Hartley (Ulf) , Geoffrey Cheshire (Vicking Leader), David Anderson (Sven), Ronald Rich (Gunnar the Giant)

Produced by Verity Lambert
Directed by Douglas Camfield

TX:
'The Watcher' - 3rd July, 1965 @ 6.55pm - 7.20pm
'The Meddling Monk' - 10th July, 1965 @ 5.40pm - 6.05pm
'A Battle of Wits' - 17th July, 1965 @ 5.40pm - 6.05pm
'Checkmate' - 24th July, 1965 @ 5.40pm - 6.05pm

Notes:
*Featuring the First Doctor, Vicki and Steven


*First appearance of the Monk

*Working titles: 'The Paradox', 'Doctor Who and the Monk' and 'Doctor Who and the Vikings'

*The end credits roll over a star-scape featuring shots of Steven, Vicki and the Doctor's faces

*This story was repackaged in 2023 in omnibus format under the banner of 'Tales of the TARDIS'; it was released on the BBC's iPlayer in the UK only, and had linking scenes featuring Peter Purves and Maureen O'Brien portraying 'memory versions' of their original roles: 'Steven and Vicki meet again and remember their first adventure battling a time-travelling Monk about to change the course of history in 1066.' [Note: I don't consider this canon, so have not included it in the main story timelines]