Director Paddy Russell
Starring Tom Baker & Louise Jameson
Rated G
Score 3/6
On the way to show Brighton to Leela, the TARDIS lands on the island of Fang Rock off the south coast of England in the early years of the 20th century. Noticing that the lighthouse isn’t functioning properly, the Fourth Doctor decides to investigate, as well as to ask for directions, as the TARDIS seems to have got ‘lost in the fog’. Upon arrival at the lighthouse, and after introducing themselves, the Doctor discovers the dead body of one of the keepers

Horror at Fang Rock was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 3 September to 24 September 1977, this serial achieved a degree of infamy because on 22 November 1987 a broadcast of Horror of Fang Rock by Chicago television station WTTW was interrupted for around 90 seconds by a pirate broadcast featuring an individual disguised as television character Max Headroom. It should also be noted that Louise Jameson (Leela) stopped wearing her brown contacts at the end of this serial, with the sudden change in colour being explained as a pigment dispersal caused by looking directly into a bright explosion.

Even though the whole premise of mysterious monster running around a secluded area killing off people might seem to be a little clichéd I actually kind of liked this serial, largely due to the fact that this involved the fourth doctor portrayed by Tom Baker.
It was also a good move but the production team to lay off revealing the true form of the monster for a long possible. This was the only on screen appearance by the Rutans.
The only thing that really attracted me to watching this particular serial was the involvement of Tom Baker and the Infamy surrounding the Max Headroom incident to the point that I can say this sort of a take it or leave it kind of serial. You probably won’t miss that much if you give this one a miss but you also won’t be disappointed in your decision if you decided to watch it.