A8: DUEL
RADIO TIMES: The fleet of Federation pursuit ships commanded by Travis finally succeed in trapping the Liberator.
Broadcast: Monday 20th February 1978: 7.15pm-8.10pm, BBC 1
Writer: Terry Nation
Director: Douglas Camfield
"Blake is sitting up in a tree, Travis is sitting up in another tree. Unless they're planning to throw nuts at one another, I don't see much of a fight developing before it gets light." Avon
GUEST CAST: Isla Blair (Sinofar), Patsy Smart (Giroc), Carol Royle (Mutoid)
FACT FILE
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Duel was watched by 10.0m viewers.
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Duel was the seventh episode to be made but was always planned as the eighth episode in the run.
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Camfield ran out of time and some scenes were not shot on location. They were recorded in studio against a CSO backdrop. CSO was also used for the appearance and disappearance of Sinofar and Giroc.
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Studio recording took place in Studio TC6 at BBC Television Centre from Mon 9 Jan, 1978. Spacefall was broadcast that night.
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Terry Nation's original script referred to the alien planet as Amersat. The Mutoids were originally referred to in the scripts as Androids, human machines running on blood.
EPISODE GALLERY
Please click on the image for larger view and details.
 Pursuit Ship design sketchIan Scoones’ original design sketch for the Federation pursuit ships which made their debut in Duel. |  Mutoid design sketchBarbara Lane’s original costume design for the Mutoids. |  Filming on DuelGareth Thomas (Blake) and Sally Knyvette (Jenna) up a tree in the New Forest. |
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 Location filming on DuelFilming on Duel in the New Forest. |  Blake and Travis duelGareth Thomas (Blake) and Stephen Greif (Travis) film their fight scene on location in the New Forest. BBC copyright image. |  Blake under attackGareth Thomas films the fight scene on location in the New Forest. BBC copyright image. |