B6: TRIAL
RADIO TIMES: As a result of Blake's abortive attack on the Federation's main control centre, a court martial is convened in Space Command Headquarters. On the Liberator Blake prepares to desert his crew...
Broadcast: Tuesday 13th February, 1979: 7.15pm - 8.10pm, BBC 1
Writer: Chris Boucher
Director: Derek Martinus
"I was an instrument of the service. So if I'm guilty of murder, of mass murder, then so are all of you!" Travis
GUEST CAST
Samor - John Savident
Bercol - John Bryans
Rontane - Peter Miles
Thania - Victoria Fairbrother
Zil - Claire Lewis
Par - Kevin Lloyd
Lye - Graham Sinclair
Guard Commander - Colin Dunn
CREW
Production Assistant - Jackie Willows, Pauline Smithson
Production Unit Manager - Sheelagh Rees
Film Cameraman - Max Samett
Film Recordist - John Gatland
Film Editor - Sheila S. Tomlinson
Series Videotape Editors - Sam Upton (Uncredited), Malcolm Banthorpe (Uncredited)
Visual Effects Designer - Mat Irvine, Peter Pegrum, Andrew Lazell
Electronic Effects - A.J. Mitchell
Studio Lighting - Brian Clemett
Studio Sound - Malcolm Johnson
Special Sound - Richard Yeoman-Clark
Costume Designer - Barbara Kidd
Make Up Artist - Ann Ailes
Music By - Dudley Simpson
Series Created By - Terry Nation
FACT FILE
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Trial was written by Chris Boucher and directed by Derek Martinus (who had directed any episodes of Doctor Who).
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The working title for Trial was ‘Travis’. The script was commissioned in early 1978. The first draft took 3 weeks to complete, was written in long-hand by Boucher & typed up by his wife
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The episode was originally Episode 7 but was moved back to Episode 6 after Pip & Jane Baker's 'Death-Squad' was abandoned.
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Peter Miles (Rontane) and John Bryans (Bercol) returned from Seek-Locate-Destroy in Series A.
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John Savident played Samor & would return in Series D. Savident later became a regular in Coronation Street as Fred Elliott.
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Kevin Lloyd played Trooper Par and went on to find fame in the Bill.
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Filming for the scenes on the alien planet took place at the Royal Alexandra and Albert School at Merstham in Surrey. Gareth Thomas & Claire Lewis (Zil) were required for location filming from Monday 13 November to Tuesday 14 November 1978.
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New model filming was required for the sequence of the Liberator’s attack on Space Command HQ.
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Studio recording took place in TC6 from Thurs 28 to Friday 29 December, 1978. Not all footage was recorded and a remount was needed in the next recording block on Wed 10 Jan 1979.
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Dudley Simpson’s incidental music was recorded on Monday 15 January, 1979.
EPISODE GALLERY