Planet of Giants

009 – Planet of Giants
Doctor Who serial
The miniaturised Susan and Ian encounter a normal-sized ant. Critics and viewers praised the serial's set design.[1][2]
Cast
Doctor William Hartnell – First Doctor
Companions William Russell – Ian Chesterton Jacqueline Hill – Barbara Wright Carole Ann Ford – Susan Foreman
Others Alan Tilvern – Forester Frank Crawshaw – Farrow Reginald Barratt – Smithers Rosemary Johnson – Hilda Fred Ferris – Bert
Production
Directed by	Mervyn Pinfield Douglas Camfield (episode 3)
Written by	Louis Marks
Script editor	David Whitaker
Produced by	Verity Lambert
Music by	Dudley Simpson
Production code	J
Series	Season 2
Running time	3 episodes, 25 minutes each
First broadcast	31 October 1964 (1964-10-31)
Last broadcast	14 November 1964 (1964-11-14)
Chronology
← Preceded by The Reign of Terror Followed by → The Dalek Invasion of Earth
List of episodes (1963–1989)

Planet of Giants is the first serial of the second season in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by Louis Marks and directed by Mervyn Pinfield and Douglas Camfield, the serial was first broadcast on BBC1 in three weekly parts from 31 October to 14 November 1964. In the serial, the First Doctor (William Hartnell), his granddaughter Susan Foreman (Carole Ann Ford), and her teachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) are shrunk to the size of an inch after the Doctor's time machine the TARDIS arrives in contemporary England.

The story's concept was first proposed as the first serial of the show's first season, but was rejected due to its technical complexity and lack of character development. When Marks was commissioned to write the script, he was inspired by Rachel Carson's 1962 environmental science book Silent Spring, the first major documentation on human impact on the environment. The story was originally written and filmed as a four-part serial, but later reduced to three parts; the third and fourth episodes were cut down to form a faster-paced climax. The serial premiered with 8.4 million viewers, maintaining audience figures throughout the three weeks. Retrospective response for the serial was mixed, with criticism directed at its story and characterisation despite praise for its ambition. It later received several print adaptations and home media releases.