Trivia / Doctor Who S14 E5 "The Robots of Death"

• Cast the Runner-Up: Pamela Salem had previously been considered for Leela.
• Development Gag: Tom Baker altered a line to refer to robophobia as "Grimwade's Syndrome", referencing Peter Grimwade, a production assistant who tended to always end up working on robot stories.
• Magnum Opus Dissonance: Although this serial has gone on to become one of the most popular Doctor Who serials ever made, director Michael E. Briant revealed on the DVD Commentary that neither he nor Tom Baker liked the script very much. Briant claimed he believed it owed too much to Agatha Christie and was fairly average, and added that he thought the story's greatest attribute was its design work.
• Throw It In!: Tom Baker changed the in-universe name for the Uncanny Valley effect ("Gimwol's Syndrome") to "Grimwade's Syndrome", turning it into an affectionate jab at Peter Grimwade, a production assistant notorious for always ending up working on robot-related stories.
• Wag the Director: Tom Baker disliked the resolution of the first episode's cliffhanger, suggesting instead an action-packed sequence in which the Doctor swings on his scarf to kick the door open. He and director Michael E. Briant argued vociferously until Briant revealed that incoming producer Graham Williams was present to observe the shoot. Baker quickly agreed to follow the director's instructions.
• Working Title: Planet of the Robots and The Storm-mine Murders.
• You Sound Familiar: Pamela Salem (Toos) was one of the voices of Xoanon in the previous story.

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