History Trivia / DoctorWhoS2E5TheWebPlanet

* PopCultureUrbanLegends: The iconic smeared look of the story was said to be because vaseline was glossed onto the camera lens. While that was a common technique, the actual reason is because a Neutral-Density filtered lens was subbed in, which are used to harsh light in non-digital cameras.

* PopCultureUrbanLegends: The iconic smeared look of the story was said to be because vaseline was glossed onto the camera lens. While that was a common technique, the actual reason is because a Neutral-Density filtered lens was subbed in, which are used to reduce exposure in non-digital cameras.

** Director Richard Martin wanted to go ambitious for this serial. Much of the budget was put into its effects. He forwent Who’s regular score for more experimental music. And to make the planet Vortis look more otherworldly, he went about using a unique lens. Unfortunately, the crew had to go with a cheaper alternative lens instead, giving the serial’s it’s (in)famous look.

** According to ''Doctor Who: The Complete History'', filming for the 2nd episode was when things completely fell apart. Both of the cheaper lens broke. Several sets were unfinished or not delivered, while a Zarbi costume fell apart during production. Filming continually went behind schedule. During one shoot, seaweed that was used for an effect was left to smell under the studio’s hot lights. Other smaller technical issues persisted throughout.

* TheCastShowoff: A choreographer, Rosalyn de Winter, was consulted to develop the movements for the Zarbi, Menoptera and Optera, and the crew was so impressed with her that she was given the role of the lead Menoptera character in the story, Vrestin. (She was famously credited for "Insect Movement" in the closing titles.)

* TroubledProduction: The demanding nature of the serial took its toll on the production:
** Much of the budget was put into the effects. The difficulties of production may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for Creator/WilliamRussell, who reportedly resolved to quit the show during the shooting of this serial.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** The larvae guns were originally meant to shoot venom, but it was changed thanks to Creator/DennisSpooner.

* {{Blooper}}: A Zarbi runs towards the camera and unexpectedly bumps into it.

* InspirationForTheWork: Writer Bill Strutton was inspired by a childhood experience of being badly bitten when he interfered in a fight between two bull ants. His memories had been stirred by watching his own sons, aged six and four, fighting in a similar fashion.

** The first episode required a 16-minute overrun, brought about by a variety of flubbed lines, missed cues, equipment problems, and troubles with the Zarbi costumes, one of which broke and had to be repaired.
** The start of recording on the third episode was delayed when it was found that some of the sets had not been delivered to the studio, and the Carsenome floor had not been painted. Lighting and camera problems continued to plague the increasingly frazzled cast, and this time taping went 37 minutes beyond the schedule.
** One of the Zarbi operators, his vision impaired by his costume, ran right into the camera. So rushed was the recording, however, that this blooper was retained in the finished episode.
** The difficulties of production may have been the straw that broke the camel's back for Creator/WilliamRussell, who reportedly resolved to quit the show during the shooting of this serial.

** Originally, the Zarbi had the ability to spit venom, but Creator/DennisSpooner instead created smaller, grub-like creatures to fulfil this function.
** The larvae guns were originally meant to be mini-Zarbi.
* WorkingTitle: This story was originally entitled ''The Zarbi'', and was made under the working title ''The Centre of Terror''. Another working title is known to be ''The Webbed Planet''.

* CreatorChosenCasting:
** Director Richard Martin cast Arne Gordon, who ran an antique stall in London's Portabello Road, because she had large eyes suitable for an insect.
** Martin cast Creator/MartinJarvis as Hilio, having met him during his performance of ''Theatre/PoorBitos'' in the West End alongside Martin's girlfriend Suzanne Neve.
** Jolyon Booth, cast as Prapillus, was an old friend of Martin's, while Jocelyn Birdsall, cast as Hlynia, had worked with Martin on stage in 1952.

* TroubledProduction: The demanding nature of the serial took its toll on the production. The first episode required a 16-minute overrun, brought about by a variety of flubbed lines, missed cues, equipment problems, and troubles with the Zarbi costumes, one of which broke and had to be repaired. The start of recording on the third was delayed when it was found that some of the sets had not been delivered to the studio, and the Carsenome floor had not been painted. Lighting and camera problems continued to plague the increasingly frazzled cast, and this time taping went 37 minutes beyond the schedule. One of the Zarbi operators, his vision impaired by his costume, ran right into the camera. So rushed was the recording, however, that this blooper was retained in the finished episode.
** This may have actually been the straw that broke the camel's back for Creator/WilliamRussell, who reportedly resolved to quit the show during the shooting of this serial.

** Originally, the Zarbi had the ability to spit venom, but Dennis Spooner instead created smaller, grub-like creatures to fulfil this function.

** This may have actually been the straw that broke the camel's back for William Russell, who reportedly resolved to quit the show during the shooting of this serial.

* TheCastShowoff: A choreographer, Rosalyn de Winter, was consulted to develop the movements for the Zarbi, Menoptera and Optera, and the crew was so impressed with her that she was given the role of the lead Menoptera character in the story, Vrestin.

* WorkingTitle: This story was originally entitled The Zarbi and was made under the working title ''The Centre of Terror''. Another working title is known to be ''The Webbed Planet''.

* WorkingTitle: This story was originally entitled The Zarbi and was made under the working title ''The Centre of Terror''. Another working title is known to be ''The Webbed Planet''.

* TheCastShowOff: A choreographer, Rosalyn de Winter, was consulted to develop the movements for the Zarbi, Menoptera and Optera, and the crew was so impressed with her that she was given the role of the lead Menoptera character in the story, Vrestin.

* AbsenteeActor: Barbara is absent from the third episode in order to give Jacqueline Hill a holiday. She was not credited on the episode. She requested that the credits be amended for overseas sales, but this did not happen.

* WorkingTitle: This story was originally entitled The Zarbi and was made under the working title The Centre of Terror. Another working title is known to be The Webbed Planet.

* AllThereInTheManual: No date is given on-screen for the story, although the novelisation sets it in 20,000.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Originally, the Zarbi had the ability to spit venom, but Dennis Spooner instead created smaller, grub-like creatures to fulfill this function.

* TroubledProduction: The demanding nature of the serialtook its toll on the production. The first episode required a 16-minute overrun, brought about by a variety of flubbed lines, missed cues, equipment problems, and troubles with the Zarbi costumes, one of which broke and had to be repaired. The start of recording on the third was delayed when it was found that some of the sets had not been delivered to the studio, and the Carsenome floor had not been painted. Lighting and camera problems continued to plague the increasingly frazzled cast, and this time taping went 37 minutes beyond the schedule. One of the Zarbi operators, his vision impaired by his costume, ran right into the camera. So rushed was the recording, however, that this blooper was retained in the finished episode.