“Here we go again!” The Brigadier [Regarding the Third Doctor’s regeneration] – Planet Of The Spiders
The Doctor’s Personal Army
UNIT – (standing for UNITed Nations Task Force) was a Specialist Army and Civil Investigation Unit. UNIT were tasked – as first-response; to deal with unusual phenomena whoch affected Earth.
Formed in response to – the invasion of London in Web Of Fear – 1968. UNIT first appeared in The Invasion – 1969 fighting a Cyberman invasion attempt; headed up by newly appointed Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart (Nicholas Courtney).
UNIT featured heavily, throughout the Third Doctor’s tenure; due to the Doctor’s imposed Earth stay. The Doctor (reluctantly) took on the role of UNIT Scientific Advisor. Helping UNIT, thwart invasion attempts by the Cybermen, Sea Devils, Silurians, Daleks, Autons and the Master.
UNIT was ran in a very tight-knit fashion by the very aloof and very stiff upper-lipped, Lethbridge-Stewart. He frequently had run-in’s with the Third Doctor, over his eccentric wayward behaviour and his wish to fix the Tardis Dematerialization Circuit and return to his previous travelling lifestyle.
Lethbridge-Stewart would usually spend time, protecting the Doctor from the bureaucratic processes involved – with running UNIT and reporting directly to Government; whilst the Doctor saved the Earth.
Lethbridge-Stewart became used to the Doctor changing appearance, having seperately met the Second and Third incarnations.
Indeed, Lethbridge-Stewart would then go on, to meet the Fourth, Fifth Sixth and Seventh incarnations of the Doctor too.
Lethbridge-Stewart’s right-hand men, were: Captain Mike Yates (Richard Franklin) and Corporal Benton (John Levene) who would regularly be called upon (by Lethbridge-Stewart) to assist the Doctor.
Captain Yates was an upper crust Army-officer type, whilst Corporal Benton was more salt of the earth – having been promoted through the ranks.
Benton was a consistent presence throughtout the Third Doctor’s era. Always ready to act on behalf of the Doctor and fight.
Sergeant Yates had something of a mental breakdown in Invasion Of The Dinosaurs, whilst sabotaging UNIT – and the Doctor’s attempts to capture and contain a Dinosaur.
Yates was given indefinite leave from UNIT and sent to recuperate at a Tibetan Monestary, in Planet Of The Spiders.
Here, Yates witnessed bizarre ceremonies involving spiders joining to humans. As a result, calling in – Sarah-Jane Smith to investigate.
“Aslong as he does the job, he can can wear what face he likes!”
– Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart
Following the Third Doctor’s regeneration. The Fourth Doctor – with a fully functioning Tardis, began to spend less time, on Earth and with UNIT.
As a result, UNIT began to feature much less in the show. Their last regular appearance was in Tom Baker’s opener Robot – 1974.
Lethbridge-Stewart, made further appearances in Mawdryn Undead – 1983, having now retired from Unit and becoming a school-teacher. Again, Lethbridge-Stewart returned, in the 20th anniversary special – The Five Doctors – 1983. This also featured a cameo by Sergeant Yates, as a phantom apparition.
Lethbridge-Stewart made one of two final appearances in Battlefield – 1989;returning to a new look international NATO UNIT, as a special advisor; alongside the Seventh Doctor. Following this up, with a final appearance alongside the Sixth Doctor, in the 1993 – 30th anniversary special.
