“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) were a Specialist Army and Civil Investigation Unit, who were tasked – as first-response; to deal with unusual phenomena.
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 imposed Earth stay. The Third Doctor (reluctantly) took on the role of UNIT Scientific Advisor and helped 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 wish to fix the Tardis Dematerialization Circuit and return to a travelling lifestyle.
Lethbridge-Stewart would usually spend his time, protecting the Doctor from the bureaucratic processes involved – with reporting directly to Government Ministers; whilst the Doctor did his thing, saving the Earth.
Lethbridge-Stewart was used to the Doctor changing his appearance having met his Second and Third incarnations. Indeed, Lethbridge-Stewart would go on to meet the Fourth, Fifth and Seventh incarnations 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.
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.
He was given indefinite leave and sent to recuperate at a Tibetan Monestary in Planet Of The Spiders, where he witnessed bizarre ceremonies involving spiders and called 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 into the Fourth. The Fourth Doctor, with a fully functioning Tardis, began to spend less time, on Earth.
As a result, UNIT began to feature much less in the show. Their last regular appearance was in Tom Baker’s opener – After a run in with a giant robot in Robot – 1974.
Lethbridge-Stewart, made further appearances in Mawdryn Undead – 1983, having retired from Unit and becoming a school teacher. Again in the 20th anniversary special – The Five Doctor’s – 1983 – with a cameo by Sergeant Yates as a phantom apparition in the deadzone.
Lethbridge-Stewart made a final appearance in Battlefield – 1989 returning to a new look international NATO UNIT, as a special advisor; alongside the Seventh Doctor.
