The Savages (Doctor Who)

The Savages is the ninth serial of the third season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by Ian Stuart Black and directed by Christopher Barry, it was broadcast on BBC1 in four weekly parts from 28 May to 18 June 1966. In the serial, the First Doctor (William Hartnell) and his travelling companions, Steven (Peter Purves) and Dodo (Jackie Lane), arrive on a distant planet where they discover the Elders maintain their idyllic society by draining the life source of the primitive savages.

Black approached the programme's production office to pitch a story, having watched the programme with his children for years. He wanted the serial to appeal to the audience's reasoning, rather than resorting to violence and action. Raymond Jones composed the 27-minute score for the serial. The Savages marked the final appearance of Purves as Steven, as the production team found the character inflexible and difficult to write. Filming took place at Riverside Studios from May to June 1966.

The Savages received an average of 4.9 million viewers across the four episodes, the programme's lowest figures since its debut. Reviews were mixed, with praise for the concept, performances, and score. Scholars highlighted the story's anti-colonialist and pro-democratic themes. Its videotapes and film prints were wiped by the BBC in the 1960s and 1970s, and it remains missing; the only extant material includes telesnaps, short film segments, and a complete off-air recording. The story was novelised by Black, and the off-air recording was released as an audiobook. An animated reconstruction was released in March 2025.