243

DOCTOR WHO: THE LEISURE HIVE (TV SERIES, 1980) - K9's Head and Control Panel

Currency:GBP Category:Collectibles Start Price:7,500.00 GBP Estimated At:15,000.00 - 20,000.00 GBP
DOCTOR WHO: THE LEISURE HIVE (TV SERIES, 1980) - K9's Head and Control Panel
K9's head and control panel from "The Leisure Hive", the first serial in the 18th season of sci-fi TV series Doctor Who. This head is believed to be one of only two such pieces created for the Tom Baker serials. It was set up for pyrotechnic purposes for the Brighton beach scenes at the beginning of the first episode with the addition of an opening hatch, and screen matches the head seen in that episode. Romana (Lalla Ward) threw a ball into the sea for K9 to fetch, as the Fourth Doctor (Tom Baker) slept on a deckchair. The water caused the robotic dog to explode and his circuits became severely damaged.

Constructed from fibreglass, the head consists of moulded angular sections finished to replicate blue steel. A coiled neck is attached underneath and an elongated nose creates a canine-like shape. Adhered to the front is a red acrylic grill, and a laser-gun barrel is housed within the tip of the robot's nose. A hatch which features an incorporated magnet is located on the top of the head, with two holes present where the ears were once attached. Non-functional circuit boards painted in faux silver are fitted to the interior.

The control panel is made mainly from resin with wooden side sections, finished in the same metallic blue as the head. The top half of the panel curves upwards slightly and displays two orange rectangular screens. Eleven smaller blue, red, green and orange acrylic buttons adorn the piece.

The lot displays signs of production use and age, including dirt remnants, scratches, discolouration and minor wear. Exposed glue is present on the back of the neck and the black vinyl around the bottom of the neck has begun to peel away. Over time some components have gone missing, including the ears, a circular piece on the grill and a button on the control panel. The paint has chipped away on some parts of both items, revealing the materials underneath. Dimensions (head): 14.5 cm x 40 cm x 26.5 cm (5 3/4" x 15 3/4" x 10 1/2"); (panel): 21 cm x 15 cm x 7.5 cm (8 1/4" x 6" x 3")

£15000-20000 M