Favourites from the Infernoverse! - Four

The TOM BAKER Era - 1975 to 1980

1. (TIED) 'The Robots of Death' - quite simply one of the finest Doctor Who stories ever produced - exquisite in set and costume design, script, acting, the best cliffhangers of the time. Just incredible.

1. (TIED) 'Pyramids of Mars' - a more lighthearted romp, but with appropriate stakes - quintessential Baker and Elizabeth Sladen shines, the plot and effects are impressive, the villains memorable - really extraordinary.

1. (TIED) 'Genesis of the Daleks' - both the best title and the best story of Tom Baker's first season, a real epic, rated consistently amongst the top serials in Doctor Who polls. The first Davros, the creation of the Daleks and six episodes of pure, brilliant brilliance.

2. 'City of Death' - probably the most fun you'll ever have with a Doctor Who story - really hilarious and with a tight plot and excellent cast. Cameos by John Cleese and Eleanor Bron, great villain, Paris, the Mona Lisa, science fiction comedy genius.

3. 'The Ark in Space' - an unsettling, claustrophobic horror from the off, with memorable speeches and monsters, and a location so good they used it again. In the same season.

4. 'The Talons of Weng-Chiang' - an only slightly racist exploit into Victorian London. Marvellous dialogue, utterly lavish sets/costumes and top acting - very authentic feeling, very classic, the perfect send-off for the Hinchcliffe/Holmes era.

5. 'Horror of Fang Rock' - again claustrophobic and beautifully physically realised in period style. Contained within itself, but in a really satisfying way.

6. 'The Seeds of Doom' - an intercontinental adventure featuring a lot of plants and men with guns. Camp Freddy from The Italian Job tries to release a dangerous alien herb onto the world with gripping and often excellent consequences.

7. 'The Hand of Fear' - Elizabeth Sladen's last turn as Sarah Jane Smith, a tearjerking finale to her time on Doctor Who with its own valid plot and villain. Sometimes feels a little disjointed, but a great ride all the same.

8. 'The Deadly Assassin' - an refreshing take on Time Lord lore, the reappearance of the Master (but slimy), in turns scary, funny, intelligent and sickening. Be prepared for a lack of companion and excess of exposition.

9. 'The Brain of Morbius' - a scary and simple story with impressive sets, intriguing characters, good dilemmas. Borrows heavily and successfully from classical gothic horror tropes, but can be a little too to-and-fro, in an occasionally trying manner.

10. 'Terror of the Zygons' - a jumping-on point for gothic horror in the show. Evocative imagery and motifs, really scary sequences and some of the best-designed and effective alien designs the series has to offer. A little hampered by some odd choices further in and weak motives for the antagonists.