The Myth Makers is the third serial of the third season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. Written by Donald Cotton and directed by Michael Leeston-Smith, the serial was broadcast on BBC1 in four weekly parts from 16 October to 6 November 1965. In the serial, based on Homer's Iliad, the First Doctor (William Hartnell) and his travelling companions Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) and Steven (Peter Purves) land in Troy during the Trojan War. The Doctor is captured by the Greeks and forced to formulate a plan for taking the city, while Steven and Vicki are captured by the Trojans and forced to devise a means of banishing the Greeks; the latter duo meet Katarina (Adrienne Hill), who becomes a companion by the serial's end.
After assuming their positions as story editor and producer in the third season, Donald Tosh and John Wiles wanted to take Doctor Who in new directions, moving towards historical stories and experimenting with humour. Cotton had written several pieces about Greek mythology for BBC Third Programme and elected to make his Doctor Who story about the Trojan Horse. He used several resources to research historical facts. The Myth Makers marked the final appearance of O'Brien as Vicki, a decision made by Wiles during the production break. Hill was cast as new companion Katarina, and made her first appearance in the serial. The Myth Makers was the first serial of the show's third production block. Filming took place at Frensham Ponds from September to October 1965.
The Myth Makers received an average of 8.35 million viewers across the four episodes, a drop from earlier in the season but comparable to the previous year. Contemporary and retrospective reviews were generally positive, with praise for the performances and script, though some viewers were confused by the lack of continuation from the previous episode, "Mission to the Unknown". The videotapes of the serial were wiped by the BBC in the late 1960s, and it remains missing; a complete off-air audio recording of the serial survives, as well as some brief extracts recorded on 8 mm film, which have been released on DVD. The story was novelised by Cotton, and its off-air recording has been used for its release as an audiobook.
Plot
The TARDIS materialises outside the city of Troy, distracting the Trojan Hector (Alan Haywood), son of King Priam (Max Adrian). Greek warrior Achilles (Cavan Kendall) takes advantage and kills him. When the Doctor (William Hartnell) emerges, Achilles believes him to be Zeus in disguise, and brings him to the Greek encampment along with the warrior Odysseus (Ivor Salter). Greek leader Agamemnon (Francis de Wolff) insists the Doctor help them fight the Trojans. Meanwhile, the Doctor's companions Vicki (Maureen O'Brien) and Steven (Peter Purves) remain in the TARDIS. Steven goes alone to try to find the Doctor, but is captured by Odysseus and taken to the Greek camp. Pretending to be Zeus, the Doctor persuades the Greeks to spare Steven.
Priam's son Paris (Barrie Ingham) takes the TARDIS into Troy. Priam's daughter, the prophet Cassandra (Frances White), denounces it as dangerous and demands it be burnt. Before the fire is lit, Vicki emerges from the TARDIS, taken as a sign from the gods. She is renamed Cressida and made a court favourite, enraging Cassandra, who believes Vicki to be a rival prophet, though her handmaiden Katarina (Adrienne Hill) defends Vicki. Priam sends Paris out to avenge Hector, but Steven adopts the identity Diomedes and persuades the Greeks to send him instead, hoping to search for Vicki. When he arrives, Vicki greets him with his real name, which Cassandra sees as a sign they are both spies; they are taken to cells. Priam's youngest son Troilus (James Lynn) visits Vicki. She persuades him to try to get them released, and they begin to fall in love.
Priam has Vicki released, and she frees Steven. Troilus kills Achilles to avenge Hector. At the Doctor's proposal, the Greeks pretend to sail away, leaving a wooden horse outside Troy as acknowledgement of defeat. Paris brings the horse into the city. At nightfall, the Greeks and the Doctor exit the horse and open the city gates, allowing the Greek army to enter and battle. As the fighting rages, the Doctor finds Vicki. Priam and Paris are slain, and Cassandra taken prisoner. Katarina finds Steven badly wounded and helps him return to the TARDIS. Vicki leaves the Doctor, anxious to find Troilus; outside the doomed city, they declare their love for each other and flee. The Doctor dematerialises the TARDIS with Steven and Katarina on board, hoping to land somewhere to attend to Steven's injuries.