10 Shocking Classic Doctor Who Era Cliffhangers

Say what you will about producer John Nathan-Turner, he certainly knew what he was doing when it came to Earthshock. Despite the Radio Times wishing to make a massive piece about the Cybermen returning, John Nathan-Turner turned it down, wishing for audience members to be shocked by their surprise appearance.

And it definitely paid off. Credit also has to be given to writer Eric Saward for crafting such a suspenseful first part to the serial, which in the grand scheme of things is a slow build up to the true threat of the story. Regardless of whether this whole segment feels like a filler until the main narrative begins in earnest, it's still a thrilling piece of television, as the soldiers are slowly stalked by the androids.

It's almost like a horror movie in the way director Peter Grimwade shoots the scenes, accompanied perfectly by composer Malcolm Clarke's eerie score. Then we get a massive shoot out where the androids corner the soldiers, alongside the Fifth Doctor who has now been dragged into the affair, having been previously blamed for the murders.

Suddenly, the androids fix their sights on the Fifth Doctor and we cut to the Cybermen. "Destroy them. Destroy them at once!" A massive WTF moment that seemingly came out of nowhere. This cliff-hanger must have left the audience utterly shocked, and excited, as they desperately wanted to know what happened next.