The Aztecs (Doctor Who)

006 – The Aztecs
Doctor Who serial
Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill), mistaken for Aztec goddess Yetaxa, reluctantly prepares for a human sacrifice. Critics praised the historical accuracy and Hill's performance.[1][2][3]
Cast
Doctor William Hartnell – First Doctor
Companions William Russell – Ian Chesterton Jacqueline Hill – Barbara Wright Carole Ann Ford – Susan Foreman
Others Keith Pyott – Autloc John Ringham – Tlotoxl Ian Cullen – Ixta Margot Van der Burgh – Cameca Tom Booth – First Victim David Anderson – Aztec Captain Walter Randall – Tonila André Boulay – Perfect Victim
Production
Directed by	John Crockett
Written by	John Lucarotti
Script editor	David Whitaker
Produced by	Verity Lambert
Music by	Richard Rodney Bennett
Production code	F
Series	Season 1
Running time	4 episodes, 25 minutes each
First broadcast	23 May 1964 (1964-05-23)
Last broadcast	13 June 1964 (1964-06-13)
Chronology
← Preceded by The Keys of Marinus Followed by → The Sensorites
List of episodes (1963–1989)

The Aztecs is the sixth serial in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast on BBC1 in four weekly parts from 23 May to 13 June 1964. It was written by John Lucarotti and directed by John Crockett. In the serial, the First Doctor (William Hartnell), his granddaughter Susan (Carole Ann Ford), and teachers Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and Barbara Wright (Jacqueline Hill) arrive in Mexico during the Aztec empire. Barbara becomes mistaken for the goddess Yetaxa, and accepts the identity in hope of persuading the Aztecs to give up human sacrifice, despite the Doctor's warnings about changing history.

Lucarotti became fascinated by the Aztec civilisation while living in Mexico, largely due to the Aztec tradition of human sacrifice. He wrote the episodes while his other serial, Marco Polo, was in production. Designer Barry Newbery based his set designs on books and documentaries about the Aztecs, though faced difficulty due to the limited information on the civilisation available. Costume designer Daphne Dare used artistic licence with the serial's costumes, due to the limited clothing worn by the Aztecs. The serial premiered with 7.9 million viewers, maintaining audience figures throughout the four weeks. Response for the serial was positive, and it has since been described as one of the show's greatest stories. It later received several print adaptations and home media releases.