A History of - The Cybermen's TV Appearances

The Cybermen - designed as the future of the human race!

After this week's episode of Doctor Who, "The Haunting of Villa Diodati", saw the return of the Cybermen, one of the most well-known monsters in the show's history, I thought it might be a good idea to run through every past story featuring the Cybermen. Here, we'll go through all of the Doctor's on-screen battles with them, to get you ready to venture into the end of the Cyber War in "Ascension of the Cybermen"!

"The Tenth Planet" (1966):

The original Cybermen massing outside Snowcap Base, in a
promotional photo for "The Tenth Planet"

The Cybermen first appeared in First Doctor William Hartnell's final story, "The Tenth Planet" in 1966. Here, they hailed from Mondas, the twin planet of Earth, and had a fairly primitive appearance, with exposed hands, bulky chest units, cloth faces and even individual names. In this story, the Cybermen have come simply to convert the human race into Cybermen, as Mondas drifts back into the orbit it once shared with its twin in the year 1986. The Doctor, Ben and Polly must stop them, although the Doctor's body is starting to wear thin as he rapidly approaches his first regeneration. Here, we get to see a weakness for the Cybermen that isn't really developed upon in later episodes: that being a weakness to radiation. Eventually, the Doctor and Ben defeat the Cybermen at the Antarctic Snowcap base using radiation, while Mondas is destroyed through absorbing too much energy from the Earth.

"The Moonbase" (1967):

The second generation of Cybermen get ready to breach the
Moonbase, in a promotional photo for "The Moonbase".

The Cybermen proved so popular that they returned only a few months later, in a story called "The Moonbase". Now facing Patrick Troughton's Second Doctor and new companion Jamie McCrimmon, as well as Polly and Ben, these Cybermen were redesigned as much sleeker and more advanced than the models seem in "The Tenth Planet". Now set in the year 2070, the Cybermen have returned to destroy the human race, seeing them now as an enemy to be destroyed. They plan to use the large Gravitron, controlled by a team of scientists on the moon, in order to do this. Once again, the Cybermen show an aversion to radiation, while a concoction of solvents is also used to destroy their chest units. In the end, the Doctor turns the Gravitron on the Cybermen, bouncing them off the moon's surface and into space, ending their plans for destruction.

"The Tomb of the Cybermen" (1967):

The Cybermen emerge from their tombs, in a promotional picture for "The Tomb of the Cybermen".

Once again with a new companion (this time Victoria Waterfield), the Doctor and Jamie arrive on the planet Telos, after the Cybermen died out over five centuries ago. However, it quickly becomes apparent that the Cybermen are far from dead... This time, the Cybermen returned with only minor modifications from their previous appearance. However, this story is notable for introducing two elements of Cyber lore: the Cybermats and the Cyber Controller. Cybermats are small, rodent-like creatures who target human brainwaves, and are used by the Cybermen as a means of incapacitating subjects for conversion. The Cyber Controller, meanwhile, is the highest rank of Cyberman: a brilliantly logical mind, that directs the Cyberman empire. The Cybermen plan in this story to convert an archaeological team into Cybermen, sending them back to Earth to conquer and convert the human race. The Doctor, however, manages to stop them, re-freezing them back into their tombs and seemingly destroying the Cyber Controller.

"The Wheel in Space" (1968):

The Cybermen menace new companion Zoe, in a
promotional photo for "The Wheel in Space".

A year later, the Cybermen returned, in the debut story for companion Zoe Heriot. This time, the Cybermen were planning to invade Earth by using a space station, W3 (or 'the Wheel'), to guide in their invasion fleet. These Cybermen were, once more, an updated design: this version being even sleeker than the previous version. These Cybermen also introduced the iconic 'tear-duct' eye sockets, which have remained a design hallmark for the Cybermen ever since. The Cybermats also return (with, like the Cybermen, an updated design), and we are introduced to the Cyber Planner, a part-organic machine that organises and creates efficient Cyberman strategy. The Cybermen here are eventually defeated when the Doctor rebuilds the Wheel's space laser, which destroys the Cybership holding their invasion fleet.

"The Invasion" (1968):

The Cyberman invasion of London begins, in this iconic
promotional picture for "The Invasion".

The Cybermen returned once more in "The Invasion", this time teaming up with the human Tobias Vaughan to achieve their deadly plans. Once again, the look of the Cybermen has changed somewhat, with an even sleeker chest unit, and the use of fire-shooting weaponry in addition to their in-built chest unit guns. This time, the Cybermen plan to transmit a signal which will render humanity unable to resist an invasion. This will come from products created by Vaughan's company, International Electromatics. While they have told Vaughan that he will be allowed to rule the world together, they actually plan to destroy humanity in order to prevent them from challenging them in the future. The Doctor convinces Vaughan to betray the Cybermen, using a device that feeds them emotions in order to destroy them, while Zoe gets the RAF and UNIT to target and destroy the Cyber fleet.

"Revenge of the Cybermen" (1975):

Look out Doctor! A Cyberman comes up behind the Fourth Doctor, in a promotional photo for "Revenge of the Cybermen".

After a gap of just over five years, the Cybermen returned alongside the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith and Harry Sullivan in "Revenge of the Cybermen". Since the last time the Doctor had encountered the Cybermen, they had been involved in the Cyber War (an event going to be depicted in "Ascension of the Cybermen"), which has brought them to the point of extinction. Now with a design acting as a hybrid between "The Invasion" and "The Moonbase" design, the Cybermen who appear in "Revenge of the Cybermen" are attempting to destroy the remains of Voga, the legendary planet of gold. Not only do we see another new design of Cybermat, we are also introduced to the Cyber-Leader for the first time. Designated with a black helmet (though later just black handlebars), this becomes the most common form of figurehead for the Cybermen going forward. This story also introduces the Cybermen's vulnerability to gold, which is the most common weakness they have displayed in the show's history. Their plan fails when the Doctor disables the bombs they plan to detonate at the planet's core, while the Cybership containing the Cybermen is destroyed by a missile launched by the Vogans, the planet's native inhabitants.

"Earthshock" (1982):

The Cybermen plot the destruction of the Earth, in a
promotional photo for "Earthshock".

After another absence of seven years, the Cybermen made a shocking return in 1982's "Earthshock", now against the Fifth Doctor, Adric, Nyssa and Tegan. On Earth in the year 2526, a vital conference is taking place for Earth's future. However, the Cybermen intend to stop it by all means - first, by exploding a Cyber-Megabomb on Earth, and then by crashing a freighter into the planet... These Cybermen had a radical re-design from their prior appearances, with a sleeker chest unit, visible chin sections, added android backup and fearsome new Cyber-guns. The voices were also radically different - more booming and loud than robotic, with the Cyber Leader's exclamation of "Excellent!" becoming iconic amongst Doctor Who fans. The Doctor finally defeated this Cyber plot by defusing the Cyber bomb, while Adric diverts the freighter back in time 65 million years. It still smashes into the Earth, however, inadvertently causing the extinction of the dinosaurs... and killing Adric, as the Doctor watches helplessly...

The Cybermen are about to walk into an ambush, in a
promotional photo for "The Five Doctors".

"The Five Doctors" (1983):
While not having as large a part as in other stories on this list, the Cybermen do play a substantial role in the 20th Anniversary story "The Five Doctors". Here, they, like the various Doctors and companions, are drawn to the Death Zone by President Borusa, in order to play the Game of Rassilon. These Cybermen retain the same design from "Earthshock" in pretty much every way. We do, however, see them working with the Master for the first time, as he leads a squad of them into a trap in the Dark Tower, using them only to keep himself alive against the dangers in the Death Zone. Another group of Cybermen attempt to blow up the TARDIS, with Fifth Doctor companion Turlough and First Doctor companion Susan inside. And a third group, after chasing the Third Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith, meet a memorable sticky end at the hands of a Raston Warrior Robot, described by the Doctor as "the most perfect killing machine ever devised".

"Attack of the Cybermen" (1985):

The Cyber Controller and a Cyberman monitor the situation on Telos, in a promotional photo for "Attack of the Cybermen".

The Cybermen's next full appearance was alongside the Sixth Doctor and Peri Brown in "Attack of the Cybermen", the first story of Colin Baker's first full season as the Doctor. In this story, the Cybermen have devised a convoluted plan in order to save Mondas, their original home planet, from destruction in 1986 (see "The Tenth Planet"). To this end, they have captured a time machine, that will allow them to travel back in time, divert the course of Halley's Comet in 1985, and thus destroy the Earth before it can destroy Mondas one year later... Once again, these Cybermen had changed little from their appearances in "Earthshock" and "The Five Doctors". However, as well as the Cyber Leader, their ranks were rejoined by the Cyber Controller, making his first appearance since "The Tomb of the Cybermen" in 1967. The tombs on Telos also returned, as well as Cybermen in the sewers of London (as seen in 1968's "The Invasion"). We also got to see Cybermen painted in black here, as cameo for their activities in the sewers. The Doctor defeats their plan when the crew of the stolen time vessel are killed, and a Cryon (one of the original natives of Telos) blows up Cyber Control and the Cyber Tombs.

"Silver Nemesis" (1988):

The Cybermen search for the Nemesis statue, in a
promotional photo for "Silver Nemesis".

The Cybermen's final appearance in the classic series came alongside the Seventh Doctor and Ace in the 25th Anniversary story "Silver Nemesis". In 1988, a meteorite the Doctor launched into space in 1638 returns to Earth. Its contents: the Nemesis, a statue made from the ancient Gallifreyan metal Validium. Now, the Cybermen want the weapon to turn Earth into a new Mondas, as well as a group of neo-Nazis and the Lady Peinforte, who has travelled 400 years into the future. The Cybermen here received a visual upgrade from their prior appearances, including shiny faces and helmets, and new Cyber guns. We also get to see the Cybermen using human looking slaves that have been wired up with Cyber technology, who attempt to kill the Doctor and Ace. The Doctor defeats them by programming the Nemesis statue to destroy the Cyber fleet, while Ace blows up the scout ship and kills the other Cybermen with gold.

"Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel" (2006):

The new Cybus Cybermen are ready to
upgrade the human race, in a promotional
photo for "Rise of the Cybermen/The
Age of Steel".

The Cybermen didn't return immediately when Doctor Who came back to television, but when the second revived series rolled around, the Cybermen were top of the bill to return. Now with the Tenth Doctor, Rose and Mickey, it was decided to re-tell the Cybermen's origins on a parallel Earth. Here, they were created by the mad scientist John Lumic, who wanted to find a way to prolong his own life. The design of the Cybermen was massively changed from those seen in the classic show: now designed as a purely metal casing, these Cybermen were slightly bulkier than their 80's counterparts. The chest unit was trimmed down even further: now little more than a circular plate, branded with the logo of Cybus Industries (Lumic's worldwide conglomerate). The tear drop eyes returned, as did all the recognisable Cybermen characteristics. Instead of guns now, they had hands that dealt a fatal electric current if touched. They also had a new catchphrase: "delete", while conversion was now referred to as "upgrade". The Cybermen's plan was simple as well: to upgrade all humanity into Cybermen. That was their sole purpose. The Doctor eventually defeated them by turning off the Cybermen's emotional inhibitors, allowing the people inside the suits to see what they had become. Lumic (who became the new Cyber Controller) was killed falling into the heart of his exploding factory, as the Doctor, Rose and an alternate version of her father escaped on a Zeppelin.

"Army of Ghosts/Doomsday" (2006):

It's all out war between the Cybermen and the Daleks, in this promotional poster for "Army of Ghosts/Doomsday"!

The Cybermen returned later that same year in the climactic finale to Series 2. Now, the Cybermen were attempting to break through from their own universe into ours, in order to escape destruction. Following in the wake of a Void Ship, which had been nestled in the gap between their universe and ours, the Cybermen first appeared as insubstantial ghosts, which later solidify into their full form when the breach between worlds is opened wider. They plan to convert the human race, but are soon drawn into a war with the occupants of the Void Ship... the Doctor's other oldest foes, the Daleks! For the first time on-screen, the Daleks and the Cybermen were seen together (they did both appear in "The Five Doctors", but not at the same time), and promptly plunged themselves into a war, with Earth in the middle! These Cybermen retained the same basic look from "Rise of the Cybermen", although now with added blaster guns built into their wrists. The Cybermen are defeated when the Doctor pulls them back into the Void, as they are saturated with minute particles known as Void Stuff. However, in the process, he looses Rose, when she is pulled into the universe the Cybermen come from, with no way back...

"The Next Doctor" (2008):

The Cyber Leader and Miss Hartigan plot the destruction of
London, in a promotional photo for "The Next Doctor".

The Cybermen next returned in the 2008 Christmas Special "The Next Doctor". A companion-less Tenth Doctor finds that a small group of Cybermen managed to escape from the Void, using stolen Dalek technology, and found themselves in London in 1851. Here, they are allied with the evil workhouse matron Miss Hartigan, in a plan to construct a giant robot, conversion factory and spaceship in one, the Cyber-King. The Cybermen here are aided by Cybershades, animal beings that have been enhanced with Cyberman technology, who act as slaves and lapdogs for the Cybermen. The Cybermen end up betraying Miss Hartigan, and used her as a vital component in the Cyber-King. Before they can destroy London, however, the Doctor severs Miss Hartigan's link with the Cyber-King, causing her to destroy herself and the Cybermen, while the Doctor disposes of the Cyber-King in the Time Vortex using the Daleks' Dimension Vault.

The Cybermen watch as the Doctor is imprisoned in the
Pandorica, in a promotional photo for "The Pandroica Opens/
The Big Bang".

"The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang" (2010):
Next, the Cybermen returned in the series finale to Series 5, "The Pandorica Opens/The Big Bang". This was little more than an extended cameo for the Cybermen, however, as they are part of the alliance of the Doctor's foes, who plan to trap him in order to save the universe. We see that there have been Cybermen guarding the Pandorica for a number of years, although they have all been destroyed by the time the Eleventh Doctor, Amy Pond and River Song arrive. However, Amy is menaced by the remains of a Cyber Head, which still survives beyond the loss of the organic component inside, and attempts to use her as a substitute. However, thanks to the intervention of an Auton duplicate of her boyfriend, Rory Williams, the Cyber Suit is comprehensively shut down.

"Closing Time" (2011):

The Doctor finds himself a prisoner of the Cybermen, in a promotional photo for "Closing Time".

The Cybermen's next full TV appearance was in "Closing Time". Once again, the Cybermen seen here were on the verge of extinction, with only a handful of them trapped on present-day Earth, on a spaceship buried beneath a department store. The Doctor (on the day just before his death at Lake Silencio) and Craig investigate, finding that the Cybermen have been kidnapping people and upgrading them. The design of the Cybermen was slightly altered compared to what had been seen previously: the Cybus logo was now removed from the circular chest panel. We also saw the Cybermats return, now with a design that echoed their appearance from "Tomb of the Cybermen", but with new, sharp teeth. The Cybermen are stopped when they attempt to convert Craig, but the love he has for his son overloads their equipment and destroys the Cyber ship.

"Nightmare in Silver" (2013):

The Cybermen emerge from the water in truly threatening
style, in the blockbuster-style promotional poster for
"Nightmare in Silver".

The next time the Doctor faced the Cybermen was in "Nightmare in Silver", where the Doctor's old foes had undergone a serious redesign. Arriving at Hedgewick's World of Wonders, the Doctor and Clara Oswald find the space theme park closed down. It turns out there's Cybermen here, lurking in the darkness, and they plan to take not just the universe, but also the brain of the Doctor himself... These Cybermen were the sleekest versions yet, retaining the look of the previous version, but streamlining it. The chest unit now became a blue light, with metal plates spilling out from it. Elements of previous Cybermen designs, such as the tear-drop eyes and the wrist guns, remained, however. Here, we also get to see an upgrade to the Cybermats, now becoming tiny Cybermites, as well as several new abilities for the Cybermen including detachable hands, 360 degree heads and super speed. The Cyber Planner also returns for the first time since "The Invasion", although this time, it is actually inhabiting the mind of the Doctor himself. The Cybermen were defeated when the Doctor's ally Porridge was able to activate a planet-destroying bomb that destroyed the world, and the Cybermen.

"Dark Water/Death in Heaven" (2014):

The Cybermen are reanimating the dead, in this promotional
picture for "Dark Water/Death in Heaven".

The Cybermen weren't (of course) defeated, and made their next appearance a year later. This time, they were working with Missy, the Time Lord formally known as the Master, in order to convert the human race. This time, their plan involved using rain saturated with Cyber particles to not only convert anyone who touched it, but also the dead as well. The Twelfth Doctor and Clara were drawn into Missy's scheme when Danny Pink, Clara's boyfriend, was killed in a hit and run, leading them to the institute where Missy had founded her plan. While their appearance was unchanged from "Nightmare in Silver", the Cybermen did gain a new ability in this episode: that of flying. It had only taken 48 years, but, at last, someone depicted the Cybermen in flight. The Doctor defeats this plan by using Danny Pink, who manages to remain uncontrolled by Missy. He instructs the Cybermen to destroy the clouds containing the contaminated rainwater, destroying themselves in the process.

"World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls" (2017):

The Doctor and the Cyber-Converted Bill share an 'emotional' moment, in a promotional photo for "World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls".

The Cybermen's latest appearance was in the story that depicted the end of the Twelfth Doctor, "World Enough and Time/The Doctor Falls". On a Mondasian Colony Ship that is stranded near a black hole, the Cybermen are beginning again. After companion Bill Potts is shot, and taken to the lower levels for treatment, the Doctor, Nardole and Missy find that someone is manipulating the whole situation for their own sinister gain... and that Bill isn't the same person that she once was... Hearkening back to the Cybermen's genesis, we see the original Cybermen from "The Tenth Planet", as well as the 'parallel universe' Cybermen from "Rise of the Cybermen" and the modern Cybermen from "Nightmare in Silver" as well. Bill is converted into a Cyberman in a dramatic cliffhanger that also saw the return of the John Simm Master. In this story, the Master believes he is working with the people of the lower levels of the ship to create Cybermen he can control: however, the Doctor tricks him, and, as such, the Cybermen betray him. They then start working their way up through the other floors of the colony ship, in an effort to convert everyone into Cybermen. The Doctor manages to blow up Floor 507, preventing the Cybermen's advance, triggering his regeneration in the process, while Bill is turned into a being of pure water by Heather/the Pilot and Nardole is left on the Colony Ship with the surviving humans.

Stories that Feature Cybermen Cameos:

• "The War Games" (1969)
• "The Mind of Evil" (1971)
• "Carnival of Monsters" (1973)
• "Logopolis" (1981)
• "Human Nature/The Family of Blood" (2007)
• "A Good Man Goes to War" (2011)
• "The Day of the Doctor" (2013)
• "The Time of the Doctor" (2013)
• "Face the Raven" (2015)
• "Hell Bent" (2015)

And the Cybermen also appeared in the Torchwood episode "Cyberwoman" (2006).

So, that's the Cybermen's near fifty-five year history, all run down in one blog post! I can't wait for this week's Cybermen-packed finale, and I hope you are too, now you're all up to date with the history of the Cybermen!

All pictures copyright to the BBC. Thank you very much for reading.