K9 Timeline

Professor Frederick Marius (Tardis Wiki), who invented the first K9 in the year 5000 while working on the asteroid K4067, described him as “my best friend and constant companion.” Marius had a dog on Earth, but weight requirements did not allow him to bring his real dog into space, so he built K9. (The Invisible Enemy) He built K9 by using the latest technology. Marius used his medical computer, a state-of-the-art intraresponsive brain app, protective anti-radiation cladding, probes, a laser scalpel, a vision and voice box and two scanning antennas. He put these parts together and created K9. (PROSE: One Man and His Dog) According to one account, the Professor copied the remnants of one of the versions of K9 produced by the Doctor and given to Sarah Jane Smith. (PROSE: Tautology)

The Professor offered K9 to the Fourth Doctor as the same weight requirements made him unable to take Mark I back to Earth. (The Invisible Enemy) After adventures with Leela and the Doctor, Mark I stayed with his “mistress” in Gallifrey. (The Invasion of Time).

First up K9 Mk I, A light grey-silver colour with a black back control panel as seen in the first story, The Invisible Enemy

• Doctor Who
  • Season 15
    • The Invisible Enemy
    • Image of the Fendahl
    • The Sun Makers
    • Underworld
    • The Invasion of Time
• K9
  • Series 1
    • Regeneration
    • Curse of Anubis
    • Mind Snap

Then we move to K9 Mk II, the same prop but now a darker gunmetal grey in colour. The back panel is now the same colour as the body but sits a little lower in the shell.

note: The rear control panel is removable and when the K9 prop is transported it is taken out until arrival so generally its level very much depends on how far it is placed during a filming session ;D

These are from the BBC Christmas Tape:

Misc images of K9 Mk II

By the time K9 Mk II leaves with Romana his rear controls are raised:

• Extras
  • BBC Christmas Tape

• Doctor Who
  • Season 16
    • The Ribos Operation
    • The Pirate Planet
    • The Stones of Blood
    • The Androids of Tara
    • The Armageddon Factor
  • Season 17
    • Destiny of the Daleks
    • The Creature from the Pit
    • Nightmare of Eden
    • The Horns of Nimon
    • Shada
  • Season 18
    • The Leisure Hive
    • Meglos
    • Full Circle
    • State of Decay
    • Warriors Gate
• Webcast BBCi
  • Shada

K9 Mark III travelled briefly with the Fourth Doctor and Adric. He was then given to Sarah Jane Smith, with whom he remained.

The next is K9 Mk III as he appeared in his first story, K9 and Company – A Girl’s Best Friend.

Again the same prop but now painted with a hint of blue, though in this story the neck tubing also appears to be metallic blue…

• Television
  • K9 and Company – A Girl’s best friend
• Doctor Who
  • Season 20
    • The Five Doctors
  • Series 2
    • School Reunion

The episode of Search Out Science in which the Doctor, Ace & K9 appear together.

This is still the same prop but he now appears to have a green tint, this may have been a filming error, but also the ears have been replaced with new versions that have ribs across them and the 3 inner loops have been removed

We next jump forward 18 years to 2006 and School…

The K9 MkIII in this story was the original dummy prop refitted with a new head and working parts and painted in rust spotted grey blue a shade lighter than when we last saw K9 MkIII, this version also has the ear loops back in place.

We now move on to K9 MkIV Which again is the original 1977 hero prop, it looks old and a bit battered but it retains the new ears from Search Out Science, The Pint colour is back to K9 & Co Blue, though a little brighter

We finally move on to K9 MK IV in The Sarah Jane Adventures up to series 2.

This is the same prop as the school reunion and still the same original hero prop from The Invisible Enemy over three decades ago…

There is also a minor cosmetic change in addition to the ones already noted. For a large part, K9’s ID tag appears to consist of a metal disc, but as pictured in Search Out Science and the first shot you’ve posted from The Sarah Jane Adventures, the tag has changed to that of a dog (they look like they could be the same tag).

The ears are the same as last seen…

By the time we come to The Sarah Jane Adventures Series 3, the original prop had some decent money spent on it and an overhaul was done of the electrics and drive system,

• Doctor Who
  • Series 2
    • School Reunion
  • Series 4
    • Journey’s End
• The Sarah Jane Adventures
  • Series 1
    • Invasion of the Bane – S01E01 ~ 40 mins
    • The Lost Boy pt 2 – S01E10 ~ 25 mins
  • Mini-episode
    • From Raxacoricofallapatorius with Love
  • Series 3
    • The Mad Woman in the Attic
    • The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith
    • The Gift
  • Series 4
    • The Nightmare Man
    • Goodbye, Sarah Jane Smith