M is for... Monarch

Monarch was the supreme ruler of the toad-like Urbankan race. He had made repeated visits to Earth over many thousands of years, each voyage taking half the time as technology advanced. A small group of humans would be taken on these visits, with Monarch's declared aim being that he wished his people to settle on Earth after Urbanka became uninhabitable. 

The TARDIS arrived on his vessel as it neared Earth on its final journey. Monarch was accompanied by only two other Urbankans - his ministers Enlightenment and Persuasion.

The Doctor was suspicious of how oxygen was only provided in areas in which he and his companions were permitted, and there was no sign of the millions of other Urbankans said to be aboard.

The truth dawned when the two ministers appeared looking exactly like sketches Tegan had made of current Earth fashions. They had android bodies, and their fellow creatures existed only in microchip form.

Monarch had an abhorrence for what he called the "flesh time" and sought to abolish organic forms. He wanted control of Earth in order to exploit its minerals, having exhausted the resources of Urbanka in the pursuit of his ultimate goal.

That was to travel even faster and go back in time to meet the universe's supreme being - which he expected to be himself.

Life on Earth was to be eliminated using a deadly toxin which shrank organic matter. 

He manipulated Adric into helping him, hoping to steal the TARDIS. 

It transpired that despite his expressed loathing for the "flesh time", he had in fact retained his own organic body. The Doctor used the toxin to destroy him.

Played by: Stratford Johns. Appearances: Four to Doomsday (1982).

• Johns (1925 - 2002) was best known for his long-running role as Inspector Charlie Barlow. The character first appeared in 1962 in Z-Cars, before featuring in spin-offs Softly, Softly, then Softly, Softly: Taskforce, Barlow at Large and finally in Second Verdict in 1976.
• Having seen how Rupert Davies had been typecast after playing Maigret, Johns was determined not to have this happen to him and so took on a diverse range of roles in the early '80's, of which Monarch was one.
• In 1981 he gave a memorable turn as the game-playing Belkov in an episode of Blake's 7, in the episode "Games".