<sod>An early draft of this story – by C.E. Webber and entitled ''The Giants'' – was originally meant to be the first story of the first season.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Howe |first1=David J. |authorlink1=David J. Howe |last2=Stammers |first2=Mark |last3=Walker |first3=Stephen James |authorlink3=Stephen James Walker |title=Doctor Who The Handbook - The First Doctor |year=1994 |publisher=[[Virgin Books|Doctor Who Books]] |location=London |isbn=0-426-20430-1 |pages=178–9 |ref=harv }}</ref><eod>
<sod>An early version of this concept – by [[C. E. Webber]] and entitled ''The Giants'' – was originally meant to be the first story of the first season.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Howe |first1=David J. |authorlink1=David J. Howe |last2=Stammers |first2=Mark |last3=Walker |first3=Stephen James |authorlink3=Stephen James Walker |title=Doctor Who The Handbook - The First Doctor |year=1994 |publisher=[[Virgin Books|Doctor Who Books]] |location=London |isbn=0-426-20430-1 |pages=178–9 |ref=harv }}</ref> ''Planet of Giants'' was recorded in the production block it was decided to hold it for transmission as the start of season 2.<ref>[http://www.shannonsullivan.com/drwho/serials/j.html "Serial J: Planet Of Giants"] A Brief History of Time Travel 27 June 2012</ref> This story was originally four episodes in length. Upon viewing Episodes 3 and 4, which focused more heavily on Hilda and Bert, Head of Serials [[Donald Wilson (writer and producer)|Donald Wilson]] ordered them spliced together in order to form a faster-paced climax (Episode 3) focusing on the core characters of the series.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Howe |first1=David J. |authorlink1=David J. Howe |last2=Stammers |first2=Mark |last3=Walker |first3=Stephen James |authorlink3=Stephen James Walker |title=Doctor Who The Handbook - The First Doctor |year=1994 |publisher=[[Virgin Books|Doctor Who Books]] |location=London |isbn=0-426-20430-1 |pages=275 |ref=harv }}</ref> Episode 4 was called "The Urge to Live" and directed by [[Douglas Camfield]] (instead of [[Mervyn Pinfield]], who directed Episodes 1-3). When Episodes 3 and 4 were edited together to make the new Episode 3, only Camfield was credited.<eod>