Saturday, March 23, 2013

An Unearthly Child (aka 100,000 BC)

D'you wanna come with us...?
Four episodes (An Unearthly Child, The Cave of Skulls, The Forest of Fear, The Firemaker)
First broadcast Nov 23 to Dec 14 1963
Average audience for serial: 5.90m
REGULAR CAST

William Hartnell (The Doctor) Jan 8 1908 to Apr 23 1975 (heart failure after a series of strokes) For a full career biography for William Hartnell, click here.

William Russell (Ian Chesterton) Nov 19 1924 to Jun 3 2024 For a full career biography for William Russell (aka Russell Enoch), click here.

Jacqueline Hill (Barbara Wright) Dec 17 1929 to Feb 18 1993 (bone cancer) For a full career biography for Jacqueline Hill, click here.

Carole Ann Ford (Susan) Born Jun 16 1940 For a full career biography for Carole Ann Ford, click here.

CREDITED GUEST CAST

Alethea Charlton (Hur) Aug 9 1931 to May 6 1976 (malignant melanoma)
Doctor Who credits
Played: Hur in An Unearthly Child (1963)
Played: Edith in The Time Meddler (1965)
Career highlights
Alethea's earliest role was in Touch of Death (1961), followed by roles in Silent Evidence (1962), The Villains (1964), The Woman in White (1966), Paul Temple (1969), Hardy Heating Company Ltd (1970), Doomwatch (1971), Upstairs, Downstairs (1971), Thriller (1973) and The Cedar Tree (1976). Her most successful recurring role was as Ethel Barraclough in Sam (1973-75).
Facts
Before training as an actor, Alethea was a teacher. Alethea was one of six siblings. Tragically, Alethea was one of three that pre-deceased their parents: sister Elsie died in 1975 aged 60, and sister Miriam died four months after Alethea, aged 59. It must have been a devastating period for the Charlton family.
In memoriam: Buried at Mortlake Crematorium, Richmond Upon Thames, London (as Alethea Blow Charlton)

Howard Lang (Horg) Mar 20 1911 to Dec 11 1989
Career highlights
Howard's long career began as an uncredited extra in a 1946 adaptation of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations, followed by roles in The Mudlark (1950), The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954), The Adventures of the Big Man (1956), The Strange World of Gurney Slade (1960), Sergeant Cork (1963), Freewheelers (1968), The Six Wives of Henry VIII (1970), The Last Days of Pompeii (1984), The Pickwick Papers (1985) and The Pyrates (1986). He had recurring roles as Grenville in Sir Francis Drake (1961-62), Captain Baines in The Onedin Line (1971-80) and Winston Churchill in The Winds of War (1983).
Facts
Howard continued his affiliation with the sea long after leaving the Royal Navy, sailing his own yacht, based at Chichester harbour.

Derek Newark (Za) Jun 8 1933 to Aug 11 1998 (heart attack)
Doctor Who credits
Played: Za in An Unearthly Child (1963)
Played: Greg Sutton in Inferno (1970)
Career highlights
Derek made his screen debut in Out of This World (1962), followed by roles in Redcap (1964), Front Page Story (1965), The Baron (1967), The Caesars (1968), three episodes of The Avengers (1964-68), Fragment of Fear (1970), Dad's Army (1971), Budgie (1971-72), Private Schulz (1981), Travelling Man (1984), Dempsey and Makepeace (1986), War and Remembrance (1988), The Nineteenth Hole (1989) and 99-1 (1994). Derek is fondly remembered as DI Tucker in Barlow at Large (1974-75), and Detective Chief Superintendent Sullivan in Travelling Man (1984), while he had the memorable role of wrestler tenant Spooner in two episodes of sitcom Rising Damp (1974-75).
Facts
Derek served in the Merchant Navy and Coldstream Guards before becoming a Services DJ in Singapore.

Eileen Way (Old Mother) Sep 2 1911 to Jun 16 1994
Doctor Who credits
Played: Old Mother in An Unearthly Child (1963)
Played: Old Woman in Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 AD (1966)
Played: Karela in The Creature from the Pit (1979)
Career highlights
Eileen's long CV stretches back to The Gay Lord Quex (1938), with subsequent roles in The Happy Family (1952), They Who Dare (1954), Barbie (1955), The Vikings (1958), The Singer Not the Song (1961), Vendetta for the Saint (1968), Poldark (1977), Sphinx (1981), The Rainbow (1988), Birds of a Feather (1991), Century Falls (1993, in which she played Alice Harkness - the series was written by Russell T Davies!) and Sean's Show (1992-93, as Mrs Pebbles). A recurring role was as Minty in By the Sword Divided (1983-85).
Facts
Eileen was married to psychiatrist Felix Brown until his death in 1972, and with her husband took part in the Aldermaston anti-nuclear marches in the 1950s and 60s.
In memoriam: Buried at Canterbury City Cemetery, Kent (Section F, Grave 85)

Jeremy Young (Kal) Jul 28 1934 to Apr 9 2022
Doctor Who credits
Played: Kal in An Unearthly Child (1963)
Played: Gordon Lowery in Mission to the Unknown (1965)
Career highlights
Debuting in Grip of the Strangler (1958), Jeremy had a prolific career, appearing in Suspense (1963), Crossroads (1964), Court Martial (1965), Department S (1969), Up Pompeii (1970), Coronation Street (1972), The New Avengers (1976), The Tripods (1984), EastEnders (1988-89), The Scarlet and the Black (1993), Photographing Fairies (1997) and The Debt (2003). He played Neville Crane in Deadline Midnight (1960-61), Athos in The Three Musketeers and The Further Adventures of the Three Musketeers (1966-67) and Klaus in Dick Barton: Special Agent (1979).
Facts
Jeremy was married to actress Kate O'Mara between 1961-76, and was stepfather to Kate's son Dickon (the father was actually actor Ian Cullen, who appeared in The Aztecs). Interviewed in 2005 for the British Library/ University of Sheffield's Theatre Archive Project, Jeremy said: "I'd started Doctor Who, the very first adventure. My claim to fame in Doctor Who, because the people that write to you - you know, the sort of anoraks, say 'You were the very first villain in Doctor Who, you know'. I still get letters these days, and go to conventions and things. They're all mad; they're very nice, very sweet, but they're all mad as hatters!"
In 2016 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Jeremy here.

UNCREDITED GUEST CAST

Francesca Bertorelli (Schoolchild) Apr 27 1948 to Jul 4 2009. Francesca played the same role in the pilot episode, and also appeared in The Romans (Woman in market). She emigrated to Canada in 1974, took the married surname Gallina, and had two children, one named Dino.
Elizabeth Body (Tribeswoman)
Carole Clarke (Schoolchild) Jun 24 1949 to Feb 2019. Carole had a brief pop career under the name of Carol Friday circa 1965-67, after which she returned to acting under the name Caroline Villiers in the 1970s and 80s. Carole also appeared as a schoolchild in the pilot version of An Unearthly Child.
Reg Cranfield (Policeman) 1902 to 1983. Reg played the policeman seen exploring Totter's Lane in the opening moments of An Unearthly Child, making him the first actor seen on screen in Doctor Who. Although some paperwork lists Reg as having played the same role in the earlier pilot recording, it's believed the policeman then was actually played by Fred Rawlings (Aug 19 1915 to 2003). Reg's other uncredited Doctor Who work includes The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (Passer-by), The Gunfighters (Settler), The Underwater Menace (Atlantean priest & Man in market), The Invasion (UNIT soldier), The Mutants (Solonian), The Green Death (Villager) and The Deadly Assassin (Time Lord).
Al Davis (Tribesman) There's a possibility Al and Billie were related.
Billie Davis (Tribesman) There's a possibility Billie and Al were related. However, this is not the singing (and female) Billie Davis who had several UK chart hits in the 1960s. This Billie was a man.
Roy Denton (Tribesman) Sep 4 1900 to 1988. Roy's further uncredited Doctor Who work includes The Invasion (Window cleaner) and Doctor Who and the Silurians (London extra). However, he was cast to play the part of "1st Man" in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve episode 3 (Priest of Death), but fell ill the day before recording and was replaced at the last minute by Will Stampe. Roy was, however, still credited in the part in that week's Radio Times. Born as William Aldred Roy Denton, he died in Brinsworth House, the nursing home for retired entertainment professionals.
Jean Denyer (Tribeswoman)
Veronica Dyson (Tribeswoman)
Janet Fairhead (Tribe child) One of several Corona Stage School children recruited to play children in the Tribe of Gum.
Diane Gay (Tribeswoman)
Bob Haddow (Tribesman) Bob also appeared in The Keys of Marinus (Idol). It's probable Bob emigrated to Australia circa 1966 as his CV is made up of Antipodean productions from 1967-70.
Heather Lyons (Schoolchild) Born 1949. Played the same role in the pilot episode. She later changed her name to Kim Leon and then Heather Wilcox.
Antonia Moss (Tribe child) Born Apr 15 1948. One of several Corona Stage School children recruited to play children in the Tribe of Gum. Antonia had several stage roles in the 1960s until giving birth to her daughter Lisa in 1967, after which she spent the next 30 years as a film and TV extra. In the 1990s Antonia graduated with a BA in humanities and a diploma in librarianship. Other Doctor Who work includes Colony in Space (Uxariean priest).
Julie Moss (Tribe child) There's a possibility Antonia and Julie are related. Julie was also a Corona Stage School pupil.
Bill Nicholas (Tribesman) Further Doctor Who appearances include two uncredited roles in The Reign of Terror (Citizen and Revolutionary soldier).
Timothy Palmer (Tribe child) One of several Corona Stage School children recruited to play children in the Tribe of Gum.
Brenda Proctor (Tribeswoman) Sep 11 1942 to Dec 13 2022.
Mavis Ransom (Schoolchild) Born 1948. Mavis played the same role in the pilot episode.
David Rosen (Tribe child) One of several Corona Stage School children recruited to play children in the Tribe of Gum.
Cedric Schoeman (Schoolchild) Played the same role in the pilot episode. Cedric was born in South Africa, and returned there soon after leaving school.
Brian Thomas (Schoolchild) Oct 4 1947 to Jan 21 2003. Played the same role in the pilot episode. He later became a lighting director at London's Royal Court Theatre.
Trevor Thomas (Tribe child) One of several Corona Stage School children recruited to play children in the Tribe of Gum.
Lyn Turner (Tribeswoman) Her other uncredited Doctor Who work includes The Time Meddler (Villager), The Invasion (Charlady) and Doctor Who and the Silurians (London extra).
Doreen Ubels (Tribeswoman) Apr 23 1928 to May 25 1995. Born Doreen Woodward in Birmingham, married Dutchman Gijsbert Pieter Ubels (1916-2007) in 1947. Her later uncredited Doctor Who work includes The Myth Makers (Woman in square) and The War Machines (Pedestrian).
Frank Wheatley (Tribesman) Nov 22 1880 to Aug 26 1965. Frank also appeared in The Romans (Man in market), broadcast eight months before his death.
Elizabeth White (Tribe child) One of several Corona Stage School children recruited to play children in the Tribe of Gum.
Richard Wilson (Schoolchild) 1948 to 2002 (cancer). Played the same role in the pilot episode. Richard later changed his stage name to Richard Alexander (his middle name) before moving into hotel management.

CREW

Anthony Coburn (writer) Dec 10 1927 to Apr 28 1977 (heart attack)
Career highlights
Australian Anthony was first and foremost a scriptwriter, working on programmes such as Knight Errant Limited (1960), Dr Finlay's Casebook (1963), Maigret (1963), The Children of the New Forest (1964), The Newcomers (1965-66), Vendetta (1967-68), The Borderers (1970), The View from Daniel Pike (1971) and Sutherland's Law (1972-73), but he also became a producer on Vendetta (1968), The Borderers (1969-70), The Regiment (1972), Sutherland's Law (1972), The Venturers (1972), Warship (1973-74) and Quiller (1975). He died of a heart attack while producing the second series of Poldark (1977).
Facts
As well as penning the first ever scripts for Doctor Who, it is believed Anthony also came up with the idea of the TARDIS exterior resembling a police box after regularly seeing one incongruously sited at Wimbledon Common in the early 1960s, as well as the idea of Susan being the Doctor's granddaughter. In November 2013, his son Stef Coburn launched a legal battle against the BBC, claiming his father had not been given adequate recognition for coming up with the idea of the TARDIS/ police box. Anthony did write a second script for the show, called The Robots aka The Masters of Luxor, but this was never produced (the scripts survive though, and were issued as a Titan script book (1992) and made into an audio play by Big Finish (2012)).
In memoriam: Buried at Herne Bay Cemetery Garden of Remembrance, Canterbury, Kent (Section B, Grave 325)

Waris Hussein (director) Born Dec 9 1938
Doctor Who credits
Directed: An Unearthly Child (1963), Marco Polo (episodes 1-3 & 5-7, 1964)
Career highlights
Waris was just 24 when he got the job of directing the first ever Doctor Who story - almost unheard of for an Indian-born gay man at that time. His first job was the BBC soap Compact (1962-63), followed by work on The Newcomers (1965), A Touch of Love (1969), Quackser Fortune has a Cousin in the Bronx (1970), SWALK (1971), The Possession of Joel Delaney (1972), Henry VIII and His Six Wives (1972), Shoulder to Shoulder (1974), The Glittering Prizes (1976), Edward and Mrs Simpson (1978), Armchair Thriller: Rachel in Danger (1978), The Henderson Monster (1980), The Winter of Our Discontent (1983), Copacabana (1985), When the Bough Breaks (1986), The Shell Seekers (1989), The Clothes in the Wardrobe (1993), The Face on the Milk Carton (1995), Supply and Demand (1998) and Her Best Friend's Husband (2002). He has also dabbled with acting, having appeared in the film Mrs Henderson Presents (2005) and Mr Nice (2010). He also wrote two BBC screenplays, for Days in the Trees (1967) and St Joan (1968).
Awards
1979: BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series/ Serial (Edward and Mrs Simpson)
1986: Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Programme (Copacabana)
Facts
Waris declined the offer to direct Doctor Who's 20th anniversary special The Five Doctors in 1983. He acted as a consultant on the Doctor Who origins drama An Adventure in Space and Time (2013), in which he was played by Sacha Dhawan.
In 2013 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Waris here.

Verity Lambert (producer) Nov 27 1935 to Nov 22 2007 (cancer)
Doctor Who credits
Produced: An Unearthly Child, The Daleks, The Edge of Destruction, Marco Polo, The Keys of Marinus, The Aztecs, The Sensorites, The Reign of Terror, Planet of Giants, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Rescue, The Romans, The Web Planet, The Crusade, The Space Museum, The Chase, The Time Meddler, Galaxy 4, Mission to the Unknown (1963-65)
Career highlights
Doctor Who was Verity's first producing job on TV, quite an achievement for a woman of 28, and during her first months was accompanied by the more experienced Mervyn Pinfield as associate producer. Verity left the series to produce The Newcomers (1965), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966-67), Detective (1968), various Somerset Maugham adaptations (1969-70), Budgie (1971-72), Between the Wars (1973), Shoulder to Shoulder (1974), The Naked Civil Servant (1975), Rock Follies (1976), Couples (1975-76), The Norman Conquests (1977), Quatermass (1979), Fox (1980), Widows (1983), Reilly: Ace of Spies (1983), Minder (1979-84), Dreamchild (1985), Clockwise (1986), A Cry in the Dark (1988), Evil Angels (1988), GBH (1991), Eldorado (1992-93), So Haunt Me (1992-94), May to December (1989-94), She's Out (1995), Class Act (1995), Jonathan Creek (1998-2004), The Cazalets (2001) and Love Soup (2005-08).
Awards
1970: BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series (W. Somerset Maugham)
1989: Australian Film Institute Award for Best Film (Evil Angels)
1997: British Film Institute Fellowship
2002: Officer of the order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to film and television
Facts
Verity was married to director Colin Bucksey between 1973-87.

Mervyn Pinfield (associate producer) Feb 28 1912 to May 20 1966
Doctor Who credits
Associate producer: An Unearthly Child, The Daleks, The Edge of Destruction, Marco Polo, The Keys of Marinus, The Aztecs, The Sensorites, The Reign of Terror, Planet of Giants, The Dalek Invasion of Earth, The Rescue, The Romans (1963-65)
Directed: The Sensorites (episodes 1-4, 1964), Planet of Giants (episodes 1-3, 1964), The Space Museum (1965)
Career highlights
Mervyn was a BBC stalwart, joining the Corporation in the 1950s to produce live drama at Alexandra Palace. He was coupled with Verity Lambert to watch over the cub producer in her early days. His previous credits included directing Saturday Playhouse (1960), Compact (1962) and The Monsters (1962).
Facts
He was the inventor of a very early version of the Teleprompter or Autocue called the Piniprompter. He died almost exactly a year after his final work on Doctor Who.

David Whitaker (story editor) Apr 18 1928 to Feb 4 1980 (lymphoma)
Doctor Who credits
Story edited: An Unearthly Child, The Daleks, The Edge of Destruction, Marco Polo, The Keys of Marinus, The Aztecs, The Sensorites, The Reign of Terror, Planet of Giants, The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1963-64)
Wrote: The Edge of Destruction (1964), The Rescue (1965), The Crusade (1965), The Power of the Daleks (1966), The Evil of the Daleks (1967), The Enemy of the World (1967-68), The Wheel in Space (1968), The Ambassadors of Death (episodes 1-3, 1970)
Career highlights
David was a writer at heart, having begun writing the continuity script on A Christmas Night with the Stars in 1958, followed by Compact (1962), Undermind (1965), Mr Rose (1968), Paul Temple (1970) and Elephant Boy (1973).
Facts
He also wrote the Dalek comic strips in TV Century 21 magazine and the 1965 stage play The Curse of the Daleks. David was the first person to write a novelisation of a Doctor Who story, namely Doctor Who in An Exciting Adventure with the Daleks in 1964. He also novelised The Crusade, but died before completing a novelisation of The Enemy of the World (it was finished by Ian Marter).

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