 |
| Ding ding! It was Round 1 to the War Machine in the Covent Garden Big Fight |
First broadcast Jun 25 to Jul 16 1966
Average audience for serial: 5.23m
- A pictorial guide to the guest cast is at the bottom of this entry. An episode-by-episode review of this story is on Time Space Visualiser here.
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.
Jackie Lane (Dodo Chaplet) Jul 10 1941 to Jun 7 2021 For a full career biography for Jackie Lane, click here.
Anneke Wills (Polly) Born Oct 20 1941 For a full career biography for Anneke Wills, click here.
Michael Craze (Ben Jackson) Nov 29 1942 to Dec 7 1998 (heart attack) For a full career biography for Michael Craze, click here.
GUEST CAST
John Boyd-Brent (Sergeant) May 5 1919 to Dec 15 2005
Career highlights
Further acting credits include Rumpelstiltskin (1951), Lines of Communication (1952), Ghost Squad (1963), The Caves of Steel (1964) and King of the River (1966). He also wrote two TV plays, Tom's Goblin (1953) and Simon's Treasure (1955).
Sandra Bryant (Kitty) Born Sep 30 1945
Doctor Who credits
Played: Kitty in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Chicki in The Macra Terror (1967)
Career highlights
After starting out with an uncredited role as a schoolgirl in Carry On Teacher (1959), Sandra's other credits include Suspense (1963), Emergency Ward 10 (1967), Sat'day While Sunday (1967), Coronation Street (1969), Rogues' Gallery (1969), Special Branch (1969-70), Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973), On the Buses (1973), Billy Liar (1974), Not on Your Nellie (1975) and Breakaway (1980).
Facts
She played Chicki in episode 1 of The Macra Terror, but was released from her contract before the character's reappearance in episode 4, and replaced by Karol Keyes. In 1970 she married TV production designer and later film art director Terry Gough. This Sandra Bryant is not the same Sandra Bryant who released two pop records in 1967.
John Cater (Professor Krimpton) Jan 17 1932 to Mar 21 2009 (liver cancer)
Career highlights
John appeared in well over 150 productions since a live teleplay about the French Resistance in 1949, followed by 1958's The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, Hancock (1963), The Plane Makers (1964), Take a Pair of Private Eyes (1966), Virgin of the Secret Service (1968, as Fred Doublett), Dad's Army (1970), The Abominable Dr Phibes (1971), Dr Phibes Rises Again (1972), Alcock and Gander (1972), Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter (1974), South Riding (1974), I, Claudius (1976), Rosie (1978), The Setbacks (1980-81, as Larry), Rising Damp (1980), The Other 'Arf (1980-81), Chance in a Million (1986), Home to Roost (1987), The Woman in Black (1989), Ruth Rendell Mysteries: The Best Man to Die (1990, as Mr Pertwee!) Sitting Pretty (1992), Lipstick on Your Collar (1993), 2point4 Children (1991/94), Bramwell (1996), Goodnight Mr Tom (1999), Crossroads (2001-02, as Arthur Williams), Down to Earth (2001-03), Bad Girls (2005), Alien Autopsy (2006) and Bonekickers (2008). John regularly played Starr in The Duchess of Duke Street (1976-77).
Facts
Throughout his life John suffered from the blood disorder haemochromatosis, which did not affect him too much until he developed arthritis in later life. His wife was fellow actor Wendy Gifford, who appeared in Doctor Who in The Ice Warriors (1967).
Edward Colliver (Garage mechanic) 1928 to Oct 24 2013
Career highlights
Edward's other work included First Night (1963), The Edged of Reason (1963), Quick Before They Catch Us (1966) and Z Cars (1968).
Carl Conway (US correspondent) Feb 6 1922 to Feb 10 2017
Doctor Who credits
Played: US correspondent in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Control room assistant in The Ambassadors of Death (1970)
Career highlights
Carl's acting CV takes in The Counterfeit Plan (1957), Nudist Paradise (1959), Man from Interpol (1960), Watch Your Stern (1961), The Saint (1966), Pegasus (1969) and Out of the Unknown (1969). In 1964 Carl joined the unlicensed off-shore Radio Caroline at its launch but did not care for life at sea and mainly took part in the advertisements and interviews conducted on dry land (the pirate radio station transmitted from a former passenger ferry anchored off Felixstowe). In the 1980s Carl worked for BBC Radio Kent, and later kept himself busy organising film shows in old people's homes and community centres.
George Cross (Minister) Feb 12 1902 to Sep 1987
Career highlights
Other work includes Down Under (1933), Street Song (1935), Under Suspicion (1939), We Dive at Dawn (1943), Dulcimer Street (1948), The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan (1953), Big Time Operators (1957), Thorndyke (1964) and The Spies (1966).
Desmond Cullum-Jones (Worker) Dec 1 1924 to Jun 6 2002
Doctor Who credits
Played: Citizen of Millennius in The Keys of Marinus (1964, uncredited)
Played: Worker in The War Machines (1966)
Career highlights
Seattle-born Desmond's career began in The Great Armoured Car Swindle (1961) and saw roles in The Big Pull (1962), Danger Man (1965), Doomwatch (1971), Brett (1971), Fall of Eagles (1974), Penmarric (1979), Shoestring (1979), The Day of the Triffids (1981), Blott on the Landscape (1985) and The Rag Nymph (1997). He also regularly played a platoon member (occasionally known as Private Desmond) in Dad's Army (1969-77, uncredited).
Alan Curtis (Major Green) Jul 30 1930 to Feb 18 2021
Career highlights
Alan's career on the screen began with The Black Brigand (1956), followed by roles in The Avengers (1962), The Plane Makers (1964), The Corridor People (1966), Horne Aplenty (1968-69), The Good Old Days (1968), The Morecambe and Wise Show (1969-71), Up Pompeii (1970), Carry on Henry (1971), Four Dimensions of Greta (1972), Carry On Abroad (1972), Whoops Baghdad! (1973), Professor Popper's Problem (1974), The Howerd Confessions (1976), The Bounder (1982), 3-2-1 (1983-84), Duty Free (1984) and Footballers' Wives (2003).
Facts
Alan also acted as announcer for Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's. He suffered a stroke in the early 21st century, leaving him without the free use of one arm.
In 2016 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Alan here.
Eddie Davis (Worker)
Doctor Who credits
Played: Parisian in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (1966, uncredited)
Played: Worker in The War Machines (1966)
Career highlights
Eddie's other credits include Softly Softly (1966) and The Goodies (1977). He may also have played one of the inventors in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), but this Eddie Davis (born in the US in 1895) may be a different man.
Robin Dawson (Soldier)
Robin also appeared in an episode of Z Cars (1969), uncredited.
John Doye (Interviewer) Feb 16 1918 to Mar 10 1995
Doctor Who credits
Played: Freedom fighter in The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964, uncredited)
Played: Cowboy in The Gunfighters (1966, uncredited)
Played: Interviewer in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Redcoat in The Highlanders (1966-67, uncredited)
Career highlights
Other credits include The Strong are Lonely (1956), The Kentish Robin (1957), The Informer (1967) and The Gamblers (1967).
Facts
On January 30th, 1954, John was performing in a production of Wish You Were Here at London's Casino Theatre when, during the first half, comedian Chris Hewitt struck his head on the side of a pool which he was routinely pushed into to form the climax of Act 1. John and a fellow actor dived into the pool to rescue the unconscious Hewitt, who went on with the show after receiving treatment.
Ric Felgate (American journalist) Jun 4 1933 to Jul 31 1999
Doctor Who credits
Played: American journalist in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Brent in The Seeds of Death (1969)
Played: Van Lyden in The Ambassadors of Death (1970)
Career highlights
Ric's other credits include Quick Before They Catch Us (1966), Jackanory (1969), Softly Softly (1968-70), The Passenger (1971) and The Sweeney (1976).
Facts
He was married to Cynthia Felgate (nee Harris, 1935-91), co-creator and producer of children's programmes Play School and Playdays.
Roy Godfrey (Tramp) Aug 20 1921 to May 3 2005
Career highlights
Other credits include Paint Your Wagon (1954), The Water Gipsies (1955), William Tell (1959), Diary of a Young Man (1964), Dixon of Dock Green (1965/66), Torture Garden (1967) and Mystery and Imagination (1968).
Facts
In October 2008 Bonhams held an auction in which one of the lots was a pen and ink sketch by Ronald Searle of Roy Godfrey playing Sweeney Todd in a Punch Theatre production of The Demon Barber, duelling with fellow Doctor Who alumnus James Maxwell's barber.
John Harvey (Professor Brett) Sep 27 1911 to Jul 19 1982
Doctor Who credits
Played: Professor Brett in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Officia in The Macra Terror (1967)
Career highlights
With a career starting in I STand Condemned (1935), John was prolific, and had roles in Dick Barton Strikes Back (1949), Stage Fright (1950), The Kate Smith Evening Hour (1951), X: The Unknown (1956), Ivanhoe (1958), Meeting Point (1958), Invisible Man (1959), The Old Dark House (1963), The Plane Makers (1964-65), They Came from Beyond Space (1967), A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967), The Deadly Bees (1967), The Borderers (1970), Sykes (1972), The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973), Man About the House (1976), George and Mildred (1976), Rentaghost (1976), Edward and Mrs Simpson (1978), Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1978) and The Racing Game (1980).
Facts
John was married to the actress Diana King.
Frank Jarvis (Corporal) May 13 1941 to Sep 15 2010
Doctor Who credits
Played: Corporal in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Ankh in Underworld (1978)
Played: Skart in The Power of Kroll (1978-79)
Career highlights
Frank's extensive career began in 1962's Mix Me a Person, then That Kind of Girl (1963), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), Z Cars (1967), The Italian Job (1969), Callan (1972), The Brothers (1974), Poldark (1975), Warship (1976-77, as Burnett), Grange Hill (1978), The Professionals (1978/79), Juliet Bravo (1981), Jenny's War (1985), Lovejoy (1992), EastEnders (2000), Catterick (2004), The Penalty King (2006) and Dear Father (2009).
Facts
The theme tune to The Italian Job, Self Preservation Society aka Get a Bloomin' Move On, was played at Frank's funeral.
Kenneth Kendall (Television newsreader) Aug 7 1924 to Dec 14 2012 (following a stroke)
Career highlights
Kenneth was a schoolmaster before joining the BBC as a radio announcer in 1948, and in 1955 became the first person to appear on British TV reading the news, as opposed to just a newsreader's voice being heard. In the 1960s he worked as a freelance newsreader, often for ITN, and then worked for the BBC (1969-81). He might be best known as the host of Treasure Hunt (1982-89), or as the BBC-12 announcer in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). He also appeared as a newscaster in Scotland Yard (1960), The Brain (1962), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), They Came from Outer Space (1967), Dead of Night (1972) and The Dark Side of the Sun (1983). His voice was also used as that of the BBC Micro Acorn Computers hardware speech synthesis system.
Facts
In 2010 Kenneth took part in BBC1's The Young Ones, in which six celebrities in their 70s and 80s attempt to overcome some of the problems of ageing by harking back to the 1970s. In retirement Kenneth lived on the Isle of Wight with his civil partner Mark Fear, where he owned a marine art gallery and was a keen beekeeper. Sadly, in April 2013, four months after Kenneth's death, Mark Fear - his partner of 23 years - was found hanged. He had killed himself, unable to continue without the love of his life. A note found next to Mark's body read: "I am sorry to land you in all this. I simply cannot face the future without Kenneth."
William Mervyn (Sir Charles Summer) Jan 3 1912 to Aug 6 1976
Career highlights
Beginning in 1947's The Mark of Cain, Nairobi-born William's extensive career saw roles in The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947), The Good Companions (1949), The Blue Lamp (1950), Parent-Craft (1951), Fabian of the Yard (1955), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1957), Hancock's Half Hour (1959), Circus of Horrors (1960), Oliver Twist (1962), Saki (1962), Murder Ahoy (1964), The Liars (1966), Carry On Follow That Camel (1967), The Railway Children (1970), Follyfoot (1971), Tottering Towers (1971-72), The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1973), Pardon My Genie (1973), The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976) and Raffles (1977). Regular roles include Chief Inspector Rose in The Odd Man (1963), It's Dark Outside (1964-65) and Mr Rose (1967-68), Rev Cuthbert Hever in All Gas and Gaiters (1966-71) and Justice Campbell in Crown Court (1973-76).
Facts
William's son Michael Pickwoad became production designer on Doctor Who in 2010 (and William's granddaughter - Michael's daughter - Amy Pickwoad worked in the art department of Doctor Who (2010-14)). Another son, Professor Nicholas Pickwoad, is a world expert in bookbinding and has been advising the National Trust in the UK on book preservation since 1978.
Ewan Proctor (Flash) Born Oct 28 1944
This is Ewan's sole credit. However, Ewan did appear at a signing event for the release of The War Machines DVD in August 2008 (click here for a picture). He is now a ceramicist and a member of the Portsmouth-based Watershed Galleries community.
Michael Rathborne (Taxi driver) Apr 6 1923 to Jan 22 1971 (liver disease)
Career highlights
Doctor Who was Michael's final credit after a brief career appearing in The Buccaneers (1956), Private Investigator (1958) and Call the Gun Expert (1964).
Career highlights
Seattle-born Desmond's career began in The Great Armoured Car Swindle (1961) and saw roles in The Big Pull (1962), Danger Man (1965), Doomwatch (1971), Brett (1971), Fall of Eagles (1974), Penmarric (1979), Shoestring (1979), The Day of the Triffids (1981), Blott on the Landscape (1985) and The Rag Nymph (1997). He also regularly played a platoon member (occasionally known as Private Desmond) in Dad's Army (1969-77, uncredited).
Alan Curtis (Major Green) Jul 30 1930 to Feb 18 2021
Career highlights
Alan's career on the screen began with The Black Brigand (1956), followed by roles in The Avengers (1962), The Plane Makers (1964), The Corridor People (1966), Horne Aplenty (1968-69), The Good Old Days (1968), The Morecambe and Wise Show (1969-71), Up Pompeii (1970), Carry on Henry (1971), Four Dimensions of Greta (1972), Carry On Abroad (1972), Whoops Baghdad! (1973), Professor Popper's Problem (1974), The Howerd Confessions (1976), The Bounder (1982), 3-2-1 (1983-84), Duty Free (1984) and Footballers' Wives (2003).
Facts
Alan also acted as announcer for Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord's. He suffered a stroke in the early 21st century, leaving him without the free use of one arm.
In 2016 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Alan here.
Eddie Davis (Worker)
Doctor Who credits
Played: Parisian in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (1966, uncredited)
Played: Worker in The War Machines (1966)
Career highlights
Eddie's other credits include Softly Softly (1966) and The Goodies (1977). He may also have played one of the inventors in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), but this Eddie Davis (born in the US in 1895) may be a different man.
Robin Dawson (Soldier)
Robin also appeared in an episode of Z Cars (1969), uncredited.
John Doye (Interviewer) Feb 16 1918 to Mar 10 1995
Doctor Who credits
Played: Freedom fighter in The Dalek Invasion of Earth (1964, uncredited)
Played: Cowboy in The Gunfighters (1966, uncredited)
Played: Interviewer in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Redcoat in The Highlanders (1966-67, uncredited)
Career highlights
Other credits include The Strong are Lonely (1956), The Kentish Robin (1957), The Informer (1967) and The Gamblers (1967).
Facts
On January 30th, 1954, John was performing in a production of Wish You Were Here at London's Casino Theatre when, during the first half, comedian Chris Hewitt struck his head on the side of a pool which he was routinely pushed into to form the climax of Act 1. John and a fellow actor dived into the pool to rescue the unconscious Hewitt, who went on with the show after receiving treatment.
Ric Felgate (American journalist) Jun 4 1933 to Jul 31 1999
Doctor Who credits
Played: American journalist in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Brent in The Seeds of Death (1969)
Played: Van Lyden in The Ambassadors of Death (1970)
Career highlights
Ric's other credits include Quick Before They Catch Us (1966), Jackanory (1969), Softly Softly (1968-70), The Passenger (1971) and The Sweeney (1976).
Facts
He was married to Cynthia Felgate (nee Harris, 1935-91), co-creator and producer of children's programmes Play School and Playdays.
Roy Godfrey (Tramp) Aug 20 1921 to May 3 2005
Career highlights
Other credits include Paint Your Wagon (1954), The Water Gipsies (1955), William Tell (1959), Diary of a Young Man (1964), Dixon of Dock Green (1965/66), Torture Garden (1967) and Mystery and Imagination (1968).
Facts
In October 2008 Bonhams held an auction in which one of the lots was a pen and ink sketch by Ronald Searle of Roy Godfrey playing Sweeney Todd in a Punch Theatre production of The Demon Barber, duelling with fellow Doctor Who alumnus James Maxwell's barber.
John Harvey (Professor Brett) Sep 27 1911 to Jul 19 1982
Doctor Who credits
Played: Professor Brett in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Officia in The Macra Terror (1967)
Career highlights
With a career starting in I STand Condemned (1935), John was prolific, and had roles in Dick Barton Strikes Back (1949), Stage Fright (1950), The Kate Smith Evening Hour (1951), X: The Unknown (1956), Ivanhoe (1958), Meeting Point (1958), Invisible Man (1959), The Old Dark House (1963), The Plane Makers (1964-65), They Came from Beyond Space (1967), A Challenge for Robin Hood (1967), The Deadly Bees (1967), The Borderers (1970), Sykes (1972), The Satanic Rites of Dracula (1973), Man About the House (1976), George and Mildred (1976), Rentaghost (1976), Edward and Mrs Simpson (1978), Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1978) and The Racing Game (1980).
Facts
John was married to the actress Diana King.
Frank Jarvis (Corporal) May 13 1941 to Sep 15 2010
Doctor Who credits
Played: Corporal in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Ankh in Underworld (1978)
Played: Skart in The Power of Kroll (1978-79)
Career highlights
Frank's extensive career began in 1962's Mix Me a Person, then That Kind of Girl (1963), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), Z Cars (1967), The Italian Job (1969), Callan (1972), The Brothers (1974), Poldark (1975), Warship (1976-77, as Burnett), Grange Hill (1978), The Professionals (1978/79), Juliet Bravo (1981), Jenny's War (1985), Lovejoy (1992), EastEnders (2000), Catterick (2004), The Penalty King (2006) and Dear Father (2009).
Facts
The theme tune to The Italian Job, Self Preservation Society aka Get a Bloomin' Move On, was played at Frank's funeral.
Kenneth Kendall (Television newsreader) Aug 7 1924 to Dec 14 2012 (following a stroke)
Career highlights
Kenneth was a schoolmaster before joining the BBC as a radio announcer in 1948, and in 1955 became the first person to appear on British TV reading the news, as opposed to just a newsreader's voice being heard. In the 1960s he worked as a freelance newsreader, often for ITN, and then worked for the BBC (1969-81). He might be best known as the host of Treasure Hunt (1982-89), or as the BBC-12 announcer in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). He also appeared as a newscaster in Scotland Yard (1960), The Brain (1962), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), They Came from Outer Space (1967), Dead of Night (1972) and The Dark Side of the Sun (1983). His voice was also used as that of the BBC Micro Acorn Computers hardware speech synthesis system.
Facts
In 2010 Kenneth took part in BBC1's The Young Ones, in which six celebrities in their 70s and 80s attempt to overcome some of the problems of ageing by harking back to the 1970s. In retirement Kenneth lived on the Isle of Wight with his civil partner Mark Fear, where he owned a marine art gallery and was a keen beekeeper. Sadly, in April 2013, four months after Kenneth's death, Mark Fear - his partner of 23 years - was found hanged. He had killed himself, unable to continue without the love of his life. A note found next to Mark's body read: "I am sorry to land you in all this. I simply cannot face the future without Kenneth."
William Mervyn (Sir Charles Summer) Jan 3 1912 to Aug 6 1976
Career highlights
Beginning in 1947's The Mark of Cain, Nairobi-born William's extensive career saw roles in The Loves of Joanna Godden (1947), The Good Companions (1949), The Blue Lamp (1950), Parent-Craft (1951), Fabian of the Yard (1955), The Adventures of Robin Hood (1957), Hancock's Half Hour (1959), Circus of Horrors (1960), Oliver Twist (1962), Saki (1962), Murder Ahoy (1964), The Liars (1966), Carry On Follow That Camel (1967), The Railway Children (1970), Follyfoot (1971), Tottering Towers (1971-72), The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes (1973), Pardon My Genie (1973), The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976) and Raffles (1977). Regular roles include Chief Inspector Rose in The Odd Man (1963), It's Dark Outside (1964-65) and Mr Rose (1967-68), Rev Cuthbert Hever in All Gas and Gaiters (1966-71) and Justice Campbell in Crown Court (1973-76).
Facts
William's son Michael Pickwoad became production designer on Doctor Who in 2010 (and William's granddaughter - Michael's daughter - Amy Pickwoad worked in the art department of Doctor Who (2010-14)). Another son, Professor Nicholas Pickwoad, is a world expert in bookbinding and has been advising the National Trust in the UK on book preservation since 1978.
Ewan Proctor (Flash) Born Oct 28 1944
This is Ewan's sole credit. However, Ewan did appear at a signing event for the release of The War Machines DVD in August 2008 (click here for a picture). He is now a ceramicist and a member of the Portsmouth-based Watershed Galleries community.
Michael Rathborne (Taxi driver) Apr 6 1923 to Jan 22 1971 (liver disease)
Career highlights
Doctor Who was Michael's final credit after a brief career appearing in The Buccaneers (1956), Private Investigator (1958) and Call the Gun Expert (1964).
Facts
Michael was married to actor Diana van Proosdy, and their daughter is the actor Pippa Rathborne. Michael contracted liver disease from contaminated water while serving as a captain in the Burmese campaign of 1944-45.
John Rolfe (Captain) Mar 25 1935 to Aug 12 2020
Doctor Who credits
Played: Captain in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Sam Becket in The Moonbase (1967)
Played: Fell in The Green Death (1973)
Career highlights
John's long career began in Agib and Agab (1953), then The River Flows East (1962), Cluff (1964, as Det Con Barker), Adam Adamant Lives! (1967), Out of the Unknown (1971), The Brothers (1974), The Chinese Puzzle (1974), Hadleigh (1976), Blake's 7 (1978), Thomas and Sarah (1979), To Serve Them All My Days (1980), One By One (1985), Howard's Way (1985-86, as James Sinclair), Mr Bean (1992) and Joking Apart (1995).
Facts
John was apparently named after the English colonist who married Pocahontas in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1614.
John Slavid (Man in telephone box) Oct 28 1931 to Dec 30 2002
Doctor Who credits
Played: Officer in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (1966)
Played: Man in telephone box in The War Machines (1966)
Career highlights
John's other credits include A Hundred Years Old (1952), Danger Man (1960), Crossroads (1964), The Gamblers (1967), Madame Sin (1972), Upstairs, Downstairs (1972), Life and Death of Penelope (1976), When the Boat Comes In (1981) and Executive Stress (1987). John specialised in playing croupiers, a credit he had on 16 different productions.
Gerald Taylor (War Machine/ Voice of WOTAN) Oct 11 1940 to Dec 4 1994 Click here for Gerald Taylor's entry on The Daleks
Dwight Whylie (Radio announcer) Jun 7 1936 to Sep 15 2002 (heart attack)
Career highlights
Jamaica-born Dwight was the first black radio announcer hired by the BBC, in 1965. In 1973, he became the general manager of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, and four years later joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as director of its national radio news, until 1997.
Facts
Dwight died in Barbados while visiting there as chief judge at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union's media awards. His sister was Jamaican jazz and traditional musician Marjorie Whylie.
WOTAN (WOTAN)
The super-computer was credited as playing itself in The War Machines episodes 1-3. It didn't get much work elsewhere.
CREW
Ian Stuart Black (writer) Mar 21 1915 to Oct 13 1997 Click here for Ian Stuart Black's entry on The Savages
Kit Pedler (provided idea for story) Jun 11 1927 to May 27 1981 (heart attack)
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: The War Machines (1966, came up with the story idea), The Tenth Planet (1966), The Moonbase (1967), The Tomb of the Cybermen (1967), The Wheel in Space (1968, came up with the story idea), The Invasion (1968, came up with the story idea)
Career highlights
Kit also had writing credits on Doomwatch (1970) and its 1972 big screen spin-off. Kit trained as a doctor and surgeon, and was awarded a Ph.D for his research into the causes of infant blindness and became a senior lecturer at the Institute of Ophthalmology, part of the University of London, where he studied the function of the retina and was one of the pioneers in electron microscopy. In the mid-1960s Kit became Doctor Who's science fiction advisor, helping add factual weight to the scientific ideas in the series, and was also a contributor to science series Horizon and Tomorrow's World.
Facts
In the 1970s, Kit became an advocate for alternative technology and energy supplies which did not create irreversible or damaging pollution; he rejected harmful or wasteful products generated by modern industrial society. This led to his 1979 book The Quest for Gaia. The day after the third episode of Mind Over Matter - his documentary series on psychics and the paranormal - was transmitted, Kit was found dead in the conservatory of his home in Kent. His daughter is novelist Carol Topolski, writer of Monster Love and Do No Harm.
Note: This biog has been put together with the kind personal involvement of Kit's biographer, Michael Seely, who was determined to dispel some common myths about Dr Pedler. He says: "One of the reasons I wrote his life story was because of the misinformation out there about his life and achievements." Thanks Michael!
John Rolfe (Captain) Mar 25 1935 to Aug 12 2020
Doctor Who credits
Played: Captain in The War Machines (1966)
Played: Sam Becket in The Moonbase (1967)
Played: Fell in The Green Death (1973)
Career highlights
John's long career began in Agib and Agab (1953), then The River Flows East (1962), Cluff (1964, as Det Con Barker), Adam Adamant Lives! (1967), Out of the Unknown (1971), The Brothers (1974), The Chinese Puzzle (1974), Hadleigh (1976), Blake's 7 (1978), Thomas and Sarah (1979), To Serve Them All My Days (1980), One By One (1985), Howard's Way (1985-86, as James Sinclair), Mr Bean (1992) and Joking Apart (1995).
Facts
John was apparently named after the English colonist who married Pocahontas in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1614.
John Slavid (Man in telephone box) Oct 28 1931 to Dec 30 2002
Doctor Who credits
Played: Officer in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (1966)
Played: Man in telephone box in The War Machines (1966)
Career highlights
John's other credits include A Hundred Years Old (1952), Danger Man (1960), Crossroads (1964), The Gamblers (1967), Madame Sin (1972), Upstairs, Downstairs (1972), Life and Death of Penelope (1976), When the Boat Comes In (1981) and Executive Stress (1987). John specialised in playing croupiers, a credit he had on 16 different productions.
Gerald Taylor (War Machine/ Voice of WOTAN) Oct 11 1940 to Dec 4 1994 Click here for Gerald Taylor's entry on The Daleks
Dwight Whylie (Radio announcer) Jun 7 1936 to Sep 15 2002 (heart attack)
Career highlights
Jamaica-born Dwight was the first black radio announcer hired by the BBC, in 1965. In 1973, he became the general manager of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, and four years later joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation as director of its national radio news, until 1997.
Facts
Dwight died in Barbados while visiting there as chief judge at the Caribbean Broadcasting Union's media awards. His sister was Jamaican jazz and traditional musician Marjorie Whylie.
WOTAN (WOTAN)
The super-computer was credited as playing itself in The War Machines episodes 1-3. It didn't get much work elsewhere.
CREW
Ian Stuart Black (writer) Mar 21 1915 to Oct 13 1997 Click here for Ian Stuart Black's entry on The Savages
Kit Pedler (provided idea for story) Jun 11 1927 to May 27 1981 (heart attack)
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: The War Machines (1966, came up with the story idea), The Tenth Planet (1966), The Moonbase (1967), The Tomb of the Cybermen (1967), The Wheel in Space (1968, came up with the story idea), The Invasion (1968, came up with the story idea)
Career highlights
Kit also had writing credits on Doomwatch (1970) and its 1972 big screen spin-off. Kit trained as a doctor and surgeon, and was awarded a Ph.D for his research into the causes of infant blindness and became a senior lecturer at the Institute of Ophthalmology, part of the University of London, where he studied the function of the retina and was one of the pioneers in electron microscopy. In the mid-1960s Kit became Doctor Who's science fiction advisor, helping add factual weight to the scientific ideas in the series, and was also a contributor to science series Horizon and Tomorrow's World.
Facts
In the 1970s, Kit became an advocate for alternative technology and energy supplies which did not create irreversible or damaging pollution; he rejected harmful or wasteful products generated by modern industrial society. This led to his 1979 book The Quest for Gaia. The day after the third episode of Mind Over Matter - his documentary series on psychics and the paranormal - was transmitted, Kit was found dead in the conservatory of his home in Kent. His daughter is novelist Carol Topolski, writer of Monster Love and Do No Harm.
Note: This biog has been put together with the kind personal involvement of Kit's biographer, Michael Seely, who was determined to dispel some common myths about Dr Pedler. He says: "One of the reasons I wrote his life story was because of the misinformation out there about his life and achievements." Thanks Michael!
Michael Ferguson (director) Jun 14 1937 to Oct 4 2021
Doctor Who credits
Assistant floor manager: The Daleks (1963-64)
Directed: The War Machines (1966), The Seeds of Death (1969), The Ambassadors of Death (1970), The Claws of Axos (1971).
Career highlights
Other directing work included Z Cars (1962), Out of the Unknown (1969), Hadleigh (1969), Paul Temple (1970-71), Colditz (1972-73), Quiller (1975), Flambards (1979), Airline (1982), Lytton's Diary (1986), The Bill (1985/87-89/96/2000-02) and Night & Day (2003). He also produced The Sandbaggers (1978), EastEnders (1989-91) and Casualty (1993-94, for which he was nominated for a BAFTA in 1994). He wrote ITV Playhouse: Too Close to the Edge in 1980.
Facts
Michael had the honour of being the very first Dalek seen on TV, operating the sink plunger seen in the cliffhanger to The Dead Planet in 1963! Michael's second wife was actor Jana Shelden, who had a regular role in The Sandbaggers.
In 2016 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Michael here.
Innes Lloyd (producer) Dec 24 1925 to Aug 23 1991 Click here for Innes Lloyd's entry on The Celestial Toymaker
Gerry Davis (script editor) Feb 23 1930 to Aug 31 1991 Click here for Gerry Davis's entry on The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve
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Regarding JOHN DOYE (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1660029/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1), I've noticed a John Doyle (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2830092/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t16) with credits being an extra in Doctor Who and the Silurians and Four to Doomsday. On the Doyle page, he's listed as a cowboy extra in A Holiday for the Doctor but on the remaining episodes of The Gunfighters, the credit becomes Doye. Is it the same person I wonder?
ReplyDeleteA few sources I've seen say JOHN DOYE was in Doctor Who and the Silurians:
ReplyDeletewww.mentalis.co.uk/jon-pertwee/doctor-who-and-the-silurians.aspx
www.eofftv.com/episodes/d/doctor_who/3rd_doctor/silurians.htm
http://www.tnelson.demon.co.uk/cult/a02/a002588.htm
Glad that you were able to find the birth/death dates for Roy Godfrey (Tramp). I don't think those were known until now. Next I hope we can learn the birth/death dates for George Cross (Minister). I don't think anyone has unearthed those yet.
ReplyDelete