Image of the Fendahl

The mesmerising Fendahl (played by
the mesmerising Wanda Ventham)

Four episodes (Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four)
First broadcast Oct 29 to Nov 19 1977
Average audience for serial: 7.80m

REGULAR CAST

Tom Baker (The Doctor) Born Jan 20 1934 Click here for Tom Baker's entry on Robot

Louise Jameson (Leela) Born Apr 20 1951 Click here for Louise Jameson's entry on The Face of Evil

GUEST CAST

Edward Arthur (Adam Colby)
Career highlights
Edward's first credit is Z Cars (1969), followed by roles in Twelfth Night (1970), Love Among the Ruins (1975), Secret Army (1978), Pride and Prejudice (1980), Moonlighting (1982), Morons from Outer Space (1985), Lovejoy (1991), Harry Enfield's Television Programme (1992), London's Burning (1994), ChuckleVision (1996), EastEnders (1996), Beyond Fear (1997) and Mosley (1998).
Facts
Edward now lives in Spain.

Edward Evans (Ted Moss) Jun 4 1914 to Dec 20 2001
Career highlights
Edward's earliest role was in Dulcimer Street (1948), and then Holiday Week (1952), Valley of Song (1953), The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp (1956), William Tell (1959), The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960), Maigret (1961), The River Flows East (1962), The Human Jungle (1963), Coronation Street (1965-66, as Lionel Petty), Man in a Suitcase (1968), The Tyrant King (1968), Steptoe and Son (1970), Out of the Unknown (1971), Tales from the Crypt (1972), The Gathering Storm (1974), Poldark (1975), George and Mildred (1977), Suez 1956 (1979), Lifeforce (1985) and Heart of the Country (1987). His most high profile role was as Bob Grove in 129 episodes of the first British soap opera for adults, The Grove Family (1954-57), written by Jon Pertwee's brother Michael and father Roland, as well as in the film version It's a Great Day (1955). His son in the soap was Peter Bryant, who went on to produce Doctor Who in the late 1960s.

Scott Fredericks (Maximillian Stael) Mar 15 1943 to Nov 6 2017
Doctor Who credits
Played: Boaz in Day of the Daleks (1972)
Played: Maximillian Stael in Image of the Fendahl (1977)
Career highlights
Scott's earliest role was in The White Rabbit (1967), followed by Strange Report (1969), Dixon of Dock Green (1970), Dad's Army (1971), Crossroads (1973), Sutherland's Law (1973), The Deadly Females (1976), Last of Summer (1978), Blake's 7 (1979), Cribb (1981), Cal (1984), Charters and Caldicott (1985), Prince William (2002), Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars (2007) and Rock Rivals (2008). Scott also had a regular role as Tom Kelly in the shipping soap Triangle (1983).
Facts
He later became a radio producer and director in Ireland. In a 2001 interview, Scott said: "I remember Peter Barkworth saying, 'My life with the BBC didn't start until I did Doctor Who'. And the same happened to me."

Daphne Heard (Martha Tyler) Aug 21 1904 to Jun 22 1983
Career highlights
Daphne's earliest acting credit is for Yellow Sands (1948), followed by roles in The Castiglioni Brothers (1958), Lorna Doone (1963), Esther Waters (1964), Undermind (1965), The Witness (1966), The Woman in White (1966), Softly Softly (1967), Nearest and Dearest (1968), The First Churchills (1969), Wild, Wild Women (1969), Goodbye Gemini (1970), For the Love of Ada (1971), Upstairs Downstairs (1972), The Jensen Code (1973), Village Hall (1975), Angels (1976), Hazell (1978), Coronation Street (1978), Don't Forget to Write! (1977-79), Nanny (1981), Horace (1982) and A Cotswold Death (1982). She had a regular role as Mrs Polouvicka ("Mrs Pooh") in the sitcom To the Manor Born between 1979-81. From its inception in 1977 until her death, Daphne played the part of Maud the eccentric housekeeper in the Hinge and Bracket radio series.

Geoffrey Hinsliff (Jack Tyler) Nov 23 1937 to Sep 15 2024
Doctor Who credits
Played: Jack Tyler in Image of the Fendahl (1977)
Played: Fisk in Nightmare of Eden (1979)
Career highlights
Geoffrey's earliest role was in Suspense (1963), later taking roles in Cluff (1965), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), A Family at War (1970), The Dragon's Opponent (1973), Couples (1976), Striker (1975-76), I, Claudius (1976), Accident (1978), Angels (1983), First Among Equals (1986), CATS Eyes (1987), Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1998), Doctors (2002), Heartbeat (2003) and Holby City (2010). He will forever be remembered for his regular roles as George Fairchild in the comedy drama Brass (1983-84) and especially as Don Brennan in over 400 episodes of soap Coronation Street (1987-97).
Facts
His daughter is journalist Gaby Hinsliff, who was the youngest political editor (at the age of 33) of a newspaper when she was promoted into the position at the Observer in 2004. Gaby is married to James Clark, former press secretary to Labour MP Des Browne.

Denis Lill (Dr Fendelman) Born Apr 22 1942
Doctor Who credits
Played: Dr Fendelman in Image of the Fendahl (1977)
Played: Sir George Hutchinson in The Awakening (1984)
Career highlights
New Zealand born Denis's earliest acting credit was for Crime of Passion (1970), and he has since appeared in a great many productions, including Dead of Night (1972), The Train Now Standing (1972), Warship (1973), Moody and Pegg (1974), The Gathering Storm (1974), The Main Chance (1975), The Haunting of Julia (1977), Lillie (1978), The Professionals (1980), Bergerac (1984), Jenny's War (1985), Mapp and Lucia (1985-86), Blackadder the Third (1987), Gentlemen and Players (1988), Batman (1989), Waterfront Beat (1990-91), Bernard and the Genie (1991), The 10 Percenters (1993), Red Dwarf (1993), Outside Edge (1994), The Upper Hand (1996), Evita (1996), Where the Heart Is (2002), Bertie and Elizabeth (2002), 24: Live Another Day (2014), Midsomer Murders (2016) and Crooked House (2017). He has had regular roles as Alfred Slingsby in The Regiment (1972-73), Charles Vaughan in Survivors (1975-77), Mr Bernard in Rumpole of the Bailey (1983-92), Cassandra's dad Alan Parry in Only Fools and Horses (1989-92) and Mr Rose in 87 episodes of The Royal (2003-09/11).

Derek Martin (David Mitchell) Born Apr 11 1933
Doctor Who credits
Played: Extra in The Romans (1965, uncredited)
Played: Parisian in The Massacre of St Bartolomew's Eve (1966, uncredited)
Played: Soldier in The Web of Fear (1968, uncredited), Spearhead from Space (1970, uncredited), Inferno (1970, uncredited), The Claws of Axos (1971, uncredited)
Played: Thug in The Ambassadors of Death (1970, uncredited)
Played: Prisoner in The Mind of Evil (1971, uncredited)
Played: David Mitchell in Image of the Fendahl (1977)
Career highlights
Stuntman Derek's long career began in 1963 with Two By the Sea, followed by roles in The Evil of Frankenstein (1964), Rupert of Hentzau (1964), Secrets of a Windmill Girl (1966), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966), The Borderers (1969), Jackanory (1970), Paul Temple (1970-71), The Sex Thief (1973), Doctor on the Go (1975), Survivors (1977), Adventures of a Plumber's Mate (1978), Law and Order (1978), Potter (1979), The Gentle Touch (1980), Pig in the Middle (1980-83), The Chinese Detective (1981), Hart to Hart (1983), Minder (1984), King and Castle (1986-88), Only Fools and Horses (1993), Eldorado (1993), The Governor (1995-96), The Detectives (1997) and Celebrity Coach Trip (2012). Derek will be most recognised as Charlie Slater in almost 800 episodes of soap EastEnders (2000-11/13/16). Derek started his career as a stuntman but after breaking his collar bone filming Elizabeth R in 1971, he switched to acting. In 1982 he became the second actor to take on the role of R D Wingfield's Detective Inspector Jack Frost when he appeared in the BBC Radio 4 play A Touch of Frost.
Facts
Derek admitted on a 2011 edition of Celebrity Mastermind that when he worked at Smithfield Fish Market in London as a porter in 1961, he stole £10,000 worth of fish, for which he stood trial at the Old Bailey and was acquitted. In the 1960s, Derek also hid firearms for the notorious gangsters the Kray twins.
In 2015 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Derek, along with stuntmen Royston Farrell and Roy Scammell, here.

Graham Simpson (Hiker) Born Jul 27 1946
Career highlights
Debuted in The Regiment (1972), and then Z Cars (1972), Warship (1973), Sadie, It's Cold Outside (1975), Blake's 7 (1979), The Bitch (1979) and Shoestring (1980). He also regularly played Tom in 23 episodes of Rogue's Rock (1974-76).
Facts
Graham left acting to pursue his love of Greece, which first took the form of Simply Crete in 1978, providing people with holidays to the island, and later Simply Travel, offering getaways off the beaten track. Graham sold the business to Thomson Travel Group in 1999, by which point he was handling 45,000 guests a year. After this, Graham took over from Elton John as chairman of Watford Football Club (into which he invested his life savings of £2m to get it out of debt), where he stayed for a decade until setting up new business, Simpson Travel. He has also financed an orphanage in Tanzania.

Wanda Ventham (Thea Ransome) Born Aug 5 1935
Doctor Who credits
Played: Jean Rock in The Faceless Ones (1967)
Played: Thea Ransome in Image of the Fendahl (1977)
Played: Faroon in Time and the Rani (1987)
Career highlights
Wanda is a stalwart of British TV and film, first appearing in 1956's Teenage Bad Girl. Over her long career she popped up in The Navy Lark (1959), Carry On Cleo (1964), Hit and Run (1965), The Likely Lads (1965), The Avengers (1965), Death is a Woman (1966), The Prisoner (1967), Carry On Up the Khyber (1968), The Blood Beast Terror (1968), A Family at War (1970-71), The Troubleshooters (1967-71), Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter (1974), Rutland Weekend Television (1975), Emmerdale Farm (1976), Fallen Hero (1978-79), The Two Ronnies (1980), Union Castle (1982), Don't Wait Up (1987), Executive Stress (1986-87), Capstick's Law (1989), Only Fools and Horses (1989-92, as Rodney's mother-in-law (coincidentally, her husband in this is played by Denis Lill, who she plays against in Image of the Fendahl)), Next of Kin (1995-96), Heartbeat (1996-97), Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1998), Coupling (2001), Oscar Charlie (2001-02), Mrs Caldicott's Cabbage War (2002), Lewis (2007), Run for Your Wife (2012), Sherlock (2014/17, as Sherlock's mum - which she is, of course!), Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (2016), Father Brown (2018), Holby City (2018), Departure (2019) and Penance (2020). She regularly played Shirley in The Rag Trade (1962-63), Virginia Lake in UFO (1970-73) and Ann Shepherd in The Lotus Eaters (1972-73).
Facts
Wanda's son is actor Benedict Cumberbatch (best known for Sherlock), and her husband actor Timothy Carlton. Wanda is a collector of barn owl memorabilia.

CREW

Chris Boucher (writer) Feb 15 1943 to Dec 11 2022
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: The Face of Evil (1977), The Robots of Death (1977), Image of the Fendahl (1977)
Career highlights
Chris started out as a satirical and comedy sketch writer for the likes of Braden's Week (1968) and The Saturday Crowd (1969), later writing for Dave Allen At Large (1971), Romany Jones (1973), That's Life! (1973), Shoestring (1980), Juliet Bravo (1982), Home James! (1987) and The Bill (1990). Chris also played a major role in developing drama in the late 1970s and 80s, becoming script editor and occasional writer on Blake's 7 (1978-81), script editor of Bergerac (1983-87), series deviser of Star Cops (1987) and script editor on The Bill (1987). In more recent years Chris wrote novels and audio dramas based upon the worlds he created in Blake's 7 and Doctor Who (including Last Man Running, Corpse Marker, Psi-ence Fiction and Match of the Day).

George Spenton-Foster (director) Nov 11 1926 to Dec 26 1993
Doctor Who credits
Directed: Image of the Fendahl (1977), The Ribos Operation (1978)
Career highlights
After starting out as a call boy on The Quatermass Experiment in 1953, George's directing CV begins with Dr Finlay's Casebook in 1963, and also includes Londoners (1965), Out of the Unknown (1965/66), Paul Temple (1971), The Brothers (1972), Survivors (1977), Blake's 7 (1979) and Cribb (1981). George also acted as associate producer on the sci-fi anthology series Out of the Unknown between 1965-67, and produced Boy Meets Girl (1967), Thirty-Minute Theatre (1967-68) and The Link Men (1970).
Facts
In 1982, George walked off the set of new soap Brookside because of bad language in the scripts. It is believed he died through alcoholism.

Graham Williams (producer) May 24 1945 to Aug 17 1990 (shooting incident) Click here for Graham Williams's entry on Horror of Fang Rock

Robert Holmes (script editor) Apr 2 1926 to May 24 1986 (chronic liver ailment) Click here to see Robert Holmes's entry on The Krotons