Arc of Infinity

Omega (Ian Collier) and his charming
assistant, the Ergon (Malcolm Harvey)

Four episodes (Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four)
First broadcast Jan 3 to 12 1983
Average audience for serial: 7.15m

REGULAR CAST

Peter Davison (The Doctor) Born Apr 13 1951 Click here for Peter Davison's entry on Logopolis

Sarah Sutton (Nyssa) Born Dec 12 1961 Click here for Sarah Sutton's entry on The Keeper of Traken

Janet Fielding (Tegan) Born Sep 9 1953 Click here for Janet Fielding's entry on Logopolis

GUEST CAST

Colin Baker (Maxil) Born Jun 8 1943
Doctor Who credits
Played: Maxil in Arc of Infinity (1983)
Played: The Doctor in The Caves of Androzani, The Twin Dilemma, Attack of the Cybermen, Vengeance on Varos, The Mark of the Rani, The Two Doctors, Timelash, Revelation of the Daleks, The Trial of a Time Lord (1984-86). Return appearances in Dimensions in Time (1993), The Power of the Doctor (2022) and Tales of the TARDIS (2023). Colin also played the Doctor in the radio play Slipback (1985), the Jim'll Fix It sketch A Fix with Sontarans (1985) and the stage play The Ultimate Adventure (1989)
Career highlights
Colin made his debut in The Adventures of Don Quick (1970), followed by Roads to Freedom (1970), Happy Ever After (1970), Cousin Bette (1971), War & Peace (1972), The Moonstone (1972), Harriet's Back in Town (1973), The Carnforth Practice (1974), Doctors and Nurses (1979), Blake's 7 (1980), Juliet Bravo (1982), The Citadel (1983), Swallows and Amazons Forever! (1984), The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1993), Harry's Mad (1995), The Famous Five (1997), Jonathan Creek (1997), The Knock (1997), The Bill (1997), Sunburn (1999), Dangerfield (1999), Hollyoaks (2000), The Asylum (2000), The 4 Musketeers (2005), Your Mother Should Know (2006), Kingdom (2009), Hustle (2010), Shadows of a Stranger (2014), The Mild Bunch (2015), Star Trek Continues (2015), A Christmas Carol (2015) and Time and Again (2017). He also enjoyed great success as the villainous Paul Merroney in 46 episodes of The Brothers (1974-76), and in 2012 took part in I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (finishing eighth out of 12). He's also appeared in other celebrity reality shows and quizzes such as Come Dine with Me (2011), Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (2013), All Star Mr & Mrs (2013), Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (2013), Celebrity Chase (2016) and Pointless Celebrities (2013/15/18). Colin appeared in numerous fan spin-off videos throughout the 1990s, and since 1999 has been playing his Doctor in Big Finish's audio adventures.
Facts
Colin's first wife was the actress Liza Goddard, who appeared in Terminus (1983). Shortly before Colin took the role of the Doctor, he and his second wife Marion suffered the loss of their baby son Jack to cot death syndrome. Colin subsequently became a passionate fundraiser for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths, with many of his personal appearance fees being donated to the charity. Colin was the roommate of David Troughton, son of Second Doctor Patrick, during the 1960s and later became his best man. Colin has been writing a regular column for his local newspaper the Bucks Free Press since 1995. Here he is, on Twitter!

Andrew Boxer (Robin Stuart) Born Mar 10 1957
Career highlights
Further credits include Absolution (1978), Before Water Lilies (1981), Angels (1981), Give Us This Day (1982), We'll Meet Again (1982), The Two of Us (1987) and Peace Week (2011).
Facts
Andrew also deals in Indonesian art and textiles and has been involved with the Lock One Batik Art Gallery.

Ian Collier (Omega) Jan 25 1943 to Oct 1 2008
Doctor Who credits
Played: Stuart Hyde in The Time Monster (1974)
Played: Omega in Arc of Infinity (1983)
Career highlights
Debuting in Hamlet (1969), Ian's further work includes The Pathfinders (1973), Rentaghost (1976), The Sweeney (1978), Cribb (1980), Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981), Hi-De-Hi! (1982), A Fine Romance (1983), Are You Being Served? (1985), EastEnders (1985), Howards' Way (1986), CATS Eyes (1987), Colin's Sandwich (1988), Heritage Africa (1989), House of Cards (1990), Keeping Up Appearances (1992) and Jeeves and Wooster (1993).
Facts
Ian also did a lot of voice work, and was involved in a number of audio products related to The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-03).

John D. Collins (Talor) Born Dec 2 1942
Career highlights
John first appeared in The Flying Swan in 1965, after which he took roles in Dracula Has Risen from the Grave (1968), Till Death Us Do Part (1969), Dad's Army (1971), A Family at War (1971), The Pathfinders (1972), Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973), The Ghoul (1975), Get Some In! (1975-77), Q9 (1978-79), Secret Army (1978-79), Flesh and Blood (1980), Chintz (1981), It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1980-81), Hi-De-Hi! (1982), Triangle (1983), Grandad (1984), Chance in a Million (1984), Lovejoy (1991), The Brittas Empire (1992), Oh, Doctor Beeching! (1995-96), Wycliffe (1997), Trial and Retribution (1998-99) and Fortysomething (2003). He also played Jerry in You Rang, M'Lord? (1988-93) but will be best known as Flying Officer Fairfax, one of the stranded English airmen from the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! (1982-92).
Facts
He is the actor to be cast most frequently in sitcoms by writer/ producer David Croft (ten different characters in six series). John worked with Spike Milligan for a decade as his assistant director.

Alastair Cumming (Colin Frazer) Born Mar 18 1958
Career highlights
Malaysia-born Alastair's further credits include The Draughtsman's Contract (1982), Windrider (1986), The Great Paper Chase (1986), Number One Gun (1990), October 32nd (1993), Beyond Bedlam (1993), Grange Hill (1995), Welcome to Woop Woop (1997), Velvet Goldmine (1998), The Wolves of Kromer (1998), Skins (2007), Oranges and Sunshine (2010), Elfie Hopkins: Cannibal Hunter (2012), Welcome to the Punch (2013), Autopsy: The Last Hours of David Cassidy (2014), Hangman (2018) and Meteor Garden (2018).

Neil Daglish (Damon) Born Dec 15 1949
Career highlights
Neil's first credit was in Z Cars (1972), followed by Coronation Street (1974), Romance (1977), Angels (1978), Secret Army (1978-79), The Member for Chelsea (1981), Rumpole of the Bailey (1983), The New Statesman (1989), Campion (1990), Harry (1993), A Prince Among Men (1998), Badger (2000) and EastEnders (2006).
Facts
Before going into acting, Neil worked as a clerk in a magistrates' court.

Michael Gough (Hedin) Nov 23 1916 to Mar 17 2011
Doctor Who credits
Played: The Toymaker in The Celestial Toymaker (1966)
Played: Hedin in Arc of Infinity (1983)
Career highlights
Malaysia-born Michael appeared in over 150 productions since his debut in Androcles and the Lion in 1946. He had roles in The Man in the White Suit (1951), The Sword and the Rose (1953), Ill Met by Moonlight (1957), Dracula (1958), Dancers in Mourning (1959), The Saint (1964), Orlando (1966-67), two episodes of The Avengers (1965/67, playing the inventor of the Cybernauts in the former), Women in Love (1969), The Search for the Nile (1971), Horror Hospital (1973), Galileo (1975), The Boys from Brazil (1978), Brideshead Revisited (1981), Oxford Blues (1984), Out of Africa (1985), Inspector Morse (1987), A Killing on the Exchange (1987), Blackeyes (1989), Sleepers (1991), The Age of Innocence (1993), The Cherry Orchard (1999), Sleepy Hollow (1999) and Corpse Bride (2005). He may be best known as Alfred Pennyworth the butler in the first four Batman films (1989-97) and six TV adverts (2001), and ironically appeared alongside Alan Napier, who played the same character in the 1960s TV series, in the mini-series QB VII (1974).
Awards
1957: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor
1979: Tony Award for Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) (Bedroom Farce)
Facts
Michael was married to Doctor Who companion actress Anneke Wills between 1962-79, with whom he had two children (one of them, Polly, was actually actor Anthony Newley's biological child, but Michael adopted her). He had another child with second wife Anne Leon, and another - actor Simon Gough - with third wife Diana Graves. Michael would have returned to the role of the Toymaker in 1986 if the original Season 23 had been made (the story The Nightmare Fair). Michael was the first BAFTA winner to appear in Doctor Who.

Elspet Gray (Thalia) Apr 12 1929 to Feb 18 2013
Career highlights
Scottish born Elspet made her earliest appearance in Fly Away Peter (1948), later being cast in The Blind Goddess (1948), Eight to a Bar (1952), Johnny on the Spot (1954), Devil's Point (1954), Strange Experiences (1955), The Adventures of the Big Man (1956), A Life of Bliss (1960), Dial RIX (1962-63), Let Sleeping Wives Lie (1968), Goodbye, Mr Chips (1969), Brian Rix Presents (1962-70), Six with Rix (1972), My Good Woman (1974), The Crezz (1976), The Many Wives of Patrick (1976-78), Fawlty Towers (1979), Solo (1981-82), The Black Adder (1982-83), Tenko (1984), Pulaski (1987), Inspector Morse (1987), Casualty (1990), Dead Romantic (1992), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994), Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1996), The Wingless Bird (1997) and Dinnerladies (1998). She also had a recurring roles as Lady Collingford in Catweazle (1971).
Facts
Elspet was married to Lord Brian Rix, former actor and tireless fundraiser for Mencap, whose title made her Lady Rix. They had four children, one of whom, Shelley, had Down's Syndrome and died in 2005 at the age of 53. Their daughter Louisa is also an actress, while their son Jamie is a TV producer (he also wrote the children's cartoon series Willo the Wisp!). Elspet's sister-in-law was the actress Sheila Mercier, best known as Annie Sugden from soap Emmerdale Farm.

Guy Groen (Second receptionist) Born Jun 9 1950
Career highlights
This was Guy's only acting credit, but his LinkedIn account says he also appeared in Space: 1999 and The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1965). Guy changed his name to Guy Holland (see what he did there?) and since 1970 has been a workshop leader and drama teacher for companies across the globe, including Japan, Russia and Mexico. He was a co-founder of the Sidewalk alternative theatre company in the 1970s (now Spare Tyre), as well as the Quicksilver Theatre and New Diorama Theatre in London. He is married to fellow theatre-maker Carey English.

Malcolm Harvey (The Ergon) Born 1949
Doctor Who credits
Played: Citizen in Full Circle (1980, uncredited)
Played: The Ergon in Arc of Infinity (1983)
Career highlights
Malcolm's only other acting appearance is in a 1981 episode of Blake's 7. He also worked as a stuntman on Between the Lines (1994), Hollow Reed (1996), Speak Like a Child (1998) and London's Burning (2000).
Facts
In June 1982, Malcolm broke a world record by diving 103ft, while on fire, into some cardboard boxes, more than doubling the height of the previous record.

Max Harvey (Cardinal Zorac) Sep 15 1942 to Mar 17 2006
Career highlights
Debuting in 1990 (1978), Max's further credits include Blake's 7 (1981), The Professionals (1982), The Tripods (1984), Blackadder II (1986), Only Fools and Horses (1986), A Bit of a Do (1989), Sleepers (1991), Strathblair (1993), The Imaginatively Titled Punt and Dennis Show (1995), The Upper Hand (1996), Dead Gorgeous (2002) and Land of the Blind (2006).

Paul Jerricho (Castellan) Born Nov 18 1948
Doctor Who credits
Played: Castellan in Arc of Infinity, The Five Doctors (both 1983)
Career highlights
Paul, who was brought up in the Caribbean, debuted in Clayhanger in 1976, followed by roles in Space: 1999 (1977), Force 10 from Navarone (1978), Grange Hill (1981), The Biko Inquest (1984), Knights of God (1987), Cry Freedom (1987), Howards' Way (1990), Love Hurts (1993), The Ice House (1997), Mosley (1998), A Likeness in Stone (2000), Footballers' Wives (2004), Look Around You (2005), Jericho (2005), EastEnders (2009), The Whistleblower (2010), Lewis (2012) and Casualty (2014). He also had a regular role as Charles Woodhouse in 78 episodes of the soap Triangle (1981-83).
Facts
Until 1984, Paul was married to actress Barbara Kinghorn, the only guest star to survive the Doctor Who story The Caves of Androzani (1984). His current partner is actress Helena Little. Here he is, on Twitter!

Leonard Sachs (Borusa) Sep 26 1909 to Jun 15 1990
Doctor Who credits
Played: Admiral de Coligny in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (1966)
Played: Borusa in Arc of Infinity (1983)
Career highlights
South African born Leonard's acting career stems back as far as 1936 with Secret of Stamboul, and he took roles in The Ringer (1946), Richard II (1950), Robin Hood (1953), The Men of Sherwood Forest (1954), Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955), White Hunter (1958), Hancock's Half Hour (1959), Oscar Wilde (1960), Konga (1961), The Plane Makers (1963), Thunderball (1965), Sexton Blake (1967), Elizabeth R (1971), Coronation Street (1974), Victorian Scandals (1976) and Pig in the Middle (1983). He was perhaps best known for hosting music hall variety show The Good Old Days (1955-83).
Facts
In 1937 Leonard helped found an old time music hall venue named the Players' Theatre in London; it closed in 2002. In 1984 Leonard was fined £75 for importuning men for immoral purposes in a public toilet. His son was the late actor Robin Sachs (who appeared in Torchwood: Miracle Day in 2011), and he was married to actress Eleanor Summerfield. He and his wife were poles apart in their political support, so they agreed to differ. As a result, each election the windows on the left side of their home were adorned with Vote Labour posters and the right hand side with Vote Conservative.
This is Your Life: Leonard was the subject of Thames TV's This is Your Life on March 9th, 1977, surprised by host Eamonn Andrews and a busload of people dressed in Edwardian clothing outside the Horse and Groom pub in London.

Maya Woolfe (Hotel receptionist) Born Jan 10 1953
Career highlights
Dutch-born Maya's further credits include The Wilde Alliance (1978), Tenko (1981), Triangle (1983), Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983), CATS Eyes (1985) and The Detectives (1994).
Facts
She now does multilingual voiceovers and corporate video work.

CREW

Johnny Byrne (writer) Nov 27 1935 to Apr 2 2008
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: The Keeper of Traken (1981), Arc of Infinity (1983), Warriors of the Deep (1984)
Career highlights
Born in Dublin, Ireland, Johnny first appeared as a bit-part actor in productions such as Till Death Us Do Part (1967) but soon moved into script writing with The Season of the Witch (1970), Adolf Hitler - My Part in His Downfall (1972), Space: 1999 (1975-77), Lionman II: The Witchqueen (1979), Cosmic Princess (1982), Miracles Take Longer (1984), Dodger, Bonzo and the Rest (1985), One By One (1985-87), All Creatures Great and Small (1978-90), Love Hurts (1994), To Die For (1994), Noah's Ark (1997) and Heartbeat (1992-2005). He also worked as script editor on Space: 1999 (1975-76) and was credited as story consultant on almost 50 episodes of All Creatures Great and Small (1988-90). He was also credited as devising Heartbeat in 1992 and Young James Herriot in 2011 (posthumously).
Facts
In 1969 he co-wrote the bestselling novel Groupie, about life in Swinging Sixties London. In 1990 Johnny submitted a script to the BBC for a Doctor Who film, but this went undeveloped. In the 1960s Johnny was a travelling poet as well as a literary editor, and shared a house with the Beatles for a time. He performed as a poet at London's Marquee Club in 1966 alongside Pink Floyd, and was also for a time the tour manager for Shel Talmy, producer of the Kinks and the Who.

Ron Jones (director) Aug 6 1945 to Jul 9 1993
Doctor Who credits
Directed: Black Orchid (1982), Time-Flight (1982), Arc of Infinity (1983), Frontios (1984), Vengeance on Varos (1985), The Trial of a Time Lord (1986)
Career highlights
Starting out as a BBC Radio studio manager in the 1960s, Ron worked for a time as a researcher and writer for the children's show Blue Peter, before acting as an assistant floor manager and production manager on series such as Bergerac and Secret Army. Ron's few other directing credits include Juliet Bravo (1985), the German soap Lindenstraße (1987-88) and the TV movie Burg Wutzenstein (1988). In the 1970s Ron worked as a researcher and writer on the children's show Blue Peter. Ron's partner was Gordon Elsbury, who directed shows such as Are You Being Served?, Top of the Pops and Spitting Image (he was also production assistant on the 1982 Eurovision Song Contest).

John Nathan-Turner (producer) Aug 12 1947 to May 1 2002 (liver failure) Click here for John Nathan-Turner's entry on The Leisure Hive

Eric Saward (script editor) Born Dec 9 1944 Click here for Eric Saward's entry on on Castrovalva