 |
| Santa Claus (Nick Frost - ain't that just the perfect name?) |
First broadcast Dec 25 2014
Average audience for story: 8.28m + 1.10m iPlayer = 9.38m
REGULAR CAST
Peter Capaldi (The Doctor) Born Apr 14 1958 Click here for Peter Capaldi's entry on The Fires of Pompeii
Jenna Coleman (Clara Oswald) Born Apr 27 1986 Click here for Jenna Coleman's entry on Asylum of the Daleks
GUEST CAST
Samuel Anderson (Danny Pink) Born Apr 27 1982 Click here for Samuel Anderson's entry on Into the Dalek
Maureen Beattie (Fiona Bellows) Born Aug 14 1953
Career highlights
After debuting in This Man Craig in 1966 at the age of just 13, Irish-born Maureen went on to take roles in The Lost Tribe (1980), Scotch and wry (1980), Maggie (1981-82), Women (1983), Troubles and Strife (1985-86), Truckers (1987), Boon (1991), Casualty (1991-93), All Night Long (1994), Bramwell (1997), City Central (1999), Taggart (1985/92/2000), Bad Girls (2001), The Worst Week of My Life (2005), The Decoy Bride (2011), Vera (2013), Spores (2016), Deadwater Fell (2020) and Our House (2022).
Career highlights
After debuting in This Man Craig in 1966 at the age of just 13, Irish-born Maureen went on to take roles in The Lost Tribe (1980), Scotch and wry (1980), Maggie (1981-82), Women (1983), Troubles and Strife (1985-86), Truckers (1987), Boon (1991), Casualty (1991-93), All Night Long (1994), Bramwell (1997), City Central (1999), Taggart (1985/92/2000), Bad Girls (2001), The Worst Week of My Life (2005), The Decoy Bride (2011), Vera (2013), Spores (2016), Deadwater Fell (2020) and Our House (2022).
Awards
2020: Officer of the order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to the entertainment industry
Facts
Maureen's father was Scottish stand-up comedian and TV personality Johnny Beattie, while her mother was model Kitty Lamont. Maureen's sister Louise was also an actor, before taking up a job at the Procurator Fiscal's office.
Facts
Maureen's father was Scottish stand-up comedian and TV personality Johnny Beattie, while her mother was model Kitty Lamont. Maureen's sister Louise was also an actor, before taking up a job at the Procurator Fiscal's office.
In 2018 Toby Hadoke released his Who's Round interview with Maureen here.
Nick Frost (Santa Claus) Born Mar 28 1972
Doctor Who credits
Played: Santa Claus in Death in Heaven, Last Christmas (both 2014)
Career highlights
Debuted in Jim's Gift (1996), then Big Train (1998), Black Books (2000/04), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Straight 8 (2004), Kinky Boots (2005), Green Wing (2006), Hot Fuzz (2007), Wild Child (2008), Paul (2011, which he also wrote), Attack the Block (2011), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), The World's End (2013), Cuban Fury (2014), Mr Sloane (2014), Unfinished Business (2015), Syrenia (2015), Galavant (2016), The Huntsman: Winter's War (2016), The Festival (2018), Sick Note (2017-18), Slaughterhouse Rulez (2018), Truth Seekers (2020), Why Women Kill (2021) and The Nevers (2021-22). He will be best known for playing Mike Watt in the sitcom Spaced (1999-2001), various roles in Man Stroke Woman (2005-07), Commander Henderson in Hyperdrive (2006-07) and Bajie in Into the Badlands (2017-19). Nick was also executive producer on The World's End, Cuban Fury, Mr Sloane, Slaughterhouse Rulez, Truth Seekers and Out of Her Mind (2020).
Facts
Nick is a frequent collaborator with actor Simon Pegg (who appeared in The Long Game). In the 1990s Nick appeared in a TV commercial for Aero. His past jobs include rugby player (playing for Barking RFC), Mexican restaurant chef and waiter, and a kibbutz volunteer. Here's Nick on Twitter.
Natalie Gumede (Ashley Carter) Born Mar 20 1984
Career highlights
Debuted in Von Trapped (2004), followed by roles in Emmerdale (2005), Clubbed (2008), The Persuasionists (2010), Moving On (2013), Death in Paradise (2015), Jekyll & Hyde (2015), Vera (2019), Titans (2019), Strike (2020) and Rig 45 (2020). She also regularly played China in Ideal (2005-10) and Kirsty Soames in almost 200 episodes of Coronation Street (2011-13). In 2013, she was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, finishing joint second.
Career highlights
Debuted in Von Trapped (2004), followed by roles in Emmerdale (2005), Clubbed (2008), The Persuasionists (2010), Moving On (2013), Death in Paradise (2015), Jekyll & Hyde (2015), Vera (2019), Titans (2019), Strike (2020) and Rig 45 (2020). She also regularly played China in Ideal (2005-10) and Kirsty Soames in almost 200 episodes of Coronation Street (2011-13). In 2013, she was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, finishing joint second.
Awards
2012: British Soap Award for Best Newcomer (Coronation Street)
2013: British Soap Award for Best Dramatic Performance (Coronation Street)
2013: British Soap Award for Villain of the Year (Coronation Street)
Facts
Natalie's paternal grandfather Josiah Zion Gumede was the only President of the internationally unrecognised self-proclaimed state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia for six months in 1979. Here's Natalie on Twitter.
Facts
Natalie's paternal grandfather Josiah Zion Gumede was the only President of the internationally unrecognised self-proclaimed state of Zimbabwe Rhodesia for six months in 1979. Here's Natalie on Twitter.
Nathan McMullen (Wolf) Born Jun 13 1988
Career highlights
Nathan made his screen acting debut with Casualty (2010), followed by Shameless (2012), Kelly + Victor (2012), The Driver (2014), Rose (2020) and The Lady of Heaven (2021). He will be best recognised for playing Finn Samson in Misfits (2012-13).
Facts
In 2015, Nathan was one of two actors hospitalised after an accident during the dress rehearsal of The Hudsucker Proxy at the Liverpool Playhouse (the other actor was Clive Wood, who appeared in The Pandorica Opens).
Faye Marsay (Shona McCullough) Born Dec 30 1986
Career highlights
Debuted in Is That It? (2008), followed by The White Queen (2013), Fresh Meat (2013), The Bletchley Circle (2014), Pride (2014), Glue (2014), My Mad Fat Diary (2015), Vera (2016), Love, Nina (2016), Game of Thrones (2015-16), Black Mirror (2016), Darkest Hour (2017), Bancroft (2017), McMafia (2018), Deep Water (2019) and Avocado Toast: The Series (2020).
Awards
2012: Spotlight Prize
Facts
Faye almost became a Doctor Who companion, as Steven Moffat intended Shona to replace Clara after Jenna Coleman decided to leave. However, Coleman changed her mind during filming, and Last Christmas had to be rewritten to give Shona a different ending. Here's Faye on Twitter.
Michael Troughton (Professor Albert Smithe) Born Mar 2 1955
Career highlights
Michael made his screen acting debut in David Copperfield in 1974, followed by Fathers and Families (1977), Backs to the Land (1977), Graham's Gang (1977), The Mill on the Floss (1979), Blake's 7 (1980), Bless Me Father (1981), Nancy Astor (1982), Squadron (1982), Sorrell and Son (1984), CATS Eyes (1985), My Brother Jonathan (1985), Boon (1987), Chain (1990), The Gingerbread Girl (1993), Sean's Show (1992-93), Goodnight Sweetheart (1995), My Good Friend (1996), Get Well Soon (1997), Retrace (1996-98), Enigma (2001), Cold Feet (2001), Micawber (2001-02), Holby City (2002), Breathless (2013), Jonathan Creek (2014) and Birds of a Feather (2016). Regular roles include DC Melish in Minder (1984-89), Piers Fletcher-Dervish in The New Statesman (1987-92), Mr Ackerman and Mr Walters in Woof! (1989/97) and Ivor in Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (1999-2000).
Facts
Michael is the son of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton, and younger brother of fellow actor (and Doctor Who alumnus) David Troughton. In 2012, Michael wrote a biography of his father. Michael took a decade out of his acting profession between 2002-12 to care for his wife Caroline, who suffered from multiple sclerosis. During that time he got a science degree from the Open University, then became a schoolteacher in physics and drama. He became a full-time carer between 2009-12, until Caroline died in 2012, and Michael returned to acting. Here he is on Twitter!
CREW
Steven Moffat (writer) Born Nov 18 1961 Click here for Steven Moffat's entry on The Empty Child
Paul Wilmshurst (director) Born Dec 15 1961
Doctor Who credits
Directed: Kill the Moon (2014), Mummy on the Orient Express (2014), Last Christmas (2014)
Career highlights
Paul's earliest directing credit is for If I Were Prime Minister: Christopher Haskins (1995), followed by Without Walls (1996), A Little Bit of Elvis (1998), White Tribe (2000), I Shouldn't Be Alive (2005), Trial and Retribution (2008), Silent Witness (2010), Law and Order UK (2010), Da Vinci's Demons (2013), A.D. The Bible Continues (2015), Indian Summers (2016), Jamestown (2017-18), Strike Back (2011-20) and The Last Kingdom (2022). Paul has also been producer on many of his projects, including Without Walls, White Tribe and I Shouldn't Be Alive.
Awards
2006: International Emmy Award for Best Documentary (Hiroshima) - shared with Matthew Barrett
David P Davis (script editor)
Doctor Who credits
Script edited: Robot of Sherwood, Listen, Time Heist, The Caretaker, Kill the Moon, Mummy on the Orient Express, Flatline, In the Forest of the Night, Dark Water/ Death in Heaven, Last Christmas, The Zygon Inversion, The Husbands of River Song (2014-15)
Career highlights
David has also edited scripts for Merlin (2010), Casualty (2011-14) and Electric Dreams (2017), as well as being a researcher on Holby City (2009-10). He wrote an episode of Casualty in 2012, and was an executive producer on Industry (2020-22).
Facts
Here's David on Twitter.
Career highlights
Debuted in Is That It? (2008), followed by The White Queen (2013), Fresh Meat (2013), The Bletchley Circle (2014), Pride (2014), Glue (2014), My Mad Fat Diary (2015), Vera (2016), Love, Nina (2016), Game of Thrones (2015-16), Black Mirror (2016), Darkest Hour (2017), Bancroft (2017), McMafia (2018), Deep Water (2019) and Avocado Toast: The Series (2020).
Awards
2012: Spotlight Prize
Facts
Faye almost became a Doctor Who companion, as Steven Moffat intended Shona to replace Clara after Jenna Coleman decided to leave. However, Coleman changed her mind during filming, and Last Christmas had to be rewritten to give Shona a different ending. Here's Faye on Twitter.
Dan Starkey (Ian) Born Sep 27 1977 Click here for Dan Starkey's entry on The Sontaran Stratagem
Michael Troughton (Professor Albert Smithe) Born Mar 2 1955
Career highlights
Michael made his screen acting debut in David Copperfield in 1974, followed by Fathers and Families (1977), Backs to the Land (1977), Graham's Gang (1977), The Mill on the Floss (1979), Blake's 7 (1980), Bless Me Father (1981), Nancy Astor (1982), Squadron (1982), Sorrell and Son (1984), CATS Eyes (1985), My Brother Jonathan (1985), Boon (1987), Chain (1990), The Gingerbread Girl (1993), Sean's Show (1992-93), Goodnight Sweetheart (1995), My Good Friend (1996), Get Well Soon (1997), Retrace (1996-98), Enigma (2001), Cold Feet (2001), Micawber (2001-02), Holby City (2002), Breathless (2013), Jonathan Creek (2014) and Birds of a Feather (2016). Regular roles include DC Melish in Minder (1984-89), Piers Fletcher-Dervish in The New Statesman (1987-92), Mr Ackerman and Mr Walters in Woof! (1989/97) and Ivor in Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married (1999-2000).
Facts
Michael is the son of Second Doctor Patrick Troughton, and younger brother of fellow actor (and Doctor Who alumnus) David Troughton. In 2012, Michael wrote a biography of his father. Michael took a decade out of his acting profession between 2002-12 to care for his wife Caroline, who suffered from multiple sclerosis. During that time he got a science degree from the Open University, then became a schoolteacher in physics and drama. He became a full-time carer between 2009-12, until Caroline died in 2012, and Michael returned to acting. Here he is on Twitter!
CREW
Steven Moffat (writer) Born Nov 18 1961 Click here for Steven Moffat's entry on The Empty Child
Paul Wilmshurst (director) Born Dec 15 1961
Doctor Who credits
Directed: Kill the Moon (2014), Mummy on the Orient Express (2014), Last Christmas (2014)
Career highlights
Paul's earliest directing credit is for If I Were Prime Minister: Christopher Haskins (1995), followed by Without Walls (1996), A Little Bit of Elvis (1998), White Tribe (2000), I Shouldn't Be Alive (2005), Trial and Retribution (2008), Silent Witness (2010), Law and Order UK (2010), Da Vinci's Demons (2013), A.D. The Bible Continues (2015), Indian Summers (2016), Jamestown (2017-18), Strike Back (2011-20) and The Last Kingdom (2022). Paul has also been producer on many of his projects, including Without Walls, White Tribe and I Shouldn't Be Alive.
Awards
2006: International Emmy Award for Best Documentary (Hiroshima) - shared with Matthew Barrett
Paul Frift (producer)
Doctor Who credits
Produced: In the Forest of the Night (2014), Last Christmas (2014)
Career highlights
Paul's career behind the camera began as an assistant director on Betrayal (1983), followed by work in this capacity on The Cold Room (1984), The Company of Wolves (1984), Underworld (1985), Aliens (1986), 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), The Accidental Tourist (1988), The Girl in the Cafe (2005) and Crooked House (2008). Paul has also worked as a location or production manager on Empire of the Sun (1987), Rob Roy (1995), The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998), CI5: The New Professionals (1999) and The Holiday (2006). His production CV stretches back to 1990's Anything for a Quiet Life, and he has also produced The Cormorant (1993), Demob (1993), Mrs Dalloway (1997), Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998), Essex Boys (2000), The Way We Live Now (2001), State of Play (2003), Primeval (2008), Crooked House (2008), Going Postal (2010), Room at the Top (2012), The Escape Artist (2013), That Day We Sang (2014), Victoria (2016-17), Good Omens (2019), Deep State (2019) and Anansi Boys (2022).
Awards
2007: Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series (Instinct) - shared with production team
Doctor Who credits
Produced: In the Forest of the Night (2014), Last Christmas (2014)
Career highlights
Paul's career behind the camera began as an assistant director on Betrayal (1983), followed by work in this capacity on The Cold Room (1984), The Company of Wolves (1984), Underworld (1985), Aliens (1986), 84 Charing Cross Road (1987), The Accidental Tourist (1988), The Girl in the Cafe (2005) and Crooked House (2008). Paul has also worked as a location or production manager on Empire of the Sun (1987), Rob Roy (1995), The X-Files: Fight the Future (1998), CI5: The New Professionals (1999) and The Holiday (2006). His production CV stretches back to 1990's Anything for a Quiet Life, and he has also produced The Cormorant (1993), Demob (1993), Mrs Dalloway (1997), Alice Through the Looking Glass (1998), Essex Boys (2000), The Way We Live Now (2001), State of Play (2003), Primeval (2008), Crooked House (2008), Going Postal (2010), Room at the Top (2012), The Escape Artist (2013), That Day We Sang (2014), Victoria (2016-17), Good Omens (2019), Deep State (2019) and Anansi Boys (2022).
Awards
2007: Royal Television Society Award for Best Drama Series (Instinct) - shared with production team
2013: BAFTA TV Award for Best Mini-Series (Room at the Top) - shared with production team
Facts
Here's Paul on Twitter.
Facts
Here's Paul on Twitter.
David P Davis (script editor)
Doctor Who credits
Script edited: Robot of Sherwood, Listen, Time Heist, The Caretaker, Kill the Moon, Mummy on the Orient Express, Flatline, In the Forest of the Night, Dark Water/ Death in Heaven, Last Christmas, The Zygon Inversion, The Husbands of River Song (2014-15)
Career highlights
David has also edited scripts for Merlin (2010), Casualty (2011-14) and Electric Dreams (2017), as well as being a researcher on Holby City (2009-10). He wrote an episode of Casualty in 2012, and was an executive producer on Industry (2020-22).
Facts
Here's David on Twitter.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Your comments are welcome! If you have corrections or amendments, please quote/ link to your source.