Four episodes (of a total of 14) (Part Nine, Part Ten, Part Eleven, Part Twelve)
Melanie Bush in The Trial of a Time Lord Parts 9-14, Time and the Rani, Paradise Towers, Delta and the Bannermen, Dragonfire (1986-87). Return appearances in Dimensions in Time (1993), The Power of the Doctor (2022), The Giggle (2023), The Legend of Ruby Sunday/ Empire of Death (2024), Wish World/ The Reality War (2025)
Starting out as a child star on series such as Junior Showtime (1973), Bonnie's earliest major role was in the film Bugsy Malone (1976, credited as Bonita), after which she had her first taste of true fame playing Violet Elizabeth Bott in Just William (1977-78). Further acting credits include Wombling Free: The Movie (1977), Tonight at 8.30: Family Album (1991), Goodnight Sweetheart (1999), Agatha Christie's Marple (2006), Hotel Babylon (2008) and 42nd Street: The Musical (2019). Her most memorable role was playing Carmel Kazemi in more than 350 episodes of soap EastEnders (2015-18). She has also made a niche for herself as a dancer, entertainer and presenter on programmes such as The Hot Shoe Show (1983-84), Saturday Starship (1984-85) and Dancing on Ice (2006, in which she came third, competing with
). She has also played Mel in various fan audio adventures since 2000.
In 1970, Bonnie won Hughie Green's talent show Opportunity Knocks. Much of her career since the 1990s has been spent on stage, on Broadway and in the West End. In 1995,
married actor Paul Grunert, at the time best known for his appearances in the National Lottery TV commercials. Bonnie's sister Cherida is married to actor and manager Sandy Strallen, making Bonnie the aunt of actresses Scarlett, Zizi and Summer Strallen. Her mother founded Babette Langford's
. Here she is, on
Bonnie was the subject of Thames TV's This is Your Life on January 29th, 1986 (just six days after she had been announced as the new Doctor Who companion), surprised by host Eamonn Andrews during a curtain call of the pantomime Peter Pan at the Aldwych Theatre, London. Bonnie was the first Doctor Who companion to be honoured by TiYL.
After debuting in The Heiress (1969), David got a regular role as Sergeant Jackson in 22 episodes of Softly Softly (1969-71), and then appeared in Budgie (1972), Heil Caesar! (1973), Colditz (1974), The Firefighters (1975), Lillie (1978), Flesh and Blood (1980-82), The Jewel in the Crown (1984), The Jigsaw Man (1984), The Monocled Mutineer (1986), Rockcliffe's Babies (1987), The Franchise Affair (1988), Virtual Murder (1992), The Good Guys (1993), The Uninvited (1997), Anna Karenina (2000) and The Discovery of Heaven (2001).
Bob's other work includes Tucker's Luck (1984), Grange Hill (1985), The Lenny Henry Show (1987), A Taste for Death (1988), You Rang, M'Lord? (1988), The Tall Guy (1989), Sketch Pad (1989), One Foot in the Grave (1990) and The Bill (1996).
In the December 12th 1974 edition of the Bristol Evening Post, it was reported that Robert Hallas-Appleby (his real name) was fined £20 with £5 costs after assaulting his wife, running away, being caught by a police officer, then punching him twice in the stomach. Bob's wife declined to take any further action, and he was fined reflecting his previous good character.
Hugh's CV also includes work on The Cedar Tree (1977), The Birds Fall Down (1978), The Cleopatras (1983), Magnum, PI (1985), Menace Unseen (1988), The Bretts (1989) and In Sickness and in Health (1990).
Honor Blackman (Professor Lasky) Aug 22 1925 to Apr 5 2020 (natural causes)
Career highlights
Honor is best known for her iconic roles as Cathy Gale in more than 40 episodes of The Avengers (1962-64) and Pussy Galore in the James Bond film Goldfinger (1964). Honor's earliest role was in Flame is the Spur (1947), followed by Daughter of Darkness (1948), Conspirator (1949), Diamond City (1949), The Rainbow Jacket (1954), The Three Musketeers (1956), Account Rendered (1957), A Night to Remember (1958), The Square Peg (1958), Invisible Man (1959), Probation Officer (1959), The Four Just Men (1959-60), Bootsie and Snudge (1961), A Matter of WHO (1961), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), The Secret of My Success (1965), Shalako (1968), Lola (1970), The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970), Fright (1971), Columbo (1972), To the Devil a Daughter (1976), The Cat and the Canary (1978), Never the Twain (1981-82), Lace (1984), William Tell (1987), Tale of the Mummy (1998), Bridget Jones's Diary (2001), Dr Terrible's House of Horrible (2001), Midsomer Murders (2003), The Royal (2003), Revolver (2004), Coronation Street (2004), I, Anna (2012), Cockneys vs Zombies (2012), By Any Means (2013) and You, Me & Them (2015). Honor's other memorable recurring role was as Laura West in almost 100 episodes of the sitcom The Upper Hand (1990-96).
Awards
2000: BAFTA Special Award (The Avengers) - with Diana Rigg, Linda Thorson and Joanna Lumley
Facts
Honor's second husband was actor Maurice Kaufmann. Honor, along with her Avengers co-star Patrick Macnee, enjoyed some music chart success when they sang the tongue in cheek song
Kinky Boots in 1964. The single was not an initial hit, but found new success with a 1990 reissue, when it peaked at number 5 in the UK. Other contemporary recordings by Honor which became B-sides include
Let's Keep It Friendly, I Wish I Never Loved You and
Men Will Deceive You. She also recorded
Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup in 1964 for the Decca album Everything I've Got. Liberal Honor was also a political activist, campaigning to abolish the UK monarchy and turning down a CBE in the 2002 Queen's Honours.
This is Your Life: Honor was twice the subject of Thames TV's This is Your Life; firstly on December 17th, 1969, surprised by host Eamonn Andrews in the dressing room of Euston Road Studios; and secondly on February 17th, 1993, at Teddington Studios. Two other Doctor Who actors appeared as guests on this second show - Elspet Gray and June Whitfield.
Link to The Red Book entry.
Peppi Borza (Vervoid) Oct 22 1936 to Jul 24 1990 (AIDS-related illness)
Career highlights
Doctor Who was Peppi's last credited acting work, after having appeared in Man of La Mancha (1972), Peter Pan (1976), Intimate Games (1976) and The Pirates of Penzance (1983).
Facts
American-born dancer and songwriter Peppi (who, in the 1940s, had an act with his sister Nita and performed with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr, Jacky Benny and Judy Garland) was a close friend of singer Dusty Springfield, and partner to her brother Tom. In 1964, Peppi and Tom co-wrote Dusty's Christmas charity single in aid of Dr Barnado's,
O Holy Child. He also contributed to the composition of other Springfield tracks, including No Tears for Johnnie and Chain Gang Blues. In 1965, Peppi co-wrote Matt Monro's
Before You Go.
Here's a photo of Peppi singing with Dusty and Dionne Warwick. Peppi also tried to become a pop star himself - as Peppi and the New York Twisters - but despite recording several singles in the 1960s (including
The Skip (1965), an attempt to start a new dance craze, and
Pistol Packin' Mama), it came to nothing. Peppi did perform at Liverpool's Cavern Club, however, during the same period as the up-and-coming Beatles, and once showed a young Cilla Black how to dance the Twist on stage there!
Michael Craig (Commodore) Born Jan 27 1928
Career highlights
Indian born Michael's earliest acting credit was in The Lady with a Lamp in 1951, although he had had an uncredited part in 1949's Passport to Pimlico. Further work includes The Lady with a Lamp (1951), The Embezzler (1954), Svengali (1954), Blonde Sinner (1956), Campbell's Kingdom (1957), Desert Patrol (1958), Life in Emergency Ward 10 (1959), The Angry Silence (1960), Doctor in Love (1960), Mysterious Island (1961), Life at the Top (1965), Modesty Blaise (1966), Star! (1968), Lola (1970), Husbands and Lovers (1970), A Town Called Hell (1971), The Vault of Horror (1973), Second Time Around (1974), Inn of the Damned (1975), The Emigrants (1976), The Irishman (1978), The Foundation (1978), The Danedyke Mystery (1979), Hot Resort (1985), Robin of Sherwood (1986), Always Greener (2003), Fat Pizza (2003/05), Mary Bryant (2005) and Doctors (2009/11). Michael's recurring roles include Captain John Anderson in the ill-fated maritime soap Triangle (1981-83), Dr William Sharp in over 260 episodes of GP (1989-95) and Gordon Mahon in Grass Roots (2000-03). Michael is also a screen writer, having written the original treatment for The Angry Silence (for which he was Oscar-nominated), as well as his own productions such as Tiger Trap in the Street (1969), Father's Help (1971), The Fourth Wish (1974), The Killing of Angel Street (1981) and a couple of episodes of GP (1991-92). He also created the series The Outsiders (1976-77) and Menotti (1980).
Awards
1991: Silver Logie Award for Most Outstanding Actor (GP)
Facts
Between 1969-72 Michael was Hollywood star Natalie Wood's brother-in-law, as his brother - the writer Richard Gregson - was married to her. Michael was once voted The Most Trusted Man in Australia after his long-running role in GP. His wife is actress Sue Walker, who played Eva Fowler in GP.
This is Your Life: Michael was the subject of Thames TV's This is Your Life on June 29th, 1994, surprised by host Michael Aspel on set in Sydney for the Australian drama series GP. Two Doctor Who actors paid tribute to him on the show - Honor Blackman and George Baker.
Leon Davis (Ortezo) Jun 18 1959 to Oct 28 2022
Career highlights
Leon began his acting career as a child performer, working on O Fat White Woman (1971) and The Boy with Two Heads (1974) and then Call Me Mister (1986), London's Burning (1986), Hellraiser (1987), The Chef's Apprentice (1989) and The Bill (1992).
Denys Hawthorne (Rudge) Aug 9 1932 to Oct 16 2009
Career highlights
Debuted in Henrietta, MD (1956), then appeared in The Search Party (1960), The Randy Dandy (1961), Cemented with Love (1965), The Swappers (1970), The Sinners (1970), Suburban Wives (1972), Sporting Scenes (1974), Spy Trap (1975), Grange Hill (1978), It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1978), Strumpet City (1980), Easter 2016 (1982), Harry's Game (1982), A Private Function (1984), The Man from Moscow (1985), Rumpole of the Bailey (1987), Crossfire (1988), Troubles (1988), Jack the Ripper (1988), Hannay (1989), The Russia House (1990), In the Name of the Father (1993), Dandelion Dead (1994), Father Ted (1996), Emma (1996) and Every Woman Knows a Secret (1999). Denys also had long-running roles as Dr Peter Mayes in Within These Walls (1974-78) and James Farrell in Capital City (1989-90).
Facts
Following what became his final acting work in 1999, Denys suffered a stroke which left him unable to speak and suffering memory loss. He was awarded the Society of Authors' prize for his dramatisation of Jennifer Johnston's novel How Many Miles to Babylon, and was a joint recipient in 2002 of a Spoken Word Publishers Association award for his contribution to the recording of WB Yeats's poetry for audiobooks.
Arthur Hewlett (Kimber) Mar 12 1907 to Feb 25 1997
Doctor Who credits
Played: Kalmar in State of Decay (1980)
Played: Kimber in The Trial of a Time Lord (1986)
Career highlights
Arthur made his debut in Buoyant Billions (1949), then Jonah (1950), Calling Bulldog Drummond (1951), Quatermass and the Pit (1958), Harpers West One (1961-62), The Third Alibi (1961), Hugh and I (1962), The Avengers (1962), HMS Paradise (1964), The Valiant Varneys (1964-65), Three Bites of the Apple (1967), A Dandy in Aspic (1968), Sinister Street (1969), Castle Haven (1969), The Unpleasantness of the Bellona Club (1972), Emmerdale Farm (1973), The Kids from 47A (1974), Man About the House (1974), The Changes (1975), Dickens of London (1976), Blake's 7 (1979), The Black Adder (1983), That's My Boy (1985-86), Lost Empires (1986), Personal Services (1987), Moondial (1988), Great Expectations (1989), Memento Mori (1992) and Class Act (1994).
Sam Howard (Atza)
Career highlights
Sam's other work includes Big Deal (1986), Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire (1987), Only Fools and Horses (1989), Shadow of the Noose (1989), The Jim Henson Hour (1989) and Press Gang (1989-91).
Mike Mungarvan (Duty officer)
Doctor Who credits
Played: Mutt in The Mutants (1972, uncredited)
Played: Guard in The Face of Evil (1977, uncredited), The Androids of Tara (1978, uncredited)
Played: Outsider in The Invasion of Time (1978, uncredited)
Played: Druid in The Stones of Blood (1978, uncredited)
Played: Dalek operator in Destiny of the Daleks (1979)
Played: Plain clothes detective in Louvre in City of Death (1979, uncredited)
Played: Argolin in The Leisure Hive (1980, uncredited)
Played: Citizen in Full Circle (1980, uncredited)
Played: Kilroy in Warriors' Gate (1981, uncredited)
Played: Hostage in Kinda (1982, uncredited)
Played: Knight in The King's Demons (1983, uncredited)
Played: Soldier in Resurrection of the Daleks (1984, uncredited)
Played: Jacondan in The Twin Dilemma (1984, uncredited)
Played: Extra in The Trial of a Time Lord Part 5 (1986, uncredited)
Played: Duty officer in The Trial of a Time Lord (1986)
Played: Lakertyan in Time and the Rani (1987, uncredited)
Played: Tetrap in Time and the Rani (1987, uncredited)
Played: Genius in Time and the Rani (1987, uncredited)
Played: Policeman in Silver Nemesis (1988, uncredited)
Played: Passer-by in The Christmas Invasion (2005, uncredited)
Career highlights
Mike's earliest role was in Doctor At Large (1971), then Sykes (1975), Scum (1977), Star Wars (1977), Ripping Yarns (1977), The Professionals (1980), Blake's 7 (1978/81), The Gentle Touch (1983), American Roulette (1988), Young Soul Rebels (1991), Nelson's Column (1995) and Charlie (2004).
Facts
Mike is one of only three actors to appear in both the first and last episodes of Blake's 7 (along with Gareth Thomas and Michael Keating). He is also thought to be the only actor to both play a Dalek (Destiny of the Daleks) and be killed by a Dalek (Resurrection of the Daleks).
Yolande Palfrey (Janet) Mar 29 1957 to Apr 9 2011 (brain tumour)
Career highlights
Yolande debuted in Don't Forget to Write! (1977), after which she found work in The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1977), Wings (1978), Pennies from Heaven (1978), Blake's 7 (1979), Crime and Punishment (1979), Love in a Cold Climate (1980), Dragonslayer (1981), Nanny (1982-83), Shelley (1983), The Princess Academy (1987), Indelible Evidence (1987) and You Rang, M'Lord? (1991).
Facts
There are some lovely family and candid photos in memory of Yolande
here. Yolande's husband was actor Richard Austin.
Tony Scoggo (Grenville/ Enzu) Born May 6 1936
Career highlights
Tony (real name Anthony Scoggins) debuted in United Kingdom (1981), then appeared in Boys from the Blackstuff (1982), No Surrender (1985), Out of Order (1987), Bread (1986/89) and Hearts and Minds (1995). However, his most memorable role was as Matty Nolan in Liverpool soap Brookside (1982-92).
Facts
In the 1990s Tony gave up acting to enter local politics in the Knowsley area of Merseyside.
Simon Slater (Edwardes) Born Mar 7 1959
Career highlights
Simon's acting debut came in Solo One in 1976, after which his CV takes in Chopper Squad (1978), Dealers (1989), London's Burning (1989), Spatz (1990), Sam Saturday (1992), Chef! (1993), Men of the World (1994), Magic Grandad (1994), Waiting (1995), McCallum (1995), Grange Hill (1997), Invasion: Earth (1998), Monarch of the Glen (2000-01), Adrian Mole: The Cappuccino Years (2001), In a Land of Plenty (2001), Sweet Medicine (2003), Hotel Babylon (2006), Spooks (2007), The Iron Lady (2011), Scott and Bailey (2014) and Mr Selfridge (2016). Simon has also had regular roles as Inspector Kite in The Bill (1987) and Mr Lucas/ Thomas in Out of Sight (1996-98).
Simon is also a prolific musician and composer, with piano, double bass, saxophone, clarinet and ukulele part of his repertoire. In his musical capacity he has had additional screen credits on productions such as Inquisition (2002), Dalziel and Pascoe (2006-07), Great Expectations (2013) and The Ivory Year (2014).
Facts
Actress Samantha Womack (nee Janus) was once cited as implicated in Simon's divorce proceedings from his ex-wife, actor Natalie Forbes. Here he is, on
Twitter!
Malcolm Tierney (Doland) Feb 25 1938 to Feb 18 2014 (pulmonary fibrosis)
Career highlights
Malcolm made his debut in No Hiding Place in 1964, after which he took roles in Public Eye (1965), Last of the Long-Haired Boys (1968), All Neat in Black Stockings (1969), Existence (1973), The Love School (1975), Star Wars (1977), Poldark (1977), Lillie (1978), McVicar (1980), The Spoils of War (1980-81), The Home Front (1983), Spyship (1983), Prospects (1986), Room at the Bottom (1986), A Bit of a Do (1989), House of Cards (1990), In the Name of the Father (1993), Braveheart (1995), The Saint (1997), LA Without a Map (1998), Dalziel and Pascoe (1998-99), Shiner (2000), The Final Curtain (2002), Hindenburg (2007), The Unsinkable Titanic (2008), Wallander (2008), Great Expectations (2012) and Two Days in the Smoke (2014). Malcolm also played villain Tommy McArdle in soap Brookside between 1983-87 and Charlie Gimbert in 28 episodes of Lovejoy (1986-93).
Facts
Malcolm, who once shared a flat with Tom Baker, performed in the last stage play to be banned by the British Lord Chamberlain when he played Benjamin Disraeli in Edward Bond's Early Morning at the Royal Court Theatre in 1968. The play depicted Queen Victoria and Florence Nightingale as lesbian lovers and climaxed with a scene set in Heaven where everybody ate one another.
Barbara Ward (Ruth Baxter)
Career highlights
Other acting work includes Jackanory Playhouse (1981), The Practice (1985), A Sense of Guilt (1990) and Surgical Spirit (1991).
Martin Weedon (Guard)
Career highlights
Martin debuted in Kelly Monteith (1979), then Stalky & Co (1982), The Hello Goodbye Man (1984), Artists and Models (1986), Playing for Real (1988) and The Bill (1990).
CREW
Pip Baker (writer) Jan 3 1929 to Apr 14 2020 (coronavirus)
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: The Mark of the Rani (1985), The Trial of a Time Lord (episodes 9-12 & 14, 1986), Time and the Rani (1987)
Career highlights
As part of a highly successful husband and wife writing team, Pip co-wrote for The Pursuers (1961), The Third Alibi (1961), Dilemma (1962), Detective (1968), Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969), Circus (1975), Space: 1999 (1976), Z Cars (1976-77), Watt on Earth (1991-92) and The Last 28 (1999). Pip was also an accomplished playwright and novelist, co-writing Doctor Who novelisations of their TV stories, as well as a Make Your Own Adventure book entitled Race Against Time (1986), which also featured the Rani. In 2000, Pip and Jane resurrected the Rani once more for the audio drama The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind.
Facts
Pip was named after the Dickens character in Great Expectations. He suffered a fall early in 2020 and was ill for some time before being admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties shortly before he died.
Jane Baker (writer) Dec 30 1924 to Aug 29 2014
Doctor Who credits
Wrote: The Mark of the Rani (1985), The Trial of a Time Lord (1986), Time and the Rani (1987)
Career highlights
As part of a highly successful husband and wife writing team, Jane co-wrote for The Pursuers (1961), The Third Alibi (1961), Dilemma (1962), Detective (1968), Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969), Circus (1975), Space: 1999 (1976), Z Cars (1976-77), Watt on Earth (1991-92) and The Last 28 (1999). Jane was also an accomplished playwright and novelist, co-writing Doctor Who novelisations of their TV stories, as well as a Choose Your Own Adventure book entitled Race Against Time (1986), which also featured the Rani. In 2000 Jane and Pip resurrected the Rani once more for the audio drama The Rani Reaps the Whirlwind.
Chris Clough (director) Born Mar 9 1951
Doctor Who credits
Directed: The Trial of a Time Lord Parts 9-14 (1986), Delta and the Bannermen (1987), Dragonfire (1987), The Happiness Patrol (1988), Silver Nemesis (1988)
Played: Voice of Fifi in The Happiness Patrol (1988, uncredited)
Played: Policeman in Silver Nemesis (1988, uncredited)
Career highlights
Further directing work includes Brookside (1982), EastEnders (1985-88), Casualty (1994-95), The Bill (1992-95), Ballykissangel (1996) and Skins (2007). Chris later went into production, handling The Bill (1995-97), Ballykissangel (1998-99), Black Cab (2000), Table 12 (2001), Born and Bred (2003-04), The Ghost Squad (2005), Skins (2007-13), Sirens (2011), Strike Back (2012), Lucan (2013), The Missing (2014), Stan Lee's Lucky Man (2016), Rellik (2017), Dark Heart (2018) and World on Fire (2019).
Awards
2019: BAFTA TV Award for Best Single Drama (Killed By My Debt) - with Joseph Bullman, Tahsin Guner and Aysha Rafaele.
