Silver Nemesis

Ace (Sophie Aldred) and the Doctor
(Sylvester McCoy) with some of their
silvery adversaries

Three episodes (Part One, Part Two, Part Three)
First broadcast Nov 23 to Dec 7 1988 - Parts Two and Three were actually shown first in New Zealand on Nov 25 as part of a compilation of the whole story, but they were first shown episodically in the UK
Average audience for serial: 5.50m

REGULAR CAST

Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor) Born Aug 20 1943 Click here for Sylvester McCoy's entry on Time and the Rani

Sophie Aldred (Ace) Born Aug 20 1962 Click here for Sophie Aldred's entry on Dragonfire

GUEST CAST

David Banks (Cyber Leader) Born Sep 24 1951
Doctor Who credits
Played: Cyber Leader in Earthshock (1982), The Five Doctors (1983), Attack of the Cybermen (1985), Silver Nemesis (1988)
Career highlights
David, 6ft 3in, made his acting debut in Keep It in the Family (1980), then made appearances in Bret Maverick (1981/82), The Bill (1991), A Time to Dance (1992), EastEnders (1994), Canary Wharf (1996) and Doctors (2006). Between 1991-92 he had a regular role in soap Brookside as Graeme Curtis.
Facts
In 1989 he played Karl the mercenary in the stage play Doctor Who - The Ultimate Adventure (a role he reprised for an audio adaptation in 2007). On April 29th 1989, Pertwee fell ill and was replaced for two performances by David, who wore a white suit, t-shirt and Panama hat as the Doctor. In the late 1980s David got involved with Cyber-lore, writing the biographical work Doctor Who - Cybermen in 1988, which he adapted into audio cassettes and narrated as Origins of the Cybermen (1989-90). In 1984 David submitted a script to the Doctor Who production team called FlipBack which was steeped in Cyber-continuity, and was ultimately developed into his New Adventure novel Iceberg in 1993. David would have been cast as the Auton leader if the aborted Season 23 Doctor Who story Yellow Fever and How to Cure It had been filmed.

Chris Chering (Skinhead) Born Mar 13 1967
Doctor Who credits
Played: Tetrap in Time and the Rani (1987, uncredited)
Played: Skinhead in Silver Nemesis (1988)
Career highlights
Chris's further work includes Casualty (1987), It Couldn't Happen Here (1987), The One Game (1988), The Bill (1988/89), Sob Sisters (1989) and The Innocent Sleep (1995).
Facts
Chris was one of the subjects of photographer Gavin Watson's classic book Skins (1994), documenting the look and sub-culture of The Wycombe Skins. He was known as Tottenham Chris and worked at the time in the Fred Perry clothes factory.

Anton Diffring (De Flores) Oct 20 1916 to May 19 1989 (natural causes/ cancer/ AIDS*)
Career highlights
German Anton (actually born Alfred Pollack) made his acting debut in Convoy (1940), followed by The Great Manhunt (1950), The Woman's Angle (1952), Bachelor in Paris (1952), Operation Diplomat (1953), The Sea Shall Not Have Them (1954), The Colditz Story (1955), I Am a Camera (1955), The Crooked Sky (1957), Hancock's Half Hour (1957), O.S.S (1958), The Man Who Could Cheat Death (1959), Invisible Man (1959), Incident at Midnight (1963), The Heroes of Telemark (1965), The Blue Max (1966), Fahrenheit 451 (1966), Where Eagles Dare (1968), Kill Rommel! (1969), Zeppelin (1971), Assignment: Vienna (1972-73), Shatter (1974), The Beast Must Die (1974), Operation: Daybreak (1975), Vanessa (1977), The Unicorn (1978), Flambards (1979), The Winds of War (1983), Operation Dead End (1986), Faceless (1987), Derrick (1981/84/87) and Anna (1988).
Facts
Despite being typecast as nasty Nazis, Anton actually fled Germany in 1939 for Canada (possibly due to his homosexuality), where he was interned as an enemy alien until the end of the war. His sister is sculptor Jacqueline Diffring.
* There are differing and inconclusive accounts of Anton's cause of death. Some accounts say it was natural causes, another says it was cancer, while a 2002 interview with German actor Arthur Brauss claims Anton died of AIDS. He was once described by British actress Jean Kent as "queer as a three-dollar bill, but nobody seemed to notice that."

Leslie French (Mathematician) Apr 23 1904 to Jan 21 1999
Career highlights
Leslie made his credited debut in Radio Pirates (1935), after which he appeared in Tobias and the Angel (1939), This England (1941), Robin Hood (1953), The Scapegoat (1959), Bleak House (1959), Emma (1960), The Singer Not the Song (1961), The Leopard (1963), Taxi! (1964), Play School (1964), A Tale of Two Cities (1965), The Witches (1967), Villette (1970), Death in Venice (1971), Jason King (1971), Doctor on the Go (1977), Supernatural (1977), The Glamour Girls (1982), Lovejoy (1986), The Singing Detective (1986), Strike It Rich! (1986-87), The Living Daylights (1987), Uncle Silas (1989), Perfect Scoundrels (1992) and O Mary This London (1994). He also directed the 1939 TV film Traitor's Gate.
Facts
Trained ballet dancer Leslie, who was apparently the model for Eric Gill's sculpture of Ariel with Prospero on the front of BBC Broadcasting House (built 1928-32), began as a child actor and singer in the 1920s and 30s, becoming synonymous with the role of Ariel in Shakespeare's The Tempest opposite John Gielgud's Prospero (Leslie performed Ariel in only a tiny loincloth). In 1963, Leslie was offered the key to the city of Cape Town for his work in theatre there. It is believed Leslie was also considered for the role of the First Doctor in 1963.

Dolores Gray (Mrs Remington) Jun 7 1924 to Jun 26 2002 (heart attack)
Career highlights
Chicago-born Dolores started out as a singer in Hollywood clubs in the late 1930s until she made a name for herself on Rudy Vallee's radio show. From radio, Dolores moved to the stage on Broadway and in London's West End, appearing in shows such as Two on the Aisle, Sherry!, 42nd Street, Annie Get Your Gun, Destry Rides Again and Carnival in Flanders. It wasn't long until the movies beckoned too, and Dolores appeared in It's Always Fair Weather (1955), Kismet (1955), The Opposite Sex (1956) and Designing Woman (1957). After this Dolores became a top cabaret and variety act, appearing on shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show, The Bell Telephone Hour and The Good Old Days. Dolores, who performed all her life with a bullet lodged in her left lung after getting caught in gangland crossfire as a child in Chicago, sang Marilyn Monroe's vocals on the Decca Records soundtrack release of There's No Business Like Show Business (1954).
Awards
1954: Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical (Carnival in Flanders)
Facts
Dolores' husband was racehorse owner Andrew J Crevolin, who won the 1954 Kentucky Derby with Determine.

Mark Hardy (Cyber Lieutenant)
Doctor Who credits
Played: Cyber Lieutenant in Earthshock (1982), The Five Doctors (1983), Silver Nemesis (1988)
Career highlights
Mark's other credits include A Coming-Out Party (1961), Carry On Cleo (1964), The Corridor People (1966), The Orchard End Murder (1980), Personal Services (1987), Who's the Boss? (1987), Friendships Field (1995) and Bright Young Things (2003). It is unclear whether these are all the same actor (it's a common name!).

Symond Lawes (Skinhead) Born Sep 28 1965
Career highlights
Symond also appeared in The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole (1987), Dear John (1987), The One Game (1988), Troublemakers (1990) and Meades Eats (2003).
Facts
Once a model for Merc Clothing, Symond ("The World's Most Famous Skinhead") became a promoter for Concrete Jungle festivals in the United States and runs the SubCultz website. He has also organised events such as X-Ray Spex live, and remains active within the skinhead sub-culture community, organising international skinhead reunions and appearing in documentaries about the skinhead sub-culture.

Gerard Murphy (Richard Maynarde) Oct 14 1948 to Aug 26 2013 (prostate cancer)
Career highlights
Gerard debuted in a 1972 episode of Z Cars, after which he found work in Crown Court (1974), Catchpenny Twist (1977), The Chiffy Kids (1978), My Son, My Son (1979), Billy Boy (1982), Charters and Caldicott (1985), Saracen (1989), Waterworld (1995), Father Ted (1996), Vanity Fair (1998), The Scarlet Pimpernel (1999-2000), Batman Begins (2005), Dalziel and Pascoe (2007), Spooks (2009) and The Comedian (2012). He also had a recurring role as DI Bracken in McCallum (1995-98).
Facts
Before dying from prostate cancer (diagnosed in 2011), Gerard had a compressed spinal cord caused by the illness, but this did not stop him working on stage.

Brian Orrell (Cyberman) Born Sep 26 1948
Doctor Who credits
Played: Cyber Lieutenant in Attack of the Cybermen (1985)
Played: Cyberman in Silver Nemesis (1988)
Career highlights
Other credits include The Union (1981), Ladykillers (1981), Young Sherlock: The Mystery of the Manor House (1982), Icebound in the Antarctic (1983) and Work! (1992).
Facts
Brian was originally cast as a generic Cyberman, but was upgraded to Cyber Lieutenant when that part's original actor Jonathan David was upgraded to play Stratton. In later years Brian became a key figure in the UK Liberal Democrat party, becoming London Candidates Chair having overall responsibility for the approval and selection of all LibDem election candidates in London for 73 constituencies, as well as London Mayor. He is also a former Chairman of the LibDems' London Region, and inaugural Chairman of the English Candidates' Committee and Chairman of the English State Party. He also served on the Federal Executive for eight years, and also coaches party members in voice skills.

Martyn Read (Security guard) Nov 11 1944 to Sep 25 2022
Career highlights
Martyn's debut was in Dixon of Dock Green (1972), then Juggernaut (1974), Star Wars (1977), The Latchkey Children (1980), The Dick Emery Hour (1980), The Cleopatras (1983), The Jewel in the Crown (1984), Yes Minister (1984), The Collectors (1986), Streets Apart (1988), Love Hurts (1992), The House of Eliott (1994), Beyond Reason (1995), Gangster No1 (2000), Coronation Street (2001) and Doctors (2005/07/12). Martyn also played Les Turner in Flesh and Blood (1980-82) and Sergeant Wilson in The Darling Buds of May (1991-93).
Facts
Martyn was the third actor to play Captain Birds Eye in the frozen fish finger TV commercials (the first was John Hewer, the best recognised face of the character, between 1967-98; the second was the handsome but commercial mis-step of Thomas Pescod; and Martyn was the third, although told to slim down for the role!).

Fiona Walker (Lady Peinforte) Born May 24 1944
Doctor Who credits
Played: Kala in The Keys of Marinus (1964)
Played: Lady Peinforte in Silver Nemesis (1988)
Career highlights
Fiona debuted in Doctor Who, then appeared in The Four Seasons of Rosie Carr (1964), Nursery Tale (1967), Far from the Madding Crowd (1967), Jude the Obscure (1971), The Asphyx (1973), I, Claudius (1976), The Norman Conquests (1978), Bleak House (1985), The Woman in Black (1989), Wish Me Luck (1990), Poirot (1993), Eldorado (1993) and The Chief (1994).
Facts
In 1988, the year Fiona appeared in Silver Nemesis, she married the TV director Herbert Wise (he directed her in I, Claudius in 1976, and they'd lived together since 1971). Their daughter is actress Susannah Wise. Fiona appeared in Doctor Who's first and 25th anniversary seasons. Fiona retired from acting in the 1990s, and became a supporter of the Harington Scheme in London's Highgate, which provides young people with learning difficulties or disabilities with skills and vocational training.

Metin Yenal (Karl)
Career highlights
German-born Metin made his English language debut in Doctor Who, after which he appeared in The Pied Piper (1990), Agatha Christie's Poirot (1991), Swing Kids (1993), Grange Hill (1994) and Dirty Old Town (1995).

Jazz Quartet:

Ernest Mothle Dec 2 1941 to May 2 2011 (diabetes)
South Africa born Ernest (known as Shololo) was a double bass player of wide repute who played with giants of jazz such as Archie Shepp, Jimmy Witherspoon and Sonny Stitt, and performed for Nelson Mandela's 70th birthday at Wembley Stadium in 1989. He also performed as part of the orchestra in Haunted Honeymoon (1986).

Courtney Pine Born Mar 18 1964
Jazz musician Courtney is best known as a saxophone player, although he also plays the clarinet, flute, bass clarinet and keyboards. He released his debut album Journey to the Urge Within in 1986 which made the Top 40 Albums Chart in the UK. He has also enjoyed Singles Chart success with Mica Paris on Like Dreamers Do (1988), Carroll Thompson on I'm Still Waiting (1990) and Elkie Brooks on Too Much to Lose (1999). As well as fronting his own band, Courtney presents jazz programmes on BBC Radio. Other TV work includes French and Saunders (1990) and History is Made at Night (1999).
Awards
2000: Officer of the order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to jazz music
2009: Commander of the order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to jazz music

Adrian Reid Born Jan 4 1958
As a jazz pianist and trio leader, Adrian still performs on the live circuit and is based in London. He was a member of the seminal jazz group Cymande, who influenced acts such as the Fugees and De La Soul. In the early 1980s he formed the band Midnite Express, which later became the chart band Imagination. He has also worked as a musical director and arranger on several West End shows, including Five Guys Named Moe and Kat and the Kings.

Frank Tontoh Born May 22 1964
Drummer Frank has known Courtney Pine for many years, and as well as performing for him he has played for Jason Donovan, Tanita Tikaram, Craig David, Amy Winehouse, Aztec Camera, George Michael, Gary Barlow, among others. He has been in numerous bands himself, including Jazz Warriors, Hi Tension and Desperately Seeking Fusion.

CREW

Kevin Clarke (writer) Born 1945
Career highlights
Doctor Who's 25th anniversary tale was Kevin's first TV work, after which he wrote for Wish Me Luck (1988/90), The Bill (1988-91), Albert and the Lion (1992), Ellington (1996), Wycliffe (1997-98), The Last Detective (2005) and Casualty (2007). While writing for The Bill, Kevin created the character of Roxanne, a transvestite police informant played by drag artiste Lily Savage (aka Paul O'Grady, who went on to forge a high profile TV career in the UK as both Lily and himself). In later years Kevin gained himself an Open University degree in history, then read post-grad history at Oxford, gaining a subsequent MA in renaissance studies at the University of London.

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.

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

Andrew Cartmel (script editor) Born Apr 6 1958 Click here for Andrew Cartmel's entry on Time and the Rani