Raymond Cusick 1928-2013Bookmark and Share

Saturday, 23 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Raymond Cusick - the designer of the Daleks - has died at the age of 84, his family have reported.

Born in London, Cusick first planned to be a civil engineer, but then after a stint in the army he planned to instead take up teaching. Having taught art, he then took an interest in design and joined Granada Television. This then led to a move to the BBC as a staff designer, which included being assigned to the fledgling Doctor Who. Here, he was to come up with the design of the Daleks, which arguably - alongside the TARDIS interior - is one of the key elements that made Doctor Who the success it was to become.

Talking to Doctor Who Magazine about his original design, Cusick said:
I spent the whole of one Sunday doing rough sketches of what I thought it should look like. I wanted to make sure it wasn't obvious how they worked, at the same time keeping them relatively simple. I didn't want either man shape or man height, so first of all I figured out that the operator would have to be inside the shell. Bearing in mind how long he'd have to be there, I thought it would be an idea to have him sitting, pushing himself along with his feet. A small actor in a sitting position would be only 4'6" high, which killed two problems with one stone.

However, as a staff designer he was never to receive royalties for his iconic realisation of Terry Nation's creations, and his enduring contribution took many years to be properly acknowledged.

As well as The Daleks, he would continue to work on the show during its first couple of years, designing more of the TARDIS in The Edge of Destruction, the futuristic/rugged worlds seen in The Keys of Marinus, The Sensorites, The Rescue and The Chase, the 'giant' items experienced during Planet of Giants, and even delving into history with The Romans; Cusick's last assignment was sharing the design load alongside Barry Newbery for the epic twelve-parter, The Daleks' Master Plan.

Outside of Doctor Who, he worked on a variety of BBC shows including Out of The Unknown, Dr Finlay's Casebook, The Pallisers, The Duchess of Duke Street, Rentaghost, When The Boat Comes In and Play For Today.

Upon his retirement he devoted a lot of time to his hobby, writing about the battles of the Napoleonic era. Retaining his interest over his creations, he was to be reunited with their modern equivalent during Doctor Who Confidential; he also recorded commentaries and appeared in features for the BBC DVD range.

Cusick had been suffering from a short illness. He leaves two daughters and seven grandchildren.
(Raymond P Cusick 1928 - 21 Feb 2013)


Tributes to the designer have included: current voice of the Daleks Nicholas Briggs(Twitter): "I'm very sad indeed to learn that Ray Cusick, the brilliant designer of the Daleks, has passed away."; original voice of the Daleks David Graham(BBC): "I never met him personally, but he was responsible for one of the iconic designs of television sci-fi."; Dalek operator Barnaby Edwards(Twitter): "So sad to hear that Ray Cusick, the designer of the Daleks, has died. Without him, there'd probably be no Doctor Who."; Davros actor Terry Molloy(Twitter): "So very sad to hear of the death of Ray Cusick... The true Creator of the Daleks!"; and from An Adventure in Space and Time writer Mark Gatiss(Twitter): "Farewell to the great Ray Cusick. His passing is especially sad in this anniversary year but his creation remains immortal. Daleks forever!"

In the Media: BBC News; Radio 5 live Interview with David Graham; ITV News; Radio Times; AFP; Guardian; Mirror; Independent.








FILTER: - People - Obituary

The Seeds of Death on UKTVBookmark and Share

Saturday, 23 February 2013 - Reported by Paul Scoones
UKTVSunday 24th February sees the broadcast of the six-part 1969 Patrick Troughton story The Seeds of Death in Australia and New Zealand. The story is the eighth instalment in the 50th Anniversary season of classic Doctor Who stories on the UKTV channel.

It is scheduled in New Zealand at 3:10pm and in Australia at 3:30pm. New Zealand has an additional screening on Monday 25th February at 3:10am.


The Seeds of Death was first broadcast in Australia in 1970. New Zealanders had to wait until 1988 to see the story when it was first screened as part of TVNZ's Doctor Who 'Silver Jubilee' celebration marking the 25th anniversary in November of that year.

UKTV is showing a story every week throughout the year in the lead-up to the anniversary in November. The Seeds of Death concludes a month of Patrick Troughton adventures.

Next week UKTV shifts its focus to Jon Pertwee's Doctor and the colour era of the programme, beginning with Spearhead from Space on 3rd March.

Up-and-coming broadcasts from both 20th and 21st Century series of Doctor Who can be found via UKTV's Doctor Who sections for Australia and New Zealand.





FILTER: - Classic Series - WHO50 - New Zealand - Australia

An Adventure in Space and Time: Jackie Lane castBookmark and Share

Friday, 22 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Sophie HoltAnother early Doctor Who regular during the William Hartnell years has now been confirmed, with actress and dancer Sophie Holt to play Jackie Lane, aka Dodo.

Graduating from the Masters Performing Arts College in 2010, she has undertaken a number of theatrical roles, including productions for M&M Theatrical Productions, and also touring in Italy in Circus for the Smile Theatre Company. Breaking into television, as well as An Adventure in Space and Time, she has just played a supporting actress in the series premiere of this year's Poirot - Elephants Can Remember.

Holt joins Jamie Glover (William Russell/Ian), Jemma Powell (Jacqueline Hill/Barbara) and Claudia Grant (Carole Ann Ford/Susan) in portraying the actors who accompanied the First Doctor on his adventures. As previously reported, Peter Purves (Steven) has indicated that he would be represented in the drama, too, and that an actress playing Maureen O'Brien (Vicki) was believed to have been spotted during filming at BBC Television Centre.

Also joining the family of supporting actors is John Foreman, who plays a "passerby/interviewee".

Filming Update

"Dressing room boredom..." (Credit: Sacha Dhawan, via Twitter)As Friday evening arrives, producer Matt Strevens sums up: The end of week 3 filming. Only a week left. Where did it go? As Sydney Newman might say 'what a picture!'". The cast and crew have been huddled away in studio for the week, with Sacha Dhawan (Waris Hussein) summarising his wait between takes: "Dressing room boredom..."

Filming is expected to wrap next week.

One person with some free time next week will be Brian Cox (Sydney Newman); the actor is due to be a guest on Wednesday's edition of The Wright Stuff next week. The show is broadcast weekday mornings on Channel 5.




FILTER: - Production - WHO50

An Adventure in Space and Time: The Voice of the DaleksBookmark and Share

Thursday, 21 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Nicholas Briggs, on TwitterA new voice encounters the old as Nicholas Briggs confirmed last night that he had taken on the mantle of one of the original voices of the Daleks! Making the announcement on Twitter, the man who has voiced the Daleks since their return in 2005 commented: "Just did my Peter Hawkins cameo today. Beyond exciting..." He later added: "Well, you can never tell what will make the edit... But I had a costume and a wig and everything! :-)".

Speaking to Doctor Who Magazine back in 2006, the actor/voice artist/producer for Big Finish paid tribute to Hawkins: "All of us who've provided Dalek voices over the last 40 years owe him a massive debt. None of us have been as good as Peter, but he supplied our inspiration. He was truly the Emperor of the Daleks."
 

Filming Update

A number of classic series moments are being "captured" for the drama. As well as filming of Daleks across Westminster Bridge from The Dalek Invasion of Earth filmed last weekend, iconic moments from the pilot episode have also been recorded as photos released but subsequently removed had revealed, including recreations of the junkyard where the TARDIS is first encountered, and the interior itself (credited to Peter Brachacki, who we reported last night as being played by David Annen).

The look and feel of the 1963 studio environment has been provided by Golden Age Television Recreations, which reported on its site: "Dr Who- An Adventure In Space And Time. GA-TV is supplying all the 1960s vintage tv studio and gallery equipment for a movie-length drama from the BBC, about the early days of the Dr Who tv programme."




FILTER: - WHO50 - Production - Filming Reports

People RoundupBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Colin Baker in The Woman in White. Photo: Lichfield GarrickColin Baker is to star as Walter Hartright, the lead character from the new adaptation of The Woman In White, which will run at the Lichfield Garrick between 26th February and 2nd March. [Burton Mail, 19 Feb 2013]

The actor may also be about to take legal action against Buckinghamshire County Council after his daughter suffered a car accident due to a pothole. The actor said: "I'd say it was a good day because my daughter walked away, but we are very grateful for efficient seatbelts and airbags. Our insurance company is considering action against [the council] and if they don't, I will." [BBC News, 11 Feb 2013]

When talking about the return of The Walking Dead, David Morrissey compared the atmosphere on the show with his guest role in The Next Doctor: "(The Walking Dead) reminds me of Doctor Who in a way; David Tennant, when he was Doctor Who, really led from the front, he was the first man on set, the last man to leave, making sure everybody was all right, a great leader - and Andrew (Lincoln) is just the same, he's a wonderful leading actor." [This Morning, 13 Feb 2013]

Sue Perkins found herself the subject of a Twitter campaign to make her the next Doctor, after being nominated by Scifind. The comedienne/presenter told her followers that she was "Beyond flattered. SERIOUSLY.".

Burn Gorman is to appear in a new AMC drama pilot, Turn; based on the Washington Spies book by Alexander Rose, it is set in the summer of 1778 during America's fight for independence, with Gorman playing the character of British Major Hewlett. The actor also has a part as Dr. Hermann Gottlieb in the science-fiction film Pacific Rim, due out this summer. [Deadline, 15 Feb 2013]

Talking about the original plans for Torchwood: Miracle Day, Chris Chibnall said: "I did a bit of very early storylining with Russell on Miracle Day, right at the start, before they pitched it to Fox, before they pitched it to Starz. I think somewhere along the way it sort of lost a little bit of its Torchwood-ness. Whether you like or dislike Torchwood, it has an essence – of madness and cheekiness and sexiness, and fun and darkness, those sort of polar facets of what it’s about, of putting those things together – and somehow it lost a bit of that somewhere in the process. when we were first talking about it, it was something a bit bolder, a bit cheekier. it may just come back to the fact that one of the great essences of Torchwood was taking those American tropes and doing them in Wales. And in a way, that’s what made Torchwood so brilliantly odd. Once you put it in California, it becomes more like other shows." [Starburst, 12 Feb 2013]

Part-time extra and full time teacher Sean Carlson (who played a policeman in The Christmas Invasion) talks about his work on Gallifrey for Big Finish: "I've been very lucky to have been involved with the Doctor Who audio series for ten years now as the Time Lord Narvin. We record the series in a studio in West London over a period of three months and perform radio plays, as well as for CDs and downloads. They feature characters from the classic series and actresses like Lynda Bellingham and Lalla Ward." [Free Press, 14 Feb 2013]

Gregg Sulkin (Adam The Mad Woman in the Attic) has been cast as Julian in the FOX pilot for Delirium - based on Lauren Oliver’s bestselling book trilogy, the series is set in a world where love is deemed illegal and can be eradicated with a special procedure. [Deadline, 19 Feb 2013]

James Corden is hosting the 2013 Brit Awards, taking place tonight, and broadcast in ITV.

Graham Norton's Big Chat is a show taking place on BBC3 on the 7th March in aid of Comic Relief which will aim to set the Guinness World Record for "Most Questions Asked on a TV Chat Show". An array of stars will appear on the show, including Ronnie Corbett, Warwick Davis and Russell Tovey, plus a Big Chat Backstage Party hosted by Greg James. [BBC Media Centre, 20 Feb 2013]

In Memoriam

The actress Elspet Gray (Lady Rix) has died at the age of 83. As well as appearing in Doctor Who as the High Council member Thalia in Arc of Infinity, she also played the Queen in Blackadder, Lady Collingford in Catweazle and Mrs Palmer in Solo amongst many roles on television. [Daily Record, 19 Feb 2013]




FILTER: - People - Obituary - Colin Baker

An Adventure in Space and Time: TARDIS designer castBookmark and Share

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
David AnnenThe man credited for the original iconic look of the TARDIS interior, Peter Brachacki, is to be played by David Annen, his agent has reported.

The character actor has had roles in a variety of television programmes, including The Chatterley Affair (which also featured David Tennant), Criminal Justice, and Lennon Naked (which starred Christopher Eccleston), and the gamut of regular series such as Call The Midwife, Doctors, Midsomer Murders and Law & Order: UK. Film-wise, he has appeared in The West Wittering Affair and Theatre of Dreams, both directed by David Scheinmann.

He is also very active in theatre, with recent performances including Provost in Measure for Measure at the Almeida, and Dad in My Dad's A Birdman at The Young Vic. As well as acting, he is a teacher for Lightwork.
 

Filming Update

Filming sign at Wimbledon Studios. Photo: Mazin PowerAfter the excitement of Sunday's Dalek excursion to Westminster, the return to BBC Television Centre turned out to be the last day of filming for the drama at the spiritual "home" of Doctor Who. Producer Matt Strevens said afterwards: "Filming is now complete at Television Centre location. Could we be the last drama to film there? Week 3 continues elsewhere tomorrow.". Writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss summed up the moment, which might well be the final drama to be filmed at the site: "Farewell TVC....x".

Lone Dalek leaves Television Centre. Photo: Richard Browning Bye bye, Television Centre. Photo: Mark Gatiss

Filming has now returned to base at Wimbledon Studios, as evidenced by set directions!




FILTER: - WHO50

DVD Update: The Visitation SE - details releasedBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 19 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide have announced details for the forthcoming release of The Visitation (Special Edition) on DVD. The two-disc set has been provisionally scheduled for release on the 6th May for both its R2 and R1 versions, and on the 24th April for R4.

The Visitation - Special Edition
Release date: 6 May 2013 UK (available for pre-order)

The Visitation Special Edition Cover (R2). Credit BBCStarring Peter Davison as The Doctor, with Janet Fielding as Tegan, Sarah Sutton as Nyssa, and Matthew Waterhouse as Adric
Written by Eric Saward
Directed by Peter Moffatt

Broadcast: 15th - 23rd February 1982

It’s 1666, and medieval England is in the grip of the Great Plague. But when the Doctor and his companions arrive, they discover an even greater threat: the entire planet is in danger. As the Grim Reaper stalks the countryside, the Doctor uncovers an alien menace intent on wiping out humanity and claiming our planet for themselves. The Terileptils have arrived – and only the Doctor can stop them…
 

Special Features:
  • Commentary with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton, Matthew Waterhouse and director Peter Moffatt.
  • Grim Tales - Brand-new 45-minute documentary. Former companion Mark Strickson takes Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton back to the original filming locations while other cast and crew discuss their memories of the story. New
  • The Television Centre of the Universe: Part One - Peter Davison, Mark Strickson and Janet Fielding return to BBC Television Centre and meet up with old friends and colleagues to reminisce on their time in the iconic building.New
  • Doctor Forever: The Apocalypse Element - Examining the world of Doctor Who on audio. Including interviews with Colin Baker, Russell T Davies, Mark Gatiss and many others.New
  • Film Trims Shots and sequences cut from the finished programme
  • Directing Who: Peter Moffatt
  • Writing A Final Visitation: Eric Saward
  • Scoring The Visitation - Interview with composer Paddy Kingsland
  • Subtitle Production NotesNew
  • Radio Times listings and BBC Sales SheetNew
  • Photo Gallery
  • Coming Soon trailerNew
  • Isolated Music Score
  • Easter Egg
  • Digitally remastered picture and sound qualityNew




FILTER: - Classic Series - Fifth Doctor - Blu-ray/DVD

WhoSounds TARDIS Speaker SystemBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 19 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide have announced a TARDIS 2.1 sound speaker system to be released by WhoSounds Ltd in April, for use over bluetooth and through a standard 3.5mm auxiliary cable.

WhoSounds - TARDIS SpeakerThe TARDIS Speaker System Launched by WhoSounds Ltd.

Fully scaled and beautifully designed, the speaker is sure to delight all would-be Time Lords, and offers a number of unique features.

A high quality 2.1 sound system is compatible with Bluetooth input as well as audio from any device fitted with a 3.5mm headphone. Whilst two internal full-range speakers housed inside a tuned and sealed chamber with bass provided by a separate drive unit - all powered by an integral 2.1 audio amplifier designed and optimised by an ex-Harmon Kardon sound engineer - for low distortion and high clarity, offers a real treat for audio fans.

The next and previous track selection, volume and separate bass and treble adjustments can also be made via a neat remote control.

And, for a real time travel experience, the ambient LED light positioned on the roof flashes blue when paired with a Bluetooth device, and the speaker also makes the famous TARDIS landing sound.

This fantastic speaker also features a built-in USB port which is capable of delivering up to 1 Amp, making it more than adequate to power and charge Smartphones and tablets.

WhoSounds Ltd. Director, Karl Grimsey, says:
The TARDIS speaker will delight all Doctor Who fans. Far more than just a toy or souvenir, the function and sonic performance of the TARDIS Speaker will wow audio fans too.

Full details on the product can be found via the WhoSounds website.

The speaker units can be pre-ordered directly from the company website, and from other retailers such as the BBC Shop and Forbidden Planet.




FILTER: - Merchandise - WHO50 - Press

Big Finish: February releasesBookmark and Share

Tuesday, 19 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Big Finish have released details on the latest adventures for the Doctor and his companions in February:

Spaceport Fear (available to pre-order)

Doctor Who: Spaceport Fear is the latest story to star Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor (seen on TV from 1984-1986) alongside Bonnie Langford as Mel, who partnered him on screen in 1986. As the title would suggest, they find themselves on an apparently deserted spaceport... but there are strange and terrifying things lurking in the dark corners. Will they ever manage to facilitate a departure? Written by William Gallagher and directed by Barnaby Edwards, the story also features Ronald Pickup.

 

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where the tribes of Business and Economy have been at war for all of four hundred years...

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where a terrible creature called the Wailer prowls the corridors around the Control Tower, looking to eat the unwary...

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where there is one Arrival: a battered blue Police Box containing the time-travelling Doctor and his companion, Mel...

Welcome to Tantane Spaceport – where there are no Departures. Ever.
The Sands of Life (available to pre-order)

Meanwhile, over on The Fourth Doctor Adventures, the Doctor, Romana and K9 find themselves caught between a mass of aliens heading for Earth and the powerful head of the Conglomerate, Cuthbert, in The Sands of Life. Tom Baker (the Doctor on TV form 1974-1981) is once more teamed with Mary Tamm as Romana, and John Leeson joins them in the TARDIS as well this month as K9 for the first three (count 'em!) parts of a five-part story which continues next month with War Against the Laan.

Producer David Richardson says:
It felt very special to have Tom, Mary and John back together in this story, and it sets up a chain of events that will be felt all the way through until the end of the season.
The story is written and directed by Nicholas Briggs, and the cast includes David Warner, Toby Hadoke and Hayley Atwell.

 

Sheridan Moorkurk has just been elected president of Earth... but the harsh realities of who really runs the planet are just beginning to dawn on her. And what's more, she's starting to hear voices.

Meanwhile, the Doctor and Romana encounter a mass of aliens heading to Earth... Aliens who have already made the mistake of upsetting the infamous Cuthbert, all-powerful CEO of The Conglomerate, by destroying one of his space platforms.

Will the Doctor and Romana be able to avert inter-species war that will destroy all life on Earth?
House of Cards (available to pre-order)

The latest Companion Chronicles story is also available. House of Cards finds the Doctor, Polly, Jamie and Ben in a space casino surrounded by monsters include the sinister Sidewinder Syndicate - can they escape with their lives?

Written by Steve Lyons, it stars Frazer Hines as Jamie alongside Anneke Wills as Polly, back together reprising their Sixties roles, with Frazer also once more providing his amazing impersonation of Patrick Troughton's Second Doctor.

David Richardson says:
People had loved The Selachian Gambit, which was also written by Steve Lyons, and starred Anneke and Frazer. I jumped at the chance to get them back together, along with director Lisa Bowerman, to recreate that magic period from the Second Doctor’s era.

 

The TARDIS has landed in a futuristic space casino, where the Doctor, Ben, Polly and Jamie find fun, games… and monsters everywhere. There are vicious robot dogs, snake-headed gangsters from the Sidewinder Syndicate and a mysterious masked woman called Hope.

In this place, time travellers are to be tracked down and arrested. Yet, as events spiral out of control, time may be Polly's only ally...
Gallifrey V (available to pre-order)

Gallifrey V is the first of two box sets for 2013, with the saga drawing to an epic close in Gallifrey VI in October.
When we last heard from them, Romana and Leela were trapped on an alternate version of Gallifrey planning to build a new life. But things aren't going to plan.

Crammed with twists, turns, plots, machinations and double-dealing, the fifth series of Gallifrey takes Romana, Leela and Narvin through a host of trials and tribulations and prepares the way for the epic conclusion to the series in Gallifrey VI.

Plus, if you want to catch up, the first three series are on sale from the Big Finish website.

 

With Romana and Narvin ruling New Gallifrey from the heart of the capitol, their former friend Leela now lives as an Outsider, existing in the wastelands of Gallifrey with the former slaves she fought hard to free. With no hope of returning home, to their one true Gallifrey, these three exiles try to find a way to survive and build a better Gallifrey than the barbaric, lawless one they have found themselves in.

However, politicians, scientists and industrialists alike enjoyed luxury, power and wealth before Romana and Narvin came along and they will take any action they deem necessary to regain what they have lost. And if Leela’s Outsiders are swept away as a consequence, so much the better.

And in the shadows, watching and waiting, is an ancient evil that no one can stop...
The Big Finish Companion - Volume 2

Also just published is The Big Finish Companion - Volume 2, a massive guide to a wealth of Big Finish ranges from the pen of Kenny Smith, writer of unofficial Big Finish fanzine The Finished Product. Covering Doctor Who, Stargate, Iris Wildthyme and more, including an in-depth look at the plans for the series of The Tomorrow People which were never made, it's an indispensable guide and a fascinating insight into Big Finish's productions.
 

In addition to the Doctor Who releases, Vienna is a new series starring Chase Masterson as Vienna Salvatori, a cosmic assassin. The first story, The Memory Box, is out now and finds Vienna being investigated for the murder of an intergalactic businessman – but did she do it?

David Richardson says:
It’s a twisty-turny tale by Jonathan Morris, and it boasts a brilliant starring turn by Chase. While Vienna isn’t anything to do with Doctor Who, the character was originally introduced in the Seventh Doctor story The Shadow Heart last year – and it was during the recording we realized what a treasure we had with Chase!

Finally, two Blake’s 7 titles are out this month – the full cast story Warship, which reunites all of the Season 2 line-up, plus The Liberator Chronicles: The Armageddon Storm, which stars Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Jan Chappell plus Tom Chadbon as Del Grant.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Sixth Doctor - Audio - Tom Baker - Fourth Doctor - Colin Baker - Big Finish

Richard Briers 1934 - 2013Bookmark and Share

Monday, 18 February 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Richard BriersThe actor Richard Briers has died at the age of 79.

Born in 1934 in Raynes Park, Briers started off his career as a filing clerk, a role he continued to perform during his national service. It was at this time he met Brian Murphy, who introduced him to acting and once his service had finished Briers went to study at RADA. After graduating, he then worked at Liverpool Repertory Theatre, where he was to meet his wife Ann Davies.

An established actor of stage and screen, Briers became a household name during the 1970s for his role as Tom Good in The Good Life. This was followed by other popular roles such as Martin Bryce in Ever Decreasing Circles, Tony Fairfax in Down to Earth, Hector McDonald in Monarch of the Glen, and for two generations of children as the narrator and voices of Roobarb.

Other notable television roles included his breakthrough as George Starling in Marriage Lines (in which he starred alongside Prunella Scales, whose son Sam is his godson), Birds on a Wing, The Norman Conquests, All in Good Faith, and If You See God, Tell Him. He was also a presenter of Jackanory, the original voice of Noddy, narrator of another childrens' animated series Noah and Nelly, and played Bob The Builder's dad Robert.

In theatre, he worked alongside Kenneth Branagh in a number of productions, including the lead roles in King Lear and Uncle Vanya, and also took on roles in some nine films by the director, including Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing, and Frankenstein. His most recent role was as machine gun-wielding walker-bound Hamish in Cockneys vs Zombies.

In 1987 he appeared in the Doctor Who story Paradise Towers alongside Sylvester McCoy, playing the Chief Caretaker. Talking about the role to Doctor Who Magazine, the actor said: Doctor Who enabled me to overact, and I enjoy that. The producer (John Nathan-Turner) worried that I wasn't taking the role seriously. He thought that Doctor Who was some kind of classic, which I suppose it was, but he considered it a classic like one of Shakespeare's plays. He thought that I wanted to send up Doctor Who. I think he was frightened that I would start overdoing it...so I did! I thought I had leeway." In 2008 he returned to the Doctor Who universe, appearing in the Torchwood story A Day in the Death as the critically ill Henry Parker.

In his later life, Briers became President of the Parkinson's Disease Society, and was also involved in the launch of the Sense-National Deafblind and Rubella Association campaign. He was also a non-medical patron of the Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula Support charity, which supports children and the families of children born unable to swallow.

He was awarded the OBE in 1989, and then the CBE in 2003 for his services to drama.

Briers passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday after a long struggle with a lung condition. He is survived by his wife Ann and children Lucy and Katie.

(Richard David Briers, 14 Jan 1934 - 17 Feb 2013)




FILTER: - People - Obituary