Gerry Anderson Actors in Classic Doctor Who Stories

This article comes from guest blogger Ian Coomber. Ian is a contributor to What Culture, as well as having his own film and television blog. While the latest Doctor Who Big Finish audio release, The Peterloo Massacre, may see classic Captain Scarlet star Liz Morgan joining two of her New Captain Scarlet counterparts, it is far from the first time the worlds of the Doctor and Gerry Anderson have collided. Not only did Patrick Troughton guest star in Space: 1999, but there are also a number of classic adventures in which the TARDIS bumped into prominent Anderson Alumni. The Rescue (1965) As the first companion to be introduced after the show had started, Vicki first met William Hartnell's Doctor when he visited the planet Dido. Having crash landed herself some time earlier, she is found alongside fellow survivor Bennett, played by Ray Barrett (Commander Shore/Titan - Stingray, John Tracy/The Hood - Thunderbirds). Also lurking though, is Koquillion; a native who keeps them confined to their wreckage until the arrival of their rescue ship which is en route. Unknown to Vicki, but deduced by the Doctor however, Koquillion is in fact Bennett in an attempt to create an alibi for himself. Having murdered a fellow passenger during their initial voyage, he also killed the remaining crash survivors so as to leave no witnesses to inform the rescue crew. With one of Doctor Who's highest ever viewing figures, Barrett also once joked that he wanted “Outrated the Daleks” to be written on his tombstone. The Gunfighters (1966) A purely historical adventure which saw the Doctor in a case of mistaken identity with Doc Holiday, this serial depicted the legendary shoot-out between the Clanton and the Earp brothers at the OK Corral. It also reunited two of Thunderbirds' Tracys in the process, in the form of Shane Rimmer (Scott) and David Graham (Gordon). As gun for hire Seth Harper it is Rimmer who first confuses to the two Doctors, something which later comes back to haunt him when the real Doc Holiday is quicker on the draw. Graham meanwhile serves as the meek but dependable Charlie, barman of Tombstone, Arizona's Last Chance Saloon. Rimmer's only appearance in the series itself (although he did narrate The Gunfighters audiobook adaptation), Graham's relationship was much more established; as one of Britain's most prolific voice artists spent the first three years of the show sending children behind the sofa by voicing the Daleks. The Green Death (1973) It may have been the swansong for companion Jo Grant, but this particular Jon Pertwee serial is perhaps more affectionately remembered for being the one with the giant maggots. Having been mutated by pollutant waste they were the most disgusting, but far from the only monsters created by Global Chemicals. An international company, of which the oil refinery in Llanfairfach was run by a mysterious Boss. Also known as the Biomorphic Organisational Systems Supervisor, this highly advanced computer was created to increase profits and efficiency but did so by taking control of its employees. Chief among these was company director Stevens, portrayed by Jerome Willis (Captain Podly – Space Precinct). One of the villains who redeems himself with a final act of self-sacrifice, Stevens was ultimately able to stop the Boss by overloading its machinery, but was unable to escape the ensuing explosion. Despite this, Willis was one of several actors who reprised their roles for Global Conspiracy?, a follow up parody written and produced by Mark Gatiss. Revenge of The Cybermen (1975) Intent on destroying the planetoid Voga and its vast gold deposits, the Cybermen first take control of the Nerva Beacon space station with the help of Kellman, who was played by Jeremy Wilkin (Virgil Tracy – Thunderbirds; Bishop – The Secret Service). The unexpected arrival of the fourth Doctor forces him to change his plans though, something also complicated by the fact he is actually a double agent. Really working on behalf of Vorus, leader of the Vogon Guardians, he allied himself with the Cybermen purely to lure them into a trap. While the Doctor finds himself caught between the Vogon's Skystriker rocket, and the Cybermen setting the station for a collision course, Kellman's fate is somewhat rather anticlimactic. Far from the only character not to survive the ordeal, he only meets his end thanks to a small rockfall caused by companion Harry. City Of Death (1979) Splintered throughout the time stream and leading multiple lives, the 20th Century self of Scaroth, last of the Jagaroth, appears to be leading the high life whilst married to the Countess Scarlioni, better known as Catherine Schell (Maya – Space: 1999). Hiding his true identity however, he is clandestinely funding time travel research by selling his priceless “missing” works of art which he had hidden throughout his past lives. A collection which even includes six authentic copies of the Mona Lisa. With the intention of travelling back in time to prevent his rather unfortunate situation from ever occurring, he has enlisted the help of top scientist Fyodor Nikolai Kerensky, David Graham in what was his second on-screen role in the series. Naturally his meddling with the timeline would have disastrous consequences for the human race, but his plans are averted at the last minute - 400 million years in the past - thanks to the Doctor and Romana. Which other famous Anderson actors have you spotted in Doctor Who over the years? You can order The Peterloo Massacre from Big Finish now, featuring Liz Morgan, Robbie Stevens and Wayne Forester, and directed by Jamie Anderson.