Doctor Who Vs. Operation Crossbow

Shown on BBC2 today, this British

war film was a fictional account of

the real-life Allied operations to

infiltrate the Nazi V1 and V2 rocket programmes, between 1943 and

1945.

Released by MGM in 1965, the
thriller starred a stellar cast led by
 John Mills, George Peppard, Trevor
Howard, Tom Courtenay, Anthony
Quayle, Patrick Wymark, Sophia
Loren, and featured these twenty-
one Doctor Who cast connections:

• Richard [Andrew Palethorpe] Todd (Wing Comm. Kendall) was Sanders (pictured left) in Kinda
• Sylvia [May Laura] Syms (Constance) was Lady Pritchard in Ghost Light
• John [Alexander] Fraser (Flight Lt. Post) was the Monitor in Logopolis
• [William] Maurice Denham (Air Chief Marshal) was Azmael in The Twin Dilemma, then voiced the President for The Paradise of Death 
• Moray [Robin Philip Adrian] Watson (Colonel Post) was Sir Robert Muir in Black Orchid
• William Mervyn [Pickwoad] (Examiner) was Sir Charles Summer in The War Machines
• John Abineri (Policeman) was Van Lutyens in Fury From the Deep, General Carrington in The Ambassadors of Death, Richard Railton in Death to the Daleks, and Ranquin in The Power of Kroll
• Bernard Barnsley (Operator) was a Monoid in The Ark, and UNIT Soldier in (episode 2 of) The Silurians
• Ernest Blyth and John Tatham (Officers) were both Villagers in The Daemons
• George Curtis (Policeman) and Paul Phillips (Engineer) both starred in The War Games, as Firing Squad Soldier (1) and Guard/Prisoner (2) - Phillips was also Miner in The Monster of Peladon (3)
• Anton Diffring [born Alfred Pollack] (Soldier) was De Flores in Silver Nemesis
• [George] Gertan Klauber (Guard) was the Galley Master in The Romans, and Ola in The Macra Terror
• Alan Harris (Soldier) was Sevateem Council Member in The Face of Evil, and titular alien in Terror of the Vervoids
• Philip [Arvon Jones] Madoc (Police Officer) was Eelek in The Krotons, the War Lord in The War Games, Dr. Mehendri Solon in The Brain of Morbius, Fenner in The Power of Kroll, Brockley in Daleks: Invasion Earth 2150 AD, then voiced Victor Schaeffer for Big Finish's Master (2003), and Rag Cobden for Return of the Krotons (2009)
• Billy Cornelius (Operator) was stuntman on 100,000 BC (4), Man-at-arms in The Crusade (4), and Morok Guard in The Space Museum
• Paddy Ryan (Operator) and Harry Van Engel (Van Ostamgen) both appeared as Kaled Scientists in Genesis of the Daleks
• Fred Wood (Steward) and Alf Mangan (Engineer) were both Extras in the second Dalek feature

NEW COMPANION ANNOUNCED TODAY

Casting of the Doctor's new companion was announced

tonight by the official Doctor Who social media accounts.

Rose (rumoured to be Donna Noble's daughter) will be

played by Yasmin Finney, star of Netflix's Heartstopper,

and will join the programme during it's diamond

anniversary year.

Speaking on joining Doctor Who, the actress said: "If anyone

would have told 8 year old Yasmin that one day she'd be part of

this iconic show, I would never in a million years believed them.

This show has a place in so many people's hearts, so to be seen

as a trans actress by the legend himself Russell [T Davies], has

not only made my year, it's made my life. I cannot wait to begin

this journey and for you all to see how Rose blossoms. Get ready."

Showrunner Davies added: "Life on Doctor Who gets brighter and

wilder, how can there be another Rose? You'll find out in 2023, but

it's an absolute joy to welcome Yasmin to the set. We all fell in love

with her in Heartstopper, one of those shows which changes the

world - and now Yasmin can change the Whoniverse!"

NEW DOCTOR ANNOUNCED TODAY

With no fanfare whatsover, Jodie Whittaker's successor

was fianlly announced today on the official Doctor Who

social media accounts.

The Fourteenth Doctor will be played by 29-years old

Rwandan-born actor Ncuti Gatwa, star of Netflix's Sex

Education. He revealed that he was cast in February.

Speaking on his new role, Gatwa said: "There aren't the

words todescribe how I'm feeling. A mix of deeply

honoured, beyond excited and of course a bit scared.

This role and show means so much to so many around

the world, including myself, and each one of my incredibly

talented predecessors has handled that unique responsibility

and privilege with the utmost care. I will endeavour to do the

same.

Russell T Davies is almost as iconic as the Doctor himself

and being able to work is a dream come true. His writing is

dynamic, exciting, incredibly intelligent and fizzing with danger.

An actor's metaphorical playground. The entire team have been

so welcoming and truly give their hearts to the show. And so

much as it's daunting. I'm aware I'm joining a really supportive

family. Unlike the Doctor, I may only have one heart but I am

 giving it all to this show."

Meanwhile, returning showrunner Davies commented: "The

future is here and its Ncuti! Sometimes talent walks through

the door and it's so bright and bold and brilliant, I just stand

back in awe and thank my lucky stars. Ncuti dazzled us, seized

hold of the Doctor and owned those TARDIS keys in seconds.

 It's an honour to work with him, and a hoot, I can't wait to

get started. I'm sure your'e dying to know more, but we're

rationing ourselves for now, with the wonderful Jodie's epic

finale to come - I promise you, 2023 will be spectacular!"