Doctor Who Vs. Cracker, Series 1

Produced by Granada for ITV, this gritty Northern crime drama began

in 1993 and ran for three full seasons. Two feature-length specials

followed in 1996 and 2006, and even spawned an American version

in 1997 (broadcast in the UK as Fitz).

The show centred on the work of Manchester-based criminal psycho-

logist (the titular 'cracker'), Dr. Edward 'Fitz' Fitzgerald, portrayed by

Robbie Coltrane (born McMillan). He was joined by Christopher

Eccleston (as DCI David Bilborough), Geraldine Somerville (DS Jane

Penhaligon), and Lorcan Cranitch (DS Jimmy Beck).

 The eleven thrillers earned Coltrane three consecutive Best Actor awards

from BAFTA, and Liverpool-born Jimmy McGovern (the programme's

 creator and lead writer) won a total of five writing prizes. Following

Coltrane's death last October, BritBox released the series, whilst a

repeat run of this season concluded on ITV3 last night - it featured

a total of twenty-four Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

The Mad Woman in the Attic (UK TX: September 27 & October 4 1993)

• Barbara [Jay] Flynn [born McMurray] (Judith) voiced Sister Chalice/ Croc Trooper for Big Finish's The Skull of Sobek (2008), Anne Hartman for The Rockery (2019), Professor Vansom for Secrets of Telos (2022), then played Tecteun in Once, Upon Time and Survivors of the Flux
• Nicholas [Robin Frank] Woodeson (Hennessy) voiced the Clocksmith for Doom Coalition 3 (2016), and the title role for The Quest of the Engineer (2020)
• Paul [Mackriell] Copley (Pathologist) was Clem McDonald in Torchwood: Children of Earth, and voiced Dad for Spare Parts (2002/2017), Jimmy Deel for Missing Persons (2013), Mick Huff for The Miniaturist (2022), and Wendell for The Conservitors (2023)
• Kerry Shale (CSO) was Dr. Renfrew in Day of the Moon, then Narrator of The Lost Angel (2017)
• Adrian Dunbar (Kelly) voiced McCarthy for Brave New Town (2008)
• Andy [born Peter] Devine (Guard) was a Draconian in Frontier in Space
• Alan David (Hanrahan) was Gabriel Sneed in The Unquiet Dead, then voiced Castellan Kanteer for The Enigma Dimension (2017), and Lord Macavoy/Old Lawrence for The Primeval Design (2021)
• Sunetra Sarker (Receptionist) was Indira in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
• Edward Peel (Chief Superintendent) was Kane in Dragonfire and reprised for The Last Day (2023), and Visitor for 24 Carat
• Don [Francis] Hederson (Hennessey) was Gavrok in Delta and the Bannermen
• Peter Brayham was also stunt co-ordinator on The Christmas Invasion, New Earth and School Reunion
• stuntman Chris Webb was a Monoid in The Ark

To Say I Love You (TX: October 11 to 25)

• Susan Lynch (Tina) was Angstrom in The Ghost Monument
• Andrew Tiernan (Sean) was Jim Purcell in Night Terrors
• David Haig [Collum Ward] (Graham) was Pangol in The Leisure Hive
• Susan Vidler (Sammy) was Aunt Susan in The Big Bang, and voiced Krige for Bernice Summerfield 5 (2013)
• Tim [born Michael John Leigh] Barlow (Father) was Tyssan in Destiny of the Daleks
• Beryl [Elizabeth] Reid (Mum) was Captain Briggs in Earthshock
• Owen Brenman (Haig) voiced Jerry Cooper for Human Resources (2007)
• Alf Tramontin was the steadicam operator on Attack of the Graske too

One Day a Lemming Will Fly (TX: November 1 & 8)

• James Quinn (Bouncer) was Bill in Flatline
• series production manager Liam Foster began his television career as an uncredited AFM on (episode 6 of) The Space Pirates and Spearhead from Space
• Andy Pryor (series casting) has worked as casting director on the revived run since 2005, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood
• Dorothy Friend worked on the continuity for Boom Town too