Doctor Who Vs. Cracker, Series 2

Robbie Coltrane, Geraldine Somerville,

and Lorcan Cranitch all returned (as

profiler - or 'cracker' Fitz, DS Penhaligon,

and DS Beck) for three new ITV thrillers.

Christopher Eccleston left his role as
GMP DI Billborough in the first case (he

was killed by Robert Carlyle's character,

 Albie Kinsella), and was succeeded by

Ricky Tomlinosn as new DCI Charlie Wise.

A repeat run of the nine-part season

(written by Jimmy McGovern and originally

shown in the autumn of 1994) concluded

on ITV3 - it featured Maureen O'Brien

(pictured) and eighteen Doctor Who cast

and crew connections:

To Be a Somebody (TX: October 10 to 24 1994)

• Isobel Middleton (Catriona Bilborough) provided the voice of Almak for Demons of the Punjab
• Beth [Jane] Goddard (Clare) was Sister Helena in The Sarah Jane Adventures: Eye of the Gorgon, then voiced Christine Colley for The Sontaran Project (2017), Ludina Braskell for Ravenous 1 (2018), Dr. Barton for The Moons of Vulpana, Vella for A Photograph to Remember (both 2019) and Rulers of Earth, Sally/Time Lady for Operation: Hellfire (2020), and Allerdyce Benexa/Pangladasha for Ice Heist! (2023)
• Philip Childs (Operator) voiced Chris for Mission of the Viyrans (2007), Foreman for The Bride of Peladon (2008), David Underwood for Through the Ruins (2017), and Giles for Ghost Walk (2018)
• David Holt (Administrator) voiced Medan for The Paradise of Death, Nicodemus for The Ghosts of N-Space, then Chooban/Bullet 1/ Driver for Dust Devil, Orgus for The Man From Gallifrey, Mervyn Peake for Peake Season, and Commander Krillen for The Vulpreen Encounter and By Jacqui McGee (all 2022)
• for Paul Copley, Edward Peel, Barbara Flynn and Peter Brayham see Series 1
• production manager Des Hughes was the line producer on eight stories (from The Snowmen to The Time of the Doctor), and made a cameo appearance in The Five(ish) Doctors

The Big Crunch (TX: October 31 to November 14)

• Emma Cunniffe (Sarah) was Claire in Night Terrors, and voiced Caleera for Doom Coalition 2 (2016), and the Sonomancer for Stop the Clock (2017)
• James [Edward] Fleet (Michael) voiced O'Reilley for Max Warp (2008), Geoff Cooper for The Entropy Composition, and Sir Jack Merrivale/Martin Ashcroft for Special Features (both 2010)
• Ellie Haddington (Mrs. Barnes) was Professor Alison Docherty in Last of the Time Lords
• Jim Carter (Kenneth) voiced Brother Bernard for The Book of Kells (2010)

Men Should Weep (TX: November 21 to December 5)

• Rachel Davies (Mrs. Malcolm) was Camilla in State of Decay
• Angela Wynter (Barbara) was Cherry Sunday in The Church on Ruby Road and Space Babies
• [Harold] Tony Rohr (Molloy) was an uncredited Colonist in (episode 6 of) The Power of the Daleks
• casting assistant Andy Pryor has been the casting director on the revived series since Rose
• Dorothy Friend worked on the continuity for Boom Town too