Monday, 30 June 2025

Doctor Who Vs. Oliver Twist (1985)

Victorian literary classic Oliver Twist (also known as
The Parish Boy's Progress, and originally published
monthly in Bentley's Miscellany from 1837 to 1839) was only Charles Dickens' second novel.
The first television adaptation of the story was shown
 on BBCtv in 1962, followed by this more faithful
version in 1985. Produced by Terrance Dicks for the
the corporation's Classic Serial strand (which ran reg-
ularly on Sunday afternoons for twenty years from
1975), the drama originally aired in late 1985. A
repeat run of the twelve-part saga began on U&Eden
(formerly UKTV's documentary channel) today - it
featured Ben Rodska as Oliver, Eric Porter (Fagin),
Terry Molloy, and a total of twenty-five Doctor Who
cast and crew connections:
  • Brian [Parry] Badcoe (Magistrate) was Adam [Nigel Castle] in Invasion of the Dinosaurs
  • June [Muriel] Brown (Mrs. Mann) was Lady Eleanor in The Time Warrior
  • Donald [Yarrow] Eccles (Limbkins) was Krasis in The Time Monster
  • Davyd Harries (White) was Shapp in The Armageddon Factor
  • Nicholas McArdle (Master) was De Vries in The Stones of Blood
  • Edward [Noel] Burnham (Grimwig) was professors Watkins and Kettlewell in The Invasion and Robot respectively
  • Lysette [Anne Chodzko] Anthony (Rose/Agnes) voiced Clara Harris for Assassin in the Limelight (2008), Hazel Bright for Hothouse (2009), and Sophia for The Secret History (2015)
  • Michael [John] Attwell (Bill Sikes) was Isbur in The Ice Warriors, and Bates in Attack of the Cybermen
  • Godfrey James (Bumble) was Tarn in Underworld
  • Gillian [Mary] Martell (Mrs Maylie) was Lily Gregson in K9 and Company
  • Chrsitian Rodska (Barney) voiced Laan Carder for Faith Stealer (2004), and Reverand Small for AudioGo's The Dead Shoes (2011)
  • Miriam Margolyes (Mrs Corney) provided the voice of Leaf Apple Glyn Slitheen Blathereen for The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Gift, and voiced Frau Tod for The Beast of Orlok (2009), and the Soothsayer for The Dying Breed (2025), then was cast in The Star Beast as the Meep
  • Christopher [Denis] Driscoll (Crackit) was the Security Guard in The Idiot's Lantern
  • Janet Henfrey (Martha) was Miss Hardaker in The Curse of Fenric, Mrs Pitt in Mummy on the Orient Express, and the Adjudicator in Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor - she then voiced Mrs Vanguard for The Spirit Trap (2010), Dr. Petherbridge for An Eye for Murder, Mrs Jefferies for The Concrete Cage, Woman for The Forgotten Village (all 2014), Dorothy for The Screaming Ceiling (2019), Sister Magdalene for Abbey of Heretics (2020), Verkuvia for The Day of the Comet (2021), and Narrata for Morbius 1 (2024)
  • Mark Bassenger (Cabbie) made his TV debut as a Cyberman in The Five Doctors
  • David McKail (Dr. Losberne) was Sergeant Kyle in The Talons of Weng Chiang
  • [Terence] Dicken Ashworth (Sergeant) was Sezon in Timelash
  • Harry Fielder (Big Man) was a Guard (in serials PP, ZZZ, 4L, 4P, 5A, 5F, 5Z), Crewman (SS, 4T), Vogan (4D), Assassin (4Q), Tigellan (5Q), and Krarg in Shada
  • Leslie Schofield (Patterer) was Leroy in The War Games, and Calib in The Face of Evil
  • Henry [Thomas] Stamper (Fang) was Anton in The Enemy of the World
  • Alan Bennion (Magistrate) was Slaar in The Seeds of Death, Izlyr in The Curse of Peladon, and Azaxyr in The Monster of Peladon
  • Charles Pemberton (Warden) was a titular alien in The Tomb of the Cybermen, and Alien Technician in The War Games
  • production manager Nigel Taylor began his career as assistant director on The Stones of Blood
  • script editor Brian Wright was Dassuk in The Ark
  • incidential music was provided by Dudley [George] Simpson, composer on almost 300 episodes (from Planet of the Giants to The Horns of Nimon)

Doctor Who Vs. Wycliffe, Series 2

Jack Shepherd returned as WJ Burley's Cornish
detective for the second season of HTV's popular
crime drama, joined again by Helen Masters,
Jimmy Yuill, Aaron Harris, Adam Barker, and Tim
Wylton.
Unlike the mysteries in the first series (all based
on Burley's novels) original screenplays were
produced here. A repeat run of the eight-part
series (first shown in the summer of 1995) began
 on ITV3 last night - it featured Louise Jameson,
Geoffrey Bayldon, and a total of twenty-nine
Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

All For Love (UK TX: June 18 1995)
  • John [Frederick] Abineri (DCI Turner) was Pieter Van Lutyens in Fury from the Deep, General George Carrington in The Ambassadors of Death, Richard Railton in Death to the Daleks, and Ranquin in The Power of Kroll
  • Kenneth Sharp was also production designer on The Macra Terror, The Claws of Axos and The Robots of Death, whilst John Bleasdale (Warder) was a titular Robot in the latter story
The Trojan Horse (UK TX: June 25)
  • Peter Bennett was also first assistant director on fourteen stories (from Bad Wolf to The End of Timeand Attack of the Graske, production manager (PM) on The Doctor's DaughterMidnightThe Stolen Earth and Journey's End, then produced twenty-one episodes (from The Beast Below to Twice Upon a Time)
Charades (UK TX: July 2)
  • David Haig [Collum Ward] (Miller) was Pangol in The Leisure Hive
  • Andrew Bullivant (PC) was Milkman in The Stolen Earth, and PC Ferguson in The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Temptation of Sarah Jane Smith
  • Nigel Peever (Treglowen) was Rassilon in Do You Have a Licence to Save this Planet?, BBC Executive in The Auton Diaries 2, McCutheon in Zygon, and Reporter in Boom Town, then voiced Jethro for BBV Productions' The Barnacled Baby (2001), Paul Wight for In 2 Minds (2002), and Quail/the Deputy for Big Finish's The Transcendence of Ephros (2016)
  • Michael Fenton Stevens (Howell) voiced Shakespeare for The Kingmaker (2006), Brooks for The Raincloud Man (2008), Moorson/ Controller for Destroy the Infinite (2014), Douglas Bell for The Carrionite Curse (2017), and Charles Jamrach/Wombat Commodore for The Caged Assassin (2024)
  • David [Henry] Neal (Thorne) was the President in The Caves of Androzani
  • Tom Eastwood (Barman) voiced Requiem for The Last (2004)
Lost Contact (UK TX: July 9)
  • Eleanor Bron (Edwina) was an Art Lover in City of Death, and Kara [Seddle] in Revelation of the Daleks, and voiced Ileana De Santos for Loups-Garoux (2001)
  • Richard Dempsey (Coryn) was Tsar Nicholas II in The Power of the Doctor
  • Simon Paisley Day (SOCO) was the Steward (pictured) in The End of the World, and Rump in Face the Raven
Four and Twenty Black Birds (UK TX: July 16)
  • director Steve Goldie began his career as an AFM on (part 6 of) The Armageddon Factor, then was PM on Terminus
  • Lennox Greaves (Rowland) voiced Brian Hughes for The Shadow of the Scourge (2000), Professor Patrick Trethui for Last of the Titans (2001), Edward the Confessor for Seasons of Fear, Shaughnessy for The Chimes of Midnight (both 2002), Dr. Joseph Aldrich for The Condemned (2008), and Anulf/Taker for The Whispering Forest (2010)
  • Charles [Lawrence] De'ath (Ling) was Adelaide's Father in The Waters of Mars
  • Christopher [Denis] Driscoll (DI Perry here; Owner in Close to Home) was Security Guard in The Idiot's Lantern
  • René Zagger (Mills) was Padra in Utopia
Happy Families (UK TX: June 23)
  • Dominic Guard (Brandon) was Olvir in Terminus
  • David Schofield (Penrose) was Odin in The Girl Who Died, and voiced Billy for Death in Blackpool (2009), Nostradamus/Conclave Leader for The Doomsday Quatrain (2011), Narrator of The House of Winter (2015), Parval for The Sorcerer of Albion (2020), and Gostak for The End of the Beginning (2021)
Wild Oats (UK TX: July 30)
  • Michael Owen Morris was a production assistant (PA) on The Pirate Planet, then director on The Awakening too
  • Christian Rodska (Rawle) voiced Laan Carder for Faith Stealer (2004), and Reverend Small for AudioGo's The Dead Shoes (2011)
  • Dido Miles (Tynk) voiced Arva for Living Darkness (2025)
  • John [Edward Arthur] Woodnutt (Dr. Angwin) was George Hibbert in Spearhead from Space, the Draconian Emperor in Frontier in Space, the Duke of Forgill/Broton in Terror of the Zygons, and Seron in The Keeper of Traken
  • Susie Liggat was also first assistant director on Love & Monsters, Army of Ghosts and Doomsday, then producer on eight instalments (from Human Nature to The Next Doctor)
Breaking Point (UK TX: August 6)
  • Leslie Schofield (Treen) was Leroy in The War Games (4), and Calib in The Face of Evil
  • Linda Broughton (Mrs. Nankervis) was the Woman in Hell Bent
  • for Steve Slocombe, Elaine Matthews and Barbara Southcott see Series 1

Doctor Who On This Day #181

1965 The Keys of MarinusEpisode 4:
 The Snows of Terror first screened on CBC
1967 - The War Machines, Episode 3
repeated and The Tenth Planet, Episode
repeated and Episode 3 first screened,
all on ABC
1978 - Writer David Ellis died in Brighton,
aged 60; and The Monster of Peladon, Parts
2 to 4 all repeated on ABC
1979 - The Seeds of Doom, Part 4 first screened on TV2
1980 Image of the FendahlPart 3 first screened on 
WTTW 11; The Ribos Operation, Parts 1 and 3 both
repeated on ABC; and The Stones of Blood, Part 4 first
screened on TV2
1981 - The Deadly Assassin, Part 2 repeated on KQED
Plus; and State of Decay, Part 3 first screened on TV1
1982 Meglos, Part 2 repeated on KQED Plus
1983 - Colony in Space, Episodes 4 and 5 both repeated
on ABC; Pyramids of Mars, Part 2 first screened on KSPS;
and The Hand of Fear,Part 4 repeated on KQED Plus
1984 The Invasion of Time, Part 5 repeated on KQED
Plus
1985 Underworld Omnibus repeated on KQED Plus
1986 The Sensorites, Episodes 1 to 3 all first screened 
on WTTW 11; The Three Doctors, Episode 2 repeated on
 ABC; and Mawdryn UndeadPart 4 first screened on TROS
1987 The Curse of Peladon, Episode 2 repeated on KQED
Plus; and The Hand of Fear, Part 3 repeated on TV2
1988 Terror of the Zygons, Part 4 repeated on Super 
Channel; Pyramids of Mars, Part 3 first screened on TV3 
(Spain); and Time FlightPart 2 repeated on KQED Plus
1989 Planet of Evil, Part 4 repeated on KQED Plus; 
The Masque of Mandragora, Part 4 repeated on ABC; and
Resurrection of the Daleks, Part 2 (of 4) first screened
 on TV2
1990 The Dalek Invasion of Earth, Episode 2: The
Daleks repeated on BSB; Warriors' Gate Omnibus
epeated on WTTW 11; Time and the RaniPart 4 
repeated on KQED Plus; and Battlefield, Part 4 first
screened on TV2
1992 Planet of the Daleks, Episode 1 repeated on
KQED Plus
1993 The Time Monster, Episode 4 repeated on UK
Gold; and The Mark of the Rani, Part 2 (of 4) repeated
on ABC
1994 Kinda, Part 3 repeated on UK Gold
1995 - Carnival of Monsters, Episode 4 repeated on
UK Gold
1996 The Visitation and Black Orchid Omnibuses both
repeated on UK Gold
1997 Terror of the Zygons, Part 1 repeated on UK Gold;
and Pyramids of Mars, Part 1 repeated on UKTV (Aus)
1998 The Space Museum, Episode 2: The Dimensions 
of Time repeated on Space; and Dragonfire, Part 1
repeated on UKTV (Aus)
1999 The Daleks, Episode 2: The Survivors repeated
on Space; Resurrection of the Daleks, Part 2 repeated on
UKTV (Aus); and Doctor Who TV Movie repeated on HBO
Plus (LA)
2000 The Rescue, Episode 1: The Powerful Enemy
repeated on Prime; The Ambassadors of Death, Episode
1 repeated on UKTV (Aus); and The Sontaran Experiment
Omnibus repeated on BBC America
2001 The Silurians, Episodes 5 and 6 both repeated on 
KERA; The Stones of Blood Omnibus repeated on UKTV
 (Aus); Destiny of the Daleks, Part 4 first screened on
Prairie PTV; Warriors' Gate, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated 
on Colorado PTV; Enlightenment, Part 3 repeated on BBC 
Prime; and The Caves of Androzani, Parts 1 and 2 both
repeated on MiND
2002 The Sontaran ExperimentPart 2 repeated
on WCNY; Terror of the ZygonsPart 2 repeated
on WCNY; Pyramids of Mars, Part 2 first screened 
on Tele 5; The Deadly Assassin Omnibus repeated on MPT; Face of Evil, 
Parts and 2 both repeated on MiND; The Robots of Death Omnibus 
repeated oBBC Kids (Can); Horror of Fang Rock Omnibus repeated on
UK Gold; The Sun MakersPart 1 repeated on WILL; The Armageddon 
 Factor, Part 2 repeated on KUED; State of Decay, Part 4 repeated on Twin
Cities PTV; EarthshockParts and 2 both repeated on WCET; Time Flight
Part 1 repeated on WQED; Enlightenment, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on 
Lakeshore PTV; The Five Doctors, Parts 3 and 4 (of 4) both repeated on
KBTC; The Awakening Omnibus repeated on NHPTV; Planet of Fire, Parts
3 and 4 both repeated on Colorado PTV; Revelation of the Daleks, Parts 
and 4 (of 4) both repeated on Iowa PTV; and Doctor Who TV Movie 
repeated on Syfy (US)
2003 Genesis of the DaleksPart 6 repeated on Tele 5;
and The Armageddon Factor Omnibus repeated on BBC 
Kids (Can)
2004 - The Curse of Peladon, Episode 3 repeated on ABC
2005 Meglos, Part 2 repeated on ABC
2006 Totally Doctor Who (1.12) repeated on CBBC
2007 - The Empty Child first screened on LPB; The Long
Game first screened on TV3 (RI); The Girl in the Fireplace
first screened on één; Love & Monsters first screened on
ΣΚΑΙ; Doomsday repeated on UK Gold; Smith and 
Jones first screened on ABC1; Last of the Time Lords first
screened on BBC1; Doctor Who Confidential: The Valiant
Quest first screened on BBC3; The Infinite Quest Omnibus
first screened on BBC2; Totally Doctor Who (2.12)
repeated on BBC2; and The Weakest Link Doctor Who 
Special repeated on BBC1
2008 The Time Monster, Episodes 2 and 3 both first 
screened on MTV3 SciFi; and Dalek first screened on
 Syfy (FRG) and Syfy (Rus)
2009 Doomsday and Doctor Who Confidential
Cutdown: Finale both repeated on UKTV (Aus)
2010 Dalek repeated on AXN SciFi; The Parting of the
Ways repeated on Syfy (Rus); Rise of the Cybermen first
 screened on Space; and Fear Her and Army of Ghosts
both repeated on Syfy (FRG)
2011 The Five Doctors, Parts 3 and 4 (of 4) both
repeated on MTV3 SciFi; Boom Town repeated on BBC
America; A Good Man Goes to War first screened on
Prime; and Doctor Who Confidential Cutdown: Eyes
Wide Open repeated on UKTV (Aus)
2012 Resurrection of the Daleks Omnibus screened at
 the Paley Centre, New York; Army of Ghosts repeated on
BBC America; and The Curse  of the Black Spot and Doctor
Who Confidential: Ship Ahoy! both repeated on BBC3
2013 The Dalek Invasion of Earth Omnibus repeated
on KBTC; Vengeance on Varos Omnibus and The Doctors
Revisited: The Fifth Doctor and The Sixth Doctor all
repeated on BBC America; Revelation 
of the Daleks Omnibus repeated on UKTV; Rose repeated on RAI4;
The Christmas Invasion repeated on Watch; Flesh and Stone and The 
Vampires of Venice both repeated on BBC Entertainment LA;
The Doctor's Wife repeated on Iowa PTV and MPTV; The Doctor, the 
Widow and the Wardrobe repeated on WTTW Prime; The Rings of 
Akhaten and Hide both repeated on France 4; Cold War repeated on Fox
 (FRG); Doctor Who Confidential: Religion, Myths and Legends repeated
 on BBC Entertainment AP; Doctor Who Confidential Cutdown: 
Coming to America and Stage Fright both repeated on UKTV (Aus);
Doctor Who Confidential: What Goes On Tour repeated on BBC Nordic
HD; and Doctor Who Confidential: Bigger On The Inside repeated on
Iowa Public TV
2014 The Aztecs Omnibus repeated on Watch; The Android Invasion,
Part 2, Four to Doomsday, Part 3, The Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang
 all repeated on Syfy (Aus); Resurrection of the Daleks, Part 3 and 4 both
first screened on Horror; Boom Town repeated on Watch; The Christmas 
Invasion and Tooth and Claw both repeated on BBC America; New Earth 
repeated on BBC America and TV3 (Spain); The Runaway Bride repeated
on RAI4; The Stolen Earth repeated on WPT; The Time of Angels repeated
on Jeem TV (ME); Day of the Moon repeated on Syfy (Port) and
Syfy (Spain); The Rebel Flesh and The Almost People both repeated on
Fox (FRG); The Girl Who Waited repeated on BBC Nordic HD and BBC
Polska HD; The God Complex repeated on BBC Nordic HD, BBC Polska HD
and WSIU; and The Bells of Saint John repeated on Ztélé and Syfy (Ben)
2015 The Sontaran Experiment Omnibus repeated on Horror; 
CastrovalvaPart 1 and Blink both repeated on Syfy (Aus); The 
Happiness Patrol, Parts and 2 both first screened on Retro TV; The 
End of the World repeated on Watch; The Idiot's Lantern repeated on
Disney XD (US); The Lazarus Experiment first screened on FX (Ind); 
The Beast Below repeated on TV Cultura; Amy's Choice repeated on 
ABC2; The Curse of the Black SpotThe Girl Who WaitedDoctor Who 
Confidential: Ship Ahoy! and Take Two all repeated on BBC Entertain-
ment AP; Closing Time repeated on KCPT2; The Power of Three
 and The Angels Take Manhattan both repeated on BBC Nordic HD and
BBC Polska HD; The Bells of Saint John repeated on ABC and Syfy (Aus);
Cold War repeated on WGVU; Listen and Time Heist both repeated on
BBC America; and Doctor Who Explained repeated on BBC Entertainment
LA
2016 The Keys of MarinusEpisodes 1 and 2 both repeated 
on Retro TV; Father's Day and The Curse of the Black Spot
both repeated on Syfy (Aus); The Stolen Earth and The Big
Bang both repeated on France 4; The Eleventh Hour repeated
on BBC Polska HD and DR3; The Beast Below repeated on
BBC Polska HD; The God Complex repeated on TV Cultura; 
Hide repeated on Space; Nightmare in Silver repeated on Syfy (Spain); 
The Name of the Doctor repeated on ABC2; In the Forest of the Night 
repeated on BBC Entertainment AP; Under the Lake repeated on
YLE TV2; Before the Flood repeated on BBC First (ME); and The 
Girl Who Died and The Women Who Lived both repeated on Fox (FRG)
2017 - The ArkEpisodes 1 and 2 both repeated on Retro 
TV; The Satan Pit repeated on Syfy (Aus); Forest of the
Dead and Midnight both repeated on RAI4; The Waters of
Mars, The End of Time, Parts 1 and 2, The Eleventh Hour,
The Beast Below and The Day of the Doctor all repeated
on BBC America; Time Heist and Doctor Who Extra: Robot
of Sherwood both repeated on BBC Polska HD; and The
Zygon Invasion repeated on Syfy (LA)
2018 - The Shakespeare Code and Gridlock both repeated
on BBC Polska HD; Last Christmas repeated on BBC Enter-
tainment EU; The Magician's Apprentice and The Witch's
Familiar both repeated on Star World Premiere; and World 
Enough and Time repeated on Syfy (Aus)
2019 -  The Sun MakersParts 3 and 4 both repeated on
 KBTC; Underworld Omnibus repeated on WSRE; The Power 
of Kroll Omnibus repeated on MPTV; MeglosParts 1 and 2
both repeated
 on Retro TV; Castrovalva Omnibus repeated on Idaho PTV;
Warriors of the Deep Omnibus repeated on Iowa PTV; Closing 
Time and The Wedding of River Song both repeated on BBC 
Polska HD; The God ComplexThe Power of ThreeThe Angels 
Take ManhattanThe Bells of Saint JohnThe Rings of Akhaten
Cold War and Hide all repeated on W; The Witch's Familiar
Under the LakeBefore the FloodThe Girl Who DiedThe 
Women Who Lived and The Zygon Invasion all repeated on 
Sony SciFi; The Return of Doctor Mysterio and The Pilot both 
repeated on One ARD; and The Ghost Monument repeated on
 TV2
2020 Horror of Fang Rock, Part 4 and The Invisible
EnemyPart 1 both repeated on Retro TV; The Impossible
Astronaut and Day of the Moon both repeated on Sony
SciFi; A Good Man Goes to War and The Tsuranga
Conundrum both repeated on BBC Turkey; Asylum of
the Daleks and Dinosaurs on a Spaceship both repeated
on One ARD; and Orphan 55 first screened on BBC
Polska HD
2021 Terminus, Parts 3 and 4 both
repeated on Retro TV; and Hell Bent
repeated on ABC2
2022 - The Tomb of the Cybermen,
Episodes 1 and 2 both repeated on
Retro TV; Town Called Mercy
repeated on Fox SciFi; Before the
 Flood repeated on BBC Polska HD;
Time Heist repeated on Syfy (Fra);
The Husbands of River Song repeated
on BBC First Turkey; and Redacted,
Episode 4Angelrepeated on Radio
4 Extra
2024 The Deadly Assassin, Parts
3 and 4 both repeated on KBTC;
Image of the Fendahl, Part 1, The
Sun Makers, Part 4, Underworld,
Part 1 and The Invasion of TimePart
6 all screened at Riverside Studios;
and The Age of Steel repeated on
ABC Family
2025 Demons of the Punjab 
repeated on ABC Entertains