Doctor Who Vs. Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye

Agatha Christie's fifty-sixth crime novel (correctly

titled A Pocket Full of Rye) was published in 1953

- this BBC adaptation was shown on U&Drama last

night. The original Miss Marple TV series began in

1984 with The Body in the Library.

Joan Hickson (1906-1998) portrayed the title role

 in twelve cases, until 1992. This thriller was the

fourth in the run, and first aired in March 1985.

An ITV Studios version followed in 2009.

Series producer George Gallaccio was production

 manager on Planet of the Spiders and four Tom

Baker stories, whilst Peter Davison played Lance

Fortescue here - the two-part mystery featured

these seventeen other Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

• Annette Badland (Gladys here; Spriggs in Five Little Pigs) was Margaret Blaine [Blon Fel Fotch Pasameer Day Slitheen] in Aliens of London, World War Three and Boom Town (then reprised for Big Finish's Sync), and voiced Queen Karlina for Equilibrium, Thelma for Suburban Hell (both 2015), Guilana for Asking for a Friend (2017), Judge/Computer for Barrister to the Stars, Mrs. Slinger/Batraxus for Whatever Remains, Maude Polwart/ Mermaid for The Ghost Writers (all 2020), Mrs. Goose/Fleshkin for The Hunting Season (2021), Mrs. Chinn for Mind of the Hodiac, the eponymous role for The Miniaturist, Eminent Sedanya for Blood of the Time Lords (all 2022), the Toymaker for Matryoshka, Old Emily Barnfather/the Bucca for The Stuff of Legend, Dorothy Stubbs for The Sitter (both 2024), Aunt Lavinia Smith for The Caller and Presents of Mind (both 2025), and Mary Joy for Save the Date (2026)
• Timothy [Lancaster] West (Rex Fortescue here; Easterfield in Murder is Easy; Kenward in Agatha; Cottrell in Hallowe'en Party) voiced Kai Tobias for Phobos (2007), Ronald Turvey for Cuddlesome (2008), and Dr. Magnus Soames for House of Blue Fire (2011)
• Clive [Robert] Merrison (Percival here; Strange for Three Act Tragedy) was Jim Callum in The Tomb of the Cybermen, and the Deputy Chief Caretaker in Paradise Towers, then voiced Sir Frederick Maltravers for BBV Productions' The Barnacled Baby (2001), and George Augustus for The Contingency Club (2017)
• Rachel [born Linda] Bell (Jennifer here; Mrs. Nicoletis in Hickory Dickory Dock) was Priscilla P in The Happiness Patrol
• Jon Glover (DS Hay) voiced Shellingborne Grant for Slipback, then provided voices for The Sarah Jane Adventures, and voiced Creodot for False Gods, Dr. Verryman for Order of Simplicity (both 2008), Father Christmas for Death in Blackpool (2009), Jafrid for The Well-Mannered War (2015), Sir James for Infidel Places, and Dr. Gommen for The Stuntman (both 2022)
• [Albert] Frank Mills (Crump here; DCI Hearne in Witness for the Prosecution, 1982) was the Telescope Director in (episode 1 of) Terror of the Autons
• Louis [Felix Danner] Mahoney (French) was Newscaster in Frontier in Space, Ponti in Planet of Evil, and the elder Billy Shipton in Blink
• Charles Pemberton (Rose here; Stooge in Four and Twenty Black- birds) was a Cyberman (also for Tomb) and Technician in The War Games
• [Dilys] Rhoda Lewis (Mrs. Brogan here, 4.50 from Paddington & The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side) was Marta in State of Decay
• [William] Pat Gorman (Golfer here; Commissionaire in Finessing the King; Sergeant in The ABC Murders; Londoner in The Case of the Missing Will) appeared in eighty-three classic series episodes (from The Dalek Invasion of Earth to Attack of the Cybermen)
• Christine Walmesley Cotham was also make-up designer on The Ribos Operation and The Horns of Nimon
• for John Walker and Bill Chesneau see The Body in the Library
• Graham Walker was also the film editor on all five of Joe Ahearne's episodes for Series 1
• production designer Michael Young devised the impressive sets for The Massacre
• Judy Pepperdine was costume designer on Warriors of the Deep too
• location manager Christopher Moss was an uncredited AFM on The Power of Kroll

The cast of the BBC Radio 4 dramatisation of A Pocket Full of Rye
(1995) was again led by June Whitfield, with Doctor Who guest stars:

• Nicky Henson (DI Neele here; Lee in Hercule Poirot's Christmas, 1986) voiced Pieter Stubbe for Loups-Garoux (2011), Dick Turpin for The Doomwood Curse (2008), and Gregson Grenville for Deimos and The Resurrection of Mars (both 2010)
• Derek Waring (Fortescue here; Erskine in Sleeping Murder, 2001) was Shardovan in Castrovalva

Doctor Who On This Day #244

 

1910 - Head of Serials, Donald Wilson

born in Dunblane

1967 - The Tenth Planet, Episode 4 repeated

and The Highlanders, Episode 1 repeated and

 Episode 2 first screened, all on ABC

1969 - The Evil of the Daleks, Episode 7, The

Abominable Snowmen, Episode 3 and The Ice

Warriors, Episodes 1 and 2 all repeated on ABC

1970 - The Web of Fear, Episode 2, Fury from

the Deep, Episode 3 and The Wheel in Space,

 Episode 2 all repeated on ABC

1971 - The Mind Robber, Episodes 2 and

4 and The Invasion, Episode 3 all repeated

on ABC

1972 - The Invasion, Episode 5 and The Seeds 

of Death, Episode 5 both repeated on ABC

1975 - Day of the Daleks, Episode 1 first

 screened on TV2; and The Sontaran

Experiment, Part 2 first screened on TROS

1978 - Genesis of the Daleks, Part 6 and

The Android Invasion, Parts 3 and 4 all

repeated on ABC; and The Sun Makers,

Part 4 repeated on BBC Cymru

1979 - The Hand of Fear, Part 3 first screened

on TV2; and Destiny of the Daleks, Part 1 first

screened on BBC1

1980 - The Creature from the Pit, Part

3 and Nightmare of Eden, Part 1 both

repeated on ABC; and The Armageddon

Factor, Part 1 first screened on TV2

1981 - The Ribos Operation, Part 4 repeated

on KQED Plus; and The Keeper of Traken,

Part 4 first screened on TV1

1982 - Terror of the Zygons, Part 3 repeated

on KQED Plus; and The Android Invasion, Part

4 and The Seeds of Doom, Part 1 both repeated

on ABC

1983 - Planet of the Spiders, Parts 5 and 6

both repeated on ABC; The Ribos Operation,

Part 2 repeated on KQED Plus; and Black

Orchid, Part 2 repeated on BBC1

1984 - The Horns of Nimon, Part 2

repeated on KQED Plus
1985 - City of Death Omnibus repeated

on KQED Plus
1986 - The Space Museum Omnibus first

screened on WTTW 11; and The Time

Warrior, Part 4 repeated on ABC

1987 - The Green Death, Episode 6 repeated

on KQED Plus; Genesis of the Daleks, Part 5

repeated on Super Channel (UK); and The

Talons of Weng-Chiang, Part 5 repeated on

TV2

1988 - Castrovalva, Part 3 repeated on TV2;

and Planet  of Fire, Part 3 repeated on KQED

Plus

1989 - Horror of Fang Rock, Part 1 repeated

 on KQED Plus; and Attack of the Cybermen,

Part 4 (of 4) first screened on TV2

1990 - The Web Planet, Episode 5: Invasion

repeated on BSB; and Inferno, Episode 7

repeated on KQED Plus

1992 - Genesis of the Daleks, Part 1

repeated on KQED Plus

1993 - The Ark in Space, Part 4 repeated

 on UK Gold; and The Brain of Morbius, Part

3 repeated on ABC

1994 - Warriors of the Deep, Part 4 repeated

on UK Gold

1995 - Robot, Part 1 repeated on UK Gold

1996 - Warriors of the Deep Omnibus repeated on UK Gold
1997 - Pyramids of Mars Omnibus repeated on KQED Plus;

The Robots of Death, Part 3 repeated on UK Gold; and

Horror of Fang Rock, Part 2 repeated on UKTV (Aus)

1998 - The Seeds of Death, Episode 3 repeated

on Space
1999 - The Gunfighters, Episode 1: A Holiday

for the Doctor repeated on Space; and Planet

 of the Spiders, Part 3 repeated on UKTV (Aus)

2000 - The Krotons, Episode 3 repeated on

Prime; The Curse of Peladon, Episode 3

repeated on UKTV (Aus); and The Android

Invasion, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on

BBC America

2001 - Inferno, Episode 7 and Terror of the Autons, Episode 1 both
repeated on KERA; The Creature from the Pit, Part 3 first screened
on Prairie PTV; The Leisure Hive Omnibus repeated on UKTV (Aus);
Warriors' Gate Omnibus repeated on UK Gold; Castrovalva, Parts

1 and 2 both repeated on Colorado PTV; Earthshock, Parts

 1 and 2 both repeated on Iowa PTV; The Awakening, Part

2 repeated on BBC Prime; and Delta and the

Bannermen, Part 3 and Dragonfire, Part 1 both
repeated on MiND

2002 - Revenge of the Cybermen, Part 4 repeated on WCNY; The 
Android Invasion, Part 3 repeated on Lakeland PTV; Horror of Fang 
Rock, Part 4 and The Invisible Enemy, Part 1 both repeated on MiND; 
The Invasion of Time, Part 1 repeated on WILL and Omnibus repeated
on MPT; The Creature from the Pit, Part 3 repeated on KUED; Full 
Circle Omnibus repeated on UK Gold; The Keeper of Traken, Part 4
repeated on TPT; Snakedance, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on WCET;
Warriors of the Deep, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on Lakeshore PTV;
Resurrection of the Daleks, Part 1 and 2 (of 4) both repeated on 
KBTC; The Caves of Androzani, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on
 NHPTV; The Two Doctors, Parts 1 and 2 (of 6) both repeated on
Colorado PTV; and Time and the Rani Omnibus repeated on Iowa

PTV

2003 - Terror of the Zygons Omnibus repeated

 on BBC Kids (Can); and The Android Invasion,

Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on UK Gold
2004 - The Time Warrior, Part 3 repeated on ABC
2005 - The Visitation, Part 2 repeated on ABC;

and The Empty Child first screened on Prime
2006 - The Christmas Invasion repeated on BBC3

2007 - The Unquiet Dead repeated on LPB

 and WVPB; World War Three repeated on

Prairie PTV; The Long Game repeated on

OETA; The Empty Child first screened on

Rocky Mountain PBS and repeated on

WQLN; Blink first screened on ABC1;

Doctor Who Confidential: TARDIS Tales

first screened on LPB; and Doctor Who

Confidential: Special Effects repeated on WQLN
2008 - The Brain of Morbius, Part 4 and The Seeds
of Doom, Part 1 both first screened on MTV3 SciFi

and TV4; Rose repeated on KLCS; The Long Game

 and Father's Day both repeated on WJCT; The Empty 
Child repeated on Oregon PB; The Christmas Invasion
first screened on Syfy (Rus); The Girl in the Fireplace 
repeated on UK Gold; and Dr. Who and the Daleks 
screened on Syfy (Spa)
2009 - Boom Town repeated on Syfy (FRG);

and The Sound of Drums and Doctor Who

Confidential Cutdown: The Saxon Mystery

both repeated on UKTV (Aus)

2010 - The End of the World and The Unquiet Dead both repeated on
Syfy (FRG); The Family of Blood and Blink both repeated on AXN SciFi;
Journey's End first screened on Space; and Vincent and the Doctor and

Doctor Who Confidential: A Brush With Genius both repeated on BBC3

2011 - The Planet of Evil, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on Syfy (Aus);
The Curse of Fenric, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on MTV3 SciFi, TV2 
and TV4; The Age of Steel, The Idiot's Lantern and The Family of

Blood all repeated on BBC America; The Satan Pit repeated

on UKTV (Aus); and Blink and Utopia both repeated on Watch

2012 - The Creature from the Pit, Episode 7 repeated on

 Radio 4 Extra; The Lodger, The Pandorica Opens, The Big

Bang, A Christmas Carol, The Impossible Astronaut, Day

of the Moon, The Curse of the Black Spot, The Doctor's

Wife, The Rebel Flesh, The Almost People, A Good Man

Goes to War, Let's Kill Hitler, Night Terrors, The Girl

Who Waited, The God Complex, Closing Time and The

Wedding of River Song all repeated on BBC America;

Asylum of the Daleks first screened on BBC1 and

released on ABC iView only; and Pond Life Omnibus

released on the BBC Red Button

2013 - Frontier in Space, Episodes 5 and 6 both repeated on KBTC;
Terror of the Zygons, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on Syfy (Aus);
Doctor Who TV Movie and The Doctors Revisited: The Fourth Doctor 
both repeated and The Doctors Revisited: The Eighth Doctor first
screened, all on BBC America; Rose and The End of the World both 
repeated on UKTV; The Idiot's Lantern, The Impossible Planet and
The Satan Pit all repeated on France 4; The Rebel Flesh repeated on
BBC Entertainment LA; Let's Kill Hitler repeated on WTTW Prime;
Closing Time and Doctor Who Confidential: Open All Hours both
repeated on Iowa PTV; The Wedding of River Song

and Doctor Who Confidential: When Time Froze both

repeated on MPTV; The Angels Take Manhattan first

screened on Idaho PTV; Doctor Who Confidential:

The Valiant Quest repeated on BBC Entertainment

EU; and Doctor Who Confidential: What Goes on

Tour repeated on BBC Entertainment AP

2014 - The Daleks, Episode 7: The Rescue repeated on Horror;
Underworld, Parts 3 and 4, The Fires of Pompeii and Planet of the 
Ood all repeated on Syfy (Aus); The Eleventh Hour repeated on WPT
and Karusel; The Vampires of Venice repeated on Watch; The Big Bang 
repeated on RAI4; The Impossible Astronaut repeated on BBC Polska;
A Good Man Goes to War and Doctor Who Confidential:

The Born Identity both repeated on BBC Entertainment

AP; The Angels Take Manhattan repeated on Syfy (Port);

and Doctor Who Confidential Cutdown: Breaking the

Silence repeated on UKTV (Aus)

2015 - The Dominators, Episodes 3 and 4 both repeated on Retro TV;
Frontios, Part 1, Night Terrors and The Time of the Doctor all repeated
on Syfy (Aus); Resurrection of the Daleks, Parts 1 and 2 (of 4) both
repeated on Horror; The Long Game repeated on KCPT2; Rise of

the Cybermen repeated on BBC Entertainment AP; The Doctor's

Daughter repeated on EBRU; Turn Left repeated on Watch;

The Next Doctor and Planet of the Dead both repeated

on BBC America; Cold 
Blood repeated on BBC Entertainment LA; The Rebel Flesh first
screened on FX (Ind) and repeated on RAI4; Closing Time and
The Wedding of River Song both repeated on BBC Nordic HD and

BBC Polska HD; The Day of the Doctor repeated on BBC Entertainment
RSA; Into the Dalek repeated on TV Cultura; Mummy on the Orient 
Express repeated on ABC2; Dark Water repeated on Prime; Earth

Conquest repeated on Space; and Best of the Doctor repeated on

BBC Entertainment EU, Romania and ME
2016 - Terror of the Autons, Episodes 3 and 4 both repeated on

Retro TV; Dalek and Turn Left both repeated on Syfy (Aus); Smith

and Jones repeated on The Zone; The Stolen Earth and Journey's

 End both repeated on BBC America; The Impossible Astronaut,

Day of the Moon and The God Complex all repeated on Syfy

(LA); Night Terrors repeated on AXN Mystery; The Girl Who

Waited repeated on Syfy (LA) and AXN Mystery; Asylum

 of the Daleks repeated on BBC Entertainment AP;

Hide repeated on Syfy (Bra); The Time of the

Doctor and Death in Heaven both repeated on

DR3; and The Caretaker repeated on BBC Nordic HD

2017 - The Three Doctors, Episodes 3 and 4 both repeated

on Retro TV; The Deadly Assassin, Part 3 repeated on Jones!

too; Utopia repeated on Syfy (Aus); and The Wedding of

River Song, The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe,

Asylum of the Daleks, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, A Town

Called Mercy and The Power of Three all repeated on BBC

America
2018 - Planet of Evil, Part 4, The Android Invasion, Part 1, The 
Awakening, Part 2 and Frontios, Parts 1 to 3 all repeated on Retro
TV; The End of Time, Part 1 repeated on One ARD; The Lodger, The 

Pandorica Opens and The Big Bang all repeated on Sony SciFi; Day
of the Moon, The Curse of the Black Spot, The Doctor's Wife and
The Rebel Flesh all repeated on BBC Polska HD; and Dr. Who and 
the Daleks and Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 AD both screened on
Comet TV
2019 - The Pirate Planet, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated
 on KBTC; Terminus Omnibus repeated on Idaho PTV;
Timelash Omnibus repeated on Iowa PTV; The Eleventh
Hour, The Beast Below and Victory of the Daleks all
repeated on W; Thin Ice and Knock Knock both repeated
on RAI4; and Leviathan, Episode 1 repeated on Radio 4
Extra
2020 - Kinda, Part 3 repeated on Retro TV;

Closing Time and Can You Hear Me? both

repeated on BBC Polska HD; Into the Dalek

and Robot of Sherwood both repeated on One

 ARD; Time Heist repeated on NRJ12; Sleep

No More and Orphan 55 both repeated on BBC

First Turkey; and Dr. Who and the Daleks and

Daleks' Invasion Earth 2150 AD both screened

on Comet TV

2021 - Human Nature repeated on ABC2;

Flesh and Stone repeated on ABC ME;

Oxygen repeated on BBC Polska HD; and

World Enough and Time repeated on BBC

First Turkey

2022 - Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Parts

1 and 2 both repeated on Retro TV; The

Impossible Planet repeated on ABC2; and

Oxygen repeated on Fox SciFi

2023 - The Return of Doctor Mysterio,

The Pilot, Survivors of the Flux and The

Vanquishers all repeated on Fox SciFi

2024 - Horror of Fang Rock, Parts

3 and 4 both repeated on KBTC; The

Happiness Patrol Omnibus screened

at BFI Southbank; and Flesh and

Stone repeated on ABC Family