Doctor Who Vs. Oliver Twist (1985)

Victorian literary classic Oliver Twist (also known

as The Parish Boy's Progress, and originally pub-

lished monthly in Bentley's Miscellany from 1837-

39) was only Charles Dickens' second novel.

The first television adaptation of the story was

shown on BBCtv in 1962, followed by this more faith-

ful version in 1985. Produced by Terrance Dicks as
part of the corporation's Classic Serial strand (which
ran regularly on Sunday afternoons for twenty years
from 1975), the drama originally aired in late 1985.

 The twelve-part saga featured Ben Rodska as Oliver,
Eric Porter (Fagin), and twenty-six other Doctor Who
cast and crew connections:

• Terry Molloy (Brittles) was the third actor to portray Davros on TV (from Resurrection of the Daleks), a role reprised for Big Finish's audio series I, Davros (2006), then Davros (2003), The Juggernauts, Terror Firma (both 2005), The Davros Mission (2007), Masters of War (2008), The Curse of Davros (2012), Daleks Among Us (2013), The Lights of Skaro (2014), and even on stage for The Trial of Davros (2005) - he was also Russell in Attack of the Cybermen, and voiced Magus Riga for Kingdom of Silver, Examiner for Keepsake (both 2008), Dr. Christopher Wallace and the Rat King for Rat Trap (2011), Lord Ampthill for Jago and Litefoot: The Hourglass Killers (2012), Quadrigger Stoyn for The Beginning, The Dying Light (both 2013), and Luna Romana (2014), and Rone for Time Reaver (2016)
• Brian Badcoe (Magistrate) was Adam in Invasion of the Dinosaurs
• June Brown (Mrs. Mann) was Lady Eleanor in The Time Warrior
• Donald 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 Burnham (Grimwig) was professors Watkins and Kettlewell in The Invasion and Robot respectively
• Lysette 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 Attwell (Bill Sikes) was Isbur in The Ice Warriors, and Bates in Attack of the Cybermen
• Godfrey James (Bumble) was Tarn in Underworld
• Gillian 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 Hornets Nest: The Dead Shoes (2011)
• Miriam Margolyes (Mrs Corney) voiced Leef Apple Glyn Slitheen-Blathereen in The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Gift, and Frau Tod for The Beast of Orlok (2009)
• Christopher Driscoll (Crackit) was the Security Guard in The Idiot's Lantern
• Janet Henfrey (Martha) was Miss Hardaker in The Curse of Fenric, and voiced Mrs. Vanguard for The Spirit Trap (2010), Old Woman for Counter Measures 3, and Dr. Petherbridge for An Eye For Murder (both 2014)
• 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
• 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 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 (5)
• 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 Simpson, composer on almost 300 episodes (from Planet of the Giants to The Horns of Nimon)