Doctor Who Vs. Oliver Twist (2005)

By 2004, the controversial French-born filmmaker 

Roman Polanski was keen to produce a child 

friendly version of Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist

- actually the first cinematic treatment since the 

Oscar-winning musical, Oliver! in 1968.
This new adaptation was shot entirely in the
Czech Republic.

This literary classic (also known as The Parish 

Boy's Progress, and originally published monthly
 in Bentley's Miscellany from 1837 to 1839) was
only the writer's second novel.

Barney Clark now portrayed the famous orphan,
 and the cast, headed by Ben Kingsley as Fagin,
also featured twelve Doctor Who acting alumi:

• Jeremy Swift (Bumble) voiced Fraser for Big Finish's Hidden Depths (2022)
• Ian McNeice (Limbkins) played Winston Churchill in Victory of the Daleks, The Pandorica Opens and The Wedding of River Song (a role reprised for The Churchill Years and Their Finest Hour), and voiced Zeus for Immortal Beloved (2007), and Reginald Harcourt for The Renaissance Man (2012)
• John Nettleton (Magistrate) was Reverend Ernest Matthews in Ghost Light
• Chris Overton (Noah) voiced Terrill and Levek for The Brood of Erys (2014)
• Jamie Foreman (Bill Sykes) was Eddie Connolly in The Idiot's Lantern
• Timothy Bateson (Parson) was Binro in The Ribos Operation
• Joseph Tremain (Hungry Boy) was Jim in The Empty Child and The Doctor Dances
• Peter Copley (Master) was Dr Warlock in Pyramids of Mars
• Gerald Horan (Farmer) was Clark in Human Nature and The Family of Blood
• Patrick Godfrey (Bookseller) was Tor in The Savages, and Major Cosworth in The Mind of Evil
• Frank Mills (Officer) was the Radio Telescope Director in Terror of the Autons
• Paul Brooke (Grimwig) voiced Paolo for The Ghosts of N-Space, and Toby the Sapient Pig for Year of the Pig (2006)

Doctor Who Vs. Adam Adamant Lives! Series 1 [Part 1]

On this day in 1966, this fantasy series debuted on BBC1, and Big Finish have announced that their next audio series is based on the cult classic. The show chronicled the adventures of the eponymous hero (played by Gerald Harper),
an Edwardian transported to the
swinging Sixties, having been
frozen in ice by his nemesis, the
Face (Peter Duckrow). Adamant
(the Corporation's own version
of John Steed, mainstay of The 
Avengers) was joined in his crime
fighting by Georgina Jones (Juliet
Harmer).

Contemporary observers viewed
the programme makers as "what
Doctor Who did next" because
Sydney Newman, Verity 
Lambert, and Donald Cotton
all had key roles in the pilot episode, A Vintage Year for Scoundrels, and
would be credited as co-creators. Adam Adamant Lives! was actually the replacement for an intended adaptation of the Sexton Blake canon.

The sixteen-part season was originally shown from June to October 1966
 (the unaired pilot remains lost) - the first eight episodes featured fifty-
nine further Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

• Ivor Salter (Hoggett) was the Morok Commander in The Space Museum, Odysseus in The Myth Makers, and Sergeant Markham in Black Orchid
• Duckrow (the Face) was Guard in (episode 1 of) Fury from the Deep
• Frank Jarvis (Hicks) was a Corporal in The War Machines (3), Ankh in Underworld, and Skart in The Power of Kroll
• Bartlett Mullins (Gramps) and Ilona Rodgers (Susan) both appeared in The Sensorites, as an Elder and Carol
• Gordon Faith and Arnold Chazen (Foreigners) were the Guard Captain in The Enemy of the World; and Scientist [John Stacey] in The Moonbase, and Auton in Spearhead from Space (4)
• Kenneth Benda (Sir James) was the Minister in The Claws of Axos
• John Greenwood (Doctor) was D'Artagnan and Sir Lancelot in The Mind Robber (5)
• Alan Cassell (Villain), Gloria Forstner, Diana Hallows and Chris Reck (Partygoers) were all Inferno Customers in The War Machines (1)
• John Clamp and Roland Robinson (Reporters) were Guard in The Masque of Mandragora (2); and Militiaman in The Smugglers (4)
• Sheelagh McGrath (Disco Girl) and Victor Munt (Partygoer/Tourist) were Guardians in The Ark - Munt was also an Inferno Customer, and UNIT Soldier in The Silurians (3)
• Charles O'Rourke (Lackey), David Ronowski (Passerby) and Emmett Hennessy (Partygoer) were all Tavern Patrons in The Massacre (1) - Hennessy was also an Inferno Customer in The War Machines (1), Roman Soldier in The War Games (2), Guerilla and American Aide in Day of the Daleks, and Prison Guard in Frontier in Space
• Jack May (Simms) was General Nicolai Hermack in The Space Pirates
• Stephanie Bidmead (Madame) was Maaga in Galaxy 4
• Michael Robbins (Jeffreys) was Richard Mace in The Visitation
• Geoffrey Hinsliff (Parky) was Jack Tyler in Image of the Fendahl, and Fisk in Nightmare of Eden
• Patrick O'Connell (Danny) was Ashton in The Dalek Invasion of Earth (4)
• John Rolfe (Kelvin) was Fell in The Green Death
• Dave Carter (Partygoer) was a Rebel in The Power of the Daleks (1), IE Guard in The Invasion (1), titular monster in The Silurians, Primord in Inferno, Attendant in Terror of the Autons (1), Prison Officer in The Mind of Evil, Skybase Guard in The Mutants (1), Roundhead Officer in The Time Monster (3), Sergeant Duffy in Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1), and Grierson in The Android Invasion
• Philip Ryan (Jackson) was a Soldier in The Web of Fear (4), Redcoat in The Mind Robber, and Primord in Inferno
• Peter Baldwin and Denise Brown were Children in The Savages (1) too
• Laurie Goode (Partygoer/Tourist) was a Mutt in The Mutants, Time Lord in The Invasion of Time, Bandit in The Creature from the Pit, Tigellan in Meglos, Sailor in Enlightenment, and UNIT Trooper in Battlefield
• Barry Jackson (Executioner/Samurai/Victor/Guard/Fight Arranger) was Ascaris in The Romans, Jeff Garvey in Mission to the Unknown, and Drax in The Armageddon Factor - a role reprised for Big Finish's The Trouble With Drax (2016)
• Roger Jacombs (Partygoer/Tourist/Workman/Thug) was a Yeti in The Web of Fear (6)
• David James (Partygoer/Tourist) was Arab Sheikh in The Feast of Steven
• Arthur McGuire (Partygoer/Tourist) was Guard in The Massacre (4) and The Enemy of the World (4), and UNIT Soldier in The Silurians (3)
• Eric Mills (Student) was an Egyptian Warrior in The Daleks' Master Plan (9), and Parisian in The Massacre (3)
• Dennis Chin (Guard) and Basil Tang (Bellboy/Photographer/Business- man) were Coolies in The Talons of Weng-Chiang (5) - Tang was also Foreman in Marco Polo, and Diplomat in Day of the Daleks (4)
• Derek Ware (Samurai) was an uncredited fight arranger on 100,000 BC, The Aztecs (4), The Crusade (1), The Feast of Steven, The Underwater Menace (3) and The Web of Fear (1), stuntman on Terror of the Autons (1), then starred as Bus Conductor in The Chase (6), Trojan Soldier in The Myth Makers (4), Tuthmos in The Daleks' Master Plan, Spaniard in The Smugglers, UNIT Soldier in The Ambassadors of Death, Private Wyatt in Inferno, and Pigbin Josh in The Claws of Axos (1)
• Pat Gorman (Guard) appeared in eighty-three instalments of the classic series (from The Dalek Invasion of Earth to Attack of the Cybermen)
• Adrienne Corri (Shani) was Mena in The Leisure Hive
• William Hurndell (McLintock) was Ike Clanton in The Gunfighters
• John Hollis (Calvert) was Sondergaard in The Mutants
• David Spenser (Ahmed) was Thonmi in The Abominable Snowmen
• John Woodnutt (the Sheik) was George Hibbert in Spearhead from Space, the Draconian Emperor in Frontier in Space, the Duke of Forgill and Broton in Terror of the Zygons, and Seron in The Keeper of Traken
• Andrew Andreas (Croupier) was an Egyptian Warrior in The Daleks' Master Plan (10), Guard in The Enemy of the World, and German Soldier in The War Games (3)
• Norman Hartley (Florist) was Ulf in The Time Meddler, and Sergeant Peters in The Invasion 
• Valerie Stanton (Girl) was a Parisian in The Massacre (3), and  Secretary in The Space Pirates
• George Tovey (Cabbie) was Ernie Clements in Pyramids of Mars
• Jeremy Young (Wilson) was Kal in 100,000 BC, and Gordon Lowery in Mission to the Unknown
• Hamilton Dyce (George) was Major General Scobie in Spearhead from Space
• Ernest Blyth (Pallbearer) was a Villager/Coven member in The Daemons
• Colin Jeavons (Clair) was Damon in The Underwater Menace, and George Tracey in K9 & Company
• Keith Anderson (Charles) was Maximilien Robespierre in The Reign of Terror
• John Dawson (Minister) was a Time Lord in The Deadly Assassin 
• Ian Fairbairn (Barber) was Questa in The Macra Terror (1), Gregory in The Invasion, Bromley in Inferno, and Dr. Chester in The Seeds of Doom (3)
• Kenneth Ives (Man) was Toba in The Dominators 
• stuntman Peter Diamond was stunt double and fight arranger on twelve episodes (from The Daleks to The Daemons)
• designer Darrol Blake later directed The Stones of Blood

Doctor Who Vs. Years and Years

BBC One's latest prime
time drama concluded
last night, and will
premiere on American
TV next week.
Created and written by
Russell T Davies, the
six-part series focused
on the lives of the
Manchester-based
Lyons family, and
was set in the near future.
Made by the Red
Production Com-
pany, the acclaimed programme featured Emma Thompson, Ruth

Madeley, Dan Starkey, and twenty-five Doctor Who cast/crew

connections:

• Russell Tovey (Daniel) played Midshipman Alonso Frame in Voyage of the Dead - a role he reprised for The End of Time, Part 2 and Big Finish's The Lives of Captain Jack (2017)
• Maxim Baldry (Viktor) was Dr. John Polidori in The Haunting of Villa Diodati 
• Rory Kinnear (Stephen) voiced Samuel Belfrage for Industrial Evolution (2011)
• Jessica Hynes (Edith) was Joan Redfern in Human Nature and The Family of Blood, then [that character's great-grand daughter] Verity Newman in The End of Time, Part 2 - she also voiced Glory Bee for Invaders from Mars (2002)
• Anne Reid (Muriel) was Nurse Crane in The Curse of Fenric, and Florence Finnegan in Smith and Jones
• Sharon Duncan Brewster (Fran) was Maggie Cain in The Waters of Mars
• T'Nia Miller (Celeste) was the General in Hell Bent
• Lydia West (Bethany) voiced Vivien for Kidnapped! (2020)
• George Bukhari (Aleef) voiced Security for Purity Unleashed (2023)
• Mark Hugh Williams (Friend) was the Bus Driver in Rosa
• Beatrice Curnew (Expert) was the Group Commander in The Lie of the Land
• Andrew Byron (Policeman) was Ilya in The Pyramid at the End of the World
• Gracy Goldman (Expert) was Mrs. Woods in The Caretaker
• Emma Fielding (Jane) provided the voice of Kisar for Demons of the Punjab
• Ellie Haddington (Dr. Moss) was Professor Alison Docherty
• Glen McCready (voice of Signor) voiced Auditor General Otak Lame/Reyn for The Paternoster Gang 2 (2019), John Farron/Chad Mullain/Ezra/Soldier for The God of Phantoms, Franco/Luchino for The Lost Resort and Other Stories, Dr. Varma for The Eleven (all 2021), Dodson for The Auton Infinity (2022), and Robertson/Inn- keep/Captain for James Robert McCrimmon (2023)
• Susan Momoko Hingley (Dr. Eto) voiced Maria Werner for Fairytale of Salzburg, Keiko for The Barbarians and the Samurai (both 2018), Sassparilla/Li Zhao for Master! (2021), Mari for Together in Electric Dreams, and Queen Tremagi and Sheeda Wang for Beauty on the Inside (both 2022)
• Charles Armstrong (Editor) voiced Karl for Colony of Strangers (2020)
• Julia Sandiford (Newsreader) voiced Ilya for The War Master 5 (2020), and Fabrico for The Lost Resort
• Nina Albina (Guard) has been cast in Series 13
• Glen Fox (Expert) was Pilot in The Giggle
• Xavier Lake was stuntman on The Woman Who Fell to Earth too
• Murray Gold was also composer on every episode (from Rose to Twice Upon a Time)
• Andy Pryor has also worked as casting director on the revived run since 2005, The Sarah Jane Adventures and Torchwood
• Tony Slater Ling was also the cinematographer on The Vampires of Venice and Vincent and the Doctor

Doctor Who Vs. Single Father

Produced by BBC Scotland (and filmed in

Glasgow, Paisley and Edinburgh), this four-

part drama focused on Dave Tiler (played by

David Tennant), a photographer struggling

to care for his four children after the death 

of his partner, Rita (Laura Fraser) in a traffic

accident. 

Tennant debuted in Big Finish's Doctor Who

range in 2001 (for Colditz), and he recently

reprised the lead role for The Tenth Doctor 

Adventures.

The series was originally shown in October

2010 (and last repeated on the True Enter-

tainment Channel in 2015), and featured
Neve McIntosh, and twelve further Doctor 
Who cast and crew connections:

• Suranne Jones (Sarah) was the titular antagonist in The Sarah Jane Adventures: Mona Lisa's Revenge, then depicted Idris in The Doctor's Wife
• Isla Blair (Beatty) was Isabella in The King's Demons, and voiced Paula for Exotron (2007)
• Warren Brown (Matt) voiced Stephen Gibson for Industrial Evolution (2011), Rufus Stone and To'Koth for Signs and Wonders (2014), then Lieutenant Sam Bishop for UNIT: Extinction (2015), UNIT: Shutdown, UNIT: Silenced (both 2016), UNIT: Assembled (2017), UNIT: Cyber Reality, Lady Christina 1 (both 2018) and UNIT: Incursions (2019)
• Rupert Grave (Stuart) was John Riddell in Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
• Mark Heap (Robin) voiced the Middleman for The Middle (2017)
• Sanjeev Kohli (Dad) voiced Brother Boyle/Vallot for The Quin Dilemma (2024)
• stunt co-ordinator Paul Heasman was a Nazi in Silver Nemesis, and the stunt arranger on Survival
• Belinda McGinley was also a stunt performer on Amy's Choice and The Girl Who Waited
• stuntman Lee Sheward was a stunt co-ordinator on eleven adventures (from The End of the World to The End of Time), and Torchwood: Miracle Day
• Steve Smith was also a make-up artist on forty-one episodes (from The Christmas Invasion to The Waters of Mars), and Music of the Spheres
• sound mixer Brian Milliken was the sound recordist on The Sontaran Stratagem, The Poison Sky and The Sarah Jane Adventures
• composer Murray Gold has worked on the revived run (from Rose to Twice Upon a Time)

Doctor Who Vs. Van Der Valk, Series 5

ITV's classic crime drama again starred Barry Foster as the eponymous Dutch detective, was based on characters created by Nicolas Freeling for
his Van Der Valk novels in 1962. Produced at Thames Television's studios
 in London, with location scenes shot in the books' Amsterdam setting, the 
show was revived in early 1991, thirteen years after the previous series.
A repeat run of the final, three-part season (first shown in early 1992)
concluded on the Talking Pictures TV channel last night, and featured 
twenty-one Doctor Who cast connections:

• Brian Cox (Szabo) provided the voice of the Elder Ood in The End of Time, and depicted Sydney Newman in An Adventure in Space and Time
• Malcolm Tierney (Nagel) was Dolland in Terror of the Vervoids
• Vernon Dobtcheff (Jonge) was an Alien Scientist in The War Games , then voiced Dadda Desaka for The Cradle of the Snake (2010), Sibelius Crow for The Necropolis Express, Shamur for The Children of Seth (both 2011), Professor Heinrich Schumann for Counter Measures 1: Threshold (2012), and Jorenzo Zorn for The Genesis Chamber (2016)
• Sion Tudor Owen (Staal) was Tandrell in The Mysterious Planet
• Kevork Malikyan (Colombian) was Kemel Rudkin in The Wheel in Space
• Martyn Whitby (Swart) was a Drayman in The Mark of the Rani
• Paul Freeman (Tromp) voiced Jalnik for The Foe From the Future (2012)
• Stephen Moore (Hensen) was Eldane in The Hungry Earth and Cold Blood, and voiced Clark Goodman for The Eight Truths and Worldwide Web (2009)
• Maggie Steed (Maria) voiced Madame Rana Zandusia for Mission to Magnus (2009)
• Julian Fox (Samuel) was Peter Hamilton in Death to the Daleks
• Ian Barritt (Hartog) was Professor [Gerald] Peach in The Unicorn and the Wasp
• Richard Mayes (Farmer) was Chief Baxter in Fury from the Deep
• Celia Imrie (Marijke) was Miss [Rosemary] Kizlet in The Bells of Saint John, and voiced Dr. Elizabeth Bradley for The Fifth Citadel (2013), Madame Tissot for Gallery of Ghouls, and Lady Livia Caralis for Gallifrey: Enemy Lines (both 2016)
• Angela Bruce (Tony) was Brigadier Winifred Bambera in Battlefield, a role reprised by Big Finish for Animal (2011)
• Holly De Jong (Hannie) voiced Amelia Doory for Project: Twilight (2001)
• Martin McDougall (Vendor) voiced Craddock for He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not (2020)
• Tony Caunter (Voss) was Morgan in Colony in Space, and Jackson in Enlightenment 
• Pip Torrens (de Groot) was Headmaster Rocastle in Human Nature and The Family of Blood, then voiced Charlie Gibbs for Eldrad Must Die!(2013)
• Barry Aird (Postman) was a Time Lord Soldier in The Last Day
• for David McKail see Series 3
• stunt arranger Peter Brayham was stunt co-ordinator on The Christmas Invasion, New Earth and School Reunion