Doctor Who Vs. Miss Marple: A Murder is Announced

The third instalment of BBC1's
acclaimed period crime series

(originally shown in the winter of

1985) was repeated on Drama

today.

The producers, mindful of the

criticism levelled at Margaret
Rutherford's comedic portrayal
of Jane Marple in the 1960's,
specified that their version of
the character remained strictly
as written.

Published in 1950, the book (the
fourth Marple mystery) was billed
 as Agatha Christie's fiftieth novel,
 and was faithfully adapted by Alan

Plater. An ITV version followed in

2005.

The three-part serial starred the
79 year old actress Joan Hickson
as the definitive Marple (forty

years after being recommended for the part by Christie herself), and

fifteen Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

• John [Michael Frederick] Castle (DI Craddock here & The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side; Edgware in Lord Edgware Dies, 2000) voiced Edmund Trevithick for Big Finish's Nightshade (2016)
• Samantha [Jane] Bond (Julia here; Stella in The Adventure of the Cheap Flat; Sylvia in Why Didn't They Ask Evans?, 2009; Narrator of Inside the Mind of Agatha Christie, 100 Years of Poirot and Miss Marple, Agatha Christie's England & The Hollow, 2020) was Miss Wormwood in The Sarah Jane Adventures: Invasion of the Bane and Enemy of the Bane, then reprised for The Revenge of Wormwood (2023) - she also voiced Mother Baroque for The Scapegoat (2009)
• Simon Shepherd (Simmons here; Hall in Jewel Robbery at the Grand Metropolitan; Dr. Rendell in Mrs. McGinity's Dead; Craddock in The Mirror Crack'd, 2019) voiced Boolin for Tsar Wars, Bewley for The Broken Crown, the Magician for Aladdin Time (all 2011), Pal Andrews for Break the Ice (2022), and Hudson Sage for Vespertine (2023)
• Elaine Ives-Cameron (Hannah) was Martha in The Stones of Blood
• Ralph [Champion] Michael [born Shotter] (Easterbrook here; Summers in Murder Most Foul) was Balaton in The Pirate Planet
• Sylvia [May Laura] Syms (Mrs. Easterbrook here; Mrs. Hubbard for Murder on the Orient Express, 1993; Lavinia in Murder is Easy) was Mrs. Pritchard in Ghost Light
• [Irene] Joan [Marion] Sims (Miss Murgatroyd here; Mrs. McGillicuddy for 4.5- from Paddington, 1997) was Katryca in The Mysterious Planet
• Liz [Ann] Crowther (Myrna) voiced Tessa Waylund for Something Inside (2003)
• David [Cressy] Collings (Rev. Harmon) was Vorus in Revenge of the Cybermen, [Ander] Poul in The Robots of Death (and reprised for Kaldor City and The Robots), then the titular role in Mawdryn Undead - he also voiced the Doctor for Full Fathom Five (2003), Gabriel Sanders for Jago & Litefoor (2011/12), and Rosato for The King of Sontar (2014)
• production manager Alan Wareing was a production assistant on The Keeper of Traken and manager on Timelash, then director of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Ghost Light and Survival
• production designer Raymond [Patrick] Cusick (pictured in 1964) was assigned to The Daleks to bring Terry Nation's creations to life, and designed sets for nine other early serials
• cinematographer Peter Hall was a film cameraman on The Seeds of Death, The Space Pirates, Colony in Space, Terror of the Zygons and Logopolis
• Joanna Newbery was AFM on Time and the Rani too
• series film recordist Malcolm Campbell was sound recordist on The Caves of Androzani and The Twin Dilemma
• John Taylor was the boom operator on The Five Doctors too

The BBC Radio 4 treatment of A Murder is Announced

was first transmitted in five weekly parts in 1999 - it

featured June Whitfield and four further Doctor Who

cast links:

• Graham Crowden (Clithering here & The Body in the Library; Bruce in The Affair of the Pink Pearl; Blake for Five Little Pigs, 1994; Macarthur in And Then There Were None, 2005) was Soldeed in The Horns of Nimon
• Judy Cornwell (Dora here & Miss Marple, 2015; Valerie in The Lamp; Heather in The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side, 1992) was Maddy in Paradise Towers
• Jenny Funnell (Mitzi here & Dora, 2019; Nurse in Peril at End House; Elsie for The Moving Finger, 2001; Sally for Dead Man's Folly, 2007) voiced Veronica Buchman for Wirrn Isle (2012), and Reaver for The King of Sontar
• Joanna McCallum (Laura here; Evie in The Mysterious Affair at Styles, 1990; Mrs. Olivera for One, Two, Buckle My Shoe, 2004; Princess in Murder on the Orient Express, 2022) voiced the Bursar for Night Thoughts (2006)

Another stage production toured the UK in

2019, with Louise Jameson in the lead with:

• Jo Castleton (Letitia) was Natasha Alexander in Auton 2 and Auton 3, Lauren Anderson in Zygon, then voiced Lady Sarah Whiteside for The Marian Conspiracy (2000), Nyaiad for Brotherhood of the Daleks (2008), Hazel Trahn for Cyberman 2 (2009), and Sciencetech Vi Kruger for Time's Horizon (2014)
• Ben Roddy (Edmund) voiced Operations for The Nowhere Place (2006)

In 2013, a national theatrical run starred

Katy Manning (as Letitia) with:

• Gearaldine Newman (Marple) voiced Eliza for The Wishing Beast (2007), and Lady Sybil for The Doomwood Curse (2008)
• Gemma Bissix voiced Aglae for The Fires of Vulcan (2000)
• John D Collins was Talor in Arc of Infinity

Doctor Who On This Day #90

1967 - The Savages, Episode 1 repeated

and Episode 2 first screened, both on ABC

1973 - Frontier in Space, Episode 6 first

screened on BBC1

1978 - The Sontaran Experiment, Part

2 repeated on ABC
1980 - The Ark in Space, Part 1 and The Sontaran

 Experiment, Part 1 both repeated on ABC; Planet

of Evil, Part 1 first screened on WTTW 11; and

Underworld, Part 3 first screened on TV2

1981 - The Leisure Hive, Part 2 first

screened on TV1
1982 - Image of the Fendahl, Part 1 repeated on KQED

Plus; State of Decay, Part 2 repeated and Part 3 first

screened, both on ABC; and Time Flight, Part 4 first

screened on BBC Cymru

1983 - The Sea Devils, Episode 4 and

Warriors' Gate, Part 2 both repeated

on KQED Plus

1984 - Pyramids of Mars, Part 4

repeated on KQED Plus
1986 - Terror of the Autons, Episode

1 repeated on ABC; and Vengeance on

Varos Omnibus first screened on WTTW

11

1987 - The War Games, Episode 1

repeated on KQED Plus; and The

Android Invasion, Part 1 repeated

on TV2

1988 - City of Death, Part 3

repeated on KQED Plus 
1989 - Frontier in Space, Episode 5 repeated on KQED

Plus; and The Brain of Morbius, Part 4 repeated on ABC

1990 - The Androids of Tara Omnibus repeated on WTTW

 11; Warriors of the Deep, Part 2 repeated on KQED

 Plus; and The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Part

1 first screened on TV2

1992 - The Mind of Evil, Episode 6 repeated on TV2

1993 - Terror of the Autons, Episode 1 repeated on

UK Gold; and Earthshock, Part 1 repeated on ABC

1994 - The Androids of Tara, Part 4

repeated on UK Gold
1995 - Inferno, Episode 1 repeated on UK Gold; and

Attack of the Cybermen, Part 3 first screened on VOX

1996 - The Creature from the Pit

 Omnibus repeated on UK Gold

1997 - Planet of the Daleks Omnibus repeated on KQED

Plus; Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Part 2 repeated on UKTV

(Aus); and The Monster of Peladon Omnibus repeated on

UK Gold

1998 - The Silurians, Episode 3 first screened on Space;

and The Five Doctors, Part 1 (of 3) repeated on UKTV (Aus)

1999 - The Web Planet, Episode 3: Escape to Danger

repeated on UKTV (Aus); The Silurians, Episode 3 repeated 

on Space; Terror of the Zygons, Part 3 (of 3) repeated on

BBC Choice (Scotland); and Doctor Who TV Movie repeated 

on YLE TV2

2000 - The Chase, Episode 3: Flight

Through Eternity repeated on UKTV

2001 - The Face of Evil Omnibus repeated on UKTV (Aus);

The Power of Kroll, Part 1 first screened on Prairie PTV;

Meglos, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on Iowa PTV; and

Snakedance, Part 2 repeated on BBC Prime

2002 - Carnival of Monsters Omnibus repeated on UK Gold; 

Robot Omnibus repeated on MPT; The Sontaran Experiment,

Part 1 repeated on Lakeland PTV; Pyramids of Mars, Parts 3

and 4 both repeated on MiND; The Talons of Weng-Chiang,

Part 6 repeated on WILL; The Stones of Blood, Part 1

repeated on KUED; The Leisure Hive, Part 4 repeated

on TPT; Logopolis, Part 4 and both repeated on WCET;

The Visitation, Part 1 repeated on WQED; 

Earthshock, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on Lakeshore PTV; Time

 Flight, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on KBTC; Arc of Infinity, Parts 

3 and 4 both repeated on NHPTV; Enlightenment, Parts 3 and 4

 both repeated on Colorado PTV; and The Twin Dilemma, Parts 3 

and 4 both repeated on Iowa PTV
2003 - Nightmare of Eden Omnibus repeated on BBC Kids
2004 - The Silurians, Episode 5 repeated on ABC; and

Kinda, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on BBC Kids (Can)

2005 - The Invasion of Time, Part 2 repeated on ABC
2006 - World War Three first screened on STS
2007 - The End of the World and Doctor Who Confidential:

Aliens, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly both first screened

 on WQLN; Aliens of London first screened on Houston PM; 

World War Three first screened on KLCS; The Empty Child

repeated on één; Doomsday repeated on UK Gold and

Jimmy; and Smith and Jones first screened on BBC1;

and Doctor Who Confidential: Meet Martha Jones first

screened on BBC3

2008 - The Web Planet, Episodes 4 and 5 both

repeated on MTV3 SciFi and TV4

2009 - The Aztecs, Episode 4: The Day of Darkness

and The Sensorites, Episode 1: Strangers in Space

both repeated on MTV3 SciFi and TV4; The Christmas

Invasion repeated on UKTV (Aus); and Silence in

the Library repeated on BBC3

2010 - Aliens of London repeated on Syfy (Spa); Dalek

repeated on Syfy (FRG); Blink repeated on HRT2; Forest

of the Dead, Midnight and Turn Left all repeated on

France 4; and The Waters of Mars repeated on BBC3

2011 - The Invasion of Time, Parts 1 and 2 both

repeated on MTV3 SciFi, TV2 and TV4; and The

Doctor Dances repeated on Space

2012 - Mawdryn Undead and Terminus Omnibuses and 
Enlightenment, Parts 1 and 2 all repeated on MTV3 SciFi

and TV4; The Poison Sky and Doctor Who Confidential:

Sontar-Ha! both repeated on BBC3; Flesh and Stone first 

screened on DR3; and Doctor Who Confidential Cutdown:

Extra Time repeated on UKTV (Aus)

2013 - The Tomb of the Cybermen Omnibus and The End 

of Time, Parts 1 and 2 all repeated and The Companions

first screened, all on BBC America; Pyramids of Mars,

Parts 1 and 2 both repeated
on KBTC; The Christmas Invasion and A Christmas Carol both
repeated on Watch; The Beast Below first screened on WPT
Flagship; The Time of Angels repeated on Idaho PTV; Flesh and 
Stone and Doctor Who Confidential: Blinded by the Light both
repeated on Iowa PTV; The Girl Who Waited repeated on MPTV;
and The Bells of Saint John first screened on BBC America,
Space and ABC1

2014 - Destiny of the Daleks, Parts 3 and 4, Frontios,

Parts 3 and 4 and Rose all repeated on Syfy (Aus);

The Age of Steel repeated on Watch; Partners in

Crime repeated on WPT; Planet of the Dead 

repeated on France 4; The Hungry Earth repeated

on TV3 (Spa); A Christmas Carol and The Impossible

Astronaut both repeated on BBC America; The God

Complex, Closing Time and The Wedding of River

Song all repeated on Syfy (Port); Dinosaurs on a

Spaceship repeated on BBC Entertainment LA and

Really Scary TV; The Power of Three repeated on

Really Scary TV; The Name of the Doctor

repeated on Ztélé; and Doctor Who Explained

repeated on BBC Entertainment LA

2015 - Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Parts 5 and 6 both

 repeated and State of Decay, Parts 3 and 4 both first

screened, all on Retro TV; The Androids of Tara, Part

 1, The Eleventh Hour and Let's Kill Hitler all repeated

on Syfy (Aus); Snakedance, Parts 2 and 3 both

repeated on Horror; The End of the World repeated on ABC2;
Human Nature repeated on Watch and KCPT2; Vincent and the 
Doctor, The Lodger and The Pandorica Opens all repeated on BBC
America; A Town Called Mercy and The Power of Three both
repeated on BBC Nordic HD and BBC Polska HD; The Rings of 
Akhaten repeated on Syfy (Spa); The Crimson Horror repeated
on Syfy (Ben); The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Wedding of 

Sarah Jane Smith, Episode 1 repeated on Jeem TV (ME); 
and Doctor Who Confidential: Aliens, the Good, the Bad

and the Ugly repeated on ABC2 (iView only)

2016 - Time Flight, Parts 3 and 4 both repeated on Retro

 TV; Bad Wolf and The Waters of Mars both repeated on

Syfy (Aus); The Christmas Invasion repeated on Watch;

The Impossible Planet repeated on TV Cultura; 42

repeated on BBC Entertainment AP; The Family of

Blood and Doctor Who Confidential: Bad Blood both

repeated on ABC2; The Wedding of River Song

repeated on France 4; Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

repeated on BBC First (ME); The Bells of Saint John

and The Rings of Akhaten both repeated on Fox

(FRG); The Time of the Doctor and Listen both

 repeated on BBC Entertainment EU; Dark Water

repeated on Syfy (LA); Death in Heaven repeated

 on BBC Polska HD; The Husbands of River Song

repeated on BBC First (Ben); and Doctor Who

Explained repeated on AXN Mystery

2017 - The Sea Devils, Episode 1 repeated on

 The Zone; Planet of Fire, Part 4 and The Caves

of Androzani, Part 1 both repeated on Retro TV;

Rise of the Cybermen repeated on Space; The 

Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit both repeated on BBC
Polska HD; Forest of the Dead repeated on FX (Ind); Flesh and 
Stone and The Vampires of Venice both repeated on Syfy (Latin
America); Night Terrors, The Girl Who Waited, The Woman Who 
Lived and The Zygon Invasion all repeated on Syfy (Bra); The 
Wedding of River Song, The Witch's Familiar, Under the Lake and 
Before the Flood all repeated on Syfy (Aus); and The Crimson 
Horror and Nightmare in Silver both repeated on DR3

2018 - The Power of Kroll, Part 4 and The Armageddon

Factor, Parts 1 to 3 and all repeated on Retro TV; The

Poison Sky and The Doctor's Daughter both repeated on W;

The Beast Below and Victory of the Daleks both repeated

on Star World Premiere; The Magician's Apprentice and The

Witch's Familiar both repeated on Syfy (Aus); The Zygon

 Inversion, Sleep No More, Face the Raven and Heaven 

Sent all repeated on BBC Polska HD; Hell Bent repeated

on BBC Polska HD and Syfy (Aus); The Return of Doctor 

Mysterio and The Doctor Falls both repeated and Twice

Upon a Time first screened, all on France 4; The Eaters

 of Light repeated on BBC First (ME); and World Enough 

and Time repeated on BBC First (ME) and France 4

2019 - The Masque of Mandragora Omnibus repeated on

WSRE; The Deadly Assassin, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated

on KBTC; The Talons of Weng-Chiang Omnibus repeated on

MPTV; Image of the Fendahl, Parts 1 and 2 both repeated on 

Retro TV; Destiny of the Daleks, Part 4 repeated on KPTS;

Snakedance Omnibus repeated on Idaho PTV; The Ultimate

 Foe Omnibus repeated on Iowa PTV; Into the Dalek and

Robot of Sherwood both repeated on One ARD; Under the

Lake, Before the Flood and The Girl Who Died all repeated

on BBC Polska HD; The Husbands of River Song repeated

 on BBC Entertainment EU; and It Takes You Away repeated

on Fox (FRG)

2020 - Inferno, Episodes 2 and 3 both repeated on Retro

TV; Victory of the Daleks and The Time of Angels both

repeated on One ARD; The Power of Three repeated on

BBC Polska HD; The Rings of Akhaten repeated on W;

and The Girl Who Died repeated on Syfy (Fra)

2021 - The Ark in Space, Parts 3 and

 4 both repeated on Retro TV; The Time

of Angels repeated on ABC2; The Day of

the Doctor and Robot of Sherwood both

repeated on Syfy (Fra); and The Return of

Doctor Mysterio repeated on BBC Polska

HD

2022 - Enlightenment, Parts 1 and 2 both

 repeated on Retro TV; Army of Ghosts

repeated on Fox SciFi; 42 repeated on Syfy

(Fra); Flesh and Stone repeated on BBC

First Turkey; and Praxeus repeated on BBC

 Polska HD

2023 - Flatline repeated on Fox SciFi;

and ABC2

2024 - The Android Invasion, Parts

1 and 2 both repeated on KBTC