Statistics


On This Day (USA) - 12 June



The Chase: Journey into Terror premiered on BBC One in 1965 at 5:40pm BST, watched by 9.50 million viewers.

With the Daleks in pursuit, the TARDIS lands in what appears to be a haunted house. When the Daleks arrive, the travellers depart, not realising that they have left Vicki behind!


The Dæmons: Episode Four premiered on BBC One in 1971 at 6:11pm BST, watched by 8.10 million viewers.

The Doctor is captured by the villagers who are under the Master's control. Jo goes to the church to prevent the Master from summoning Azal for the final time, but is too late.


Top Gear: 12 Jun 2005 (Christopher Eccleston) premiered on BBC2 in 2005 at 8:00pm BST

Motoring magazine presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May. Jeremy makes a splash when he opens a local swimming pool; Richard finds out what happens when you take the roof off an Aston Martin DB9 with the new DB9 Volante; and James goes back to the 70s with the Maserati Bora. Christopher Ecclestone (sic) swaps the Tardis for a Toyota Liana as the 'Star in a Reasonably Priced Car'.


The Lodger premiered on BBC One in 2010 at 6:47pm BST, watched by 6.44 million viewers.

Extra Time premiered on BBC Three in 2010 at 7:30pm BST

Redacted: Rescue premiered on BBC Online in 2022 at 8:00pm BST

 Birthdays
James Saxon (died 2003 aged 48) would be 69 - credited as Oscar in The Two Doctors

James Saxon was a British character actor. He often played aristocrats or middle class characters. To a generation of children he was best known for his regular role as Roland Rat's inept agent, D'Arcy DeFarcy who would mistakenly refer to his client as Reynard.

Having trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he made a career on screen with leading parts in television series such as the BBC adaptation of Vanity Fair (1987), the ITV comedy Brass (1983), the brief revival of Poldark (1996), Time Riders (1991) and Brush Strokes (1986).

His occasional guest appearances included Jonathan Creek (2001), as a school inspector in Chalk (1997), Murder Most Horrid (1994), Lovejoy (1993), A Touch of Frost (1994), Boon (1990) and Oscar Botcherby in the 1985 Doctor Who story, The Two Doctors, alongside both Colin Baker and Patrick Troughton.

James Saxon’s film appearances were less numerous, though his rich tones brought to life many audio adaptations, including some of the works of P. G. Wodehouse.

He died 2 July 2003 from an aneurysm during his run in The Gondoliers in Chichester.

Biography from the wikipedia article, licensed under CC-BY-SA


Christopher Farries (died 2016 aged 68) would be 77 - credited as Sauvix in Warriors of the Deep

Christopher Farries played Sauvix in the 1983 Doctor Who story Warriors of the Deep.

Born in Yorkshire Christopher Farries was privately educated at Hymers College Public School.

He entered the British Film Industry in 1964 working at British Lion Films Ltd under Sir Michael Balcon and The Boulting Brothers as an assistant in their Publicity Department. After a short spell at CBS Records and film and theatrical suppliers WIG Creatioms acting as Floor Manager for the legendary Stanley Hall, he then trained in cinema and theatre management with The Rank Organisation (Theatres Division) based at the Odeon Swiss Cottage and did relief management (including The Beatles Concerts at the Odeon [now Apollo]  Hammersmith).

Farries then joined Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer-Pictures Ltd initially as their Roadshow Manager on the epic Doctor Zhivago and was promoted to TV & Press Officer in 1966 working on The Man From U.N.C.L.E. series and many other MGM films in that golden era, including The Dirty Dozen, Blow-Up and two Presley pictures.

In 1968 he joined Talus Productions Ltd working as Publicity Controller for their Joint Managing-Directors Anthony Marriott and Alistair Foot who were penning the now record-breaking No Sex Please, We're British! He was Publicity Director of the Whitehall Theatre on Uproar In The House with Joan Sims and simultaneously ran a theatrical agency Broadway Artistes Reprensentation Ltd (a subsidiary of Talus) with Producer Peter Elliott (former Chairman of the EABF / Royal Variety Performance ).

Christopher decided in the 80's to concentrate entirely on acting work and there followed twenty years as a Pantomime villain working for his old pal producer Peter Elliott from Broadway Artistes Representation days. He has played almost ALL the Panto-Villains (some more than once) including The Sheriff of Nottingham, Abanazar, The Demon King, Fleshcreep and King Rat, and worked with some of the greatest Panto-noteworthies such as the late great Billy Dainty, Ben Warriss, Cilla Black, Barbara Windsor and for many years with John Inman (with whom he has also done Summer Season and toured).

Christopher did a number of TV and Cinema commercials playing historical figures Sir Laurence Olivier as Richard III for Thomson's Directories The Sheriff Of Nottingham for Weetabix and Warlord Genghis Khan for New Sunshine Bread, shot on location in Hong Kong (for which he had to learn Mandarin !)

His many television appearances have included Supt. Wilkes in The Bill Commander Sauvix, leader of the Sea Devils in the Doctor Who Series Warriors of the Deep, Shine On Harvey Moon, Terry & June, Moon & Son and The Hammer House Of Mystery And Suspence in which he worked with both Gareth Hunt and Peter Wyngarde. He also played Signor Rosselli in the film Nutcracker with Joan Collins. In 1988 he undertook a long national tour as Lt. Shrank in the musical West Side Story.


 Deaths
Patricia Pryor (died 2023 aged 94) - credited as Mrs Ollis in The Three Doctors

Patricia Pryor was an actress active in the 70's and 80's.

She was best known for playing Mrs Gibson in The Onedin Line.

She was married to The Three Doctors co-actor Rex Robinson.


John Doye (died 1995 aged 76) - 3 credits, including Soldier (Redcoat) in The Highlanders

John Doye was an actor who appeared in the 1966 story The War Machines as well as several uncredited roles in William Hartnell stories.