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On This Day (USA) - 15 August



The Reign Of Terror: Guests of Madame Guillotine premiered on BBC One in 1964 at 5:14pm BST, watched by 6.90 million viewers.

In Paris, Ian, Barbara and Susan are sentenced to death under the blade of the guillotine. Having escaped the burning farmhouse, the Doctor is on his way to rescue his friends.


Front Row: New Doctor Who Reviewed premiered on Radio 4 in 2014 at 7:15pm BST

Doctor Who is about to return to the small screen, this time starring Peter Capaldi. Dr Jason Dittmer, academic and sci-fi fan, reviews the Time Lord's latest regeneration.


 Birthdays
Nigel Terry (died 2015 aged 69) would have been 79 - credited as General Cobb in The Doctor's Daughter

Nigel Terry was an English stage and film actor probably best known by film audiences for his portrayal of King Arthur in John Boorman's Excalibur (1981). 

He played General Cobb in the Doctor Who episode "The Doctor's Daughter" 

Terry appeared in many productions with the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Round House Theatre and the Royal Court Theatre. Among his roles was Bosola in the 1989 Royal Shakespeare Company production of John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi. 

He appeared in approximately a dozen films, like The Lion in Winter (1968) playing Prince John. He also appeared in Derek Jarman's Caravaggio (1986), where he played the title character. He appeared in Troy (2004) playing the Trojan high priest and Prince Telephus, as well as the 2006 Hallmark Channel production of Blackbeard as a marooned sailor.

His main US and British television appearances include Covington Cross, a series set in medieval times. He also appeared in Casualty as Denny, and as Gabriel Piton in Highlander: The Series. He also played Sam Jacobs in a two-part Waking the Dead episode called Anger Management.

He lived in Cornwall near St Ives from 1993 to be closer to his parents; he died in 2015 from emphysema.


William Lindsay (died 1986 aged 40) would have been 79 - credited as Zargo in State of Decay

William Lindsay played Zargo in the 1980 Doctor Who story State of Decay.

Also worked on LifeforceDramaramaKeep It in the FamilyBlakes 7AngelsEnemy at the DoorColditz


 Deaths
Noel Collins (died 2011 aged 74) - credited as Pat Rowlinson in Battlefield

Collins was best known for his role in the long running BBC police series Juliet Bravo, where he played Sergeant George Parrish throughout the six year run of the show. He also appeared in Play for Today, When the Boat Comes in and the comedy series Bread.

Collins retired at the age of 60 after being diagnosed with lung cancer and undergoing an operation which involved removing a lung. In the 1990's he joined 52 other claimants in a £17million lawsuit against cigarette giants Gallaher and Imperial Tobacco arguing that the companies had been negligent in not reducing the tar content in their cigarettes between 1957 and 1971 once it became obvious that smoking caused lung cancer.

Although the case was dropped in March 1999 Collins retained his anti smoking stance until his death. His widow Helen Collins paid tribute to her husband's bravery in the face of his illness. "He was content in his life but also stoic during the bad times. He became very anti-smoking but he lived through his illness as best he could. Even in his last week he was still getting Juliet Bravo fan mail which he found amusing. He loved the theatre and really enjoyed his career, but without being pretentious or boastful." 

Noel Collins died on 15 August after losing his long battle with cancer.