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On This Day (USA) - 1 May



The Space Museum: The Dimensions of Time premiered on BBC One in 1965 at 5:54pm BST, watched by 9.20 million viewers.

Colony In Space: Episode Four premiered on BBC One in 1971 at 6:12pm BST, watched by 8.10 million viewers.

The Master arrives, posing as an adjudicator from Earth who has come to settle the dispute between the colonists and the miners. However, he has an agenda of his own.


Flesh and Stone premiered on BBC One in 2010 at 6:27pm BST, watched by 8.50 million viewers.

Blinded by the Light premiered on BBC Three in 2010 at 7:10pm BST

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

 Birthdays
Sacha Dhawan will be 40 - 9 credits, including The Master in Spyfall

Sacha Dhawan is best known for his appearances in The History Boys and in Last Tango in Halifax. Other appearances include Being Human, Outsourced and The Deep.



Stefan Schwartz will be 61 - credited as Knight Commander in Battlefield

Stefan Schwartz is an English/Canadian film and television director/writer plus a former actor, most known for the feature film Shooting Fish and his work for the BBC on SpooksLuther and Dexter.

Stefan Schwartz teamed up with Richardinho Holmes at York University and formed The Gruber Brothers. The duo made a number of films together including, Bonded, broadcast on BBC 2, and the award-winning short The Lake starring Frances Barber. Stefan made his feature film debut with Soft Top Hard Shoulder (1992) starring Peter Capaldi and Phyllis Logan, which went on to win two BAFTA’s in Scotland and the London Film Festival’s prestigious audience award. Building on this success in 1995 he directed Giving Tongue, shown as part of BBC2′s Wicked Women series and in 1996 wrote and directed Shooting Fish, a crime-caper comedy starring Kate Beckinsale which won several awards and made over twenty million dollars worldwide.

He then signed a three-year deal to write and direct for Miramax and wrote screenplays for them, teaming up with notable producers such as Laurence Bender and Jennifer and Suzanne Todd before directing The Abduction Club (2001) for Pathe Films.

His next film as writer/director was the romantic comedy The Best Man starring Stuart Townsend, Amy Smart and Seth Green in 2004.

In television he directed Hustle, the award winning Spooks and The Ghost Train for Lynda La Plante before moving on to the ground-breaking series, Luther, for the BBC. In the US he has directed several episodes of the critically acclaimed Crash with Dennis Hopper, joined the Starz series Camelot, which he directed for and also co-executive produced, and directed for the much praised Dexter series.

After finishing Being Human for the Syfy Stefan directed in the final season of House and worked in New York on White Collar. He then went back to Showtime for another episode of Dexter. He is currently working in Paris with Jean Reno on the series "Jo" (working title). His next project is "The Walking Dead".

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


Joanna Lumley will be 78 - credited as The Doctor in Doctor Who and The Curse Of Fatal Death (as Joanna Lumley)(Misc)

Joanna Lumley was born in Srinagar, in the Indian state of Kashmir and Jammu. Her early life was spent in countries such as Hong Kong and Malaysia, as well as having English roots in Kent. Having been turned down by RADA at the age of 16, she attended the Lucie Clayton Finishing School, after which she became a photographic model.

She turned to acting in 1969, having minor roles in films such as Some Girls Do and in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service and The Satanic Rites of Dracula, and on television shows such as Steptoe and Son and Are You Being Served; more substantial roles included Elaine Perkins in Coronation Street, a patient in General Hospital, and also appeared in Up The Workers. But it was in 1976 when she became a household name as Steed's sidekick Purdey in The New Avengers. This was followed up a couple of years later with another memorable role as Sapphire the intellectual sci-fi series Sapphire and Steel. Later television roles included Mrs Peacock in Cluedo, Kate Swift in Class Act, Donna Sinclair in Dr Willoughby, Davina Jackson in Sensitive Skin, Vivienne Roden in Mistresses, and Delilah Staff in Jam and Jerusalem, with other film appearances including Shirley Valentine, James and the Giant Peach, Corpse Bride, The Magic Roundabout, and The Wolf of Wall Street; however, her most famous identity is arguable the character of Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous.

In 1999 she became the first woman to play the Doctor in Doctor Who, appearing as the 'final' incarnation of the Time Lord in the Steven Moffat-penned Comic Relief special Doctor Who and the Curse of Fatal Death.

In more recent years she has made a number of documentary series, including Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights, Joanna Lumley's Nile, Joanna Lumley's Greek Odyssey, and Joanna Lumley's Trans-Siberian Adventure.

As well on-screen work, she has also had an extensive career as a voice-over artist, with credits including the voice of greetings for AOL. She wrote her autobiography, No Room For Secrets, in 2005.

Outside of entertainment, Lumley became the face of Gurkha Justice Campaign, supporting the rights of the Nepalese part of the British Army. She is also a supporter of Survival International on the cause of indigenous rights. She received an OBE in 1995, and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society. She was married to comedy writer Jeremy Lloyd, and in 1986 married conductor Stephen Barlow.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article.


Una Stubbs (died 2021 aged 84) would be 87 - credited as Flo in Horror of Glam Rock(BF)

Una Stubbs was a British actress, television personality, and dancer who appeared on British television, in the theatre, and occasionally in films.

She became known after appearing in the film Summer Holiday (1963) and later played Rita Rawlins in the BBC sitcoms Till Death Us Do Part (1965–1975) and In Sickness and in Health (1985–1992). Her other television roles include Aunt Sally in Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981) and Miss Bat in The Worst Witch (1998–2001). She also appeared as Sherlock Holmes's landlady Mrs. Hudson in the BAFTA-winning television series Sherlock (2010–2017).


James Copeland (died 2002 aged 83) would be 106 - credited as Selris in The Krotons

James Copeland played Selris in the Doctor Who serial The Krotons.

Also worked on A Rage in HarlemThe Big ManThe CampbellsBrigadistaA Drop in the OceanMurder Not Proven?The CitadelThe PrivilegeKing's RoyalStrangersMaggieThe Walls of JerichoMackenzieSquare Mile of MurderDoom CastleHigh RoadKidnappedThe Onedin LineThe StandardThe MackinnonsHazlitt in LoveBenny LynchOil Strike NorthFive Red HerringsCrown CourtSutherland's LawThe Donati ConspiracyAre You Being Served?MenaceThe BrothersThe View from Daniel PikeZ CarsAdam SmithSpy TrapOut of the UnknownPlay for TodayComedy PlayhouseSoftly Softly: Task ForceThe Main ChanceThe Private Life of Sherlock HolmesDr. Finlay's CasebookThe BorderersRedgauntletDad's ArmyThe Revenue MenThe Flight of the HeronTorture GardenThis Man CraigThe Big CatchDixon of Dock GreenRansom for a Pretty GirlThe TroubleshootersThe AvengersThe SaintITV Play of the WeekDetectiveFarewell PerformanceKidnappedIt Happened Like ThisThe Dark IslandLooking AboutRob RoyTunes of GloryEmergency-Ward 10Captain Moonlight: Man of MysteryRedgauntletThe 39 StepsBBC Sunday-Night TheatreThe Flying DoctorRockets Galore!The Battle of the River PlateKidnappedYou Lucky PeopleMask of DustThe Seekers


Joan Rodker (died 2010 aged 95) would be 109 - credited as Researcher for The Aztecs

Joan Rodker was a political activist who later became television script editor and producer.

Born in 1915, her parents were the poet John Rodker and actress Sonia Cohen, and she was first brought up in care before living with her mother. Failing to get into university she instead engaged on a study of languages, first learning German and then Russian - meeting her husband, performer and former politcal prisoner Gerard Hinze.

During the Second World War she campaigned to have her husband released from internment in Canada, and when returning to England after the war she became involved in a number of causes, including organising peace conferences such as one in Sheffield in 1950, helping to open the Polish Cultural Institute, and organise the first Soho Fair. 

Turning to television, Rodker worked with the likes of Kenneth Tynan and Huw Weldon on seminal arts programmes such as Tempo and Monitor, and also worked alongside Verity Lambert in commissioning writers and script editing for Thirty Minute Theatre and Armchair Theatre. Spending a year in Mexico, she was the writer and narrator for the 1960 ITV documentary, Mexico of the Plumed Serpent, a Roving Report feature on the problems facing contemporary Mexico and the impact from its colonial period - something designer Barry Newbery was to reference for The Aztecs with its inclusion of ruins. Rodker was herself brought on board the Doctor Who production as a freelance researcher.

Other work on television included being an editor on 1974's Late Night Drama, script executive and later executive producer for Armchair Thriller, and producer for ITV Playhouse in the 1980s.

She died in 2010, survived by her son Ernest and her grandchildren Oliver and Joel.


 Deaths
Simon Cain (died 2019 aged 80) - 2 credits, including Silurian in Doctor Who And The Silurians

Simon Cain appeared in two Doctor Who stories: as Curly in The Enemy of the World and a Silurian in Doctor Who and the Silurians.

Also appeared in Carry on at Your ConvenienceDoomwatchRyan InternationalManhuntCarry on Again DoctorThe Most Dangerous Man in the WorldSchool for SexCarry On... Up the KhyberThe Blood Beast TerrorCarry on DoctorFollow That CamelNo Hiding PlaceCarry on CowboyWhiplash


Terry Duggan (died 2008 aged 76) - credited as Patrolman in The Invasion

Terry Duggan  was a comedian and actor who had a successful career in cabaret and variety and played numerous character roles on television. He was married to the actress Anna Karen, best known for playing the part of Olive in the ITV sitcom On the Buses, in which Duggan frequently appeared.

Duggan was born in HoxtonLondon. From the 1960s through the 1980s, he appeared on such television series as Are You Being Served?The BillBob MartinOnly Fools and Horses,Please Sir! and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). His film appearances included 2001 A Space Odyssey. He also performed pantomime, frequently teaming with his wife Anna Karen.

He was also a stand-up comedian who was noted for his drunk sketches in which he portrayed an inebriated man, a concept earlier popularised by Freddie Frinton and Jimmy James. Besides practicing theatrical performance from childhood, he learned acrobatics which led to film stuntman roles. Duggan was also a member of the entertainers' charity The Grand Order of Water Rats.


Bernard Archard (died 2008 aged 91) - 2 credits, including Bragen in The Power of the Daleks

Bernard Joseph Archard  was an English actor.

Born in FulhamLondon,he was a tall, imposing actor with a distinctive face. He was a conscientious objector in the Second World War and worked on the land. During the summer of 1939 he appeared in the Open Air Theatre production of "Twelfth Night" in London.

He appeared in over fifty films, including Village of the Damned (1960), The List of Adrian Messenger (1963), Play Dirty (1968), The File of the Golden Goose (1969), Run a Crooked Mile (1969), The Horror of Frankenstein (1970), Roman Polanski's Macbeth (1971), Dad's Army (1971), The Day of the Jackal (1973), The Sea Wolves (1980), Krull (1983), and King Solomon's Mines (1985).

Archard's first major television role was playing Lt Col. Oreste Pinto in the BBC wartime drama series Spycatcher, which ran for four seasons between 1959 and 1961. His TV guest appearances represent some of the most popular shows broadcast in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s: two notable roles in Doctor Who; as Bragen in The Power of the Daleks and as Marcus Scarman in Pyramids of Mars, a regular role in Emmerdale; plus appearances in Upstairs, DownstairsRumpole of the BaileyBergeracThe AvengersCallanDanger ManZ CarsPaul TempleDixon of Dock Green, and The Professionals.

Archard and his long term partner, Jim Belchamber, ran a touring repertory company, based in Torquay, which included Hilda Braid among its players.

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


John Nathan-Turner (died 2002 aged 54) - 79 credits, including Producer for The Leisure Hive

John Nathan-Turner is, to date, the longest-serving producer of Doctor Who, having worked on the show for 20 years.

He cast three Doctors - Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy - and numerous companions.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Nathan-Turner left King Edward VI School for Birmingham's Alexandra Theatre, where he acted and worked as assistant stage manager. He joined the BBC in London in 1968, where he also worked on a number of drama series, such as All Creatures Great And Small, The Pallisers, and Angels.

His first job on Doctor Who was in 1969 as floor assistant on The Space Pirates (alongside Patrick Troughton's Doctor) under the name John Turner, as there was already a Jonathan Turner in the industry. In the 1970s, he became assistant floor manager, then production unit manager, and when incumbent producer Graham Williams left in 1980 Nathan-Turner was an obvious successor.

During Nathan-Turner's first season in charge, Tom Baker, the fourth and longest-serving Doctor, announced he would be giving up the role. Nathan-Turner cast Peter Davison, an actor he knew from his work on All Creatures Great and Small.

Nathan-Turner was in charge for the 20th-anniversary story, The Five Doctors, in 1983. He worked round the problem of  First Doctor William Hartnell no longer being alive by casting  lookalike Richard Hurndall.

When Davison left the series in 1984, Nathan-Turner took on Colin Baker, best known at the time for his role in The Brothers.

When BBC1 Controller Michael Grade ordered that the show be suspended and Colin Baker replaced, Nathan-Turner cast the Seventh Doctor, picking light entertainer Sylvester McCoy. Doctor Who was scheduled against Coronation Street leading to a decline in ratings.

Even when the BBC pulled the plug on the series in December 1989, Nathan-Turner's involvement continued. The demand for Who products - documentaries, interviews, radio serials, conventions - led to him becoming the corporation's unofficial consultant. He co-wrote a Doctor Who skit for the 1993 Children in Need telethon, advised the monthly Doctor Who Magazine, corresponded with fans, gave interviews with fanzines and attended conventions.

As the show's last producer before its cancellation in 198i9, Nathan-Turner is often associated with the decline and fall of Doctor Who. But while budgetary constraints never allowed him to exterminate the wobbly sets, fancy-dress shop aliens and uncrowded crowd scenes, his era produced some of the series' most memorable moments: the surprise return of the Doctor's arch-enemy, the Master (1981); the shocking death of one of his companions (1982); and a Dalek actually going up the stairs (1988).

Shortly before his death, Nathan-Turner was writing and devising a children's television series, which was to have been narrated by Tom Baker. 


George Pravda (died 1985 aged 68) - 3 credits, including Jaeger in The Mutants

George Pravda was a Czechoslovakian film and television actor.

He began his career in Czechoslovakia under his own name, and then emigrated to the United Kingdom and anglicised his name to George.

He then appeared in numerous British films and television series.

His film credits include: Operation Amsterdam (1959), The Password Is Courage(1962), Thunderball (1965), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969), Hanover Street (1979) and Firefox (1982).

As well as his three appearances in Doctor Who, other TV appearances include: No Hiding PlaceThe AvengersThe SaintThe Baron,The PrisonerSpecial BranchDepartment SCallanSoftly, Softly, DoomwatchCodenamePublic EyeSpy TrapMoonbase 3ColditzI, Claudius,The Duchess of Duke Street1990The ProfessionalsThe Onedin LineTinker, Tailor, Soldier, SpyChessgame and Bulman.

His wife Hana Maria was also an actor.