Statistics


On This Day (USA) - 17 June



The Evil of the Daleks: Episode 5 premiered on BBC One in 1967 at 5:44pm BST, watched by 5.10 million viewers.

The tests on Jamie are complete, but Victoria is still a captive of the Daleks and Jamie suspects that the Doctor has surrendered to his arch-enemies.


The Time Monster: Episode Five premiered on BBC One in 1972 at 5:45pm BST, watched by 6.00 million viewers.

Arriving in Atlantis, the Master seduces the beautiful Queen Galleia so that he might possess the crystal of Kronos. But it is protected by a guardian who is half man, half beast


Love & Monsters premiered on BBC One in 2006 at 7:00pm BST, watched by 6.66 million viewers.

The New World of Dr Who premiered on BBC Three in 2006 at 7:45pm BST

The Eaters of Light premiered on BBC One in 2017 at 6:45pm BST, watched by 4.73 million viewers.

A hunt for the lost Ninth Roman Legion leads the Doctor, Bill and Nardole into the middle of an ancient battle that could cast humanity into the dark forever. What is inside the cairn?


The Eaters of Light premiered on BBC America in 2017 at 9:00pm EDT, watched by 0.52 million viewers.

A hunt for the lost Ninth Roman Legion leads the Doctor,Bill and Nardole into the middle of an ancient battle that could cast humanity into the dark forever. What is inside the cairn? And how far will they have to go defeat the terrifying Eaters of Light?


 Birthdays
Jodie Whittaker will be 42 - 31 credits, including The Doctor in The Woman Who Fell To Earth

Jodie Auckland Whittaker was born in Skelmanthorpe in Yorkshire in 1982. Having attended Shelley College in West Yorkshire she then went on to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, from which she graduated in 2005 with the Gold Medal for acting. She soon made her debut in The Storm at the Shakespeare's Globe theatre in London, and then went on to appear as Jessie/Venus in the film Venus.

On-screen, she has appeared in a number of roles, notably Izzy Huett in Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Louise Evans in Wired, Peggy Bell in Cranford, Ruth Bowen in Marchlands, Trish Tooley in The Smoke, and Sandy Grimes in The Assets.

She is perhaps best known, however, for her portrayal of Beth Latimer alongside former Doctor David Tennant's Alec Hardy in the ITV drama Broadchurch, a series also penned by incoming lead writer and executive producer for Doctor Who, Chris Chibnall.

On Sunday 16th July 2017, Whittaker was announced to the world as the thirteenth official Doctor in a special video shown on BBC1 after the Men's Final at Wimbledon.

She is married to American actor Christian Contreras.


Arthur Darvill will be 42 - 47 credits, including Rory Williams in The Eleventh Hour

Thomas Arthur Darvill, known professionally as Arthur Darvill, is an English actor and musician. He is perhaps most recognised as Rory Williams, one of the Eleventh Doctor's companions in the television series Doctor Who, and as Rev. Paul Coates in Broadchurch (2013–2015). In 2013-2014 he appeared in the lead role in the theatre musical Once in the West End and on Broadway.

Early life

Darvill's mother Ellie is an actress and during Arthur's early childhood she worked with masks, puppets and live acting as a member of Cannon Hill Theatre, which was based at Midlands Arts Centre, and toured Britain and the world. She is also known as the puppeteer and voice behind Why Bird from Playdays. Prior to the birth of his sister, Darvill went on some of the tours, helping with the setting up of the shows. His father Nigel played the Hammond organ for artists including Edwin Starr, Ruby Turner, Fine Young Cannibals and UB40. Darvill attended Bromsgrove School in Worcestershire from 1993 to 2000.

Early work

Darvill joined Stage2 Youth Theatre Company at the age of 10. At the age of 21, Darvill moved to London with four friends from youth theatre, each having secured a place at a drama school. They moved into a house in White City together. Darvill trained in acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, and is trained in stage combat.

Darvill made his professional stage debut playing condemned criminal Harrison in Edmund White's Terre Haute, which ran at the Assembly Rooms during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His performance was praised by Nicholas de Jongh of the Evening Standard and Susannah Clap of The Observer. Darvill appeared in Terra Haute‍ '​s transfer to Trafalgar Studios in 2007. His performance gained him a Best Newcomer nomination at the 2007 Evening Standard Theatre Awards.

Darvill played Rob in the 2007 monologue Stacy, in a performance The Times described as "compelling".Later that year, he appeared in the Vaudeville Theatre's production of Swimming with Sharks with Christian Slater, Helen Baxendale and Matt Smith (which gained him a London Newcomer Award nomination). In 2008, Darvill made his television debut in the ITV crime drama He Kills Coppers. The same year, he played Edward "Tip" Dorrit in the BBC serial Little Dorrit.

2010–2012: Doctor Who

Darvill began playing Rory Williams, companion to the Eleventh Doctor, in the fifth series of the BBC's science fiction show Doctor Who (reuniting with his Swimming with Sharks co-star Matt Smith). He became a regular character in the sixth series, and confirmed that he would be appearing in the seventh series; however, the seventh series was his last. His character, along with Amy, was written out of the show midway through Series 7; they were separated from the Doctor forever by the Weeping Angels in "The Angels Take Manhattan".

Darvill had a minor role as a stable groom in Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, and played Mick Gallagher in Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll. In summer 2011, he appeared in Doctor Faustus at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in London. After his departure from Doctor Who he was cast in the highly-rated crime drama Broadchurch as the vicar, alongside former Doctor Who stars David Tennant and Olivia Colman.

Other work

Darvill is also a musician and composer and composed the score for Che Walker's 2008 play The Frontline at Shakespeare's Globe. In June 2009, the musical Been So Long, based on Ché Walker's 1998 play, opened at the Young Vic and in September 2013 another collaboration, The Lightning Child, opened at the Globe. Darvill had worked with Walker for a number of years since they had first met at RADA, developing the songs and music for the show. The musical was performed at the Latitude Festival in July and had a run at the Traverse Theatre in August. Darvill received a Judge's Discretionary Award from MTM for his music. In 2010, Darvill helped promote the solo album of Fyfe Dangerfield, playing with him on sessions for Graham Norton's show and on Xfm.

Darvill has undertaken a number of radio and voice projects, including Doctor Who audiobooks. In December 2011, he played Keith Moon for BBC Radio 4's Burning Both Ends. In 2012, he voiced Gulliver in Radio 4's Gulliver's Travels and Sam in the short film Penguin.

He gave an interview and appeared on the front cover of the October 2012 issue of Gay Times.

On 19 April 2013 he took over the lead male role of Guy from the musical Once, on Broadway, New York opposite new co-star Joanna Christie. The two also made an appearance on the 2013 Tony Awards to perform a number and to present the award for best scenery Darvill continued the role in the West End production from 17 March 2014 until 10 May 2014.

In March 2015, it was announced that Darvill had been cast as Rip Hunter in the upcoming spin-off of Arrow and The Flash.

Personal life

Darvill plays the guitar and keyboard and formed an indie band called Edmund in his teenage years, named after Edmund Pevensie, his favourite character in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. He enjoys cookery and attending the theatre and music concerts. He collects taxidermy. He is close friends with his Doctor Who co-stars Karen Gillan and Matt Smith. He supports Premier League football team Aston Villa.

Darvill was one of the celebrities, along with Tom Hiddleston, Jo Brand, E. L. James and Rachel Riley, to design and sign his own card for the UK-based charity Thomas Coram Foundation for Children. The campaign was launched by crafting company Stampin' Up! UK and the cards were auctioned off on eBay during May 2014. On 8 March 2015 Arthur announced on Twitter that he was engaged.

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


Jan Anderson will be 50 - credited as Marie Thomas in Reset(TW)

Jan Anderson is a Welsh actress.

Anderson joined Pyle-based childrens Vagabond Theatre at age seven, with the teacher Trevor Harris. Another influence in her life was drama teacher Roger Burnell at Porthcawl comprehensive school performing with them at The Grand Pavilion until age 13 in productions including starring as Annie in Annie, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Cecily in The Importance of Being Earnest, and Lily in Under Milkwood. She also played in OklahomaDamn Yankees and in the role of Baby Jane in Gypsy.

After leaving school at the age of 15, she joined the Welsh National Opera, where she toured with the production of Carmen and studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. She was the lead presenter on the HTV Wales programme "The Gen".

Her other television credits include Is Harry on the BoatThe BillDoctors and London's Burning. She had a role in the 1999 British film Human Traffic as well as many small budget productions. During the late 1990s she did photoshoots for various lad mags including Maxim and FHM.


Antonio D. Charity will be 52 - credited as Airport security cop in Rendition(TW)

Antonio D. Charity is from Surry County, Virginia.

He  played the Airport Security Cop in the Torchwood story Rendition.

He is the son of James D. Charity, Sr. and Emily M. Charity. In fact, he is the youngest of their 12 children. He graduated from Howard University's College of Fine Arts with a B.F.A. in Theatre. He booked his 1st TV role, a guest star on NBC's "Homicide", while still enrolled at Howard University. He moved to New York City after graduating and has since appeared in numerous TV shows, films, commercials and stage productions. He is married to Tige [TIE jee] Johnson Charity of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He met Tige at Sylvia's soul food restaurant in Harlem while she was vacationing in the New York City area. They later relocated to Los Angeles. In addition to being a working actor, Antonio volunteers with Kids In The Spotlight (KITS), a non-profit organization founded by Tige Charity. Tige created KITS to help kids in the Los Angeles foster care system write and star in their own short films.


Beryl Reid (died 1996 aged 77) would be 105 - credited as Briggs in Earthshock

Beryl ReidOBE  was a British actress of stage and screen.

Born in Hereford, England, Reid was the daughter of Scottish parents and grew up in Manchester where she attended Withington and LevenshulmeHigh Schools.

Leaving school at 16, she made her debut in 1936 as a music hall performer at the Floral Hall, Bridlington. Before and during World War II, she took part in variety shows and pantomimes. She had no formal training but later appeared at the Royal National Theatre in London as a comedy actress. Her first big success came in the BBC radio show Educating Archie as naughty schoolgirl Monica and later as the Brummie, "Marlene".

Her many film and television roles as a character actor were usually well-received. She reprised her Tony Award-winning performance of a lesbian soap operastar in The Killing of Sister George for the screen version and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Drama. The former tour of the play was not a success, people in shops refused to serve her and other performers due to the gay characters in the play.

In both Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and Smiley's People Reid played Connie Sachs. For Smiley's People she won a BAFTA for Best Actress on Television. She also wrote an autobiography, So Much Love, which was well received. She played the part of an elderly feminist and political subversive in the 1987 television drama, The Beiderbecke Tapes.

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


Duncan Lamont (died 1978 aged 60) would be 106 - credited as Dan Galloway in Death to the Daleks

Duncan Lamont  was a British actor. Born in LisbonPortugal, but brought up in Scotland, he had a long and successful career in film and television, appearing in a variety of high-profile productions.

On film, the best-known of the many productions he appeared in were The 39 Steps (1959, as Kennedy), Ben-Hur (1959, uncredited but playing Marius), Mutiny on the Bounty (1962, as John Williams), Arabesque (1966) and Battle of Britain (1969, as Flight SergeantArthur). Lamont is particularly memorable in his role as the wry, urbane Viceroy in Jean Renoir's The Golden Coach.

On television, he was a semi-regular in the series The Texan from 1958 to 1960, and appeared in guest roles in a range of popular British programmes from the 1950s to the 1970s, including The Adventures of Robin HoodDixon of Dock GreenDanger ManThe AvengersRandall and Hopkirk (Deceased)The Persuaders!, and Doctor Who (the storyDeath to the Daleks).

In 1953, he appeared in the major role of astronaut Victor Carroon in the ground-breaking science-fiction serial The Quatermass Experiment, and fourteen years later returned to the series when he played the role of Sladden in the Hammer Films version of the third serial, Quatermass and the Pit.

He died in 1978 in Tunbridge WellsKent, of a heart attack at the age of sixty. He was working at the time on "Hostage", an episode of the BBC science-fiction series Blake's 7. Although he had completed location work for the episode, he died before the studio scenes had been shot, necessitating a re-mount of the location material in which he appeared and his replacement by the actor John Abineri, his co-star in the aforementioned Death to the Daleks.

He was married to the Irish actress Patricia Driscoll.

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


 Deaths
Brian Hibbard (died 2012 aged 65) - credited as Keillor in Delta and the Bannermen

Brian Hibbard is a Welsh actor and singer, best remembered as the lead vocalist in the original Flying Pickets.

Hibbard was born in Ebbw Vale, and after various jobs including teacher, steel worker, barman and chimney sweep, he formed the Flying Pickets with a group of other actors who had practised a cappella singing while travelling by coach to their appearances. He made two concerts in Ebbw Vale Leisure Centre when touring with the Flying Pickets, and formed a picket line on Top of the Pops at the height of the miners' strike.

Following the group's success in the early 1980s, Hibbard went on to pursue a career as a television actor, appearing in Coronation Street as garage mechanic Doug Murray, in Emmerdale asBobby-John Downes, and as Johnny Mac in the Welsh-language soap Pobol y Cwm as well as the youth drama Pam Fi, Duw?. He was in the 1997 film Twin Town as the self-styled "Karaoke King" Dai. He has also appeared in the drama serial Making Out; in the Doctor Who story Delta and the Bannermen; in comedy The Armando Ianucci Shows; and in films such as Twin Townand Rancid Aluminium. Brian appeared in EastEnders between 4th - 8th July 2011 playing Henry Mason, a man who ran a children's home where Billy Mitchell and Julie Perkins were in care.

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