Statistics


On This Day (USA) - 23 June



The Green Death: Episode Six premiered on BBC One in 1973 at 5:50pm BST, watched by 7.00 million viewers.

Cliff is dying and the maggots are on the verge of transforming into giant flying insects. Time is running out for the Doctor as BOSS launches its plan for world domination.


The Sound of Drums premiered on BBC One in 2007 at 7:15pm BST, watched by 7.51 million viewers.

The Saxon Mystery premiered on BBC Three in 2007 at 8:00pm BST

 Birthdays
Colin Ryan will be 38 - credited as Harry in Knock Knock

Colin Ryan is an English actor, best known for the BBC's series Leonardo as a young Lorenzo de' Medici.

Ryan trained at Arts Educational Schools, London, and graduated in 2009. His first job after graduation was with Rufus Hound in sci-fi comedy Hounded for CBBC. 

Stage credits include the Ghost of Christmas Past at Birmingham REP and I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky, a contemporary opera at Theatre Royal Stratford East.

In 2011, he was cast as Lorenzo de' Medici in the program Leonardo. 


Caitlin Blackwood will be 24 - 5 credits, including Amelia in The Eleventh Hour

Caitlin Blackwood  played the young Amy Pond in The Eleventh Hour, The Big Bang, Let's Kill Hitler and The God Complex. 

She is the cousin of Karen Gillan, who plays the older Amy Pond, although they had never met before Doctor Who. 


Willis Chung will be 38 - credited as Chinese Man in The Gathering(TW)

Willis Chung was born  in LA’s outer city of Monterey Park.  His father, businessman who constantly traveled around the world doing international trades.  His mother took on various clerical works while taking care of the children. Being the middle child, he has an older brother to look up to and a younger sister to take care of. They lived in California suburban home where he learned and adapted his Chinese-American culture.   Willis was speaking Mandarin at home and switched to English when he plays with his neighborhood friends.  

Due to his father’s business in the east coast,  Chung  and his family moved to New York when he was still in grade school.  From there, he adjusted a different culture, lifestyle and blended in quickly with the fast pace city-life. After two years of living in New York, Willis and his family returned back to familiar grounds of California. 

Watching many Chinese action movies, Wushu martial arts had intrigued  Chung  into learning it himself.  While practicing Wushu, his master was impressed with  Chung’s form and movement.  One day, his master recommended him to further his study and work on Tai-Chi.  Willis was hesitant about pursuing tai-chi thinking that the slow movement was an exercise for old people at the park.  However, from the support from his master and family, he was educated about the values and grace of Tai-Chi.   Chung put forth his decision which earned him one gold, two silver and two bronze in his first martial arts competition.

Chung attended a local community college after completing high school. Trying to figure out his passion, he attempted different selection of classes; he took nursing, business, and accounting classes but nothing strike him until his first theatre class.  Being on stage was a natural for Willis.  The professor was pleased with his work and dedication that the professor himself mentor private sessions with Willis after class.  This motivated him on his future career path.   Willis continued to enrich his studies in various aspects of theatre and film by attending seminars and workshops.

AfterThe Fast and Furious 3,  Chung  continued working on short independent films, commercials, and television.  His first national commercial was with Dunkin’ Donuts. He worked on feature films such as SuperBad and TheInventions of Lying.  His motion-capture / voice-over project with Square Enix introduced a better understanding of the animation and gaming industry.  Also, he co-starred as the patient of the week in the hit television show House M.D.  In addition, Willis also worked on numerous award winning short films.  His admirable sense of humour and candid smile has earned him positive praises with the people he worked with.  However, hard work and dedication is never far off in his professionalism.  On top of that, Willis started a production company, Third Estate Media, which produces music videos for most major labels, short films starring A-List actors from Asia, as well as several regional commercials airing on KCAL9 and numerous cable networks.



Leee John will be 67 - credited as Mansell in Enlightenment

Leee John (born Hackney, London) of St Lucian descent, is a British musician, singer and actor. He was educated in New York, later studying drama at the Anna Scher Theatre School. His stage name came about when he signed up with EMI, deciding that he wanted to be different and adding an additional 'e' to the name.

He was working as a backing singer when he met Ashley Ingram, a guitarist/bassist. They formed a songwriting partnership, working in a short-lived band called Fizzz.

Produced by Jolley & Swain their hit Body Talk reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart in May 1981. Their biggest hit, Just an Illusion, peaked at number two in March 1982. The trio frequently appeared on Top of the Pops and other pop music programmes.

Despite not being an actor, he made a guest appearance in the 1983 Doctor Who story Enlightenment, playing the character 'Mansell'; he replaced actor David Rhule, who had dropped out at short notice due to an industral strike at the BBC after the rehearsals had begun.

The group in the UK waned but they continued to perform, tour and record until the early 1990s. John went back to acting, but in 2003 resurfaced in the reality television show, Reborn in the USA, alongside other singers such as Elkie Brooks and Tony Hadley.

He appeared on The Adam and Joe Show, in the series four segmant 'The 1980s House', a spoof of the popular reality series putting families into homes with period features, with Leee playing the house designer.

He released a number of dance singles in the late 1990s and early 2000s, including the UK Garage tracks Your Mind, Your Body, Your Soul and U Turn Me with Ten City vocalist Byron Stingily (2000). Under the artist name Johnny X, he also co-wrote and performed vocals on Call on Me which was released on Higher State.

In 2005 John released a jazz album, Feel My Soul on Candid Records featuring a mixture of jazz standards, and original compositions. Since the album's release John has been touring the UK and Europe with his jazz quartet, as well as performing with Imagination. In 2007, he submitted the track Trust My Heart for Ian Levine's album Northern Soul 2007.


James Marcus will be 82 - 2 credits, including Rask in Underworld

James Marcus  is an English actor. He appeared in the 1978 story Underworld.

He is best known for his performance as Georgie, one of the droogs in Stanley Kubrick's controversial film A Clockwork Orange (1971). 

Before becoming an apprentice printer, he spent the majority of his teenage life performing gigs. After studying acting courses at the 15 Drama school in London, he had several roles in plays based on the works of Shakespeare. His first appearance on TV was the BBC show Hello, Good Evening and Welcome (1968). He also landed a role in the 1969 war comedy, The Virgin Soldiers.

His other TV appearances include UFO, The Sweeney, Z-Cars and The Professionals. He also appearded in the Robin Askwith vehicle Let's Get Laid (1977) with John Clive, another Clockwork Orange actor. He also starred in The Naked Civil Servant (1975) with John Hurt and McVicar (1980). One of his other memorable roles is that of fire station officer Sidney Tate in London's Burning. He also directed the nihilistic Tank Malling (1993) which featured Ray Winstone.

As well as directing, James also produced and co-wrote Passing Through including Family Tree, a stage production. He is currently involved in the TV/film industry devoting his time to acting (his recent role was in The Bill), producing and script writing.



Mary Ridge (died 2000 aged 75) would be 99 - credited as Director for Terminus

Mary Ridge was a member of BBC television production staff who served as Associate Producer on The Duchess of Duke Street

She directed episodes of The Wednesday PlayBlake's 7Doctor Who(Terminus in 1983), and Z Cars.


 Deaths
Jackie Lane (died 2021 aged 79) - 6 credits, including Dodo in The Massacre

Jackie Lane was an English actress noted for her role as Dodo Chaplet alongside first Doctor William Hartnell.

In 1963 she was playing the part of the secretary in "Compact" when she was offered the part of the Doctor's grand-daughter, Susan, but decided that she did not want to be tied down to a year's contract. In 1966, however, having had only sporadic work in between, she accepted an offer from John Wiles, who had seen her as a Cockney character in a play, to portray Dorothea Chaplet. She played the part from February to July 1966

Lane gave up acting after her stint on Doctor Who, and went to work as a secretary in the Australian embassy in Paris. She returned to England some time later and is now head of an acting agency's voice-over department. She went on to become a theatrical agent, representing Tom Baker and Janet Fielding.

Lane was eighteen when she played the role of Dodo and is therefore the youngest female actor to have played a companion in the series - Matthew Waterhouse who played Adric in the early 1980s being the youngest male actor to have played a companion.

The actress will be played by Sophie Holt in the 50th Anniversary drama An Adventure In Space And Time.


David Nicholls (died 2008 aged 58) - credited as (extra) in Planet of the Spiders

David Nicholls was born in Tipton, Sandwell, West Midlands, England.

 He was an actor, known for Gladiator (2000), Gangs of New York (2002) and Muppet Treasure Island (1996). 


Peter Birrel (died 2004 aged 68) - credited as Draconian Prince in Frontier In Space

Peter Birrel  was an English actor.

He played numerous bit parts in British TV series for nearly forty years.

He appeared in the Doctor Who story Frontier in Space in 1973, as well as in the documentary I Was a 'Doctor Who' Monster. Birrel also appeared in the first series of Alexander the Greatest.

In 1998, he married an old colleague Stephanie Cole, who remained his wife till his death.


Frank Gatliff (died 1990 aged 62) - credited as Ortron in The Monster of Peladon

Frank Gatliff  played Ortron in the Doctor Who television story The Monster of Peladon.

Had a long television career appearing in Then Churchill Said to MeC.A.B.Miss Marple: NemesisDéjà VuFairly Secret ArmyThe Gentle TouchDramaramaMinderThe CleopatrasThe Chinese DetectiveTales of the UnexpectedScarf JackThe Incredible Mr TannerThe Bunker, We, the AccusedBlakes 7SykesThundercloudThe Other OneReturn of the SaintThe Many Wives of PatrickRobin's NestThe Four FeathersThe Onedin LineThe Galton & Simpson PlayhouseThe New AvengersThe Molly WopsiesThe Good LifeOperation: DaybreakThe Tomorrow PeopleThe Two RonniesRising DampZ CarsMicrobes and MenWhodunnit?ZodiacOoh La La!Bless This HouseThe Zoo RobberyFather Dear FatherThe EdwardiansFull HouseZinotchkaHis Lordship EntertainsThe Persuaders!Play for TodayHark at BarkerStrange ReportDepartment SThe BorderersThe Inside ManThe AvengersThe TroubleshootersFor Amusement OnlyDetectiveThe Ronnie Barker PlayhouseMan in a SuitcaseSanctuaryThe Golden AgeThe Wednesday PlayArmchair TheatreITV Play of the WeekThe GamblersDixon of Dock GreenThe Rat CatchersQuick Before They Catch UsThe BaronNo Hiding PlaceThe Projected ManDanger ManThe Ipcress FileGideon's WayTheatre 625TeletaleGhost SquadIt Happened Like ThisA Prize of ArmsOut of This WorldCrooks AnonymousA Chance of ThunderBoyd Q.C.Police SurgeonOn the BeachEmergency


Nigel Stock (died 1986 aged 66) - credited as Professor Hayter in Time-Flight

Nigel Stock was a British actor of stage, screen, radio and television, who played major character roles in many films and television dramas.

Stock was born in Malta, the son of an Army captain. He grew up in India before attending St Paul's School, London and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, where he earned the Leverhulme Exhibition, Northcliffe Scholarship, and the Principal's Medal.

He made his stage debut in 1931, and during his career achieved numerous classical and contemporary credits at various distinguished theatres, including the Old Vic and on Broadway, with productions of The Winter's TaleMacbeth,She Stoops to ConquerUncle Vanya. His start in films came with uncredited bit parts in The Man Who Could Work Miracles (1938) and Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1939). In 1937 he made his first credited film appearance in Lancashire Luck.

His acting career was interrupted by wartime service between 1939 and 1945 with the London Irish Rifles and the Assam Regiment of the Indian Army in BurmaChina and Kohima. He was honourably discharged with the rank of Major, having twice been mentioned in despatches.

His film appearances included popular releases such as Brighton Rock (1947), The Dam Busters (1955), The Great Escape (1963), The Lion in Winter and The Lost Continent (both 1968), and Russian Roulette (1975).

Between 1964 and 1968, Nigel Stock became a household name in the UK for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in a series of Sherlock Holmes dramas for BBC television. Later in life, he portrayed the mentor of Sherlock Holmes in Young Sherlock Holmes. His other numerous television credits included Danger Man (1965), The Avengers (1964 & 1966), The Prisoner (1967), Owen MD (1971�73), Quiller (1975), Van der Valk (1977), Doctor Who (1982), Yes Minister (1982),Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) and for the BBC A Tale of Two Cities 1980 television series as well as The Pickwick Papers (1985) as Mr. Pickwick.

Stock and his third wife, Richenda Carey, had just appeared together on stage in the world premiere of Mumbo Jumbo in May 1986, when he died in London of a heart attack, aged 66.

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