Statistics


On This Day (USA) - 26 March



The Ark: The Bomb premiered on BBC One in 1966 at 5:15pm BST, watched by 7.30 million viewers.

Unwilling to share the new world, Refusis, with their human slaves, the Monoids plan to blow up the Ark with a bomb which is hidden somewhere on the ship.


The Talons of Weng-Chiang: Part Five premiered on BBC One in 1977 at 6:30pm BST, watched by 10.10 million viewers.

Weng-Chiang/Magnus Greel has recovered his lost time cabinet and the Doctor hurries to track him down before he uses it and destroys the whole of London.


A New Dimension premiered on BBC One in 2005 at 5:28pm GMT, watched by 4.02 million viewers.

A foretaste of the new Who, which starts tonight at 7pm.


Rose premiered on BBC One in 2005 at 7:00pm GMT, watched by 10.81 million viewers.

New series 1/13. The Time Lord, who's now had as many lives as a cat, materialises once more for the long-awaited ninth incarnation of the classic sci-fi drama.

After meeting a mysterious stranger, Rose Tyler realises her life will never be the same again.

Doctor Who Confidential follows at 7.45pm on BBC3.(AD)
Doctor Who pull-out: see centre pages


Bringing Back the Doctor premiered on BBC Three in 2005 at 7:45pm GMT

This episode goes behind the scenes of Rose

New series 1/13. As a newly-regenerated Time Lord hits our screens, this behind-the-scenes show, featuring interviews with cast, crew and writers, captures the excitement and energy surrounding the new series. Narrated by Simon Pegg. Firstly, exactly how and when will the Doctor return?


 Birthdays
Richard Dawkins will be 83 - credited as Himself in The Stolen Earth / Journey's End

Richard DawkinsFRSFRSL , is a British ethologist,evolutionary biologist and author. He is an emeritus fellow of New College, Oxford, and was the University of Oxford's Professor for Public Understanding of Science from 1995 until 2008.

He is married to former Doctor Who Companion, Lalla Ward.


Kenneth Ives (died 2022 aged 87) would be 90 - credited as Toba in The Dominators

Kenneth Ives is a British actor and director with a number of 1960s and 1970s television credits.

He played Toba in the 1968 story The Dominators.

He appeared in the 1968 film version of The Lion in Winter, the 1971 BBC serial The Last of the Mohicans as Hawkeye, and had roles in Adam Adamant Lives!

He later became a director, with credits for a production of The Birthday Party as well as episodes of Poldark, Gangsters, Softly, Softly: Taskforce, All Creatures Great and Small and Secret Army.


George Raistrick (died 1995 aged 64) would be 93 - credited as Guard at Work Centre in Day of the Daleks

Actor who appeared in the 1972 story Day of the Daleks


Geoffrey Cheshire (died 2004 aged 77) would be 97 - 4 credits, including Tracy in The Invasion

Actor who appeared in several early episodes of Doctor Who. Also appeared in the film Dalek Invasion Earth 2050

Also appeared in The BillThe Thief of BaghdadThe Fenn Street GangPlease Sir!The Persuaders!Wicked WomenOn Her Majesty's Secret ServiceRun a Crooked MileCallanBBC Play of the MonthSmoke ScreenThe Wednesday PlayITV PlayhouseThe White RabbitThe Saint


Barry Letts (died 2009 aged 84) would be 99 - 39 credits, including Producer for Doctor Who And The Silurians

Barry Letts, was producer of Doctor Who through one of its most fondly-remembered periods with Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor from 1970 to 1974.

Previously an actor, Letts moved behind the camera in the 1960s, finding work as a director on several programmes for BBC television. He first worked on Doctor Who as director of the 1968 Patrick Troughton serial Enemy of the World, before accepting the job of producer during production Jon Pertwee's first season, in 1969. Working closely in association with script editor Terrance Dicks, Letts oversaw the creative direction and production of the programme for the following five seasons.In addition to his producing role, Letts also directed several serials during his time in charge of the programme - Terror of the AutonsCarnival of Monsters and Planet of the Spiders

He also handled much of the direction for Inferno after Douglas Camfield was taken ill, and after leaving the series as producer he directed The Android Invasion for his successor, Philip Hinchcliffe. He also co-wrote The Daemonswith Robert Sloman (under the pseudonym 'Guy Leopold') and worked closely with Sloman on the writer's other scripts for the programme.

Letts' legacy to the programme included the creation of the character Sarah Jane Smith, played by Elisabeth Sladen on the BBC to this day, and the decision to cast Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. The latter was a decision for which Tom Baker was always ready to express immense gratitude, as when Letts appeared on his episode of "This is Your Life" in the year 2000.Letts remained fond of and connected with the series right up until his death. 

When producer Graham Williams broke his leg during production of season 16 in 1978 Letts helped to keep an eye on the series, and more officially he served as Executive Producer in 1980, overseeing the inexperienced John Nathan-Turner's first season in charge of the programme. For many years thereafter Letts also penned novels, novelisations and radio serials connected to the programme. He also appeared on DVD commentaries and in various documentaries.

He also gained extensive credits outside of Doctor Who, most notably as producer of the BBC's "Classic Serial" strand during the late 1970s and early 1980s. In this role he produced many acclaimed and award-winning adaptations of classic novels, including "Great Expectations", "Alice in Wonderland" and "Jane Eyre". Later, he directed episodes for the soap opera "EastEnders".


 Deaths
Hamish Wilson (died 2020 aged 77) - credited as Jamie in The Mind Robber

Hamish Wilson is a Scottish actor from Glasgow, and is best known for briefly taking over the role of Jamie McCrimmon for part of two episodes in the 1968 Doctor Who serial The Mind Robber when series regular Frazer Hines was ill and unable to attend the recording. The change of actor was written into the script.

Wilson's other work includes numerous TV guest appearances, particularly during the 1960s, and participates in the documentary and the audio commentary on the 2005 DVD release of The Mind Robber.

Other roles include TimeLockThe Wicker TreeThe ElementalStill GameMonarch of the GlenTaggartThe View from Daniel PikeAdam SmithBoy Meets GirlThe BorderersThe Revenue MenSoftly SoftlyThis Man CraigThe Wednesday PlayGreyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog 


Rosamund Hartley (died 2014) - 2 credits, including Lady (Court of King John) in The King's Demons

Her death was reported in June's DWM.