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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 be 80 - 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 be 80 - 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


Raymond Llewellyn will be 97 - credited as Sapan in The Abominable Snowmen

Raymond Llewellyn is a Welsh actor.

His earliest major role was in the original West End production of Under Milk Wood, playing Mr Pugh in 1956. He is also known for his role as Huw in the cult fantasy series The Owl Service. Llewellyn recently stated that these two parts have been the standout roles in his career.

He also appeared in the Doctor Who story "The Abominable Snowmen" in 1967 and the 1978 film The Thief of Bagdad. He has also worked for The Royal Shakespeare Company.

Recent work includes parts in TV dramas Holby City and Doctors. He also played the role of Madoc in the 'Brother Cadfael' series with Derek Jacobi.

Other work includes Mr Pugh in the 1963 BBC Radio version of Under Milk Wood with Richard Burton; 1984-5 in New York/Washington and three weeks in Los Angeles with 'Cyrano' & 'Much Ado About Nothing' starring Derek Jacobi, as well as ten weeks in Los Angeles with the Royal National Theatre Production of Ibsen's 'Enemy of the People' starring Ian McKellen. Latterly he played in three seasons at the Ludlow Festival Shakespeare productions directed by Michael Bogdanov. His last work before his retirement was in the film 'The Edge of Love', about an incident in the life of Dylan Thomas, with Keira Knightley

 

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

 


 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 Ј17million 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.