In 1963, Jackie Lane auditioned for the role of Susan Foreman. Three years later she was approached by producer John Wiles to play Dodo, although her character disappeared off-screen just five stories later. After an appearance in American spy comedy Get Smart, Hill gave up acting, moving to Paris to work as a secretary at the Australian Embassy. On returning to England, she became a theatrical agent, representing Tom Baker and Janet Fielding among others.
In 1966, Dodo witnessed a little boy getting hurt in an accident on Wimbledon Common and ran to what she thought was the nearest police box to summon the authorities, only to be whisked off on board the TARDIS. Not that she cared – the independent young woman soon admitted that she lived with a great aunt who wouldn’t care if she never saw her again!
And another thing: Later in life, former Doctor Who producer Innes Lloyd asked Jackie Lane to find him work. Remembering how she had been dropped from the series, she declined.
played by MICHAEL CRAZE
First regular Doctor Who appearance: The War Machines Episode 1 (1966)
Final regular Doctor Who appearance: The Faceless Ones Episode 6 (1967)
Discovered through an appearance in a Boy Scout Gang Show, 12-year old Craze went on to win understudy roles at Drury Lane theatre. TV and film work followed including a leading role in the 1960 ABC science fiction series Target Luna. After leaving Doctor Who, Craze would appear in episodes of Z-Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Armchair Theatre and Crossroads. In 1974, Craze moved into the catering and hotel industry. He occasionally returned to acting, his last television role before his death in 1998 being a one-off play entitled The Healer.
Able Seaman Ben Jackson’s life changed in 1966 when he met a pretty secretary by the name of Polly in a nightclub called the Inferno. After helping the Doctor foil the rogue computer system, WOTAN, the courageous cockney sailor inadvertently hitched a lift on board the TARDIS back to 17th-century Cornwall.
And another thing: Michael Craze met his wife Edwina while filming The Tenth Planet. Before joining the Doctor Who cast Craze underwent surgery to repair a badly broken nose. He was worried that the polystyrene snow from a fake snow machine might hurt his nose and asked for it to be angled away from him. Edwina, the Production Assistant operating the machine blew it right at him. He forgave her and they were married three years later.
played by Anneke Wills
First regular Doctor Who appearance: The War Machines Episode 1 (1966)
Final regular Doctor Who appearance: The Faceless Ones Episode 6 (1967)
One of the actresses considered for the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan, Anneke Wills had made her acting debut at the age of eleven. Later, after dropping out of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, the former child actor took roles in Armchair Theatre, The Saint and The Avengers. Following Doctor Who, Wills starred as Evelyn McLean in Strange Report, before giving up acting. Following times living in India, America and Canada, Wills settled in Devon in 1996.
Polly met the Doctor while she was working as Secretary to Professor Brett, creator of the WOTAN computer. Like Ben, Polly accidentally joined the Doctor on his travels while trying to return his TARDIS key. Practical and level-headed, blonde bombshell Polly was a Sixties girl through and through.
And another thing: Anneke Wills’ first husband, Michael Gough, played the Celestial Toymaker against William Hartnell’s First Doctor.
played by FRAZER HINES
First regular Doctor Who appearance: The Highlanders Episode 1 (1966)
Final regular Doctor Who appearance: The War Games Episode 10 (1969)
Final guest Doctor Who appearance: The Two Doctors Episode 3 (1985)
A familiar face on British television before joining Doctor Who, Frazer Hines appeared in such programmes as The Silver Sword, Smuggler’s Bay, Emergency Ward 10 and Coronation Street. In 1972, three years after leaving the TARDIS, Hines joined Yorkshire TV’s Emmerdale Farm as Joe Sugden, a role he would play until 1994. He now breeds racehorses at his stud farm in Nottingham.
Born in the early 18th century, James Robert Macrimmon (or McCrimmon, as some sources have it) was constantly bamboozled by technology but enthusiastically threw himself into adventure and became one of the Doctor’s most loyal friends. Practical and resourceful, Jamie often put himself in great peril to keep the Time Lord safe and sound.
And another thing: The Doctor only let Jamie come on board the TARDIS if the highlander agreed to teach him how to play the bagpipes.
played by DEBORAH WATLING
First regular Doctor Who appearance: The Evil of the Daleks Episode 2 (1967)
Final regular Doctor Who appearance: Fury from the Deep Episode 6 (1968)
Final guest Doctor Who appearance: Dimensions in Time Part 2 (1993)
Born into an acting family, Deborah originally wanted to be a dentist before failing her O Levels. Walking out of drama school after just three weeks, she secured an agent and soon scored roles in ITC’s William Tell and The Invisible Man. A 1965 Radio Times cover photograph of Watling as Alice drew her to the attention of Doctor Who producer Innes Lloyd. Considered too inexperienced for the role of Polly, she was recalled to audition for Victoria. Watling went on to appear in numerous TV shows including Danger UXB, Rising Damp and Doctor in Charge as well as countless theatre roles.
When her father Edward Waterfield accidentally created a link between 1866 London and the planet Skaro, Victoria was taken prisoner by the Daleks. When Waterfield was killed, the Doctor promised to take care of her. Never a natural adventurer, Victoria didn’t react well to the dangers life with the Doctor brought.
And another thing: Deborah’s father, Jack Watling, appeared as Professor Edward Travers in The Abominable Snowman and The Web of Fear.
played by WENDY PADBURY
First regular Doctor Who appearance: The Wheel in Space Episode 2 (1968)
Final regular Doctor Who appearance: The War Games Episode 10 (1969)
Final guest Doctor Who appearance: The Five Doctors (1983)
After a flurry of early TV appearances, Wendy Padbury won a regular role on the ATV soap Crossroads. On leaving Doctor Who, Padbury appeared in Z-Cars, Freewheelers, Emmerdale and the 1971 horror film The Blood on Satan’s Claw. Before retiring and moving to France, she worked as a theatrical agent, representing Nicholas Courtney, Colin Baker, Mark Strickson and, more recently, Matt Smith.
An astrophysicist, astrometricist (first class) and librarian on board the space station known as the Wheel, Zoe Heriot stowed away on board the TARDIS following the Doctor’s victory over the Cybermen. Highly intelligent, and gift ed with almost total recall, Zoe often seemed to out-think the Doctor himself – although her inexperience and a distinct stubborn streak often got her into trouble.