Doctor Who and the Britcom factor

Nitcentral's Bulletin Brash Reflections: Doctor Who: Ask the Matrix: Doctor Who and the Britcom factor
By Gordon Lawyer (Glawyer) on Thursday, March 01, 2018 - 12:47 pm:

In the Cyberman feature on the Tomb of the Cybermen DVD, the presenter cracks about Lumic, "Looks a bit like that fellow from Only Fools and Horses." Because of course it's the same actor. So I thought it might be interesting to list the various actors who might be better known for their recurring roles on certain Britcoms who have appeared on Doctor Who. I'll start off.

Fawlty Towers

John Cleese (Basil) is an art gallery visitor in City of Death.

Andrew Sachs (Manuel) is Skagra in Shada.

Renee Roberts (Miss Gatsby) is an uncredited villager in The Daemons

Are You Being Served?

Nicholas Smith (Mr. Rumbold) is Wells in Dalek Invasion of Earth

Allo Allo

Carmen Silvera (Edith) is a passenger on the fake spaceship in Invasion of the Dinosaurs and one of the Toymaker's minions in The Celestial Toymaker

Guy Siner (Lt. Gruber) is Ravon in Genesis of the Daleks.

John D. Collins (Airman Fairfax) is Talor in Arc of Infinity.

Hilary Minster (Gen. von Klinkerhoffen) is Marat in Planet of the Daleks and a Thal in Genesis of the Daleks.

Keeping Up Appearances

Clive Swift (Richard) is Jobel in Revelation of the Daleks and Mr. Copper in Voyage of the Damned, and may be the only actor who has appeared in both versions of Doctor Who as different characters.

Judy Cornwall (Daisy) is Maddy in Paradise Towers.

Geoffrey Hughes (Onslow) is Popplewick in the final two episodes of Trial of a Time Lord.

David Griffin (Emmet) is Lt. Cmdr. Mitchell in The Sea Devils.


By Richard Davies (Richarddavies) on Thursday, March 01, 2018 - 1:01 pm:

Jeremey Gittens (Lazlo in Warrior's Gate) was a vicar in Keeping Up Appearances.

One Foot In The Grave has quite a few, & Father Ted is good if you mostly count supporting actors.


By Tim McCree (Tim_m) on Tuesday, August 07, 2018 - 5:27 am:

Martine Clunes, who played Lon in Snakedance, was in the sitcom Men Behaving Badly.


By Natalie Salat (Nataliesalat) on Wednesday, August 08, 2018 - 3:01 am:

Martine Clunes

So Martin's had a sex change they kept quiet ;)


By Tim McCree (Tim_m) on Wednesday, August 08, 2018 - 5:17 am:

Make one little typo.


By Richard Davies (Richarddavies) on Wednesday, August 08, 2018 - 12:39 pm:

Some Mother's do 'Ave 'Em cast a lot of people who also have also appeared in Doctor Who.

Elisabeth Sladen auditioned for Betty, & was Judy the greengrocer in one episode.


By Kevin (Kevin) on Wednesday, August 08, 2018 - 4:43 pm:

Maybe not a full-on sitcom, but the show Teachers contributed a several guests:

Navin Chowdhry (Kurt) was in Aliens of London.

Ellen Thomas (Liz) was in Planet of the Dead (the woman who warns the Doctor he will knock three times) and apparently Girl in the Fireplace as well.

Raquel Cassidy (Susan) was in The Tomorrow People two-parter.

Nina Sosanya (Jenny) was in Fear Her, unfortunately. Also in Casanova with Tennant.

Lloyd McGuire (Bob) was in Face of Evil.

Andrew Lincoln (Simon) wasn't in Who but had an absolutely horrid and nonsensical line in the contractual-obligation episode in which he returns, comparing his return to Doctor Who where every Doctor has to come back to confront his replacement.


By Brad J Filippone (Binro_the_heretic) on Saturday, July 01, 2023 - 4:59 am:

This thread started off with a mention of Fawlty Towers and yet no mention was made of Bernard Cribbins playing a very angry guest in the episode with the hotel inspectors.


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