How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who

50th anniversary special
23 November 2013

• You Can't Destroy the Doctor
• Doctor Doctor ...
• Who's That Doctor?
• The Man in Charge
• The Grumpy Old Man Who Spawned a TV Legend
• How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who
• The Comedian Who Wanted to Be Taken Seriously
• The Time Lord Saved Me from the Building Site
• Fans Invade the Tardis
• Totally Tasteless
• No More Ferrets for Me
• The Doctor Hits America
• The Man Who Said 'No'
• One for the Ladies
• The Geek Inherits the Universe

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Radio Times anniversary specials
10th (1973) | 20th (1983) | 30th (1993) | 40th (2003) | 50th (2013) | 60th (2023)

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• Publication: Radio Times
• Date: 2013-11-23
• Author: Mark Braxton, Patrick Mulkern
• Page: 32
• Language: English

It was during the second Doctor's era that the idea of the devoted accomplice took hold. As Highlander Jamie McCrimmon, Frazer Hines (below with Wendy Padbury as Zoe) has starred in more episodes than any other companion (112 in the 1960s, plus four in the 80s). But military man Alistair Lethbridge Stewart became the Doc's most enduring male associate as the Brigadier. As played by Nicholas Courtney, the Brig was in 102 episodes over four decades. The two associates who enjoyed the greatest popularity were journalist Sarah Jane Smith (first seen in 1974) and shop assistant Rose Tyler (2005), both of whom have topped RT polls. Elisabeth Sladen was invited to reprise her role as Smith for a 1983 special and the rebooted series, and she starred in two spin-offs — K-9 and Company and The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Find out who's now the most popular companion on 23 November in our 50th anniversary poll at radiotimes.com.

Most loyal companion?

MY COAT'S WARMER THAN YOURS

A fur-clad Patrick Troughton and a Yeti check the script between takes in the Tibet-set adventure The Abominable Snowmen. Filming took place in September 1967 in Snowdonia, which also doubled for the Khyber Pass in a Carry On film

MUST-SEE MOMENT

THE WEB OF FEAR (1968)

Rediscovered recently after 45 years, this classic adventure sees a thrilling battle between the Army and robotic Yeti in Covent Garden. Nicholas Courtney debuts as Colonel Lethbridge Stewart (later the Brigadier), who could always make the bizarre seem plausible. The Brig's daughter Kate (Jemma Redgrave) is back for the 50th. Available on iTunes.

PATRICK TROUGHTON

Years 1966-69 Episodes 119

(also in The Three Doctors 1972-73, The Five Doctors 1983 and The Two Doctors 1985)

Who was he? Born in Mill Hill, London,1920, Patrick Troughton was a popular actor in the early days of BBC television, playing one of the first Robin Hoods (in 1953). TV was his favourite medium; he couldn't abide theatre work, saying, "I can't stand all that shouting in the evening." He enjoyed a colourful private life, balancing two families, before embarking on a third relationship.

Doctor profile A scruffy bumbler, given to playing the recorder, he could switch between comedy and gravity in a heartbeat. His era ditched romps in history in favour of "base under siege" thrillers, fending off Yeti, Ice Warriors — even ferocious seaweed. Key companion Jamie (Frazer Hines) was a refugee from the Battle of Culloden. The kilt-wearing Highlander became the Doctor's right-hand man, with Hines and Troughton gradually developing a double act.

Ultimate foe The Cybermen usurped the Daleks as the key menace in the late 60s.

Died 1987, aged 67, at a US Who convention

I mellowed him

PLAY HIM LIKE Charlie Chaplin if you want to. Whatever happened to the cosmic hobo?" — Patrick Troughton was recalling (in RT in 1973) the advice of the BBC's head of drama. In 1966, Doctor Who had taken its biggest gamble, replacing its star for the first time, with a younger, quirkier, almost tramp-like figure. "In the beginning I played him very clownish," said Troughton, "but I mellowed him as the series progressed?' His Chaplinesque persona revitalised the programme and soon won viewers over.

He left after three years, vexed by a decline in the quality of the scripts and fearing typecasting. In 1969, he told RT: "Now I'm going to sit at home again and wait for the phone to ring?' Almost immediately, however, he was snapped up to play the Duke of Norfolk in the BBC's most prestigious drama of 1970, The Six Wives of Henry VIII.

Troughton was rarely, if ever, out of work, famously being impaled by the lightning rod from a church spire in The Omen. He happily returned to Who in multi-Doctor stories, relishing the 20th anniversary's The Five Doctors: "Sheer bliss! It felt as though I'd never been away. It would be wonderful if we could all get together for an adventure once a year. Failing that, I'd love to play a monster - no credit in Radio Times. It would be marvellous?'

Dr. Who

I would like to send my heartiest congratulations to the production team of BBC-1's Dr. Who.

Patrick Troughton and the superb character he has created have dragged the programme out the unfortunate mess it had degenerated into. Giveni sensible scripts the programme could possibly emerge as one of the reae real successes of television science fiction.

I look forward to the time when Dr. Who is performed for adults only.--G. Howard, Leeds, 2

WHAT have you done to BBC-1's Dr, Who? Of all the stupid nonsense! Why turn a wonderful series into what looked like Coco the Clown?

I think you will find thousands of children will not be watching Dr. Who which up to now has been the tops.--(Mrs.) Estelle Hawken, Wadebridge. Cornwall.

Thanks you, William Hartnell, for providing us with three most enjoyable years as the delightful Dr. Who.--A. Knox, New Malden.

SEND IN THE CLOWN

RT readers had a mixed reaction to the first change of Doctor in 1966

Who & Me

Hugh Bonneville, actor

I've vivid memorie of going round to my grandmother's house on a Saturday afternoon to watch Final Score and then take up my position behind the sofa in time for the opening titles of Doctor Who. As with lots of kids of my generation, it was the highlight of the weekend. Grandma poured the tea then vacated the room, confident that for the duration of Doctor Who, at least, I would be transfixed. From Behind the Sofa: see p25

Who knew?

Myth busted

Many claim that the terrifying roar of the Yeti was a sound effect created by distorting the noise of a toilet flushing. But Brian Hodgson, former head of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop, tells RT: "What I usually did for all the monsters was either use my voice or a recording of my dogs, treated electronically in various ways. The lavatory flush is one of those wonderful fantasies."

Inspired by Radio Times

A 1965 RT cover of teenager Deborah Watling brought her to the attention of Who producer Innes Lloyd. He cast her as companion Victoria in 1967.

Species identified

For the first six years of Doctor Who, viewers had little inkling of the Doctor's alien origins. Then, on 19 April 1969, RT revealed that Troughton's Doctor would go out "in a blaze of glory... captured by his own people, the Time Lords". The name was first' mentioned on screen six weeks later during Troughton's ten-par finale, The War Games.

Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org

• APA 6th ed.: Mulkern, Mark Braxton, Patrick (2013-11-23). How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who. Radio Times p. 32.
• MLA 7th ed.: Mulkern, Mark Braxton, Patrick. "How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who." Radio Times [add city] 2013-11-23, 32. Print.
• Chicago 15th ed.: Mulkern, Mark Braxton, Patrick. "How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who." Radio Times, edition, sec., 2013-11-23
• Turabian: Mulkern, Mark Braxton, Patrick. "How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who." Radio Times, 2013-11-23, section, 32 edition.
• Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/How_Charlie_Chaplin_Saved_Doctor_Who | work=Radio Times | pages=32 | date=2013-11-23 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=1 May 2025 }}</ref>
• Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=How Charlie Chaplin Saved Doctor Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/How_Charlie_Chaplin_Saved_Doctor_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=1 May 2025}}</ref>