Doctor Who Vs. Poirot, Series 12

Actor David Suchet again portrayed Agatha Christie's Belgian sleuth in four new feature-length period crime dramas for ITV1.
The third serial, Murder on the Orient Express, was the writer's most successful book to date, and remains Poirot's most renowned case. The novel was serialised in America as Murder in the Calais Coach (1933), then issued as Murder on the Train.
Christie based this story on the recent kidnap and murder of Charles Lindbergh's baby son, dubbed 'the Crime of the Century' in 1932, and the novelist herself was stranded on the famous train for 24-hours in 1931.

The twelfth and penultimate season of Poirot featured thirty-three Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

Three Act Tragedy (TX:January 3 2010 - Published 1934)

• Art Malik (Strange) voiced Abbot Absolute for The Skull of Sobek (Big Finish, 2008)
• Kate Ashfield (Wills) voiced Lieutenant Beth Stokes for Enemy of the Daleks (BF, 2009)
• Jane Asher (Mary) voiced Susan Foreman for Whatever Happened to... Susan? (Radio 4, 1994), and was Andrea Yates in The Sarah Jane Adventures: Whatever Happened to Sarah Jane? (2007)
• Michael Hobbs (Coroner) voiced Mr Fazackerly for Other Lives (BF, 2005) and Francis Currie in the UNIT spin-off audio series
• Mick Pantaleo was also the first assistant director on A Christmas Carol, The Doctor's Wife and Night Terrors

Hallowe'en Party (TX: October 27 2010 - Pub. 1969)

• for Zoe Wanamaker (as recurring character Ariadne) and Ian Hallard (Drake) see my blog for Series 11 of Poirot
• Timothy West (Cottrell) voiced Turvey for Cuddlesome (BF/DWM, 2008), and Dr Magnus Soames in House of Blue Fire (2011)
• Fenella Woolgar (Whittaker) played Agatha Christie in The Unicorn and the Wasp, and voiced Commander Helen Femor for The Company of Friends: Fritz's Story (BF, 2009) and Morella Wendigo for Nevermore (2010)
• Julian Rhind-Tutt (Garfield) voiced Lexhan for The Paradise of Death (Radio 5, 1993)
• Paul Thornley (Raglan) voiced Marko for Seven Keys to Doomsday (BF, 2008), Michael Rond also for Fritz's Story, and Gomori for Paper Cuts (2009)
• Dean Forster was also a stuntman on seven NuWho episodes, from The Christmas Invasion to A Good Man Goes to War, and The Sarah Jane Adventures: The Man Who Never Was, and Torchwood

Murder On The Orient Express
(TX: Christmas Day 2010 - Pub. 1934)

• Toby Jones (Ratchett) was the Dream Lord in Amy's Choice, and voiced renegade Time Lord Kotris for Dark Eyes (BF, 2012)
• David Morrissey (Arbuthnot) was Jackson Lake in The Next Doctor
• Hugh Bonneville (Masterman) was Captain Henry Avery in The Curse of the Black Spot (and briefly in A Good Man Goes to War and The Wedding of River Song)
• Samuel West (Constantine) was Cyrian in Dimensions in Time (1993), and voiced Revenant for The Vengeance of Morbius (BF, 2008), and Albert Tiermann for Demon Quest: A Shard of Ice (AudioGo, 2010)
• Crispin Layfield was also the stunt co-ordinator on NuWho, from Smith and Jones to the present

The Clocks (TX: Boxing Day 2011 - Pub. 1963)

• director Charles Palmer also helmed four adventures for Series 3 of NuWho
• Geoffrey Palmer (Hamling) and Andrew Havill (Hjerson) both appeared in Voyage of the Damned, as Captain Hardaker and the Chief Steward respectively - the former also played Edward Masters in The Silurians, then the Administrator in (part one of) The Mutants, and the latter voiced both Aleister Portillon and Squire Claude for The Witch From the Well (BF, 2011)
• Victoria Wicks (Swinburne) was the High Priestess in The Fires of Pompeii
• Sinead Keenan (Nora) was Addams in The End of Time, and voiced Margery Phipps for the forthcoming Big Finish release, The Companion Chronicles: Council of War
• Lesley Sharp (Martindale) was Sky Silvestry in Midnight
• Anna Massey (Pebmarsh) voiced Miss Pollard for The Girl Who Never Was (BF, 2007)
• Phil Daniels (Hardcastle) voiced Geoffrey Plum for The Gunpowder Plot
• Abigail Thaw (Rachel) voiced Dr Phillipa Stone for The Lady of Mercia, and Zaadur for the future 'lost' story release, Lords of the Red Planet
• Ben Righton (Jenkins) was Dr Oliver Morgenstern in Smith and Jones and Turn Left
• Jason Watkins (Bland) was Webley (pictured) in Nightmare in Silver
• Andrew Forbes (Purdy) was Omril in Full Circle, and voiced Dr O'Neil for Night Thoughts (BF, 2006)
• Frances Barber (Merlina) was Madame Kovarian throughout the Series six story arc
• Greg Bennett (Detective) went uncredited as both a UNIT Soldier and Sycorax Warrior in The Christmas Invasion, and a Guest in The Lazarus Experiment
• film editor Matthew Tabern also edited both the 2007 seasons of NuWho and The Sarah Jane Adventures
• Sean Clayton was assistant director on Dalek, and Father's Day too
• Tom Lucy was also the stunt co-ordinator on sixteen episodes of NuWho episodes, from Smith and Jones to The Next Doctor

Doctor Who On This Day #203

1973 - The Green Death, Episode 1 first broadcast
2006 - Producer Peter Bryant died in London, aged 82; and Rise of the Cybermen repeated on BBC3

2007 - 42 first screened, and Doctor Who Confidential: Space Craft also screened on BBC3

2009 - The Lazarus Experiment repeated on BBC3

2011 - Cobwebs, Episodes 3 repeated and 4 first broadcast, both on Radio 4 Extra

2012 - The Time of Angels repeated on BBC3
2013 - The Name of the Doctor first screened in Australia, South Africa and Poland, and repeated on BBC America; Frontios and Resurrection of the Daleks both repeated on UKTV; The Rebel Flesh repeated on BBC Entertainment Europe; and The Doctor's Wife repeated on BBC Nordic

Doctor Who Vs. The Eagle Has Landed

Based on the book by Jack Higgins, this classic war film was released in 1976, and starred Michael Caine, Donald Sutherland, and Larry Hagman (a sequel, The Eagle Has Flown was published in 1991).

Co-star Jean Marsh (here as Miss Grey) first appeared in 'classic' Doctor Who as Princess Joanna in The Crusade in 1965, then as short-lived companion Sara Kingdom (pictured) in nine episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan later that year, and finally as Morgaine in Battlefield (1989).
The role of space agent Kingdom was reprised for The Companion Chronicles releases from Big Finish - Home Truths (2008), The Drowned World (2009), The Guardian of the Solar System (2010), The Five Companions (2011), and The Anachronauts (2012), then for the 'lost' story The Daleks: The Destroyers (2010). Marsh also voiced Maria for The Wishing Beast (2007).

Shown today on BBC2, The Eagle Has Landed also featured these fourteen other Doctor Who guest stars:

• Sir John Standing (Verecker) voiced Fenric for Gods and Monsters (Big Finish, 2012)
• Jenny Agutter (Molly) voiced Sekhmet for The Bride of Peladon (BF, 2008)
• Denis Lill (Extra) played Dr Fendelman in The Image of Fendahl, and Sir George Hutchinson in The Awakening
• Tim Barlow (Wilde) was Tyssan in Destiny of the Daleks
• Maurice Roeves (Corcoran) was Stotz in The Caves of Androzani
• Harry Fielder (Outrider) a veteran of fifteen 'classic' era appearances, was a Guard (in serials PP, ZZZ, 4L, 4P, 5A, 5F, 5Z), a Crewman (SS, 4T), a Vogan (4D), an Assassin (4Q), a Tigellan (5Q), and a Krarg in Shada 
• Roy Marsden (Toberg) was Mr Stoker in Smith and Jones
• Peter Miles (Hitler) was Dr Charles Lawrence in The Silurians, Professor Whitaker for Invasion of the Dinosaurs, then - most famously - was Davros' henchman, Nyder in Genesis of the Daleks, a role he reprised for both The Trial of Davros (2005), and I, Davros: Guilt (BF, 2006) - he also voiced Tragan for The Paradise of Death (BBC Radio 5, 1993), and Curator Gantman for Whispers of Terror (BF, 1999)
• the six stunt performers - Valentino Musetti (was a Saracen Warrior in the 1965 episode, The Lion, and had another eight uncredited roles for the 'classic' series)
• Bill Weston (a Militiaman in The Smugglers)
• Mark McBride (a Van Driver in Mawdryn Undead)
• Steve Emerson (a UNIT Soldier in The Claws of Axos)
• Richard Hammatt (a stuntman in The Runaway Bride)
• and Nick Hobbs (had eight uncredited roles in the 'classic' era, was Aggedor in both Peladon serials, and was Mr Nainby in Amy's Choice)

Doctor Who On This Day #202

1968 - The Wheel in Space, Episode 4 broadcast

1974 - Planet of the Spiders, Episode 3 first screened

2007 - Smith and Jones repeated on BBC3

2009 - Evolution of the Daleks repeated on BBC3

2011 - Cobwebs, Episodes 2 repeated and 3 first broadcast, both on Radio 4 Extra
2012 - The Beast Below and Victory of the Daleks both repeated on BBC3

2013 - The Name of the Doctor first screened in the UK and North America; The Bells of St. John, The Rings of Akhaten, Cold War, Hide, Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, The Crimson Horror, and Nightmare in Silver all repeated on BBC America; The Doctor's Wife and The Rebel Flesh both repeated on BBC Entertainment Europe; and The Stolen Earth and Journey's End both repeated on France 4

Doctor Who On This Day #201

1969 - The War Games, Episode 5 broadcast

2008 - The Unicorn and the Wasp first screened, and Doctor Who Confidential: Nemesis also screened on BBC3

2010 - Amy's Choice repeated on BBC HD; and Orbis, Episode 1 repeated on Radio 7

2011 - Cobwebs, Episodes 1 repeated and 2 first broadcast, both on Radio 4 Extra
2013 - Nightmare in Silver repeated on BBC3; World War Three,
Dalek, Partners in Crime, The Fires of Pompeii, and Planet of the Ood
all repeated on BBC America; Partners in Crime repeated on Watch;
The Doctor's Wife repeated on BBC Entertainment Europe; and Silence
in the Library and Forest of the Dead both screened at The John Rylands
Library, Manchester

Doctor Who Vs. Poirot, Series 3

Actors David Suchet, Hugh Fraser, Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran all returned for eleven new period crime dramas, first broadcast on ITV in the autumn and winter of 1990/91.

Five of the episodes were based on short stories from Poirot's Early Cases (1974), three derived from Poirot Investigates (1924), and two from The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding (1960). The opening feature-length serial was based on Agatha Christie's first ever novel, written in 1916 and published in 1920.

The third season featured an impressive forty-two Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

The Mysterious Affair At Styles (TX: September 16 1990)

• Joanna McCallum (Evelyn) voiced The Bursar for Night Thoughts (Big Finish, 2006) 
• David Savile (Summerhaye) played Lieutenant Jeremy Carstairs in The War Games, Professor Winser in The Claws of Axos, and Colonel Charles Crichton in The Five Doctors
• Anthony Calf (Cavendish) was Charles in The Visitation, and voiced Lord Barset for Frozen Time (BF, 2007)
• Morris Perry (Wells) was Captain Dent in Colony in Space
• Tim Munro (Mace) was Ainu in The Creature from the Pit, and Sigurd in Terminus
• Tim Preece (Philips) was Codal in Planet of the Daleks
• Donald Pelmear (Judge) was Professor Rubeish in The Time Warrior
• Robert Vowles (Driver) was a Gundan in Warriors' Gate

How Does Your Garden Grow? (TX: January 6 1991)

The Million Dollar Bond Robbery (TX: January 13)

• David Quilter (Shaw) was Greeves in The Unicorn and the Wasp
• Christopher Owen (Purser) was an Earthling in Meglos
• Jonathan Stratt (Passenger) was a Taxi Driver in Partners in Crime
• Dallas Adams (Hood) was Professor Howard Foster in Planet of Fire
• Edward Phillips (Seller) was a Scientist in The Moonbase

The Plymouth Express (TX: January 20)

• dramatised by Rod Beacham, a former actor who made his TV debut in The Web of Fear as Corporal Lane
• Julian Wadham (Carrington) voiced Augustus Scullop for The Fourth Wall (BF, 2012)
• Steven Mackintosh (Newsboy) was Gazak in Timelash
• Leon Eagles (Manager) was Jabel in The Face of Evil
• John Abbott (Detective) was Vince Hawkins (pictured, right) in Horror of Fang Rock

Wasp's Nest (TX: January 27)

• Peter Capaldi (Langton) was Lucius Caecilius Iucundus in The Fires of Pompeii
• series costume designer Elizabeth Waller designed The Robots of Death too

The Tragedy At Marsdon Manor (TX: February 3)

• Ian McCulloch (Maltravers) was Nilson in Warriors of the Deep
• Geraldine Alexander (Susan) was Areta in Vengeance on Varos
• Ralph Watson (Danvers) was the Generator Scientist in The Underwater Menace, Captain Knight in The Web of Fear, Ettis in The Monster of Peladon, and Ben Travers in Horror of Fang Rock
• Hilary Sesta (Receptionist) was the Fortune Teller in Snakedance

The Double Clue (TX: February 10)

• David Bamber (Parker) voiced Emperor Constantine for The Council of Nicaea (BF, 2005), and both Colonel Ulrik and Whitmore for The Four Doctors (BF, 2010)
• Mark Fletcher (Constable) was a Crewman in Earthshock
• stuntman Martin Grace was a Thal in Dr Who and the Daleks

The Mystery of the Spanish Chest (TX: February 17)

• Caroline Langrishe (Marguerite) voiced Shira for The Burning Prince (BF, 2012)
• for Pip Torrens (Rich) see my blog for series 10 of Poirot
• Peter Copley (Burgoyne) was Dr Warlock in Pyramids of Mars
• Metin Yenal (Umpire) was Karl in Silver Nemesis
• for stuntman Arthur Howell see my blog for the first series of Poirot

The Theft of the Royal Ruby (TX: February 24)

• Frederick Treves (Lacey) was Brotadac in Meglos
• Gordon Reid (Shop Owner) was Phillips in part one of The Dinosaur Invasion
• Iain Rattray (Waiter) was Habris in State of Decay
• stuntman Jim Dowdall had uncredited roles in Day of the Daleks, Genesis of the Daleks, and Frontios

The Affair at the Victory Ball (TX: March 3)

• Andrew Burt (Ackeley) was Valgard in Terminus
• stuntman Steve Whyment was an extra in The Keeper of Traken and Snakedance

The Mystery of the Hunter's Lodge (TX: March 10)

• Roy Boyd (Stoddard) was Driscoll in The Hand of Fear
• Bernard Horsfall (Pace) was Lemual Gulliver in The Mind Robber, a Time Lord in The War Games, the Thal leader Taron in Planet of the Daleks, Chancellor Goth in The Deadly Assassin, and voiced Arnold Baynes for Davros (BF, 2003)
• Victoria Alcock (Ellie) was Angela in Planet of the Dead, and voiced Marion for Power Play (BF, 2012)
• Raymond Trickitt (Cooke) was the Ancient Haemovore in The Curse of Fenric
• Jim Norton (Havering) voiced Major Thomas Kennet for Scream of the Shalka

Doctor Who On This Day #200

1964 - The Keys of Marinus, Episode 6 broadcast

1970 - Inferno, Episode 2 first screened
1993 - The Ambassadors of Death, Episodes 1 to 4 repeated on

UK Gold

2003 - Shada, Episode 3 released on BBCi

2010 - Amy's Choice repeated on BBC3; and Orbis, Episode 1 first broadcast on Radio 7

2011 - The Doctor's Wife repeated on BBC3; and Cobwebs, Episode 1 first broadcast on Radio 4 Extra
2013 - The Unquiet Dead, Aliens of London, Partners in Crime, The Fires of Pompeii, Planet of the Ood, The Beast Below, Victory of the Daleks, The Time of Angels, Flesh and Stone, and Nightmare in Silver all repeated on BBC America; Last of the Time Lords repeated on Watch; and Doctor Who Confidential: Shadow Play repeated on BBC Entertainment Europe