H is for... Hindle

Junior officer attached to a survey unit on the planet Deva Loka. He was an unimaginative man, who tended to adhere rigidly to regulations. It was becoming increasingly clear to one of his colleagues, Todd, that Hindle was suffering from growing psychological problems, but his commanding officer, Sanders, could not see this. Rather, he often bullied and belittled his junior officer. After Saunders had set off on a solo exploration mission, he placed Hindle in charge. Hindle discovered that he could control two native hostages they were holding - members of the Kinda tribe - by use of a mirror. He began threatening Todd and the Doctor, and had them imprisoned. As he became more and more paranoid he decided to self-destruct the survey unit dome - fearing that the jungle itself was going to attack them. Adric found that he could have a limited amount of influence by humouring Hindle, and pretending to go along with his plans. Hindle reverted to a child-like state, and continued to control the dome even after Sanders returned, as he had had his mind altered by a Kinda artefact, and was now almost as child-like as his junior. The Doctor and Todd were able to trick Hindle into looking into the Kinda artefact - a small box - and its powers reset his mind, rendering him rational again.

Played by: Simon Rouse. Appearances: Kinda (1982).

• Rouse is best known for his long-running role as DCI, then Superintendent, Meadows in the ITV police series The Bill, in which he appeared over the course of two decades. His fellow long-serving The Bill star, Jeff Stewart, who played PC Reg Hollis, also appeared in Kinda, playing the malevolent Dukkha, though the two never had any scenes together.