On This Day... 4th August

In 2011 Torchwood: Miracle Day was on its third instalment - Escape to L.A. (a play on the John Carpenter movie sequel title).

In 2013 the BBC produced a whole show called The Next Doctor just to introduce the new Doctor - who turned out to be Peter Capaldi, of course. Apart from that famous eyebrow shot, he wouldn't make his debut for another five months.

Today we wish Martin Jarvis a happy 81st birthday. He's sure to feature in the forthcoming DWM guest stars special. His first appearance in the show was as the Menoptra Captain Hilio in The Web Planet. He then played Operation Golden Age member Butler in Invasion of the Dinosaurs. His last appearance was as the Governor in Vengeance on Varos.

The same age is John Atterbury, who played a White Robot in The Mind Robber.

They share their birthday with Georgina Hale, who is 79. She was Daisy K, a member of The Happiness Patrol.

Also today, Lucinda Dryzek - schoolgirl Melissa in School Reunion - is 31; and finally Fenella Woolgar (Agatha Christie in The Unicorn and the Wasp) turns 53.

We also remember the actor Maurice Colbourne, who was only 49 when he passed away on this date in 1989. He played the mercenary commander Lytton in Resurrection of the Daleks and Attack of the Cybermen.

Janet Hargreaves, who was the 'Mother' God of Ragnarok in The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, died in 2018 aged 81, and John Alderson - Wyatt Earp in The Gunfighters - died aged 90 in 2006.