Tuesday 10 September 2024

N is for... Nyder


Commander of the security force operating out of the special Military Elite bunker close to the Kaled city on Skaro. This was presided over by Davros, who had assembled a group of scientists to work on ways to win their millennia-old war with the Thals. Over time, Davros had come more and more to concentrate on the eventual genetic evolution of his people, recognising the damage done from the centuries of atomic and chemical warfare. This had led him to develop the Daleks.
Nyder was fiercely loyal to him and acted as his personal assistant and confidante. Only he was party to Davros' plans, and knew the combination to his wall-safe.
Part of his role was to monitor the scientific and security staff of the bunker, to root out dissent and disloyalty. To achieve this he might pretend to be in league with potential traitors, until he had proof and they could be safely rounded up and disposed of.
He exercised authority over the conventional Kaled military forces.
When the Dalek project came under threat from his own government, Nyder was prepared to go along with Davros in selling out the Kaleds to their enemies - accompanying the scientist to a secret meeting with the leadership in the Thal city. Here, Nyder passed on the formula for a solution which would weaken the Kaled city's protective dome. Its destruction enabled Davros to feign fury and vow vengeance - and he sent his new Dalek force into the Thal city to wipe out its inhabitants.
The bunker staff began to turn against Davros in greater numbers, and Nyder advised either flight or fight against their opponents. The scientist advised caution, however, as he planned to identify those completely loyal to him whilst the Daleks assembled to attack and kill the rebels.
They carried out this order - but then proceeded to shoot down the rest, claiming they needed no help from inferior beings. They activated their automated production line and when Davros ordered Nyder to halt it, the Daleks exterminated him. They then turned on their creator...


Played by: Peter Miles. Appearances: Genesis of the Daleks (1975).
  • Third and final appearance by Miles in the series, and the one he is best remembered for. He first featured as Dr Lawrence in The Silurians, then returned to play Professor Whitaker in Invasion of the Dinosaurs.
  • Miles also portrayed Nyder on audio and in an amateur stage play - The Trial of Davros.
  • For the first recording block, Miles wore an Iron Cross with his uniform. Despite the parallels to the Nazis being obvious to all, the director thought it lacking in subtlety and asked for it to be discarded. It can be seen being worn in the earlier episodes of the story.
  • Miles can also be heard, as a different character, in the Pertwee audio Paradise of Death, and appeared in two episodes of the first season of Blake's 7.
  • Outside of acting, Miles' first love was jazz music and he performed up until his death in February 2018.
  • A close friend of singer Dusty Springfield from childhood, he played guitar on her first ever recording.

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