P is for... Paris

Paris was the middle son of Priam, King of Troy. He was a huge disappointment to his father, who thought him vain, cowardly and not a little dim. His judgement on these matters was sound. It was Paris who had run off with Helen, wife of Menelaus - the event which had triggered the decade-long siege of the city by the Greeks, who were commanded by Agamemnon.

Priam insisted that his second eldest go out and find Achilles and engage him in mortal combat, in revenge for his killing of Hector, his heir. Paris couldn't get out of this, but ensured that Achilles would not hear his challenge. He met instead the Greek warrior Diomede - really the Doctor's companion Steven. He was surprised when Steven surrendered so readily (he wished to be captured in order to rescue Vicki from Troy), and was easily flattered by him.

He also came across a gigantic wooden horse, which he assumed to be a parting gift from the Greeks, who had withdrawn overnight. He had it brought into the city, despite the protestations of his sister Cassandra, who was a prophetess.

That night Greek soldiers led by Odysseus - who was accompanied by the Doctor - emerged from the horse and opened the gates for the besieging army. Paris was killed by Odysseus, along with his father.

Played by: Barrie Ingham. Appearances: The Myth Makers (1965).

• No proper photographs of Ingham as Paris are known to exist, so this piece is illustrated by an image from a Loose Cannon reconstruction of the story.
• Ingham played the Thal Alydon in Dr Who and the Daleks.
• He was also considered for the role of Arthur Terrall in The Evil of the Daleks.
• In 1967 he played the title role in the film A Challenge For Robin Hood.
• He spent the last years of his life in the US, having featured regularly in Broadway musicals, as well as appearing in TV series such as Murder She Wrote. Hart to Hart and The A-Team.
• He also guest starred in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation ("Up The Long Ladder"), one of only a handful of actors to have appeared in both Doctor Who and Star Trek.
• Priam is supposed to have had a lot more than 3 sons - 50 of them.
• Homer presents Paris as cowardly and no great fighter. He also has him fire the arrow which kills Achilles, and he is mortally wounded by Philoctetes, rather than killed by Odysseus.