Doctor Who: 10 Worst Casting Decisions Ever Made

6. Howard Cooke (Pex, The Paradise Towers)

This is a unique instance where the actor isn't bad, and actually brings something to the role - However, it completely destroys the original concept and idea as it was written, which is tragic - Many 7th Doctor stories have brilliant ideas or themes running through them and then are let down by one incredibly embarassing casting concept (The rapping black Ringmaster in "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy" is a particularly painful one as the remainder of the story is incredibly strong). Some of those have other problems though - this one is ENTIRELY miscast. Howard Cooke is actually a good actor and has some solid comic timing. Plus, his chemistry with companion Mel (Just wait, I'll get to Bonnie...) is rather good. But.... The whole idea of Pex is that he was supposed to be this gung-ho "Rambo" type strongman, basically styling himself as some kind of vigilante in the run-down, titular towers. He was supposed to be an imposing, Stallone-ish brute that actually was a draft-dodging, buffoonish coward. It was not only going to lend some character depth but truly highlight and lampoon the machismo attitudes of Schwarzenegger, Stallone and crew who talked the talk onscreen but really never walked the military walk for their country at all. This is Howard Cooke.

When the girl gangs in the towers mocked him as written, it was supposed to show that for all his posturing, Pex really wasn't much to speak of, and they knew it - All oiled chest and no real bravery or spirit. When the girl gangs ACTUALLY mock Pex as portrayed by Howard Cooke, it just makes them seem like cruel bullies - Pex very obviously ISN'T much to speak of, and that they even need to rip into him totally seems at odds with the script. Cooke is probably the first person on this list who isn't bad in his performance at all - but he certainly isn't doing the story or script any favours by being there.

(Less than) Shining Moment:

Almost anytime Cooke puts the hands on his hips and starts rattling off heroic nonsense, it plays off like some kind of nerd-character in a bad teen comedy trying to play "tough". You almost expect a laugh track to kick in. Considering that this was supposed to be satire and instead became a character arc more appropriate to US sitcom character Steve Urkel, it's not fair to the writer (This story, barring the soundtrack, is actually rather good), Howard Cooke, or 7th doctor Sylvester McCoy, who it seemed couldn't catch a break with his era. (Almost every story has strong ideas or concepts - But almost every story also has at least one thing making it painful too. With cancellation looming, this was NOT a good plan...) The odd thing is, the previous two years of "Doctor Who" had overly buff, oiled up, and open-shirted bodybuilder types in every other story. THOSE characters often were surplus to the stories. The one time they REALLY needed some beefcake, and they cast a guy who probably would sweat lifting Bonnie Langford.