10 Most Unusual Demands Made By Doctor Who Guest Stars
2. Davros Smokes Inside A Paper Bag - Genesis Of The Daleks
No disrespect to those who came after him, but Michael Wisher was the definitive Davros. "Evil doesn't shout, it whispers" he famously noted, and it's this hissing menace that brings the creator of the Daleks so chillingly to life. A eugenicist who is absolutely convinced of the purity of his own race above all else.
The darkness of Davros and Terry Nation's inspiration from the dark subject matter of the Holocaust is at odds with the frankly crazy way that Wisher prepared for the role. Knowing that he would be encased inside a rubber mask to play the part, he decided to rehearse his lines whilst wearing a paper bag on his head.
The idea was that the bag would prepare him for the restrictive experience of wearing the Davros mask. Wisher was also a prolific chain smoker and cut two "air holes" in the top of the bag to allow him to smoke whilst wearing the (flammable) paper bag. Something which would never in a million years happen in an age of health and safety legislation.
When it came to playing Davros on set, Wisher had a peculiar costume decision. Beneath the black leather tunic, he wore a kilt and knee pads in order to feel more comfortable in the Dalek skirt!