20 Actors Who Have Appeared In Both Classic And New Doctor Who
6. Bernard Cribbins
Though not technically canon, Bernard Cribbins' first Doctor Who role was part of the Peter Cushing-led 1966 film, Daleks - Invasion Earth 2150 A.D. In that he played Tom Campbell, a police constable who wanders into the TARDIS by mistake. Whisked away by a scientist, here called Dr. Who, he helps foil the Daleks' plans for Earth domination. Yes, yes, this film adaptation is widely considered ridiculous, but hey, his performance also led to him being considered for the coveted role of the Fourth Doctor himself. Though he didn't get the part, let us pretend it's because of a fixed point in time dictating that Tom Baker was always going to be the Fourth Doctor. Besides, that freed up Cribbins for another beloved role - Wilfred Mott, Donna Noble's grandfather. Good ol' Wilf appeared in over half of the modern Series 4 and he is the indirect cause of the Tenth Doctor's regeneration. During this time, he also played Arnold Korns in Big Finish's Eighth Doctor tale, Horror of Glam Rock, an adventure making a light-hearted reference to the Fourth Doctor serial Horror of Fang Rock. See? The show loves its callback references.
Sara Habein is the author of INFINITE DISPOSABLE. She is a staff writer for Persephone Magazine, and the editor of the Word Riot blog. Her Doctor is number Eight, but the Twelfth is right behind.
