Philip Madoc **Updated**

One of this nation's finest actors and a true Doctor Who stalwart - Philip Madoc - has died today (5th March 2012) aged 77. Philip had a wide ranging TV career - he played the title role in 'The Life and Times of David Lloyd George', and his many other appearances included the BBC adaptation of 'The Last of the Mohicans' (directed by David Maloney), and 'First Born', based on the novel 'Gor Story' where he appeared alongside Charles Dance. Philip was a gifted linguist and spoke many different languages with an array of accents and dialects at his command making him popular with directors, although his natural deep Welsh accent was always the most recognisable of all.

He is probably best remembered by the general public not for any of the above roles, but for an appearance in 'Dad's Army' that lasted in total just 12 minutes. As the Nazi u-boat commander who is placed under guard by the Warmington-on-Sea platoon, he acquired almost a catch-phrase; 'Don't Tell Him Pike!" despite that the fact that it was Arthur Lowe who actually said the words. Whilst appearing at a DWAS event at Riverside Studios in 2004 Philip explain that for weeks afterwards people would recognise him and public and call out the line...

Doctor Who fans will know Philip from having played a number of parts in the show - starting with 'The Krotons' in 1968/9 where he played Eelek he then went to appear as the War Lord in 'The War Games' in 1969, and then possibly his most famous DW role - Solon in 'The Brain of Morbius' in 1976. He later went on and appeared once more win Doctor Who in 1978/9 as Fenner. This was the only occasion he played a 'good guy' in the show, something that surprised him as he thought he was to play the villain until the script arrived! Philip also appeared as Brockley, the black marketeer in the 1966 film 'Daleks Invasion Earth 2150AD) making his 'Who tally run to five roles. He would later appear in the DW themed spin offs 'Kaldor City: Storm Mine' and 'Faction Paradox' as well as some Big Finish productions including the quite superb play 'Master'.

It is not quite so well known that Philip was actually considered for the part of the Doctor himself when Jon Pertwee left. Although this never came to anything he told DWAS in 2004 that if he had been offered the role he certainly would have taken it and that if they offered it to him for the new series (then in pre-production) he would still say 'yes'!

You can view the BBC Online news story reporting Philip's death at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-17255287

Doctor Who Online reports the story here along with a video of their 2010 interview with the man himself: http://news.drwho-online.co.uk/#Obituary-Philip-Madoc