At long last, we are able to confirm the first guest block for the upcoming Gallifrey One: 28 Years Later in February 2017. This is our first guest announcement; there will be many more in the months to come, so stay tuned later in the summer for other confirmations (including the bulk of our “new series” Doctor Who guests!)
In conjunction with the momentous one-time-only appearance of actress Lalla Ward — who is making her very first visit to a North American convention in over 20 years, and being the final living principal cast member of the classic series available for conventions in North America that we haven’t yet hosted — we are thrilled to announce that Gallifrey One 2017’s charity beneficiary (for our annual Bob May Memorial Charity Auction) will be for Denville Hall. Denville Hall is an actors care home in Britain, for which Ms. Ward is the chairman of its board of trustees, and we were very pleased to offer to proceeds of our 2017 charity to such a worthwhile cause, as she has been tireless in her championing of this and other care homes for many years. We will have more details about our charity auction in the months to come.
Our list of guests announced in this first block is as follows. (IMPORTANT NOTE: Our website has been reverted to the previous incarnation, before our April site makeover, due to some unforeseen issues we had with the template we were using, and will be updated again when we are able to fix them.)
Paul McGann
Paul McGann portrayed the Eighth Doctor in the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie, a role he later continued through audio with Big Finish Productions. To the astonishment of fans worldwide, McGann was the headliner in “The Night of the Doctor,” a special mini-episode filmed in 2013, and saw him regenerate into his next incarnation – an event most everyone thought would never be seen on television. McGann is an actor, director and performer well known for his appearances in “Withnail & I,” “Luther,” “Collision,” “Alien 3,” “The Monocled Mutineer” and a series of TV films about Captain Horatio Hornblower. McGann made his first-ever convention appearance at Gallifrey One in 2004 and this will be his third appearance at our event, courtesy Showmasters Events.
Lalla Ward
Lalla Ward first appeared on Doctor Who in 1979 as Princess Astra in the serial “The Armageddon Factor”; it was this appearance that led to her taking on a regular role, replacing the outgoing Mary Tamm as the second incarnation of Romana, traveling companion to Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor, the following season. After leaving the program in 1981, she later retired from acting (and married author Richard Dawkins), though she has returned to reprise the role of Romana in Big Finish’s audio series, primarily the “Gallifrey” audio series in which Romana becomes Lord President of Gallifrey. Her last appearance in North America was 21 years ago; Ward is the final principal living cast member of the classic series able to travel to North America whom Gallifrey One hasn’t yet hosted, and we’re absolutely thrilled that she will be joining us for our 2017 convention for this one-time-only event.
In addition, Ward is chairman of the trustees of Denville Hall, a UK actors’ care home and the beneficiary of the proceeds of our 2017 charity auction at Gallifrey One. Our special thanks to Showmasters Events for arranging such a memorable appearance at our convention.
Louise Jameson
Louise Jameson played Leela, the leather-clad barbarian warrior companion of the Fourth Doctor, from “The Face of Evil” to “The Invasion of Time.” She later reprised the role for the anniversary special, “Dimensions in Time” and for several Big Finish Productions audio adventures. She also appeared in three “direct-to-video” adventures of the investigating organization P.R.O.B.E., with Caroline John as Liz Shaw. She also became well known in “Tenko” and “EastEnders,” and also appeared in “Bergerac,” “The Bill,” “Casualty,” “Doctors,” “Space: 1999” and “The Omega Factor.” She is also very active in British theatre, including touring with her one-woman show “Face Value” and “Pulling Faces” (the latter she performed live at our convention on her last visit), and is currently touring in “The Mousetrap”. We’re delighted to welcome Ms. Jameson back for our 2017 event, courtesy Showmasters Events.
William Russell
William Russell played Ian Chesterton in Doctor Who from the series pilot “An Unearthly Child” to “The Chase.” As one of Susan Foreman’s teachers, he was one of the first of the Doctor’s companions to appear in the series. In 1999 he returned for the video release of the Doctor Who serial “The Crusade.” He has also provided audio commentaries for various Doctor Who DVD releases, read audio book versions of three early Doctor Who novelisations and provided linking narration for CD releases. Russell had originally been intended to reprise his character of Ian for the 1983 story, “Mawdryn Undead,” but scheduling conflicts required the story to be rewritten to instead bring back Nicholas Courtney as another, later regular character, the Brigadier. Russell made his first appearance at Gallifrey One in 2012 and we are thrilled to welcome him back for his second visit.
Katy Manning
After portraying bumbling UNIT operative Josephine “Jo” Grant during the Jon Pertwee era in the early 1970s to rave reviews, Katy Manning later returned to the role (as the married Jo Jones) in the Sarah Jane Adventures episode “Death of the Doctor”. She also plays both Jo as well as the popular spinoff audio character Iris Wildthyme on audio adventures from Big Finish Productions. She’s also appeared in “Casualty,” “All Saints,” “Target,” “Whodunnit” and “Man at the Top”. A worldwide favorite at conventions, Katy has appeared at three Gallifrey One events and we are delighted to welcome her back to LA for her fourth visit, in an appearance sponsored by Showmasters.
Anneke Wills
Anneke Wills’ last visit to Gallifrey One was all the way back in 2010, after appearances in 1997 and 2002, and we are delighted to welcome her back to Los Angeles once more! Best known as Polly, the Swinging Sixties’ secretary who alongside Michael Craze’s Ben Jackson became the final William Hartnell companions and continued through Patrick Troughton’s first season, Anneke Wills also appeared in “The Avengers” and “Strange Report,” and most recently has done considerable work on audio for Big Finish and BBC Audio, as well as penned two autobiographies, “Self Portrait” and “Naked”. She also recently published the photo collection “In Focus: A Life in Images” with Paul W.T. Ballard. We are very pleased to bring Anneke back for a rare appearance in LA.
Peter Purves
Peter Purves starred as companion Steven Taylor, the first new male companion character after the series’ initial debut leads, in 1964, and remained a popular co-star of Willam Hartnell throughout his later tenure. Purves later went on to fame as a host on the series Blue Peter (so closely associated with the programme that he later found his association difficult to shake off), and he also appeared in the UK original “The Office,” “EastEnders,” “Z Cars” and “Dixon of Dock Green”. More recently, Purves returned via Big Finish narrating some of their ‘lost era’ and Companions audio series. This will be Purves’ second visit to Los Angeles (after his appearance in 2013) and we’re glad to have him back!
Frazer Hines
Frazer Hines – aka Jamie McCrimmon opposite Patrick Troughton’s Doctor – is not only as synonymous with Doctor Who as the Doctor himself, but returns for his unprecedented ninth appearance in a row at Gallifrey One, where he’s become an annual tradition! Well known for his work on Doctor Who as well as his long-running role on the British soap Emmerdale and his recent appearances on Outlander (as Sir Fletcher Gordon), Frazer has also been reprising his Jamie role for Big Finish on their many audio releases – and more recently has also been featured as the Second Doctor, his impression of his long-time friend and colleague Patrick Troughton is spot on – and he’s also narrated the BBC Audio soundtracks as well. Beloved by fans and beloved by us, it just wouldn’t be Gallifrey One without him!
Philip Hinchcliffe
Considered to be one of the classic series’ finest and most important producers, Philip Hinchcliffe oversaw the first three seasons of the Tom Baker era – an era noted for many of its important classics (such as “Genesis of the Daleks,” “The Seeds of Doom,” “Pyramids of Mars” and “The Talons of Weng-Chiang”)… and for its now-legendary battle with Mary Whitehouse and the National Viewers & Listeners’ Association over the end of part 3 of “The Deadly Assassin”. Hinchcliffe guided the series through one of its most successful eras. He joined us in 2013 and we are delighted to welcome him back for a second visit.
Hattie Hayridge
Popular award-winning stand-up comic, actress and author Hattie Hayridge makes her Gallifrey One debut in 2017! She is of course best known as the female version of Holly on the long-running comedy series “Red Dwarf,” on behalf of which she has become a popular guest at conventions around the world, and she has also appeared in “Jonathan Creek,” “Have I Got News for You” and “Celebrity Squares”. Her autobiography “Random Abstract Memory” was published by Penguin. The opportunity to bring Ms. Hayridge to Los Angeles for Gallifrey One 2017 was too good to pass up (and we know a lot of you are Red Dwarf fans) so we’re thrilled to bring her to our convention this coming February!
Daphne Ashbrook
Long-time friend of Gallifrey One, Daphne Ashbrook has appeared in many television and film roles including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (as the titular character in “Melora”) and the Doctor Who 1996 movie, in which she played the role of Doctor Grace Holloway. In 2004, Ashbrook traveled to the United Kindgom, which was filmed and later released on DVD in 2005, “Daphne Ashbrook in the UK”. She performed in the Big Finish Productions audio play The Next Life opposite Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, but playing a different character named Perfection (this was the first time the two stars had worked together again since the 1996 telemovie). Ashbrook made her debut on the convention scene right here at Gallifrey One back in 1999, and we are always thrilled to welcome her back to our event.
June Hudson
June Hudson is best remember by our audience as the costume designer during one of the series’ most iconic periods: the latter half of the Tom Baker era, where she was responsible for, among other things, the designs of Baker’s “bohemian” look and of course the widely varying costume work for Lalla Ward’s Romana. Her work also included a stint as costume designer on Blake’s 7 and Survivors. She left the BBC in 1990 to diversify her portfolio still further. Her design drawings have been exhibited at the National Theatre and Chichester Theatre and her work is included in the RSC’s permanent exhibition at Stratford, and she has lectured at many venues including the University of Redlands here in Southern California teaching intensive courses on design for science fiction television. She was with us in 2013 and we are happy to welcome her back for her second visit.
Prentis Hancock
Prentis Hancock is best known to television viewers as Paul Morrow, second-in-command of Moonbase Alpha on Space: 1999, and to our attendees from his appearances in Doctor Who, most notably in “The Ribos Operation” (as the Captain), “Planet of Evil” (as Salamar) and “Planet of the Daleks” (as Vaber). His many other television appearances include “Z-Cars,” “Colditz,” “Survivors,” “The New Avengers,” “Secret Army,” “Return of the Saint,” “Minder,” “Chocky’s Children,” “The Professionals,” and “The Bill”. He recently appeared in “Outlander” as Uncle Lamb in the episode “Sassenach”. We are excited to welcome Mr. Hancock to LA for a rare appearance.
Michael Troughton
Actor and writer Michael Troughton, the son of the late Doctor Who star Patrick Troughton, was with us once before in 2012, and we’re happy to welcome him back! He is best known for his roles in TV including Testament of Youth (1979), Minder (1984-89), The Heart Surgeon (1997), The New Statesman (1987-92) and the film Enigma (2001), and recent appearances include played Professor Albert in the recent Doctor Who episode “Last Christmas,” as well as “Birds of a Feather,” “Jonathan Creek” and “Restless”. His new book “Smile on Your Face” was recently published, and Mr. Troughton will be signing copies at our 2017 convention as well as participating on our program.
Nicholas Briggs
Actor, writer, producer and director Nicholas Briggs is known equally for his voice talents – among others, he’s the principal voice of the Daleks and Cybermen in modern-day “Doctor Who” on television – as well as his long work for Big Finish Productions, where he now the co-executive producer and has written, produced, directed and starred in countless audio dramas in the “Doctor Who” and other ranges, including as the title character in their “Sherlock Holmes” range. Nick is a wonderful guest at conventions around the world who has made many appearances at Gallifrey One in the past, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back in 2017!
Barnaby Edwards
Writer and actor Barnaby Edwards has been one of Doctor Who’s principal Dalek operators since the series returned to the air in 2005, as well as both in front of and behind the microphone for Big Finish’s audio adventures, including as Paul Hunt in the “Cyberman” series and penning audios including “The Bride of Peladon,” “The Wreck of the Titan” and “The Emerald Tiger”. He has also provided voices for commercials, video games, animated series and awards ceremonies, and has painted, lectured and exhibited widely both within the UK and abroad. His works hang in private collections around the world and he regularly undertakes portrait and design commissions. He also has a range of postcards, greetings cards and T-shirts! He was last with us in 2012 and we’re very happy to have him back.
Nicholas Pegg
Nicholas Pegg has appeared as one of Doctor Who’s primary Dalek operators since 2005, like Edwards, as well as a lengthy stage career including in productions for Nottingham Playhouse, Scottish Opera, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, and on television in “EastEnders” and “Doc Martin”. Pegg is a noted authority on the life and work of David Bowie, and he is the author of “The Complete David Bowie” and was a consultant on the 2013 BBC TV documentary “David Bowie: Five Years”. He has appeared in a variety of roles for Big Finish Productions as well as wrote the audio play “The Spectre of Lanyon Moor” (Colin Baker & Nick Courtney’s first appearance together on audio) and directed several releases, too. Pegg joined us in 2013 and we welcome him back for his second appearance.
Simon Fisher-Becker
No one who was with us in 2012 will ever forget Simon Fisher-Becker’s memorable pronouncement about “The question that must never be answered” during our Closing Ceremonies, and we’re thrilled to welcome him back in 2017 for a return visit! Simon of course guest starred as Dorium Maldovar in series 5 & 6 of Doctor Who; his more notable roles include Tony Fazackerley in “Puppy Love” for the BBC, and the Fat Friar in “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone,” and he’s recently been featured in several audios for Big Finish Productions. We look forward to seeing him again next February!
Dominic Glynn
Veteran film and television composer Dominic Glynn has written music for such varied productions as Dead Like Me, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares, Red Dwarf, Eerie Indiana, The Simpsons, the Blake’s 7 audio revival and several video games, but is best known to fans as the composer of the surreal Doctor Who Season 23 (Trial of a Time Lord) theme music, along with the incidental music for the season, still used today on audios from Big Finish Productions. Dominic returns for his second visit, having been last with us in 2014.
Paul Cornell
Writer Paul Cornell’s credits including “Human Nature/The Family of Blood” and “Father’s Day” from the Doctor Who series revival, a lengthy list of Doctor Who novels and audio plays which include the creation of the popular character Bernice Summerfield, as well as TV series such as his own CITV show Wavelength as well as Robin Hood, Primeval, Coronation Street and Casualty, and a list of comics for Marvel, DC, Vertigo and 2000AD on titles such as Captain Britain and MI-13, Young Avengers, Wolverine, Knight and Squire, Batman and Robin, Action Comics, Demon Knights, XTNCT, Pan-African Judges and Saucer Country. He’s also written the novels Something More, British Summertime, London Falling and The Severed Streets and he is penning Titan Publishing’s forthcoming Third Doctor comic series. We welcome Paul back for another visit.
Gary Russell
Gary Russell is the former script editor of Doctor Who, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Torchwood and Wizards vs. Aliens, as well as the former editor of Doctor Who Magazine, and one of the most prolific writers, directors and producers of the spinoff Doctor Who media from Virgin Publishing, BBC Books and Big Finish Productions, including continuing to function as the senior producer of the Gallifrey audio series. He is currently part of the team at Planet 55 Studios in Australia producing the new science fiction animated series Prisoner Zero for ABC. Gary joins us for his nineteenth Gallifrey One appearance.
Tony Lee
Comics writer, screenwriter and playwright Tony Lee has written for IDW’s Doctor Who comics series, Big Finish’s audio productions (for the Doctor Who, Bernice Summerfield and Dorian Grey series) and has written for Marvel Comics, Panini, DC Comics, Markosia Comics and Titan Comics, among others. Among his most recent works are a MacGuyver series for Image Comics and a Battlestar Galactica miniseries for Dynamite Entertainment, as well as several recent teen novels, Stalker, Mister Scratch, Jigsaw Lady, and Noticed and he has been announced as penning a new Robin Hood film. Tony returns to Gallifrey One in 2017 as both a program guest as well as the Master of Ceremonies of our 2016 Masquerade.
Jason Haigh-Ellery
Long-time Gallifrey One guest and friend Jason Haigh-Ellery is the Managing Director of Big Finish Productions. He founded and owns the company. As well as attending regular production and company meetings and making crucial decisions about how the company runs, Jason also occasionally directs and is involved in the commissioning of new projects (such as Graceless and The Mervyn Stone Mysteries). He has also been responsible for many key, creative decisions in Big Finish (such as the casting of India Fisher and Sheridan Smith). Nick Briggs has described him as ‘the best boss you could ever wish for’. Jason also produces theatre worldwide including Footloose and Never Forget, work with Idina Menzel, New Boy, and Ladykillers.
Richard Dinnick
Screenwriter, novelist, and audio playwright Richard Dinnick is a long-time guest of Gallifrey One who co-hosted our charity auction in 2016. He is the winner of the 2012 BBC Writersroom opportunity to create a new show and to write for TV on the BBC and is now writing on the CBeebies TV shows Tree Fu Tom. Dinnick has written prose, scripts and comics for many media properties including MGM’s Stargate and the BBC’s Doctor Who, as well as adapting the Sherlock Holmes stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle – including The Hound of the Baskervilles – for CD release. His first novel Alien Adventures was published by BBC Children’s Books in 2010 and he has since gone on to write books and short stories for Penguin UK, Titan Publishing, Black Library, Running Press and Snow Books. He has also written comic strips for IDW and BBC Magazines and his first original graphic novel is in the works. We welcome back Richard in 2017.
Scott Handcock
Writer, director and producer Scott Handcock worked for BBC Wales as a production runner on the third/fourth series of Doctor Who Confidential, the animated Doctor Who adventure, The Infinite Quest, the second series of the BBC’s The Sarah Jane Adventures, and as production secretary on the sixth series of Doctor Who, beginning with Matt Smith’s first Christmas special, A Christmas Carol. He has also directed The Confessions of Dorian Gray series for Big Finish as well as co-write part of the “Gallifrey” audio series. Scott will be joining us again to participate in programming as well as be one of our featured interviewers.
David Howe & Sam Stone
Longtime friends of Gallifrey One David J. Howe and Sam Stone once again return to LA to participate in convention programming. David has been a cornerstone of Doctor Who publishing for decades, as a popular nonfiction writer and proprietor of Telos Publishing, while Sam Stone is one of today’s most prolific gothic, horror and fantasy fiction novelists and short fiction writers, and co-writer of the Doctor Who anthology film “The White Witch of Devil’s End”. We are always thrilled to have them join us for Gallifrey One and welcome them back to LA.
And there are MANY more guests to be announced in the weeks and months to come…