(26th March 1925 – 9th October 2009)Today is one year on from the death of Barry Letts, a British actor, director, writer and producer of the twentieth century, who is best known for his work on Doctor Who. He served as an executive producer for Jon Pertwee’s long era on the show, and became a father figure in the family atmosphere that had developed during this time.
Letts’ first involvement with Doctor Who was in 1967 when he directed the Patrick Troughton story ‘The Enemy of the World’, which saw Troughton play both the Second Doctor and the Mexican dictator Salamander. This proved a tough challenge for the entire team, and one which Barry Letts achieved brilliantly.
He became the show’s producer in 1969 when Derrick Sherwin left the role, and formed a strong friendship with the script editor Terrance Dicks. Together they produced many classic stories for the show, which are still highly regarded today. Letts also directed numerous stories during this time, including the popular ‘Terror of the Autons’ and ‘Carnival of Monsters’.
His love for the show continued throughout his lifetime, and he recorded many commentaries and interviews for DVD releases of his Doctor Who episodes up until his death in 2009. The 2009 Doctor Who episode ‘The Waters of Mars’ was dedicated to his memory, and his huge part in making the show what it is today.
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