DEREK MARTINUS 1931 – 2014

[singlepic id=816 w=321 h=245 float=right]Veteran Doctor Who director Derek Martinus has died at the age of 82.

Derek Martinus directed 26 episodes of Doctor Who beginning with the 1965 story Galaxy Four starring William Hartnell. He then stayed on to direct the single episode story Mission to the Unknown, which is unique in that it featured none of the show’s regular cast.

Martinus returned the following year to direct The Tenth Planet which featured the first appearance of the Cybermen and the departure of the First Doctor. He went on to direct Patrick Troughton in the 1967 story The Evil of the Daleks and later the same year returned for The Ice Warriors. His final story for Doctor Who was Spearhead from Space which introduced Jon Pertwee as third incarnation of the Time Lord.

Martinus enjoyed a long and successful career in the theatre, which is where he met his Swedish wife of 50 years, Eivor, who worked as a translator on many of the stage plays he directed for theatres in Sweden.

On television he directed on shows including Crown Court, Z Cars, Angles, Penmaric and two episodes of Blakes 7. He also worked on several children’s TV series including The Paper Lads, Dodger and Bonzo and the Rest, twice winning the Pye Award for best children’s drama. He also directed TV shows The Black Tulip, What Maisie Knew, A Legacy and A Little Princess.

Martinus studied at Yale Drama School and began his career as an actor with a minor role in the first Carry On film, Carry on Sergeant starring William Hartnell.

Derek Martinus’ family told the BBC he died on Thursday evening having suffered from Alzheimer’s for many years. His daughter Charlotta Martinus, who worked at the BBC as a documentary maker, paid tribute to her father:

He was a legend, just an absolute legend. He taught me how to love, live and laugh, he was just such an amazing man.

It was an amazing childhood to be living among the Doctor Who paraphernalia. We used to go down and watch Doctor Who being made and see the Daleks, and even get inside the Daleks. Having those famous people walk through your door… Jon Pertwee would come for tea.

Ten years after he left, everyone used to say to me, ‘Are you really his daughter?’. He was really inspirational for me and my sister Pia who is a doctor. He was a leader of men and he inspired everyone.

Derek Martinus is survived by his wife, two daughters and three grandchildren.

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