I cried last night. I had learned, you see, that Nicholas Courtney had died. He had been a hero of my youth, (and to this day remains so), playing Brigadier Alastair Lethbridge-Stewart on Doctor Who.
He appeared alongside five Doctors, in 107 episodes, not counting extras in spin-offs like the Sarah Jane Adventures. He was one of the best people ever to be around.
An equally wonderful soul, Tom Baker, who played my favorite Doctor, the fourth, had this to say about his dear friend Nick…
“Five rounds rapid” was the line we all loved, always addressed to Sergeant Benton. Nick’s close friends simply adored him. There was a certain innocence in his personality that was utterly endearing.
Indeed there was, sir, indeed there was.
Please do read the rest of Tom Baker’s eulogy.
Here is the notice on the BBC website.