Video tributes paid to York Doctor Who actress

Caroline John, the actress best known for playing one of the most intelligent of Doctor Who‘s companions Liz Shaw, died last month aged 72.

Many tributes have been paid. Not just ordinary, printed word tributes: this being the era of YouTube, a number of video tributes have been created as well. Scroll down to see our selection.

Caroline John was born in York in 1940, one of eight children. According to The Guardian, “her father was an actor who was instrumental in the creation of Coventry’s Belgrade theatre, and her mother had been a dancer”.

Web compendium imdb.com recalls how she landed the role of the Doctor’s assistant in 1970 after sending in a “glamorous modelling shot of herself” to the Doctor Who production office.

“Caroline successfully auditioned for the role and was first featured at the beginning of Season Seven in ‘Spearhead from Space‘, as UNIT scientist Dr Elizabeth Shaw. Her character was developed as the intellectual equal of the Doctor (Jon Pertwee) and also shared his moral principles.

She went on to marry the Doctor’s arch nemesis: Geoffrey Beevers, the third actor to play evil Time Lord the Master.

Later TV roles included a regular spot on Harry Enfield’s Television Programme (1990) and guested in such shows as Agatha Christie’s Poirot (1989), Silent Witness (1996) and Midsomer Murders (1997).