It should be relocated at Reg Cranfield because Considering the name, date, and location of the character, surely this is intended to be the same policeman?
Talk about it here or check the revision history for additional comments.
A policeman was patrolling the Coal Hill area through Totter's Lane on a foggy night in November 1963. As he passed a junkyard, he shone his torch on its wooden gate, which read "I.M. Foreman — Scrap Merchant — Totters Lane". He paused for a moment, then moved on to continue his patrol.
The policeman did not notice nor bother about the humming sound coming from the TARDIS that was hidden inside the junkyard. (TV: An Unearthly Child)
The policeman had stopped by before and had noticed the police box, and found it curious that such a thing should be in a junkyard — reasoning to himself that the box was there because it had worn out and had been sold for scrap. He had heard a rumour that police boxes were eventually going to be phased out altogether in favour of every constable having a personal walkie talkie radio, but personally didn't believe such a thing would ever happen. The policeman returned to the junkyard the next night to find the police box gone, and ended up thinking he must have imagined it. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child)
Behind the scenes
- The policeman has the honour of being first character to appear on-screen in Doctor Who.
- Reg Cranfield played the policeman seen during the opening credits of "The Pilot Episode" and "An Unearthly Child" according to the BBC Production Paperwork 1 and 2.
- Some sources credit the role in the Pilot Episode to Fred Rawlings 1, 2, 3 and 4. Either these sources are mistaken or Rawlings played the part in one of the unused versions and the BBC Production Paperwork is mistaken.