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January 2nd, 2011 22 comments

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The Master – 40 years old this year

The Master – 40 years old this year

It was 40 years ago today that The Master first appeared on our TV screens in Terror of The Autons played by Roger Delgado (which was also Jo Grants first story). The Time Lords had warned the Doctor of his arrival. The Master instantly became a popular villain and featured in several 3rd Doctor stories. It was rumoured that there was to be one โ€œfinalโ€ Master story, possibly with the reveal that the Master was the Doctors Brother, until Roger Delgado was tragically killed in a car crash.

Several actors took on the role over the years including Peter Pratt & Geoffrey Beevers 1976 โ€“ 1981, Anthony Ainley 1981 โ€“ 1989, Eric Roberts 1996, Derek Jacobi 2007 and finally John Simm in 2007+.

You can see a special section on the site Here which includes information on all The Master’s, the stories they appeared in and the different Tardis’s they used.

The Master’s very first appearance in 1971…



Doctor Who, on this day


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22 comments

  • TC200

    February 21st, 2014 - 4:08pm

    go team delgado

    Reply
  • Zohaib shamim

    February 20th, 2014 - 3:58pm

    Most people favourite master is john simm and i am one of them

    Reply
  • AlphaOmega

    February 17th, 2011 - 3:13pm

    I like the Beevers/Pratt Master, partuicularly in Dust Breeding. Ainley comes a close seond ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  • borgduck

    January 8th, 2011 - 2:53pm

    Figures. People who have never even seen Roger Delgado in action have voted Simms!

    Reply
  • harold saxon

    January 5th, 2011 - 1:35am

    Happy birthday to the master, hope you return again soon. Best villain.

    Reply
    • Intergalactic

      July 22nd, 2011 - 11:24am

      Best monster.

  • Shanti

    January 3rd, 2011 - 10:22am

    I chose Ainley. My favourites are Roger Delgado, Anthony Ainley and John Simm. Simm’s Master is similiar to Ainley. You should watch the other Master’s if you haven’t already.
    I really hope The Master comes back. You can’t have Doctor Who without him. I love RTD for bringing him back and making Simm The Master.
    I admit it, I am a bit of a Simm fan girl.

    Reply
  • The Master’s evil pet Parrot

    January 3rd, 2011 - 8:44am

    The Master is a devious Time Lord, always finding new ways to conquer the universe, (not just Daleks y’know)
    But he probably when he got sent back to Galifrey (When it was the Time War), got killed. So Will We See The Master Again?

    Reply
  • Hector Sadler

    January 3rd, 2011 - 6:54am

    I should know. Roger Delgado is in my Roger Moore DVD which he played Hotel employee & a policeman & The Persuaders as Villian also Nicholas Countney & 2nd Patrick Troghton also starred. Sadly his tradgic death somewhere early 1970. He could had been a good Bond villian in one of Roger Moore Bond movies.

    Reply
  • I Love Cybermen

    January 2nd, 2011 - 8:35pm

    The original Masters were great and John Simm’s Master was great. In totally different ways. Rodger was devious and super brainy…calmly devising new ways to devastate while keeping a gentlemanly demeanor. He was like an evil proffessor. John Simm? Dangerous because he’s just about a twin (while still being original) of Batman foe, The Joker. Mad and an agent of chaos…A Master to be reckoned with. As for the next Master…I think i should play him. What?! Just saying…And I do have an evil beard (I’m 20)…Haha. Or maybe someone with more experience. Any ideas?

    Reply
  • biggestdoctorwhofanever!

    January 2nd, 2011 - 7:00pm

    the master is the doctor’s brother?

    OMG!

    Reply
  • doctor 24/7

    January 2nd, 2011 - 4:55pm

    he is not looking it

    Reply
    • Intergalactic

      July 22nd, 2011 - 11:26am

      It’s regeneration. He’s 40 to us. He’s about double 400 years in the Whoniverse!

  • Spyzelda1

    January 2nd, 2011 - 4:41pm

    I wonder whether the 11th doctor is going to meet his oldest friend from gallifrey???

    Personally, I think that John Simm is the best master in the world. In Utopia, professor YANA as he was called, was a bit funny. I don’t know why, but he’s just a bit old for doctor who. But the master in ‘The End of Time’ was brilliant. How does he eat so fast?! as i’m only 10 i haven’t watched the old ‘master’ episodes. Was he played by John Simm as well?

    Reply
  • Angel Tim

    January 2nd, 2011 - 4:24pm

    did any one watch teot part 2 today

    _________________________________________________________________
    Yes. I saw part one of it yesterday aswell. That is if you mean THE END OF TIME. ๐Ÿ˜‰ The master was quite good in it but is he on the doctor’s side now??? ๐Ÿ˜•

    Reply
  • Carn

    January 2nd, 2011 - 4:20pm

    Delgado made the Master my favorite villain ever whereas Simm pretty much killed my love for the character with his moronic and inane performance (and turning everyone in the world into that fool is top of my all time worst and stupidest moments in the entire Who history). When the Master returns I really hope they get someone more in the Delgado or Ainley mold. Gotta have an evil beard at least!

    Reply
  • Omega

    January 2nd, 2011 - 3:57pm

    I hope we will see him again

    Reply
  • Si

    January 2nd, 2011 - 3:55pm

    Happy Birthday, such a great character, Roger Delgado still tops it for me

    Reply
  • The Pandorica

    January 2nd, 2011 - 3:44pm

    Never mind the Master, what about Jo Grant’s birthday?

    Reply
    • booboo

      January 2nd, 2011 - 3:53pm

      what about Jo Grantโ€™s birthday?

      I have mentioned here, we thought we would put in the news about the Master as he was such a Recurring character

  • doc brown

    January 2nd, 2011 - 1:47pm

    did any one watch teot part 2 today

    Reply
  • I Love Cybermen

    January 2nd, 2011 - 1:19pm

    All hail one of the Doctor’s best foes, The Master! Happy Birthday lad. Enjoy the cake. I know you’re, “soooo hungry….”

    Reply

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