Tom Chadbon obit

‘Peep Show’ and ‘Doctor Who’ actor Tom Chadbon dead at 80

 

He was not on the list.

Tom Chadbon, the British actor best known for his roles in Doctor Who and Peep Show, has died aged 80.

Taking to social media, Fantom Films, which has been putting on Doctor Who-related events for fans since 2005, announced the sad news on July 27th, writing, “We are sorry to hear the news that Tom Chadbon passed away last weekend.”

They added, “Tom was a familiar face to many from his numerous television and film credits. He was always a warm and friendly man to work with and we send our condolences to his family at this sad time.”

Fantom Films have confirmed to Far Out that they were informed of his passing by the Chadbon family.

No cause of death has been disclosed.

For many, Chadbon was best known for his role as Duggan in Doctor Who’s ‘City of Death’ in 1979, which saw him go head-to-head with Tom Baker’s Doctor.

Not only did Chadbon’s turn as Duggan win him over with the Doctor Who fanbase, but he also left an impression on Baker, too.

In a 2009 interview, Baker said, “Oh, and Tom Chadbon was terribly funny. Terribly funny! I used to love the other actors – I was always trying to help them make things funnier, or more dramatic.”

Almost a decade later, he returned to Doctor Who as Merdeen in ‘The Trial of the Time Lord’ in 1986, which reaffirmed his connection to the long-running show.

He also contributed to spin-off audio productions of Doctor Who. Writer Cavan Scott, who worked with Chadbon on Blake’s 7, mourned the actor on Instagram, writing, “So sorry to hear the passing of the great Tom Chadbon who I shared many a happy studio session with while producing Blake’s 7, not to mention the storyfilled meals after recordings.”

Scott continued, “An absolute gent. God speed, Tom.”

Throughout his lengthy career, which began in the 1960s, Chadbon appeared in a huge variety of classic British television programmes, including The Bill, Holby City, Taggart, Softly, Softly, Silent Witness, Father Brown, Heartbeat, Foyle’s War, and Midsomer Murders.

Although Chadbon only appeared in one episode of Peep Show, when he starred as Martin, the partner of Jeremy’s mother, in season five, the character left a lasting impression on viewers.

Remembering him, the Peep Show fanpage, Dobby Club, wrote on X, “RIP to the legend Tom Chadbon who starred in Peep Show as Martin aka Indiana Ashdown”.

In 2017, he also appeared as High Septon Maynard in the seventh season finale of Game of Thrones, in the episode The Dragon and the Wolf. This was his last role on television.

In the world of films, Chadbon notably appeared in the James Bond movie Casino Royale, as well as The Alf Garnett Saga, Juggernaut, Shooting Fish, and Tess.

Actor

Sean Bean in Game of Thrones (2011)

Game of Thrones

9.2

TV Series

High Septon Maynard

2017

1 episode

 

Letters from Baghdad (2016)

Letters from Baghdad

7.0

Sir Valentine 'Domnul' Chirol

2016

 

Ashley Jensen in Agatha Raisin (2014)

Agatha Raisin

7.3

TV Series

Robert Struthers

2016

1 episode

 

Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures (2012)

Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor Adventures

8.1

Podcast Series

Embery (voice)

2016

2 episodes

 

Tom Chadbon and Imogen Darwen in The Times (2015)

The Times

Short

Alf

2015

 

Blake's 7: The Classic Adventures (2013)

Blake's 7: The Classic Adventures

7.0

Podcast Series

Del Grant (voice)

2014–2015

6 episodes

 

Sorcha Cusack and Mark Williams in Father Brown (2013)

Father Brown

7.8

TV Series

Major Wallander

2015

1 episode

 

Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles (2012)

Blake's 7: The Liberator Chronicles

Podcast Series

Del Grant (voice)

2013–2014

5 episodes

 

David Suchet in Poirot (1989)

Poirot

8.6

TV Series

Dr. Burton

2013

1 episode

 

Save Our Souls: The Titanic Inquiry (2012)

Save Our Souls: The Titanic Inquiry

7.1

TV Movie

Lord Mersey

2012

 

Casualty (1986)

Casualty

6.2

TV Series

Henry WilliamsFrank GouldRichard Greetham ...

1990–2011

51 episodes

 

Dragon Age II (2011)

Dragon Age II

7.6

Video Game

DanariusAnnoyed Viscount's Keep NoblemanDarktown Resident (voice) ...

2011

 

Place of Execution (2008)

Place of Execution

7.4

TV Mini Series

Rupert Highsmith QC

2008

1 episode

 

David Mitchell and Robert Webb in Peep Show (2003)

Peep Show

8.7

TV Series

Martin

2008

1 episode

 

Paul McGann and Sheridan Smith in Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures (2006)

Doctor Who: The Eighth Doctor Adventures

8.0

TV Series

Gordon Davidson (voice)

2007

1 episode

 

The Bill (1984)

The Bill

6.7

TV Series

Paul Sagger MPJonathan SloaneJeff Birch

1991–2007

5 episodes

 

Daniel Craig and Eva Green in Casino Royale (2006)

Casino Royale

8.0

Stockbroker

2006

 

Thomas Craig, Pam Ferris, Tony Haygarth, and Sarah Lancashire in Where the Heart Is (1997)

Where the Heart Is

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Kenworthy

2001–2006

16 episodes

 

Sarah Jane Smith (2002)

Sarah Jane Smith

7.4

TV Series

Will (voice)

2005–2006

3 episodes

 

Julian Fellowes in A Most Mysterious Murder: The Case of Charles Bravo (2004)

Julian Fellowes Investigates: A Most Mysterious Murder

7.7

TV Series

Edmund Duff

2005

1 episode

 

Mark McManus in Taggart (1983)

Taggart

7.4

TV Series

Todd Phelps

2005

1 episode

 

Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real (2004)

Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real

6.5

TV Movie

Museum Curator

2004

 

Nick Berry in Heartbeat (1992)

Heartbeat

6.9

TV Series

Stuart ParsonsWing Commander Carstairs

1998–2004

2 episodes

 

Stephen Tompkinson in In Denial of Murder (2004)

In Denial of Murder

6.2

TV Series

Ed Fitzgerald QC

2004

1 episode

 

Wire in the Blood (2002)

Wire in the Blood

8.2

TV Series

John Brandon

2002–2004

9 episodes

 

Michael Kitchen in Foyle's War (2002)

Foyle's War

8.6

TV Series

Dr. Julian Groves

2002

1 episode

 

Patricia Hodge in The Falklands Play (2002)

The Falklands Play

7.3

TV Movie

Adm. Sir John Fieldhouse (C-in-C Fleet)

2002

 

Holby City (1999)

Holby City

5.8

TV Series

Mark Roderick

2000

1 episode

 

Annette Badland, Neil Dudgeon, and Nick Hendrix in Midsomer Murders (1997)

Midsomer Murders

7.9

TV Series

Charles King

2000

1 episode

 

The 10th Kingdom (2000)

The 10th Kingdom

8.2

TV Mini Series

Auctioneer

2000

2 episodes

 

Paul Bettany and Siobhan Redmond in Every Woman Knows a Secret (1999)

Every Woman Knows a Secret

6.9

TV Mini Series

James

1999

3 episodes

 

David Jason in A Touch of Frost (1992)

A Touch of Frost

7.9

TV Series

Graham Rutherford

1999

1 episode

 

Sean Arnold, Philip Martin Brown, Kate Buffery, and George Irving in Wing and a Prayer (1997)

Wing and a Prayer

6.8

TV Series

James Restorick

1999

1 episode

 

A Life for a Life

8.2

TV Movie

Waddington

1998

 

Juliet Aubrey and Gary Mavers in The Unknown Soldier (1998)

The Unknown Soldier

6.3

TV Series

Colonel Eelham

1998

1 episode

 

Dominic Monaghan and Patricia Routledge in Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1995)

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates

7.6

TV Series

Donald Matthews

1998

1 episode

 

Soldier Soldier (1991)

Soldier Soldier

6.8

TV Series

DI John Hulse

1997

1 episode

 

Kate Beckinsale, Dan Futterman, and Stuart Townsend in Shooting Fish (1997)

Shooting Fish

6.5

Mr. Greenaway

1997

 

Bramwell (1995)

Bramwell

7.8

TV Series

Bill North

1997

1 episode

 

Charles Dance, Diana Rigg, and Emilia Fox in Rebecca (1997)

Rebecca

7.2

TV Mini Series

Crawley

1997

2 episodes

 

Amanda Burton, Emilia Fox, Sam Barnard, David Caves, and Genesis Lynea in Silent Witness (1996)

Silent Witness

7.9

TV Series

P.C. Coleman

1996

2 episodes

 

John Wheatley in Crown Prosecutor (1995)

Crown Prosecutor

3.8

TV Series

Lenny Monk

1995

10 episodes

 

Jesse Birdsall and Craig McLachlan in Bugs (1995)

Bugs

7.0

TV Series

Richard Wyman

1995

1 episode

 

Peak Practice (1993)

Peak Practice

6.5

TV Series

Patrick Hargreave

1995

1 episode

 

Space Precinct (1994)

Space Precinct

6.4

TV Series

Maxx Zeller

1995

1 episode

 

George Baker, Keith Barron, John Castle, and Amanda Redman in The Ruth Rendell Mysteries (1987)

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

6.9

TV Series

Piers

1994

2 episodes

 

Tony Doyle, Tom Georgeson, Neil Pearson, and Siobhan Redmond in Between the Lines (1992)

Between the Lines

8.1

TV Series

EditorNewspaper Editor

1993–1994

2 episodes

 

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes (1994)

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

8.6

TV Mini Series

Inspector Hawkins

1994

2 episodes

 

Rik Mayall in The New Statesman (1987)

The New Statesman

7.8

TV Series

Dutch Commissioner

1992

1 episode

 

London's Burning (1988)

London's Burning

7.0

TV Series

Robert Cutler

1992

1 episode

 

Morgan Fairchild, Christopher Lee, and Patrick Macnee in Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady (1991)

Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady

5.7

TV Movie

Zygovich

1991

 

Sylvia Syms in Thatcher: The Final Days (1991)

Thatcher: The Final Days

7.1

TV Movie

Edward Leigh

1991

 

Devices and Desires (1991)

Devices and Desires

7.2

TV Mini Series

Miles Lessingham

1991

6 episodes

 

Clive Owen and Leslie Phillips in Chancer (1990)

Chancer

7.4

TV Series

Tony Stanhope

1990

4 episodes

 

Hard Cases (1988)

Hard Cases

6.0

TV Series

Vicar

1989

1 episode

 

Julian Glover, Jane Asher, Kate Buffery, and Suzanna Hamilton in Wish Me Luck (1987)

Wish Me Luck

7.7

TV Series

Ned Balfour

1989

2 episodes

 

Peter Egan and Jack Shepherd in A Day in Summer (1989)

A Day in Summer

8.5

TV Movie

Rector

1989

 

Crossfire (1988)

Crossfire

7.5

TV Mini Series

Bryant

1988

1 episode

 

John Benfield, Gaby Dellal, and Philip Sayer in Floodtide (1987)

Floodtide

7.3

TV Series

Simon Wood

1987–1988

3 episodes

 

Boon (1986)

Boon

6.5

TV Series

Philip Lainchbury

1987

1 episode

 

Annette Crosbie, Peter Egan, Michael Hordern, David Threlfall, Richard Vernon, and Zoë Wanamaker in Paradise Postponed (1986)

Paradise Postponed

7.9

TV Mini Series

Terry Fawcett

1986

7 episodes

 

Francesca Annis in Inside Story (1986)

Inside Story

5.9

TV Mini Series

Dr. Prince

1986

1 episode

 

Paul McGann, Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, William Hartnell, Sylvester McCoy, Jon Pertwee, and Patrick Troughton in Doctor Who (1963)

Doctor Who

8.4

TV Series

DugganMerdeenJagaroth Voice

1979–1986

8 episodes

 

Don Henderson and Siobhan Redmond in Bulman (1985)

Bulman

7.6

TV Series

Mulgrew

1985

1 episode

 

Love Song (1985)

Love Song

7.4

TV Movie

Ben Walton

1985

 

Rupert Everett and Miranda Richardson in Dance with a Stranger (1985)

Dance with a Stranger

6.6

Anthony Findlater

1985

 

John Thaw in Mitch (1984)

Mitch

7.3

TV Series

Jake Kingsley

1984

1 episode

 

Dirk Benedict, Jan Francis, and Peter Graves in Fox Mystery Theater (1984)

Fox Mystery Theater

7.1

TV Series

Young Doctor

1984

1 episode

 

Kenneth Cranham in Shine on Harvey Moon (1982)

Shine on Harvey Moon

7.5

TV Series

Wing Commander Brooke

1984

1 episode

 

Strangers and Brothers (1984)

Strangers and Brothers

6.6

TV Series

Sir Douglas Osbaldiston

1984

2 episodes

 

Tales of the Unexpected (1979)

Tales of the Unexpected

7.6

TV Series

Frank Parker

1983

1 episode

 

Terrence Hardiman and Jack McKenzie in Skorpion (1983)

Skorpion

6.8

TV Mini Series

Dr. Ormiston

1983

2 episodes

 

The Brack Report (1982)

The Brack Report

6.4

TV Series

Brian Fletcher

1982

4 episodes

 

Coming Out of the Ice (1982)

Coming Out of the Ice

6.4

TV Movie

Samsonov (uncredited)

1982

 

The Last of Linda Cleer

Short

1981

 

Electric Eskimo (1979)

Electric Eskimo

7.0

1979

 

Tess (1979)

Tess

7.3

Cuthbert Clare

1979

 

Blake's 7 (1978)

Blake's 7

8.0

TV Series

Del Grant

1979

1 episode

 

Jackanory (1965)

Jackanory

7.2

TV Series

Storyteller

1979

5 episodes

 

Nerys Hughes and Polly James in The Liver Birds (1969)

The Liver Birds

6.6

TV Series

Derek Paynton

1977–1979

13 episodes

 

Christopher Benjamin, Kenneth Colley, Vivien Heilbron, Philip Madoc, Patrick Mower, Ron Pember, Brendan Price, Sandy Ratcliff, and Maurice Roëves in Target (1977)

Target

7.1

TV Series

Timothy Aspel

1978

1 episode

 

Rumpole of the Bailey (1978)

Rumpole of the Bailey

8.4

TV Series

Det. Sgt. Smedley

1978

1 episode

 

Richard Briers and Michael Gambon in The Other One (1977)

The Other One

7.7

TV Series

Tufnell Park

1977

1 episode

 

Centre Play (1973)

Centre Play

6.7

TV Series

Tony Baxter

1977

1 episode

 

Jubilee (1977)

Jubilee

6.0

TV Series

Alf

1977

1 episode

 

Jackanory Playhouse (1972)

Jackanory Playhouse

8.2

TV Series

Sigehere

1976

1 episode

 

Marius Goring in The Expert (1968)

The Expert

7.9

TV Series

Dennis LewisMr. Jones, QC

1969–1976

3 episodes

 

Couples (1975)

Couples

4.5

TV Series

Martin Chadwick

1976

6 episodes

 

The Flight of the Heron (1976)

The Flight of the Heron

TV Series

Keith Windham

1976

6 episodes

 

Shades of Greene (1975)

Shades of Greene

7.7

TV Series

Pierre

1975

1 episode

 

Cathleen Nesbitt, Angharad Rees, and Billie Whitelaw in Ten from the Twenties (1975)

Ten from the Twenties

6.8

TV Series

Harry Goodall

1975

1 episode

 

Jan Francis in Rooms (1974)

Rooms

7.5

TV Series

Pumphrey

1975

2 episodes

 

Churchill's People (1974)

Churchill's People

5.6

TV Series

John Paston

1975

1 episode

 

The Changes (1975)

The Changes

7.5

TV Mini Series

Michael

1975

2 episodes

 

Notorious Woman (1974)

Notorious Woman

8.7

TV Mini Series

Jean Clesinger

1974

1 episode

 

Warship (1973)

Warship

7.8

TV Series

Ron Walker

1974

1 episode

 

Richard Harris, Omar Sharif, Shirley Knight, David Hemmings, Clifton James, and Roy Kinnear in Juggernaut (1974)

Juggernaut

6.6

Juggernaut's Contact

1974

 

Julie Peasgood in Seven Faces of Woman (1974)

Seven Faces of Woman

6.1

TV Series

Colin

1974

1 episode

 

Peter Cushing, Michael Gambon, Tom Chadbon, Marlene Clark, Anton Diffring, Charles Gray, Calvin Lockhart, and Ciaran Madden in The Beast Must Die (1974)

The Beast Must Die

5.6

Paul Foote

1974

 

The Carnforth Practice (1974)

The Carnforth Practice

TV Series

PC Henderson

1974

1 episode

 

Googie Withers in Within These Walls (1974)

Within These Walls

7.0

TV Series

Dennis Brogan

1974

1 episode

 

Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Paul Scofield, and Anna Calder-Marshall in ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

5.7

TV Series

PhilBrooksMike

1970–1973

3 episodes

 

BBC Play of the Month (1965)

BBC Play of the Month

7.0

TV Series

George Emerson

1973

1 episode

 

Robert Vaughn, Tony Anholt, and Nyree Dawn Porter in The Protectors (1972)

The Protectors

6.7

TV Series

Vent

1973

1 episode

 

Jane Asher in The Stone Tape (1972)

The Stone Tape

6.3

TV Movie

Hargrave

1972

 

Michael Gothard, Oliver Tobias, and Jack Watson in Arthur of the Britons (1972)

Arthur of the Britons

7.6

TV Series

Spy

1972

1 episode

 

Play for Today (1970)

Play for Today

7.8

TV Series

Len

1972

1 episode

 

Country Matters (1972)

Country Matters

7.2

TV Series

Albert

1972

1 episode

 

The Alf Garnett Saga (1972)

The Alf Garnett Saga

5.2

Jim

1972

 

Man at the Top (1970)

Man at the Top

6.9

TV Series

Noel Huntley

1972

1 episode

 

The Brighton Belle

TV Mini Series

Kenny

1972

1 episode

 

Softly Softly: Task Force (1969)

Softly Softly: Task Force

7.3

TV Series

Andrews

1971

1 episode

 

Out of the Unknown (1965)

Out of the Unknown

7.5

TV Series

Brinson

1971

1 episode

 

Gerald Harper in Hadleigh (1969)

Hadleigh

7.1

TV Series

Wolf

1971

1 episode

 

Edward Fox, George Cole, Victor Maddern, and Suzanne Neve in Shadows of Fear (1970)

Shadows of Fear

7.2

TV Series

Hitch-Hiker

1971

1 episode

 

Jean Simmons and Leonard Whiting in Say Hello to Yesterday (1971)

Say Hello to Yesterday

5.8

Man (uncredited)

1971

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.7

TV Series

Stephen

1970

1 episode

 

Reginald Barratt, Richard Beckinsale, Freddie Fletcher, Bernard Hepton, Arthur Lowe, Brian Miller, Ron Moody, Jack Rosenthal, Liz Smith, and Paula Wilcox in ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

7.2

TV Series

DavidMaurice

1969–1970

2 episodes

 

Fulton Mackay, Patrick Mower, Derren Nesbitt, Wensley Pithey, and George Sewell in Special Branch (1969)

Special Branch

7.4

TV Series

Sean

1969

1 episode

 

World in Ferment

TV Series

Various Roles

1969

1 episode

 

Alan Dobie in Resurrection (1968)

Resurrection

6.7

TV Mini Series

Doctor

1968

1 episode

 

John Gregson in The Jazz Age (1968)

The Jazz Age

5.3

TV Series

Fiodor

1968

1 episode

 

Self

Return of the Unknown

Video

Self - 'Brinson'

2014

 

Paris in the Springtime (2005)

Paris in the Springtime

7.8

Video

Self

2005

 

Eamonn Andrews in This Is Your Life (1955)

This Is Your Life

6.4

TV Series

Self

1980

1 episode

 

Archive Footage

Andrew Graham-Dixon in The Culture Show (2004)

The Culture Show

6.4

TV Series

Duggan (archive footage, uncredited)

2013

1 episode

 

John Hurt, David Tennant, and Matt Smith in Doctor Who (2005)

Doctor Who Explained

8.3

TV Movie

Self - Duggan (archive footage, uncredited)

2013

 

Colin Baker, Tom Baker, Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy, David Tennant, and Matt Smith in Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited (2013)

Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited

8.2

TV Mini Series

Self - Duggan (archive footage, uncredited)

2013

1 episode

 

Lalla's Wardrobe: A Frockumentary

Video

Dugeen (archive footage, uncredited)

2009

 

The Making of the Trial of a Time Lord: Part One - Mysterious Planet

Video

Self - Merdeen (archive footage)

2008

 

A Matter of Time

8.2

Video

Self - Duggan (archive footage)

2007