Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
  • Nu-Who
    • Ncuti Gatwa
    • Jodie Whittaker
    • Peter Capaldi
    • Matt Smith
    • David Tennant
    • Christopher Eccleston
  • Tweeners
    • John Hurt
    • Paul McGann
    • The Master List
    • Regeneration X
    • The Mystery Guest
    • The Hand of Fear
  • Colo(u)r
    • Sylvester McCoy
    • Colin Baker
    • Peter Davison
    • Tom Baker
    • Jon Pertwee
  • Monochrome
    • Patrick Troughton
    • William Hartnell
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day
    • The House of Holmes
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
Doctor Who's Tragical History Tour
X (Twitter) Instagram Tumblr RSS
  • Nu-Who
    1. Ncuti Gatwa
    2. Jodie Whittaker
    3. Peter Capaldi
    4. Matt Smith
    5. David Tennant
    6. Christopher Eccleston
    7. View All

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Next-iest of Doctors

    May 29, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Now You Sea Devil, No You Don’t

    April 24, 2022

    E-Spaced

    August 4, 2023

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    Bad Hair Month

    September 9, 2021

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    E-Spaced

    August 4, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Wedding of SMW

    August 27, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    The Next-iest of Doctors

    May 29, 2022

    The Dark Jacket Dimension

    November 13, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Ten Days Till the Tenthiversary of the Tenting of the Tenth

    December 22, 2019

    The Last ‘Last Christmas’ Specials Rankings #3

    December 24, 2018

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Tweeners
    1. John Hurt
    2. Paul McGann
    3. The Master List
    4. Regeneration X
    5. The Mystery Guest
    6. The Hand of Fear
    7. View All

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Who Told You There Wouldn’t Be Any Math?

    December 5, 2022

    Svelte 16

    May 8, 2022

    Ten’ll Get You Five

    September 4, 2020

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Ghost Re-Write

    November 16, 2021

    The (W)hole Ruth

    January 31, 2020

    Dup-topia

    January 29, 2020

    The Glue Guy

    June 24, 2018

    Doctor on Doctor ACTION!

    November 19, 2017

    The Wheel in Cheese

    August 10, 2014

    The Hurt Locker

    May 25, 2013

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Colo(u)r
    1. Sylvester McCoy
    2. Colin Baker
    3. Peter Davison
    4. Tom Baker
    5. Jon Pertwee
    6. View All

    A Studio Film (or rather a film in the studio)

    June 9, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    Fivey at Forty: The First Companion Death of 1982

    March 16, 2022

    Roomba With a Prenumbra

    March 1, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    … And All That Yaz

    November 16, 2022

    B-Bye Bradley

    October 6, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    The Inevitable Adric

    July 14, 2023

    The Box(ing) Day of Delights

    December 26, 2022

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    Destiny of the Costume Closet

    September 1, 2023

    The Inevitable Adric

    July 14, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    McGann Before McGann

    May 26, 2023

    The Warrior Before Time

    May 19, 2023

    Purple Shag Carpet

    May 11, 2023

    Hurt So Good: A Doctor and His Umbrella

    April 27, 2023

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Monochrome
    1. Patrick Troughton
    2. William Hartnell
    3. View All

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    When Patrick (almost) Met Ian

    August 25, 2023

    When Patrick Met Verity

    August 11, 2023

    More For Letts

    July 25, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    When Patrick Met Verity

    August 11, 2023

    The TARDIS whirled on it’s way again…

    December 23, 2022

    Invasion of The Invasion

    December 17, 2022

    Toyz in the Good

    September 24, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (54→49)

    September 20, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — (60→55)

    September 15, 2023

    60 for 60 — The Prelude

    September 8, 2023
  • Tour du Jour
    • On This Day
    • The House of Holmes
    • 50 for 50
    • The Randomizer
    • THT Rand-o-pix of the Day
    • The Feast of Steven
    • Tour Notz
    • The Watcher
    • Contact the Tour
Doctor Who's Tragical History TourDoctor Who's Tragical History Tour
Roundel Roundabouts

Dearly Departed Dalek Dad

By -- DSWFebruary 24, 201303 Mins Read
Share
Twitter Tumblr

As we like to remind ourselves (and perhaps others) from time to time, the Tour tries to be a Doctor Who resource honoring Doctor Who History.  Therefore there are occasions when the passing of seminal figure in the development and success of Doctor Who must be mentioned.  For those not as steeped in Who history as long-term fans can be… it’s worth reminding newer fans about the dawn of the Daleks, and the part the Raymond Cusick, who died at age 84 on February 21st, played in it….

The Daleks made their debut in the second-ever Doctor Who adventure, which premiered in 1963 and was written by Terry Nation. Future Alien director Ridley Scott, who was then working at the BBC, had been originally scheduled to design the look of the Daleks but, because of a scheduling conflict, Cusick was handed the task. In 2005, Cusick confirmed the rumor that the distinctive design of the half-mutant, half-tank Daleks had been inspired by a condiment dispenser. ”We went to lunch in the canteen and I was scribbling on the back of napkins the ideas of the Daleks,” he told the British tabloid newspaper The Mirror. ”I picked up what could have been a salt pot and moved it around the table. I said, ‘It moves like that, without any arms or legs.”

“When I’m asked what I was inspired by I suppose it was really a system of logic because I realized that you’ve got to have an operator to operate them. If you had anything mechanical, 10 to one on the take it would go wrong, so you’ve got a human being in there who would be absolutely totally reliable. I then thought ‘Well, the operator’s got to sit down’, [so I] drew a seat, ergonomic height, 18 in., got the operator down, and then drew round him. That’s how the basic shape appeared”.

Despite Terry Nation failing to sort out any recompense for his erstwhile design colleague, Cusick continued working on Doctor Who until 1966. While Nation went on to make millions from his creations, Cusick received only his salary and an additional “ex-gratia payment of £100 (as per his contract – probably around £900 in modern terms).  It was widely believed, however, that Cusick purely wanted to be recognized as the Daleks’ designer.

His departure from Doctor Who was seemingly due to a lack of faith in the industry. “Quite honestly I got fed up with it. Nobody, apart from my bosses, was actually saying thanks to me.”

Thanx Raymond Cusick for an indispensable part of the success of early Doctor Who.  The Tour won’t forget.

Short Hops:
  • Pulling an All-Nyder
    Pulling an All-Nyder
  • 50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #10
    50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #10
  • 16 Years, 198K Images, Many Many Thanks
    16 Years, 198K Images, Many Many Thanks
Roundel Roundabouts William Hartnell
Share. Twitter Tumblr
Previous Article50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #40
Next Article 50 for 50 — The Greatest Stories in Doctor Who History — #39
Countdown to the 60th
THT Rand-o-Pix of the Day
Gallery Gateway

The Colin Baker Galleries

The Tom Baker Galleries

The David Tennant Galleries

Ncuti Gatwa -- Who Not Who!

The Peter Davison Galleries

Who is The Mystery Guest?

John Hurt -- Who Not Who!

The Christopher Eccleston Galleries

The William Hartnell Galleries

The Jodie Whittaker Galleries

The Patrick Troughton Galleries

The Paul McGann Galleries

The Matt Smith Galleries

The Jon Pertwee Galleries

The Sylvester McCoy Galleries

The Peter Capaldi Galleries

Last Ten Updated Galleries
  1. → Flux - Chapter 5: Survivors of the Flux
  2. → An Adventure in Space and Time
  3. → Smith and Jones
  4. → The Long Game
  5. → Genesis of the Daleks
  6. → Time-Flight
  7. → The Time Warrior
  8. → The Greatest Show in the Galaxy
  9. → Anthony Ainley -- Who Not Who!
  10. → Lalla Ward -- Who Not Who!
THT on Instagram
Tour Categories
  • Series 14 (1)
  • Tour Updates (442)
  • New Who for You (167)
  • Roundel Roundabouts (224)
  • Tangential Tardis (43)
  • HD Re-classic-ation (31)
  • Modern Recap-itulation (42)
  • Classic Capitology (101)
  • Who Not Who! (31)
  • Xmas Marks the Spot (83)
  • 60 for 60 (3)
  • 50 for 50 (58)
  • Off the Reservation (16)
  • Ncuti Gatwa (3)
  • Jodie Whittaker (45)
  • Peter Capaldi (86)
  • Matt Smith (117)
  • David Tennant (112)
  • Christopher Eccleston (36)
  • John Hurt (14)
  • Paul McGann (27)
  • Sylvester McCoy (39)
  • Colin Baker (37)
  • Peter Davison (62)
  • Tom Baker (96)
  • Jon Pertwee (63)
  • Patrick Troughton (64)
  • William Hartnell (76)
  • Richard E Grant (7)
  • Jo Martin (3)
  • Series 13 (16)
  • Series 12 (13)
  • Series 11 (9)
  • Series 10 (21)
  • Series 9 (17)
  • Series 8 (25)
  • Series 7 (17)
  • Series 6 (20)
  • Series 5 (14)
  • Series 4 (25)
  • Series 3 (9)
  • Series 2 (15)
  • Series 1 (19)
On This Day in Doctor Who History
  • September 25
    • 1976: The Masque of Mandragora [4]
    • 1965: Galaxy 4 [3-- [Air Lock]
  • September 26
    • 2015: The Witch's Familiar
  • September 27
    • 2014: The Caretaker
    • 1975: Planet of Evil [1]
    • 1980: Meglos [1]
    • 1986: The Mysterious Planet [4]
    • 1989: Battlefield [4]
  • September 28
    • 1968: The Mind Robber [3]
    • 1987: Time and the Rani [4]
  • September 29
    • 1979: City of Death [1]
    • 2012: The Angels Take Manhattan
  • September 30
    • 1978: The Pirate Planet [1]
    • 1967: The Abominable Snowmen [1]
  • October 1
    • 1977: The Invisible Enemy [1]
    • 1966: The Smugglers [4]

Random Thoughts
Thirteen Christmas Stars: A Capacious Capaldi Quartet
By -- DSWDecember 30, 2017 Roundel Roundabouts 2 Mins Read
Headwaters of the River
By -- DSWJuly 26, 2017 Tour Updates 1 Min Read
Flux Capacity
By -- DSWOctober 11, 2021 Tour Updates 1 Min Read

  • x
  • instagram
  • tumblr
  • rss

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.