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Preternatural Research Bureau
''P.R.O.B.E.'' is a series of direct-to-video science-fiction films mostly written by Mark Gatiss and produced by BBV Productions. It was the first live-action ''Doctor Who'' spin-off series. The series features Caroline John as Liz Shaw, working for the Preternatural Research Bureau. Many former ''Doctor Who'' actors, including former Doctors Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy, appear in the series playing different roles. (Due to licensing restrictions, no overt reference to The Doctor is permitted.) ''Doctor Who'' alumna Louise Jameson co-stars with Caroline John in the original four films, as Patricia Haggard. Originally released on VHS, the series was not widely available on video. When an interviewer commented to series author Mark Gatiss that he had never seen the series, Gatiss replied "No, and you never will. One, they're not available. And two, I forbid it. Christ, for all I knew, they were the only things I would ever get to make. And I lear ...
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Caroline John
Caroline Frances John (19 September 1940 – 5 June 2012) was an English actress. She played classical roles on the stage and also portrayed Elizabeth "Liz" Shaw in the BBC science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'', as well as several other television roles. Early life and education John was the third of eight children born to Vera (''née'' Winckworth), an actress and singer, and Alexander John, a theatre director. She was educated at St. Joseph's convent school, Crackley Hall in Kenilworth. After training at the Central School of Speech and Drama, she worked in theatre and toured with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre Company. She appeared in '' Juno and the Paycock'' in a 1966 production directed by Laurence Olivier, ''King Lear'', ''Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead'', ''The Merchant of Venice'' and as Hero in Franco Zeffirelli's production of ''Much Ado About Nothing''. ''Doctor Who'' John played the role of the Doctor's companion in 1970 ...
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Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video or straight-to-video refers to the release of a film, TV series, short or special to the public immediately on home video formats rather than an initial theatrical release or television premiere. This distribution strategy was prevalent before streaming platforms came to dominate the TV and movie distribution markets. Because inferior sequels or prequels of larger-budget films may be released direct-to-video, review references to direct-to-video releases are often pejorative. Direct-to-video release has also become profitable for independent filmmakers and smaller companies. Some direct-to-video genre films (with a high-profile star) can generate well in excess of $50 million revenue worldwide. Reasons for releasing direct to video A production studio may decide not to generally release a TV show or film for several possible reasons: a low budget, a lack of support from a TV network, negative reviews, its controversial nature, that it may appeal to a small ni ...
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Stephen Bradshaw
Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen ( grc-gre, Στέφανος ), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is widely regarded as the first martyr (or " protomartyr") of the Christian Church. In English, Stephen is most commonly pronounced as ' (). The name, in both the forms Stephen and Steven, is often shortened to Steve or Stevie. The spelling as Stephen can also be pronounced which is from the Greek original version, Stephanos. In English, the female version of the name is Stephanie. Many surnames are derived from the first name, including Stephens, Stevens, Stephenson, and Stevenson, all of which mean "Stephen's (son)". In modern times the name has sometimes been given with intentionally non-standard spelling, such as Stevan or Stevon. A common variant of the name used in English is Stephan ; related names that have found some curr ...
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Charles Kay
Charles Kay (born Charles Piff, 31 August 1930) is an English actor. Early life Kay was born in Coventry, Warwickshire, the son of Frances (née Petty) and Charles Beckingham Piff. Originally educated at Warwick School, Kay went on to study medicine, then decided to train for the stage. He went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and in 1957, after graduation, joined the Radio Drama Company by winning the Carlton Hobbs Bursary.Carlton Hobbs Bursary winners
at BBC.co.uk, accessed 23 January 2018 He went on to join the at the

Reece Shearsmith
Reeson Wayne "Reece" Shearsmith (born 27 August 1969) is an English actor, writer and comedian. He is best known for being a member of ''The League of Gentlemen'', alongside Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss, and Jeremy Dyson. With Pemberton, he later created, wrote and starred in the sitcom ''Psychoville'', as well as the dark comedy anthology series, ''Inside No. 9''. He has also had notable roles in ''Spaced'' and '' The World's End''. Early life Shearsmith was born in Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, as Reeson Wayne Shearsmith. He attended Andrew Marvell High School and then Bretton Hall College of Education where he met Mark Gatiss and Steve Pemberton. Career 1995–2005: Career beginnings and ''The League of Gentlemen'' ''The League of Gentlemen'' began as a stage act in 1995, transferred to Radio 4 as ''On the Town with The League of Gentlemen'' in 1997 and then arrived on television on BBC Two in 1999. The latter saw Shearsmith and his colleagues awarded a British Acad ...
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Charmian May
Charmian Rosemary May (16 June 1937 – 24 October 2002) was an English character actress best known for her television and film roles. She appeared in the sitcoms '' The Good Life'' and ''Keeping Up Appearances'', and the film ''Bridget Jones's Diary''. She appeared as Miss Pershore in episodes 6 and 7 of ''The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin'' (1976). She also appeared in ''The Worst Witch'' as Miss Pentangle, in ''Weirdsister College'' as Prof. Alicia Thunderblast, and she was Miss Milton in the Yorkshire Television series, ''You're Only Young Twice''. Amongst her stage work, May was in the original production of ''84, Charing Cross Road'' at Salisbury Playhouse, and its West End transfer, in 1981. She also toured in the 1970s in a production of ''The Importance of Being Earnest'' by Oscar Wilde, playing Lady Bracknell. Death She died from cancer on 24 October 2002, aged 65. A service of thanksgiving for the life of the actress was held at St Paul's, Covent Garden on 2 ...
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Geoffrey Beevers
Geoffrey Beevers (born 15 January 1941) is a British actor who has appeared in many different stage and screen roles. Career Theatre Beevers has worked extensively at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond upon Thames, both as an actor (including the title role in Jules Romain's ''Doctor Knock'', 1994); and as an adaptor/director of George Eliot's novel ''Adam Bede'' (February 1990), for which he won a Time Out Award, and Honoré de Balzac's ''Père Goriot'' (February 1994). In 2012, Beevers appeared as Fray Antonio in the Royal Shakespeare Company production of Helen Edmundson's ''The Heresy of Love''. In March 2013 he played opposite Helen Mirren in Peter Morgan's play '' The Audience'' at the Gielgud Theatre, and reprised the role in February 2015 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre in New York City. From October 2016 to March 2017, he played Baron Gottfried Van Swieten in a production of Amadeus by Peter Shaffer at the Royal National Theatre's Olivier Stage. Television Beevers ...
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Terry Molloy
Terry Molloy (born 4 January 1947) is an English actor. He is known predominantly for his work on radio and television, especially his portrayal of Davros, creator of the Dalek, Daleks, in the BBC television science fiction series ''Doctor Who''. Career Molloy has been a member of the cast of BBC Radio 4's ''The Archers'' playing Mike Tucker (The Archers), Mike Tucker since 1974 and has won awards for his work as an actor on radio. In 1980 he performed in the Radio 4 adaptation of Nicholas Monsarrat's war novel ''The Cruel Sea (novel), The Cruel Sea''. On television, Molloy is known for becoming the third actor to play the mad scientist Davros, the creator of the Daleks, in the long-running science fiction series ''Doctor Who''. He appeared in the stories ''Resurrection of the Daleks'' (1984), ''Revelation of the Daleks'' (1985) and ''Remembrance of the Daleks'' (1988), becoming the first actor to play the role in different stories. Molloy was initially cast in the role by di ...
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The Stranger (video Series)
''The Stranger'' is a series of direct-to-video (and audio CD) science-fiction dramas produced by BBV and starring Colin Baker. They are now available on DVD. The series began in 1991 with ''Summoned by Shadows'', co-produced with the BBC Film Club as a knowing homage to the long-running British science fiction television series ''Doctor Who'' (of which BBV founder Bill Baggs was a fan) and in a pragmatic attempt to take advantage of the consequent pre-existing audience. ''Summoned by Shadows'' is a ''Who''-style tale of strange doings in an unspecified time period on Earth featuring three actors known for their roles in ''Doctor Who'' and playing similar characters. The unnamed protagonist (listed in the credits as "The Stranger") is played by Colin Baker, his assistant Miss Brown by Nicola Bryant, who had played the Doctor's assistant Peri Brown opposite Colin Baker for two years, and the villain of the piece by Michael Wisher, who had been the first actor to play Davros. ...
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Robert John Preston
The name Robert is an ancient Germanic given name, from Proto-Germanic "fame" and "bright" (''Hrōþiberhtaz''). Compare Old Dutch ''Robrecht'' and Old High German ''Hrodebert'' (a compound of '' Hruod'' ( non, Hróðr) "fame, glory, honour, praise, renown" and ''berht'' "bright, light, shining"). It is the second most frequently used given name of ancient Germanic origin. It is also in use as a surname. Another commonly used form of the name is Rupert. After becoming widely used in Continental Europe it entered England in its Old French form ''Robert'', where an Old English cognate form (''Hrēodbēorht'', ''Hrodberht'', ''Hrēodbēorð'', ''Hrœdbœrð'', ''Hrœdberð'', ''Hrōðberχtŕ'') had existed before the Norman Conquest. The feminine version is Roberta. The Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish form is Roberto. Robert is also a common name in many Germanic languages, including English, German, Dutch, Norwegian, Swedish, Scots, Danish, and Icelandic. It can be u ...
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