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{{Infobox Person
{{Infobox Person
|image= William Russell headshot.jpg
|image     = William Russell headshot.jpg
|name = William Russell
|aka        =  
|job title = Actor
|role = [[Ian Chesterton]], [[First Doctor]]
|story = [[Ian Chesterton - list of appearances#Television|'''''see list''''']]
|birth date = [[19 November (people)|19 November]] [[1924 (people)|1924]]
|birth date = [[19 November (people)|19 November]] [[1924 (people)|1924]]
|death date =
|death date = [[3 June (people)|3 June]] [[2024 (people)|2024]]
|time = [[1963 (production)|1963]]-[[1965 (production)|1965]]
|job title  = [[Actor]]
|aka =  
|role      = [[Ian Chesterton]]
|non dwu=  
|story      = [[#Credits|See credits section]]
|imdb= 0751511
|time      = 1963-65, 1999, 2005, 2009-14, 2016, 2020, 2022
}}{{you may|William Russell (The Angel of Scutari)|n1=the DWU journalist}}
|non dwu   = ''The Adventures of Sir Lancelot'', ''St. Ives'', ''[[Hamlet]]'', ''The Great Escape'', ''Harriet's Back in Town'', ''Father Brown'', ''[[Superman]]'', ''[[Blackadder (series)|The Black Adder]]'', ''[[Robin Hood|Robin of Sherwood]]'', ''[[Coronation Street (series)|Coronation Street]]''
'''William Russell''' (born '''William''' '''Russell Enoch''' on [[19 November (people)|19 November]] [[1924 (people)|1924]] in {{w|Sunderland, Tyne and Wear|Sunderland}}, [[England]]) played [[Ian Chesterton]] in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' from [[The Pilot Episode]] to ''[[The Chase]]''. As one of [[Susan Foreman]]'s teachers, he was one of the first of [[the Doctor]]'s [[companion]]s to appear in the series.
|imdb       = 0751511
}}{{you may|William Russell (The Angel of Scutari)|n1=the in-universe journalist|William Russell (The Thief of Sherwood)|n2=Russell's in-universe counterpart}}
'''William Russell''' (born '''William''' '''Russell Enoch''' on [[19 November (people)|19 November]] [[1924 (people)|1924]]<ref>[[REF]]: ''[[Who-ology: The Official Miscellany]]''</ref> in Sunderland, [[England]]<ref>[https://www.aveleyman.com/ActorCredit.aspx?ActorID=15138 Aveleyman]</ref>, died [[3 June (people)|3 June]] [[2024 (people)|2024]]<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jun/04/william-russell-obituary</ref>) played [[Ian Chesterton]] in ''[[Doctor Who]]'' from "[[The Pilot Episode]]" to ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]''. As one of [[Susan Foreman]]'s teachers, he was one of the first of [[the Doctor]]'s [[companion]]s to appear in the series.


Russell appeared in British films from 1950 onwards, appearing in well-known productions such as {{wi|The Man Who Never Was}} (1956) and {{wi|The Great Escape}} (1963). He later had a minor role in {{wi|Superman (film)|Superman}} (1978) as a member of the {{w|Krypton}}ian Council.
Russell had originally been intended to reprise his character of Ian for the 1983 story ''[[Mawdryn Undead (TV story)|Mawdryn Undead]]'', but scheduling conflicts required the story to be rewritten to instead bring back [[Nicholas Courtney]] as another, later regular character, [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]].
 
In 1999 he returned to the role of Ian Chesterton for the video release of the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[The Crusade (home video)|The Crusade]]'', from which two episodes are currently missing. Russell provided linking narration to cover the gaps, in character as an aged Ian reminiscing about the events of the story. Since 2002 he has also provided audio commentaries for various ''Doctor Who'' [[List of BBC DVD releases|DVD releases]], read audio book versions of three early ''Doctor Who'' novelisations featuring Ian and provided linking narration for CD releases of the fan-recorded soundtracks of serials with missing episodes in which he appeared. From 2009, Russell has reprised the role of Ian for [[Big Finish Productions]]' ''[[Companion Chronicles]]'' and ''[[The Lost Stories]]''. In 2013 he voiced the [[First Doctor]] for the anniversary story ''[[The Light at the End (audio story)|The Light at the End]]''. 88 years old at the time of recording, he became the oldest actor to play the Doctor in any medium. He has since reprised the role in subsequent First Doctor releases for ''[[The Early Adventures]]'' range.
 
In 2013, [[Jamie Glover]] played Russell in ''[[An Adventure in Space and Time (TV story)|An Adventure in Space and Time]]''. Russell himself appeared in the production as well, playing a security guard named [[Harry (An Adventure in Space and Time)|Harry]].
 
In 2022, he reprised the role of Ian on television for the first time since 1965. (''[[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|TV: The Power of the Doctor]]''). In doing so, he became the oldest actor to work on modern televised ''Doctor Who'' at the time of their involvement in production, aged 96 at the time his scenes were recorded. His cameo in the episode reportedly broke the Guinness World Record for the longest gap between televised appearances as the same character.<ref>https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-ian-chesterton-william-russell-world-record/</ref>
 
== Career ==
Russell appeared in British films from 1950 onwards, appearing in well-known productions such as {{wi|The Man Who Never Was}} (1956) and {{wi|The Great Escape}} (1963). He later had a minor role in ''[[Superman]]'' (1978) as a member of the [[Krypton (planet)|Kryptonian]] Council.


After starring in several short-lived TV series, including playing the lead in a 1955 series entitled ''St. Ives'', his big break was the title role in {{wi|The Adventures of Sir Lancelot}} on [[ITV]] in 1956, the sale of which to the {{w|NBC}} network in the [[United States of America|USA]] made it possible for it to be the first [[United Kingdom|British]] [[television]] series to be shot in colour. Following this, he won a role in ''Doctor Who'' as one of the Doctor's companions, science teacher Ian Chesterton, appearing in the bulk of the first two seasons of the programme.
After starring in several short-lived TV series, including playing the lead in a 1955 series entitled ''St. Ives'', his big break was the title role in {{wi|The Adventures of Sir Lancelot}} on [[ITV]] in 1956, the sale of which to the {{w|NBC}} network in the [[United States of America|USA]] made it possible for it to be the first [[United Kingdom|British]] [[television]] series to be shot in colour. Following this, he won a role in ''Doctor Who'' as one of the Doctor's companions, science teacher Ian Chesterton, appearing in the bulk of the first two seasons of the programme.


He has subsequently played a number of roles in theatre and on television, perhaps the highest-profile being ''Disraeli'', {{wi|Testament of Youth}} and the part of Ted Sullivan, the short-lived second husband of Rita Sullivan in ''[[Coronation Street]]''. (Ted already had a terminal illness when he married Rita in 1992, and died peacefully while watching a [[cricket]] match.) He also had a small part in an episode of the first series of {{wi|Blackadder}} (1983) as a late replacement for {{w|Wilfrid Brambell}}, who had become impatient with delays to his scene and left the set before shooting it.
He has subsequently played a number of roles in theatre and on television, perhaps the highest-profile being ''Disraeli'', {{wi|Testament of Youth}} and the part of Ted Sullivan, the short-lived second husband of Rita Sullivan in ''[[Coronation Street (series)|Coronation Street]]''. (Ted already had a terminal illness when he married Rita in 1992, and died peacefully while watching a [[cricket]] match.) He also had a small part in an episode of the first series of ''[[Blackadder (series)|Blackadder]]'' (1983) as a late replacement for {{w|Wilfrid Brambell}}, who had become impatient with delays to his scene and left the set before shooting it.


In the 1980s, the actor began using his birth name, Russell Enoch, professionally (although he continues to be credited as William Russell in ''Doctor Who''-related projects), but reverted to William Russell during the 1990s when he took the role of Ted in ''Coronation Street''. He is sometimes also credited as Enoch Russell.
In the 1980s, the actor began using his birth name, Russell Enoch, professionally (although he continues to be credited as William Russell in ''Doctor Who''-related projects), but reverted to William Russell during the 1990s when he took the role of Ted in ''Coronation Street''. He is sometimes also credited as Enoch Russell.


Russell had originally been intended to reprise his character of Ian for the [[1983 (production)|1983]] story, ''[[Mawdryn Undead]]'', but scheduling conflicts required the story to be rewritten to instead bring back [[Nicholas Courtney]] as another, later regular character, [[Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart|the Brigadier]].
== Personal life ==
William Russell's son is {{w|Alfred Enoch}}, who played {{iw|harrypotter|Dean Thomas}} in the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' films.
 
Russell passed away on [[3 June (people)|3 June]] [[2024 (people)|2024]], over five months shy of his 100th birthday.<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jun/04/william-russell-obituary</ref> That week's ''Doctor Who'' episode, {{cs|Rogue (TV story)}}, was dedicated to his memory. He is the longest-lived regular cast member of ''Doctor Who''.
 
== Credits ==
As [[Ian Chesterton]]
=== Television ===
==== Doctor Who ====
* [[The Pilot Episode]]
* ''[[An Unearthly Child (TV story)|An Unearthly Child]]''
* ''[[The Daleks (TV story)|The Daleks]]''
* ''[[The Edge of Destruction (TV story)|The Edge of Destruction]]''
* ''[[Marco Polo (TV story)|Marco Polo]]''
* ''[[The Keys of Marinus (TV story)|The Keys of Marinus]]''
* ''[[The Aztecs (TV story)|The Aztecs]]''
* ''[[The Sensorites (TV story)|The Sensorites]]''
* ''[[The Reign of Terror (TV story)|The Reign of Terror]]''
* ''[[Planet of Giants (TV story)|Planet of Giants]]''
* ''[[The Dalek Invasion of Earth (TV story)|The Dalek Invasion of Earth]]''
* ''[[The Rescue (TV story)|The Rescue]]''
* ''[[The Romans (TV story)|The Romans]]''
* ''[[The Web Planet (TV story)|The Web Planet]]''
* ''[[The Crusade (TV story)|The Crusade]]''
* ''[[The Space Museum (TV story)|The Space Museum]]''
* ''[[The Chase (TV story)|The Chase]]''
* ''[[The Power of the Doctor (TV story)|The Power of the Doctor]]''
 
=== Direct-to-video ===
* ''[[The Crusade (home video)|The Crusade]]'' (linking material for ''[[The Crusade (TV story)|The Crusade]]'' VHS)
* ''[[Planet of Giants (home video)|Planet of Giants]]: DVD release'' (voice)
 
=== Audio ===
==== Special Releases ====
* ''[[The Five Companions (audio story)|The Five Companions]]''
* ''[[The Light at the End (audio story)|The Light at the End]]''
 
==== The Lost Stories ====
* ''[[Farewell, Great Macedon (audio story)|Farewell, Great Macedon]]''
* ''[[The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance (audio story)|The Fragile Yellow Arc of Fragrance]]''
* ''[[The Masters of Luxor (audio story)|The Masters of Luxor]]''
* ''[[The Dark Planet (audio story)|The Dark Planet]]''
 
==== The Early Adventures ====
* ''[[Domain of the Voord (audio story)|Domain of the Voord]]''
* ''[[The Doctor's Tale (audio story)|The Doctor's Tale]]''
* ''[[The Age of Endurance (audio story)|The Age of Endurance]]''
* ''[[The Fifth Traveller (audio story)|The Fifth Traveller]]''
 
==== The Companion Chronicles ====
* ''[[The Transit of Venus (audio story)|The Transit of Venus]]''
* ''[[The Rocket Men (audio story)|The Rocket Men]]''
* ''[[The Wanderer (audio story)|The Wanderer]]''
* ''[[The Revenants (audio story)|The Revenants]]''
* ''[[The Time Museum (audio story)|The Time Museum]]''
* ''[[The Flames of Cadiz (audio story)|The Flames of Cadiz]]''
* ''[[The Library of Alexandria (audio story)|The Library of Alexandria]]''
* ''[[The Sleeping City (audio story)|The Sleeping City]]''
 
==== Short Trips ====
* ''[[Rise and Fall (audio story)|Rise and Fall]]''
* ''[[1963 (audio story)|1963]]''
* ''[[Seven to One (audio story)|Seven to One]]''
* ''[[A Star Is Born (audio story)|A Star Is Born]]''
 
==== Susan's War ====
* ''[[Sphere of Influence (audio story)|Sphere of Influence]]''
 
Other Roles
=== Other ===
* ''[[An Adventure in Space and Time (TV story)|An Adventure in Space and Time]]'' - [[Harry (An Adventure in Space and Time)|Harry]]


In [[1999 (production)|1999]] he returned to the role of Ian Chesterton for the video release of the ''Doctor Who'' serial ''[[The Crusade]]'', from which two episodes are currently missing. Russell provided linking narration to cover the gaps, in character as an aged Ian reminiscing about the events of the story. Since [[2002 (production)|2002]] he has also provided audio commentaries for various ''Doctor Who'' [[List of BBC DVD releases|DVD releases]], read audio book versions of three early ''Doctor Who'' novelisations featuring Ian and provided linking narration for CD releases of the fan-recorded soundtracks of serials with missing episodes in which he appeared. From [[2009 (production)|2009]], Russell has reprised the role of Ian for [[Big Finish Productions]]' [[Companion Chronicles]] and [[The Lost Stories]]. In [[2013 (production)|2013]] he voiced the [[First Doctor]] for the anniversary story ''[[The Light at the End (audio story)|The Light at the End]]''. 88 years old at the time of recording, he became the oldest actor to play the Doctor in any medium.
=== Audio ===
==== Doctor Who Main Range ====
* ''[[The Game (audio story)|The Game]]'' - Lord [[Darzil Carlisle]]


In 2013, [[Jamie Glover]] played Russell in ''[[An Adventure in Space and Time (TV story)|An Adventure in Space and Time]]''. Russell himself appeared in the production as well, playing a security guard named Harry.
=== Audiobook readings ===
==== Target Novelisations ====
* ''[[Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Daleks]]''
* ''[[Doctor Who and the Zarbi (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Zarbi]]''
* ''[[Doctor Who and the Crusaders (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Crusaders]]''
* ''[[Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth (novelisation)|Doctor Who and the Dalek Invasion of Earth]]''
* ''[[The Edge of Destruction (novelisation)|The Edge of Destruction]]''
* ''[[The Sensorites (novelisation)|The Sensorites]]''
* ''[[The Aztecs (novelisation)|The Aztecs]]''


William Russell's son is {{w|Alfred Enoch}}, who played {{iw|harrypotter|Dean Thomas}} in the ''[[Harry Potter]]'' films.
==== Doctor Who Annual ====
* ''[[The Lair of Zarbi Supremo (short story)|The Lair of Zarbi Supremo]]''
 
=== Documentary ===
* ''[[Myth Makers]]: [[MM VHS 33|William Russell]]''
* ''[[Tales of Isop (documentary)|Tales of Isop]]''
* ''[[Over the Edge: The Story of "The Edge of Destruction" (documentary)|Over the Edge]]''
* ''[[Inside the Spaceship: The Story of the TARDIS (documentary)|Inside the Spaceship]]''
* ''[[Doctor Who: Origins (documentary)|Doctor Who: Origins]]''
* ''[[Mounting The Rescue (documentary)|Mounting The Rescue]]''
* ''[[Girls! Girls! Girls! (documentary series)|Girls! Girls! Girls!]]''
* [[What has "The Romans" ever done for us? (documentary)|''What has "The Romans" ever done for us?'']]
* ''[[Dennis Spooner: Wanna Write a Television Series? (documentary)|Dennis Spooner: Wanna Write a Television Series?]]''
* ''[[Last Stop White City (documentary)|Last Stop White City]]''
* ''[[Rediscovering the Urge to Live (documentary)|Rediscovering the Urge to Live]]''
* ''[[The Doctors Revisited - The First Doctor (documentary)|The Doctors Revisited - The First Doctor]]''
* ''[[Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty]]''
 
== External links ==
{{imdb name|id=0257920}}


== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}
{{NameSort}}
{{NameSort}}
[[es:William Russell]]
[[ru:Уильям Расселл]]


[[Category:Doctor Who regular cast]]
[[Category:Doctor Who regular cast]]
[[Category:An Adventure in Space and Time cast]]
[[Category:An Adventure in Space and Time cast]]
[[Category:Interviewed on Doctor Who Live]]
[[Category:Big Finish Doctor Who voice actors]]
[[Category:Actors who have voiced for the Doctor]]
[[Category:Actors who have voiced for the Doctor]]
[[Category:Pre-2005 Doctor Who cast reprising their roles at Big Finish]]
[[Category:BBC Audio audiobook readers]]
[[Category:BBC Audio audiobook readers]]
 
[[Category:People interviewed on Doctor Who Live]]
[[es:William Russell]]
[[Category:The Early Adventures voice actors]]
[[Category:The Companion Chronicles voice actors]]
[[Category:Bonus Releases voice actors]]
[[Category:The Lost Stories voice actors]]
[[Category:Main Range voice actors]]
[[Category:Short Trips voice actors]]
[[Category:Special Releases voice actors]]
[[Category:Big Finish regular cast]]
[[Category:Actors who portrayed Ian Chesterton]]
[[Category:Actors who portrayed the First Doctor]]
[[Category:Susan's War voice actors]]
[[Category:1963 Doctor Who cast reprising their roles in 2005 Doctor Who]]

Latest revision as of 20:13, 3 November 2024

RealWorld.png

You may be looking for the in-universe journalist or Russell's in-universe counterpart.

William Russell (born William Russell Enoch on 19 November 1924[1] in Sunderland, England[2], died 3 June 2024[3]) played Ian Chesterton in Doctor Who from "The Pilot Episode" to The Chase. As one of Susan Foreman's teachers, he was one of the first of the Doctor's companions to appear in the series.

Russell had originally been intended to reprise his character of Ian for the 1983 story Mawdryn Undead, but scheduling conflicts required the story to be rewritten to instead bring back Nicholas Courtney as another, later regular character, the Brigadier.

In 1999 he returned to the role of Ian Chesterton for the video release of the Doctor Who serial The Crusade, from which two episodes are currently missing. Russell provided linking narration to cover the gaps, in character as an aged Ian reminiscing about the events of the story. Since 2002 he has also provided audio commentaries for various Doctor Who DVD releases, read audio book versions of three early Doctor Who novelisations featuring Ian and provided linking narration for CD releases of the fan-recorded soundtracks of serials with missing episodes in which he appeared. From 2009, Russell has reprised the role of Ian for Big Finish Productions' Companion Chronicles and The Lost Stories. In 2013 he voiced the First Doctor for the anniversary story The Light at the End. 88 years old at the time of recording, he became the oldest actor to play the Doctor in any medium. He has since reprised the role in subsequent First Doctor releases for The Early Adventures range.

In 2013, Jamie Glover played Russell in An Adventure in Space and Time. Russell himself appeared in the production as well, playing a security guard named Harry.

In 2022, he reprised the role of Ian on television for the first time since 1965. (TV: The Power of the Doctor). In doing so, he became the oldest actor to work on modern televised Doctor Who at the time of their involvement in production, aged 96 at the time his scenes were recorded. His cameo in the episode reportedly broke the Guinness World Record for the longest gap between televised appearances as the same character.[4]

Career[[edit] | [edit source]]

Russell appeared in British films from 1950 onwards, appearing in well-known productions such as The Man Who Never Was (1956) and The Great Escape (1963). He later had a minor role in Superman (1978) as a member of the Kryptonian Council.

After starring in several short-lived TV series, including playing the lead in a 1955 series entitled St. Ives, his big break was the title role in The Adventures of Sir Lancelot on ITV in 1956, the sale of which to the NBC network in the USA made it possible for it to be the first British television series to be shot in colour. Following this, he won a role in Doctor Who as one of the Doctor's companions, science teacher Ian Chesterton, appearing in the bulk of the first two seasons of the programme.

He has subsequently played a number of roles in theatre and on television, perhaps the highest-profile being Disraeli, Testament of Youth and the part of Ted Sullivan, the short-lived second husband of Rita Sullivan in Coronation Street. (Ted already had a terminal illness when he married Rita in 1992, and died peacefully while watching a cricket match.) He also had a small part in an episode of the first series of Blackadder (1983) as a late replacement for Wilfrid Brambell, who had become impatient with delays to his scene and left the set before shooting it.

In the 1980s, the actor began using his birth name, Russell Enoch, professionally (although he continues to be credited as William Russell in Doctor Who-related projects), but reverted to William Russell during the 1990s when he took the role of Ted in Coronation Street. He is sometimes also credited as Enoch Russell.

Personal life[[edit] | [edit source]]

William Russell's son is Alfred Enoch, who played Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter films.

Russell passed away on 3 June 2024, over five months shy of his 100th birthday.[5] That week's Doctor Who episode, Rogue [+]Loading...["Rogue (TV story)"], was dedicated to his memory. He is the longest-lived regular cast member of Doctor Who.

Credits[[edit] | [edit source]]

As Ian Chesterton

Television[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who[[edit] | [edit source]]

Direct-to-video[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Special Releases[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Lost Stories[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Early Adventures[[edit] | [edit source]]

The Companion Chronicles[[edit] | [edit source]]

Short Trips[[edit] | [edit source]]

Susan's War[[edit] | [edit source]]

Other Roles

Other[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audio[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who Main Range[[edit] | [edit source]]

Audiobook readings[[edit] | [edit source]]

Target Novelisations[[edit] | [edit source]]

Doctor Who Annual[[edit] | [edit source]]

Documentary[[edit] | [edit source]]

External links[[edit] | [edit source]]

Footnotes[[edit] | [edit source]]

  1. ↑ REF: Who-ology: The Official Miscellany
  2. ↑ Aveleyman
  3. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jun/04/william-russell-obituary
  4. ↑ https://screenrant.com/doctor-who-ian-chesterton-william-russell-world-record/
  5. ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2024/jun/04/william-russell-obituary
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