John Benton: Difference between revisions

From Tardis Wiki, the free Doctor Who reference
(the alt. Earth Benton could use a mention too; I forget his (the other Benton's rank))
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Oou}}
<div>
<div>
{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #efefef; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
{| border=1 align=right cellpadding=4 cellspacing=0 width=300 style="margin: 0 0 1em 1em; background: #efefef; border: 1px #aaaaaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
Line 26: Line 24:
|}
|}
</div>
</div>
'''Sergeant Benton''' is a [[fictional character]] in the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[science fiction television]] series ''[[Doctor Who]]'', played by [[John Levene]]. He worked for [[United Nations Intelligence Taskforce|UNIT]] ('''U'''nited '''N'''ations '''I'''ntelligence '''T'''askforce), an international organisation that defends the Earth from [[extraterrestrial life|alien]] threats. He appeared semi-regularly on the programme from [[1970]] to [[1975]], and was eventually promoted to the rank of [[Warrant Officer Class 1]], holding the post of [[Regimental Sergeant Major]].
'''John Benton''' was a member of [[UNIT]] during the [[Third Doctor|the Doctor]]'s [[exile on Earth]], and after. He was promoted from Corporal to the rank of [[Warrant Officer Class 1]], holding the post of [[Regimental Sergeant Major]]. On source says that he later achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
 
==Profile==
The father of John Benton served in the military and, growing up, he was swore to "be just like him". ([[Wartime]])
 
Benton first appeared alongside as a Corporal with the [[the Doctor|second incarnation]] of the Doctor against the [[Mondasian Cybermen|Cybermen]] and [[Tobias Vaughan]], though when he first met the Doctor he was doing surveillance work rather than serving in uniform. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Invasion]]'')
 
By the time of the Doctor's [[regeneration]] and exile, Benton had been promoted to Sergeant and quickly formed a close working relationship with the Doctor, [[Captain Mike Yates]] and [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]]. Lethbridge-Stewart, in fact, usually called Benton rather than Yates when an order needed to be carried out.  


Benton first appeared in the [[Second Doctor]] serial ''[[The Invasion (Doctor Who)|The Invasion]]'' ([[1968]]), where he was a [[Corporal]] in UNIT. By the time of his next appearance in ''[[The Ambassadors of Death]]'' ([[1970]]) he had been promoted to Sergeant and quickly formed a close working relationship with [[Doctor (Doctor Who)|the Doctor]], [[Captain Mike Yates]] and [[Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart]], the latter usually calling first for Benton when an order needed to be carried out. Benton's tour in UNIT also coincided with the tenure of the [[Third Doctor|Third]] and [[Fourth Doctor]]s as its Scientific Advisor and his promotion to WO1 came in ''[[Robot (Doctor Who)|Robot]]'' ([[1974]]).
Benton was always a down-to-earth example of a British infantryman and non-commissioned officer, reliable, uncomplicated and with a good dose of common sense. When the Doctor asked him if he was going to comment that [[the Doctor's TARDIS|his TARDIS]] was [[dimensionally transcendental|bigger on the inside than on the outside]] (since everyone did), Benton's classic reply was, "Well, that's pretty obvious, isn't it?" ([[DW]]: ''[[The Three Doctors]]'') Despite not understanding the specifics of what the Doctor was doing or any of his explanations, Benton always took the Doctor at his word and trusted him implicitly. Benton was loyal, not just to the rank but also to the people he worked with, and was willing to disobey orders to help them ([[DW]]: ''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]'').


During his time with UNIT, Benton faced several alien invasions and also the schemes of the renegade [[Time Lord]] known as [[Master (Doctor Who)|the Master]]. Benton was always a down-to-earth example of a British [[infantry|infantryman]] and [[non-commissioned officer]], reliable, uncomplicated and with a good dose of common sense. When the Doctor asked him if he was going to comment that the [[TARDIS]] was bigger on the inside than on the outside (since everyone did), Benton's classic reply was, "Well, that's pretty obvious, isn't it?" Despite not understanding the specifics of what the Doctor was doing or any of his explanations, Benton always took the Doctor at his word and trusted him implicitly.
Little, though, is known of his personal life at this point, though it seems Benton was at that time single and preparing on a dancing date with his sister when a crisis with [[Azal]] interrupted his plans. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Dæmons]]'') He flirted briefly with [[Jo Grant]] and [[Sarah Jane Smith]], though as we far as we know this never progressed beyond the level of good-natured banter.  


Very little is known of Benton outside of his UNIT duties. In fact, his first name was never revealed in the television series.  Benton was loyal, not just to the rank but also to the people he worked with, and was willing to disobey orders to help them (''[[Invasion of the Dinosaurs]]''). He flirted briefly with [[Jo Grant]], the [[Third Doctor]]'s assistant, and also [[Sarah Jane Smith]], but neither appeared to get beyond good natured bantering. His last on-screen appearance was in ''[[The Android Invasion]]''. In [[1983]], he was said by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart to have left the [[British Army]] and become a used car salesman.
Benton had some memorable experiences during his time in UNIT. [[The Master (UNIT years)|The Master]]'s [[TOMTIT]] machine had the effect of regressing Benton to a baby. When restored to adult form he appeared before his UNIT colleagues stark naked. ([[DW]]: ''[[The Time Monster]]'') He was re-united and delighted to meet again, the Doctor's earlier incarnation, brought forward in [[time]] by the [[Time Lord]]s to help fight [[Omega]] ([[DW]]: ''[[The THree Doctors]]'')


==Other appearances==
Shortly before the return of the Doctor to Earth and his [[regeneration]] into his [[Fourth Doctor|fourth incarnation]], Benton had his promotion to Warrant Officer. ([[DW]]: ''[[Robot (TV story)|Robot]]''). Promoted again, this time to RSM, Benton helped against the [[Zygon]]s. ([[DW]]: ''[[Terror of the Zygons]]'')
The prologue of the [[Virgin Publishing]] [[novelisation]] of ''[[The Power of the Daleks]]'' by John Peel revealed that Benton did return to [[UNIT]] at some point and became a [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned officer]] with the rank of [[Lieutenant]] (OF-1). In [[1986]], he led a UNIT team to [[Antarctica]] to clear up the mess left in the wake of the [[Cyberman|Cybermen]]'s failed attempt to drain [[Earth]] of its energy (''[[The Tenth Planet]]'').


John Levene reprised the role of Benton in the [[Doctor Who spin-offs#Video|spin-off video]] video ''Wartime'', produced by [[Reeltime Pictures]] in [[1987]].  This finally established a first name for Benton: '''John''', just like the actor who played him.  The name "John Benton" has subsequently been used in many [[Doctor Who spin-offs#Original fiction|spin-off novels]].
In [[1983]], Benton was said by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart to have left UNIT and become a used car salesman. ([[DW]]: ''[[Mawdryn Undead]]'')


==See also==
==Other appearances==
*[[United Nations Intelligence Taskforce]]
One accounts stays by [[1986]], Benton had reutned to UNIT and became a comissioned officer with the rank of Lieutenant, subsequently leading  a UNIT team to [[Antarctica]] to clear up the chaos left in the wake of the [[Mondasian Cyberman|Cybermen]]'s attempt to drain [[Earth]] of its energy. ([[The Power of the Daleks (novelisation)]]'')


[[Category:UNIT officers|Benton, John]]
[[Category:UNIT officers|Benton, John]]
[[Category:20th century individuals|Benton, John]]

Revision as of 12:25, 25 March 2007

INDIVIDUAL
John Benton
File:Benton.jpg
Race Human
Home Planet Earth
Home Era 20th Century
Humanian Era
Appearances Full List of Appearances
Actor John Levene

John Benton was a member of UNIT during the the Doctor's exile on Earth, and after. He was promoted from Corporal to the rank of Warrant Officer Class 1, holding the post of Regimental Sergeant Major. On source says that he later achieved the rank of Lieutenant.

Profile

The father of John Benton served in the military and, growing up, he was swore to "be just like him". (Wartime)

Benton first appeared alongside as a Corporal with the second incarnation of the Doctor against the Cybermen and Tobias Vaughan, though when he first met the Doctor he was doing surveillance work rather than serving in uniform. (DW: The Invasion)

By the time of the Doctor's regeneration and exile, Benton had been promoted to Sergeant and quickly formed a close working relationship with the Doctor, Captain Mike Yates and Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Lethbridge-Stewart, in fact, usually called Benton rather than Yates when an order needed to be carried out.

Benton was always a down-to-earth example of a British infantryman and non-commissioned officer, reliable, uncomplicated and with a good dose of common sense. When the Doctor asked him if he was going to comment that his TARDIS was bigger on the inside than on the outside (since everyone did), Benton's classic reply was, "Well, that's pretty obvious, isn't it?" (DW: The Three Doctors) Despite not understanding the specifics of what the Doctor was doing or any of his explanations, Benton always took the Doctor at his word and trusted him implicitly. Benton was loyal, not just to the rank but also to the people he worked with, and was willing to disobey orders to help them (DW: Invasion of the Dinosaurs).

Little, though, is known of his personal life at this point, though it seems Benton was at that time single and preparing on a dancing date with his sister when a crisis with Azal interrupted his plans. (DW: The Dæmons) He flirted briefly with Jo Grant and Sarah Jane Smith, though as we far as we know this never progressed beyond the level of good-natured banter.

Benton had some memorable experiences during his time in UNIT. The Master's TOMTIT machine had the effect of regressing Benton to a baby. When restored to adult form he appeared before his UNIT colleagues stark naked. (DW: The Time Monster) He was re-united and delighted to meet again, the Doctor's earlier incarnation, brought forward in time by the Time Lords to help fight Omega (DW: The THree Doctors)

Shortly before the return of the Doctor to Earth and his regeneration into his fourth incarnation, Benton had his promotion to Warrant Officer. (DW: Robot). Promoted again, this time to RSM, Benton helped against the Zygons. (DW: Terror of the Zygons)

In 1983, Benton was said by Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart to have left UNIT and become a used car salesman. (DW: Mawdryn Undead)

Other appearances

One accounts stays by 1986, Benton had reutned to UNIT and became a comissioned officer with the rank of Lieutenant, subsequently leading a UNIT team to Antarctica to clear up the chaos left in the wake of the Cybermen's attempt to drain Earth of its energy. (The Power of the Daleks (novelisation))