Robert Muir
Sir Robert Muir was Chief Constable and Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire in the 1920s.
Biography
Robert Muir was an intellectually sheltered man who knew the Cranleigh family all his life and was familiar with Cranleigh Hall, although he was unaware of the priest hole. He studied at Eton, where he performed in a play, (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"]) and went on to become a policeman. By the 1920s, he was a Chief Constable, (TV: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (TV story)"]) Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"]) and had been knighted.
At Cranleigh Hall on 11 June 1925, Sir Robert spoke of "the Master", who was also called "the Doctor". Sir Robert compared the Fifth Doctor to him after a cricket game.
This reference momentarily confused the Doctor, as he believed that Sir Robert was referring to his Time Lord enemy of the same name. However, it turned out Sir Robert was speaking of the cricketer W.G. Grace.
Upon being told that Nyssa was from Traken, Sir Robert assumed that it was near Esher. Nyssa, however, did not know where Esher was.
Sir Robert arrested the Doctor when he was framed of murdering the Cranleighs' servant James, but later apologised for his wild accusations after seeing the TARDIS and learning of Lady Cranleigh's deceit.
When Lady Cranleigh's disfigured son George fell off the roof of Cranleigh Hall, Sir Robert hurried to check on him but George was dead; and he could do nothing more except comfort Lady Cranleigh even after her betrayal. (TV: Black Orchid)
Personality
Sir Robert was a courtly and polite gentleman (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"]) and a cricket enthusiast. Although he did not consider himself a good dancer, Tegan assured him that he was a "beaut" dancer. He enjoyed a Tim Collins. (TV: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (TV story)"])
Appearance
Sir Robert was a distinguished-looking man with a hawk-like nose. He wore a flamboyant Restoration costume to the Cranleighs' ball with a full-bottomed wig. (PROSE: Black Orchid [+]Loading...["Black Orchid (novelisation)"])
Behind the scenes
- Robin Bailey, Geoffrey Bayldon, John Carson, William Lucas, Nigel Stock and Peter Vaughan were considered for the role before Moray Watson was cast.[source needed]
