Dick Turpin
Richard Turpin, better known as Dick Turpin was a notorious highwayman whose exploits were later romanticised in fiction.
Charley Pollard was a fan of the stories in which Turpin appeared. Upon encountering the real Turpin in 1738, Charley inadvertently infected him with Grel particles which altered Turpin and those around him to match their fictional depictions. (AUDIO: The Doomwood Curse [+]Loading...["The Doomwood Curse (audio story)"])
According to a Coal Hill School textbook, the best-known story of Dick Turpin told of his rapid 200-mile ride from London to York on his horse, Black Bess, in order to establish an alibi; though the same story was also told of another highwayman - John Nevison. The Doctor, however, noted that neither of them had done this. (PROSE: A History of Humankind [+]Loading...["A History of Humankind (novel)"]) According to another account, he had made this 200-mile ride. (COMIC: Untitled [+]Loading...["Untitled (FCBD2024 comic story)"])
Dick was tried for murder in March 1739 before being executed a month later. (AUDIO: The Doomwood Curse [+]Loading...["The Doomwood Curse (audio story)"])
On the night he was arrested, a "god" offered Dick Turpin a cyberblaster glove as a gift. He was also told he would be made rich if he could make the Doctor scream. On 7 April, he escaped custody but was thwarted by the Fifteenth Doctor. He was recaptured and screamed at the gallows when he realised his "god" betrayed him. (COMIC: Untitled [+]Loading...["Untitled (FCBD2024 comic story)"])
Legacy
In 2009, Clyde Langer asked the Dark Rider if he had known Dick Turpin, but he was unable to speak so gave no reply. (TV: Mona Lisa's Revenge [+]Loading...["Mona Lisa's Revenge (TV story)"])
In 2136, Terri asked Geoff Hornby if he thought Daphne McAllister was "Dick Turpin reincarnated", after he was questioning the Hotel Galaxian's computer interface Thomas if Daphne had some dark past. (PROSE: The Murder Game [+]Loading...["The Murder Game (novel)"])
