Dalek veteran ready for galactic domination

Old timer volunteers for salt cellar duty

By Lester Haines • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 10th August 2004 12:08 GMT

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An Essex man who counts among the proud original operators of the Daleks has volunteered for further exterminatory duties - at the age of 77, the Sun reports. The BBC recently announced that the Daleks would, after all, appear in the new series of Doctor Who following protracted negotiations with the estate of the late Terry Nation.

John Scott Martin - who has kept busy since hanging up his, er, castors by appearing in the 118118 directory enquiries ads - told the UK tabloid: "Dr Who wouldn't be the same without them. I loved playing a Dalek and it would be brilliant to do it again. I've still got the old razzmatazz. The BBC know my number."

The game old boy also took the opportunity to recall that the Daleks "trundled around on castors like a supermarket trolley. You were done for if you had to go into a field. I would frequently topple over."

The good news for Martin is that we believe the Daleks are about to sprout legs, thereby facilitating their passage over the ploughed sugar beet fields of Essex. ®