Albert Geoffrey Bayldon (7 January 1924 – 10 May 2017) was an English actor. After playing roles in many stage productions, including the works of William Shakespeare, he became known for portraying the title role of the children's series Catweazle (1969–70). Bayldon's other long-running parts include the Crowman in Worzel Gummidge (1979–81) and Magic Grandad in the BBC television series Watch (1995).
Early life Bayldon was born 7 January 1924 in Leeds and attended Bridlington School and Hull College of Architecture. Following service in the Royal Air Force during World War II, he appeared in amateur theatricals and then trained at the Old Vic Theatre School.
Career Bayldon enjoyed a substantial stage career, including work in the West End and for the RSC. He made several film appearances starting in the 1950’s and 1960s, including A Night to Remember (1958) About the ill fated Maiden Voyage of RMS Titanic As the Californian Wireless Operator, Cyril Evans, one of his first speaking and credited film roles. King Rat (1965), To Sir, with Love (1967), Casino Royale (as Q) (1967), the Envy segment of The Magnificent Seven Deadly Sins (1971), the Marc Bolan/T. Rex film Born to Boogie (1972), The Pink Panther Strikes Again (1976), as well as the film versions of Steptoe and Son, Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973) as the vicar, and Porridge (1979) as the Prison Governor.
Bayldon also appeared in several horror films; Dracula and Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed for Hammer Films and The House That Dripped Blood, Asylum and Tales from the Crypt for Amicus. In 2004, after many years of successful television work he appeared in the film Ladies in Lavender.
He appeared in Doctor Who with a guest appearance as Organon in The Creature from the Pit (1979) opposite Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. Subsequently, he played an alternative First Doctor in two audio plays based on the Doctor Who television series by Big Finish Productions in the Doctor Who Unbound series: Auld Mortality (2003) and A Storm of Angels (2005). In 1963, Bayldon had been one of the first actors offered the role of the Doctor.
Bayldon's other television roles include, ITV Play of the Week (1957, 1959, 1964, 1967), The Avengers (1961 and 1967), Z-Cars (1963, 1968), Theatre 625 (1964–1968), The Wednesday Play (1968, 1969), ITV Sunday Night Theatre (1970, 1972), Space: 1999 (1976), The Tomorrow People (1976), Tales of the Unexpected (1980, 1983), Blott on the Landscape (1985), Star Cops (1987), Rumpole of the Bailey (1987), The Chronicles of Narnia (1989). He later took part in a number of BBC Schools programmes, where he displayed a number of otherwise unexploited talents (such as singing). In 1993, he played Simplicio in the Open University video Newton's Revolution.
In 1986, Bayldon provided the vocals on Paul Hardcastle's "The Wizard" which was also used (without the vocal) as the theme for BBC1's Top of the Pops.
Among his later television appearances were the Five game show Fort Boyard (1998–2001), Waking the Dead (2004), Heartbeat (2004) and Casualty (2006, after previous appearances in 1991, 1997 and 2004). His final television appearances, before his retirement, were New Tricks (2007) and My Family (2010).
Death Bayldon died on 10 May 2017, aged 93, from undisclosed causes. He was predeceased by his partner, actor Alan Rowe, who died in 2000.
Filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1952The Stranger Left No CardClerkShort filmTrent's Last Case Reporter in courtUncredited1958The Camp on Blood IslandFosterDraculaPorterA Night to Remember Cyril EvansThe Two-Headed SpyDietz1959Idol on ParadeRecord ProducerUncreditedWhirlpoolWendelYesterday's EnemySoldier Who DiesUncreditedThe Rough and the SmoothRansomLibel Second Photographer1960The Day They Robbed the Bank of EnglandThe Bombardier bartenderUncredited1961Greyfriars Bobby The VicarBomb in the High StreetClay1962Jigsaw Constable at Murder SceneUncreditedThe Longest Day Officer at Eisenhower BriefingUncreditedThe Amorous PrawnSecond Telephone OperatorUncredited196355 Days at PekingSmythe1964BecketBrother PhillipUncredited1965King RatVexleyLife at the Top Industrial PsychologistWhere the Spies AreLecturer1966Sky West and CrookedPhilip Moss1967Casino RoyaleQTo Sir, with LoveTheo Weston1968Two a PennyAlec FitchAssignment KThe BoffinInspector ClouseauGutchA Dandy in AspicLake1969OtleySuperintendent HewittFrankenstein Must Be DestroyedPolice DoctorThe BushbabyTilison1970ScroogePringle/Toyshop Owner1971Say Hello to YesterdayEstate AgentThe Raging MoonMr. LatburyThe House That Dripped BloodTheo Von Hartmann"The Cloak" segmentThe Magnificent Seven Deadly SinsVernon"Envy segment1972Tales from the CryptGuideAsylumMax"Mannikins of Horror" segmentAu Pair GirlsMr. Howard1973Gawain and the Green Knight WisemanSteptoe and Son Ride AgainVicar1976The Slipper and the RoseArchbishopThe Pink Panther Strikes AgainDr. Duval1977CharlestonUncle Fred1979PorridgeGovernor1981The Monster ClubPsychiatrist"Shadmock Story" segment1983 BullshotColonel Hinchcliffe1988Madame SousatzkaMr. Cordle1988The Tenth ManElderly Clerk1991Necessary LoveBernardo1994Tom & VivHarwentAsterix Conquers AmericaGetafix (English dub)1999Asterix and Obelix vs. CaesarAdditional Voices (English dub)Uncredited2004Ladies in LavenderMr. Penhaligan
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1952–1958BBC Sunday Night TheatreUnknown/Radford2 episodes1957The ViseDoctorEpisode: "The Baby-Sitter"O.S.S.Abwehr LieutenantEpisode: "Operation Dagger"1957–1958The Adventures of Robin Hood Cal/Count de Severne2 episodesSword of FreedomVarious3 episodes1957–1967ITV Play of the WeekVarious4 episodes1959–1961ITV Television PlayhouseGeorge/TV Producer2 episodes1960Man from InterpolFreddieEpisode: "The International Diamond Incident"An Age of KingsVariousMiniseriesThe Adventures of AliceWhite KnightTV PlaySaturday PlayhouseTom WaltersEpisode: "A Run for the Money"1960–1961BBC Sunday-Night PlayVarious5 episodes1961Top SecretVogelEpisode: "Destination Buenos Aires"1961, 1963No Hiding PlaceStephen Palmer/Dr. Penston2 episodes1961, 1967The AvengersProfessor Kilbride/Clapham1962The Magical World of DisneySir GeoffreyEpisode: "The Prince and the Pauper: The Pauper King"SuspenseDr. CorballyEpisode: "Dr. Corbally and Certain Death"1963Bootsie and SnudgeAdamsEpisode: "The Lorry Route"Drama 61-67Matthew DowdEpisode: "Loop"1963–1968Z-CarsBlake/Mr. Smayles3 episodes1964Sergeant CorkMenziesEpisode: "The Case of the Ormsby Diamonds"First NightMaxEpisode: "Hunt the Man"Ghost Squad Ernst HartmannEpisode: "Rich Ruby Wine"1964–1967The SaintWilfred Garniman/Marcel Legrand2 episodes1964–1968Theatre 625Various5 episodesDetectiveStephen Protheroe/Kingston2 episodes1965The Edgar Wallace Mystery TheaterLaneEpisode:Dead Man's ChestDanger ManDickinsonEpisode: "A Very Dangerous Game"1965–1974BBC Play of the MonthVarious4 episodes1967The Newcomers Mr. Parkinson1968ITV PlayhouseAustin WithersEpisode: "The Curtis Affair"1968–1969The Wednesday PlayMr. Mileson/Henry Ramsden2 episodes1969Journey to the UnknownMr. Jim PlimmerEpisode: "The Last Visitor"The ExpertLaurence RichieEpisode: "Playing With Fire"1969–1973Special BranchAlex Rumsher/Sumner2 episodes1970Codename BlairEpisode: "Opening Gambit"1970–1971CatweazleCatweazle1970–1972ITV Saturday Night TheatreVarious3 episodes1971The Fenn Street GangMagistrateEpisode: "Rough Justice"1972The Adventures of Black BeautyProfessor Miles2 episodesThe Strauss FamilySchlumbergerEpisode: "Revolution"1972, 1991Van der ValkJoseph Kettner/Nicholas Meijers2 episodes1973Pathfinders Dr. Pers AndersonEpisode: "Sweets from a Stanger"Armchair TheatreUncle NormanEpisode: "That Sinking Feeling"Orson Welles Great MysteriesMagistrateEpisode: "The Ingenious Reporter"Heil CaesarLepidusEpisode: "Defeat"1974Napoleon and LovePrince of MecklenburgEpisode: "Maria Luisa"Comedy PlayhouseFranklyn SimsEpisode: "Franklyn and Johnie"JusticeDr. LomaxEpisode: "Trial for Murder"The Gathering StormKurt von SchushsniggTV film1975Churchill's PeopleEpisode: "Mother India"Beryl's LotNinian PhelpsEpisode: "After the Wedding Was Over"1975–1982Crown CourtEdgar Dryden/Ambrose Baker6 episodes1976The Tomorrow PeopleTirayaanSerial: "Into the Unknown"Space: 1999Number EightEpisode: "One Moment of Humanity"BBC2 PlayhouseMr. SmytheEpisode: "The Mind Beyond: The Man with the Power"1977Just WilliamGreat ManEpisode: "William's Lucky Day"The Duchess of Duke StreetCollinghurstEpisode: "Shadows"1977, 1982Jackanory PlayhouseKing Ozymandias/Father Time2 episodes1978The Famous FiveMr. GringleEpisode: "Five Go to Billycock Hill"Look and ReadCharles TrimSerial: "Sky Hunter"1978–1989All Creatures Great and Small Various3 episodes1979Doctor WhoOrganonSerial: "The Creature from the Pit"Sherlock Holmes and Doctor WatsonMorton HadlockEpisode: "The Case of the Deadly Tower"1979–1981Worzel GummidgeThe Crowman1980CribbUncle Ezra WinterEpisode: "Something Old, Something New"Turtle's ProgressSammy Violin1 episode1980–1983 Tales of the UnexpectedDr. Applegate/Sid2 episodes1981Juliet BravoJack LordEpisode: "Journeys"BergeracHenry BernardEpisode: "Relative Values"Lady KillersDr. Alfred Austin FrenchEpisode: "My Perfect Husband"1983–1984Hallelujah! Mr. Sedgwick/Jacob Marley3 episodes1984Who Dares Wins Server1 episodeSceneMr. Lawson/Bernard James2 episodes1985Blott on the LandscapeGanglionMiniseries1986In Loving Memory BallonistEpisode: "Up in the World"1987Rumpole of the BaileyBrinsley LampittEpisode: "Rumpole and the Judge's Elbow"Star CopsErnst WolfharttEpisode: "Other People's Secrets"1988The Return of Sherlock HolmesSidney JohnsonEpisode: "The Bruce-Parlington Plans"The StoryTeller KingEpisode: "Sapsorrow"1989Dramarama FishmanEpisode: "The Pisces Connection"The Chronicles of Narnia RamanduEpisode: "Voyage of the Dawn Treader: Part 4"1990CampionRev. Swithin CrushEpisode: "Mystery Mile: Part 1"1991–2006CasualtyVarious4 episodes1993–1994Magic GrandadMagic Grandad1994Soldier SoldierJack KnightEpisode: "Further Education"1995Last of the Summer WineBroadbentEpisode: "Adopted by a Stray"The BizMarkovPie in the Sky Seymour FlintEpisode: "Black Pudding"1995–1997Wycliffe Gilbert Rawle/Judge2 episodes1996Faith in the Future Mr. QuigleyEpisode: "Art Lovers"1997The New Adventures of Robin HoodMerlinEpisode: "The Legend of Olywn"Knight School Dr. Spencer DePenserEpisode: "Opening Knight"1998Peak PracticeAlby James2 episodes1998, 2002Where the Heart IsEdward Smith/Wally Vernon1998, 2004HeartbeatFollett/Gilbert Percy2000Midsomer MurdersArthur PrewittEpisode: "Blue Herrings"2004Waking the DeadEdward AtkinsonEpisode: "In Sight of the Lord"2005Doctors Joseph MakinEpisode: "Father's Day"2007New TricksLeonard CaseyEpisode: "God's Waiting Room"2010My FamilyJoeEpisode: "The Son'll Come Out"
Theatre