Pressed into Service as a Doctor Who Auton
One sunny day in the autumn of 1969 I was standing innocently enough on the outskirts of a Doctor Who shoot at Acton in London watching the proceedings when the actor playing one of the Autons in a scene of their mass destruction at the hands of the Doctor tore off his plastic mask and ran for a passing bus. Whereupon director Derek Martinus pointed at me, and before you could say ‘transcendentally dimensional’ six times quickly I was masked and accoutred and part of the action, dying – rather magnificently, if I might say so – along with the rest of the Autons.
Of course that came in the final episode of ‘Spearhead From Space’ and was shot out of sequence. When the actors and crew then went on location near Evesham in Warwickshire to film the rest of the programme, my unhoned thespian abilities were put to even greater tests as an Auton terrorising people with its funny gun-hand, being blasted with a shotgun by an otherwise perfectly nice lady, trashing cottages and generally misbehaving as monsters do.
I share anecdotes about those days in The Life and Times of a Doctor Who Dummy, published I’m told on Amazon Kindle and in Paperback. If anyone fancies a copy to while away a bit of time when not engrossed in the fascinating going-on on their phone, I’m also told you can buy one on this website – and I’ll sign and dedicate it if required. With my very own pen. But how you order the thing, and what buttons you’re supposed to press, I don’t have a clue, so you’ll have to work it out for yourself.
Meanwhile I recently came across this cartoon which I thought was great. Could be me confronting Jon Pertwee just before breakfast.
Hey, listen to this! The clever people who put this together have let me know that signed copies of me as an Auton CAN BE BOUGHT VIA THIS WEBSITE. The photos are A4 in size, printed on glossy paper. The price includes P&P. It really is me in the shots, and one or more of them will be perfect for your collection, or a great gift for someone you hate!
Doctor Who Auton Photos Autographed
Autographed photos of Robin Squire as the Auton, taken during the filming of ‘Spearhead From Space’ with the timer clock still showing.
Like the example here, you’re welcome to enter the personal dedication you would like Robin to add when you order.
The price includes P&P. Delivery by Royal Mail in UK or Royal Mail International worldwide. Choose which Photo number you would like from the dropdown options below, and add a personal dedication in the box provided if you’d like one.
Photo Descriptions
Photo 1: the Auton comes to life.
Photo 2: stepping down to take chase
Photo 3: searching for the Nestene meteorite at the farmhouse
Photo 4: blasted by the shotgun-wielding Meg
Photo 5: confronting UNIT troops, with Meg Seeley (played by Betty Bowden) on the ground
Photo 6: recalled by Channing
Photo 4
Photo 5
Photo 6
Order securely here through PayPal (You do not need to have a PayPal Account)
GB£ £15.00 including UK P&P Here:
US$ $30.00 including P&P US & WORLDWIDE here:
For bulk orders, special delivery, payment in other currency or other special requests please contact Joanna: info(at)greenwavepromotions.com.
Auton Interview
The 4-episode story was Spearhead From Space and the Doctor was Jon Pertwee, a truly lovely man who was genuinely funny, as well as bringing whole new dimensions to the Time Lord. I tell of my experiences to Chris Chapman in an interview on a recent Doctor Who DVD titled Mannequin Mania.
Spearhead from Space is now regarded as a ‘classic’, released on Blu-Ray in June 2013 – the only Blu-Ray release for the entire original run of Doctor Who – and it’s already been released twice on DVD. So we must have got something right (did the fact it was shot entirely on 16mm colour film have anything to do with it?).
By Special Arrangement I’m available for interviews, guest blogs, speaking engagements and autograph-signing sessions. Who would have thought that an Auton could actually sign an autograph, and tell so many fascinating tales? Or talk at all, for that matter, other than in Nestene gobbledegook? So you’ll have to make do with the Nestene alter ego in the shape of earthling Robin Squire, or surreptitious moves towards world domination might be afoot.
For bookings please contact Joanna at Greenwave Promotions Ltd, Literary Agents (website below).
After Doctor Who
After that, apart from appearing in other Doctor Who adventures, including Logopolis and The Daemons, I did a fair bit of ‘walking on’, appearing in just about every programme going at the time, including The Bill, Upstairs Downstairs, Churchill’s People, Elizabeth R (with Glenda Jackson), and sitcoms galore such as Only Fools and Horses,The Goodies, Are You Being Served, The Two Ronnies and… can’t remember any more at the moment. Oh yes, The Rory Bremner Show, Hale and Pace, EastEnders (when Dirty Den and Angie were still at it); then there was Robin of Sherwood (as one of the Merrie Men) and shedloads of others I won’t even try and think of.
I was also Inspector Littlechild in a Jack the Ripper documentary shown on UK Channel 4, telling how an American called Tumblety was reckoned to have been the one who did it. This links with my latest novel being published by Little, Brown Book Group The Mystery of the Stolen Brides – An Inspector Dearborn Case, a Victorian Detective thriller. (Inspector Dearborn also worked on the Ripper case, and has an interesting theory about Tumblety). My scenes were filmed in BCU on the stage of the Hackney Empire – just me, an old-fashioned typewriter, the director and camera crew in that time-hallowed location.
STOP PRESS! At a recent Doctor Who convention at Milton Keynes a super Whovian called Gary was kind enough to give me this poster he created on his computer. Maybe the ‘years’ referred to could also include these other treasured (well, treasured by me!) appearances on our TV screens during that terrifically fun time.
Thanks Gary, it’s really great!
Read an Extract from The Life and Times of a Doctor Who Dummy HERE
Order The Life and Times of a Doctor Who Dummy HERE
For more details or media enquiries please contact my AGENT
Read EXTRACTS from Robin Squire’s books
Auton ANECDOTES
Edwin Chesher-Brazier
Hi. I was absolutely terrified by the autons in 1971 when I was nine years old, walking past clothes shops with my mum and seeing shop mannequins. Many nightmares and sleepless nights followed. I’m ok now I’m 56. Much respect to you as an actor.
Rob
Hi Edwin, thanks for your message. Belated apologies for having frightened you when you were younger – when I was a similar age it was the wicked witch in Snow White who kept me awake. When we filmed those Auton scenes it wasn’t in my mind to be scary as such, just wanted to get the directions right. Now, when I look at it, I even scare myself! These days the urge to conquer planet Earth and the galaxies as part of the Nestene Consciousness is low on my agenda, I’d far rather put my feet up and have a nice cup of tea. Wishing you well, and may you have peaceful nights.
Joanna
With pleasure! Incredible although it may seem, that shiny Auton with his hinged hand actually has found the way to manage to sign autographs!
We will email you shortly.
Thanks very much for your interest.
Mosley
Really cool autograph! Cheers! Will be ordering some more as pressies for my mates. It’s great we can have our own personal message on it (and I loved the little letter you sent with it :-) ) This has a special place in my collection
Owen
Loved you in Spearhead, you played my favorite ever monster. Was the actual mask based on your face, you look quite similar unmasked?
Rob
Thanks Owen, they just put the mask on me and it moulded to my phizzog. People knew it was me even amongst a crowd of other Autons. Guess I just have a strangely-shaped face!