Background
Hurndall was born in Darlington and he attended Claremont Preparatory School, Darlington and Scarborough College, before training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Hurndall was born in Darlington and he attended Claremont Preparatory School, Darlington and Scarborough College, before training as an actor at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.
Royal Academy of Dramatic Artist
British Broadcasting Corporation radio He then appeared in several plays at Stratford-upon-Avon. Hurndall acted with the British Broadcasting Corporation radio drama repertory company from 1949 to 1952. In 1959, he played Sherlock Holmes in a British Broadcasting Corporation radio adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes presentation The Sign of the Four.
Radio Luxembourg In 1958 he became the third host of the Radio Luxembourg program called This I Believe.
(This show had originally been hosted by Edward R Murrow on the United States Columbia Broadcasting System Radio Network from 1951 to 1955 and it was then edited in London for rebroadcast on 208 with a British style of presentation at 9:30 Prime Minister on Sunday evenings) Doctor Who In 1983, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the British Broadcasting Corporation science fiction television series Doctor Who, producer John Nathan-Turner planned a special event, The Five Doctors, a 90-minute episode to feature the four of the five actors who had at that point played the role of the Doctor. William Hartnell, the actor who originated the role, had died in 1975.
His casting in the role was approved by Hartnell"s widow, Heather. When Tom Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor, declined to appear in the programme, Hurndall"s role was expanded slightly to have the First Doctor take a greater part in the action.
Hurndall died of a heart attack at the age of 73 in London, less than five months after the first broadcast of The Five Doctors.
Many sources, including Elisabeth Sladen"s autobiography, claim that he died before being paid for the role.