Sophie Aldred(born 20 August 1962) is an English actress and television presenter. She has worked extensively in children's television as a presenter and voice artist. She played theSeventh Doctor's companion,Ace,in the television seriesDoctor Whoduring the late 1980s, becoming the finalcompanioninthe series' first run.
Sophie Aldred | |
|---|---|
 Aldred at (Re)Generation 2 in 2016 | |
| Born | 20 August 1962 |
| Alma mater | University of Manchester |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, television presenter |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | AceinDoctor Who |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | sophiealdred |
Early life
editAldred was born on 20 August 1962 inGreenwich,London,but grew up in nearbyBlackheath.She sang in the church choir of St James',Kidbrooke,and attendedBlackheath High Schoolfrom 1973 until 1980. She then enrolled as a drama student at theUniversity of Manchester.[1]She graduated in 1983 and embarked on a career in children's theatre. She also sang inworking men's clubsaroundManchester.[2]
Career
editIn 1987, Aldred was cast as Ace inDoctor Who,initially forDragonfire,the final story of thetwenty-fourth season.[3]Her tenure on the show spanned the last nine stories of the programme's original run, which ended in 1989.[4]
In January 1992, she guest-starred inMore than a Messiah,one of the videos in the seriesThe Stranger,starringColin Baker,also formerly ofDoctor Who.
Both before and sinceDoctor Who,Aldred has had a varied and busytelevisioncareer, particularly inchildren's programming,where she has presented educational programmes under the name "Sophie Socket" such asCorners,Melvin and Maureen's Music-a-grams[2](which ran from 1992 to '96),Tiny and Crew(which she presented, 1995–96), theBBCseriesWords and Pictures(1992, 1996-2001), and also theCITVparanormal showIt's a Mysteryin 1996. She also played the character Minnie The Mini Magician from series 8 onwards in CITV'sZZZap!between 1999 and 2001.
Aldred has presented and sung in several BBC Schools Radio series, includingSinging Together,Music Workshop,Time and TuneandMusic Box.She has also performed on radio and in the theatre. She has also reprised her role as Ace in the 1993 thirtieth-anniversary charity specialDimensions in Timeand, since 2000, theDoctor Whoaudio plays produced byBig Finish Productions.Following the start of rumours in 1994 and 1995, avidDoctor Whofans expressed hope that Aldred would reprise her role in the project that would become the1996Doctor Whotelevision movie,but she did not appear, and her character's fate was not mentioned.
Throughout the 2000s she has worked extensively as avoice-over artistfortelevision advertisements,[4]and has also provided voices for animated series such asBob the Builder,Sergeant Stripes,the UK dubbed version of the CGI animated version of the Australian TV seriesBananas in Pyjamas,El Nombre,Peter Rabbit,Noddy in Toyland,The Magic KeyandDennis & Gnasher.[5]
She co-wrote withMike Tuckerthe hardcover nonfiction bookAce, The Inside Story of the End of An Era,published byVirgin Publishingin 1996. (ISBN1-85227-574-X).
Aldred provided voices for the 2009 seriesDennis and Gnasher,including that of title characterDennis the Menace.[6]
She was also a former presenter of the 1996CITVSaturday morning magazine programmeWOW!.
Since 2012 Aldred has provided the voice of Tom inTree Fu Tom,aCBeebiesseries. The series' other main voice actor,David Tennant(who voices Twigs), previously played the tenth incarnation of the Doctor inDoctor Who.In November 2013 she appeared in the one-off fiftieth-anniversary comedy homageThe Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.[7]In 2018, Aldred reprised the role of Ace in an audio drama set during the first season ofClass.
In 2019, Aldred reprised the role of Ace in a special announcement trailer for theDoctor WhoSeason 26Blu-raybox set.[8]That same year, she also appeared as Mistress Na in the direct-to-DVD filmSil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor;a role for which she won Best Supporting Actress at the Accolade Competition in 2020.
In 2020, Aldred released the novelDoctor Who: At Childhood's End,where an older Ace (now a philanthropist) meets theThirteenth Doctorand her companions while investigating an alien satellite.[9]
Aldred reprised the role of Ace in the October 2022Doctor WhoBBC Centenary special "The Power of the Doctor"alongsideJanet FieldingasTegan Jovanka– who was also acompanionofthe Doctorduringthe series' original runand in the episode she reunites withSylvester McCoyas theSeventh Doctor.[10]She also reprised the role in the seriesTales of the TARDIS.[11]
Personal life
editAldred was in a relationship with fellow Manchester University studentTim Boothof the bandJamesin the mid-1980s.[12]She also had a relationship with comedianLes Dennisduring his first marriage, which Dennis documented in his autobiography.[13]She married television presenter and actorVince Hendersonon 12 July 1997. They have two sons: Adam and William.[14]Aldred is allergic tocatsand is avegan.[15][16]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | More Than A Messiah | The Girl | |
| 1994 | Shakedown: Return of the Sontarans | Mari | |
| 1994 | The Zero Imperative | P.R. Officer | |
| 1998 | Mindgame | Human | |
| 1998 | Lust in Space | Sophie Aldred | |
| 1999 | Mindgame Trilogy | Space Pilot 6927896 | |
| 2011 | Thriller Theater! | Lynn Whitlam | |
| 2013 | The Search for Simon | Angela Spooner | |
| 2018 | A Wizard's Tale | Voice | |
| 2019 | Sil and the Devil Seeds of Arodor | Mistress Na |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987–1989, 2022 | Doctor Who | Dorothy "Ace" McShane | 32 episodes |
| 1990 | Rainbow | Birthday Guest | Voice; Episode: "Wrong Day" |
| 1991 | Melvin and Maureen's Music-a-grams | Maureen | 9 episodes |
| 1993 | EastEnders | Suzie | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | El Nombre | Consuela Chiquitita | Voice; all 26 episodes |
| 1993 | Dimensions in Time | Ace | TV film |
| 1995 | Tiny and Crew | Sophie Socket | Series 1 |
| 1995 | Wimzie's House | Wimzie | Voice; 20 episodes |
| 1999–2001 | ZZZap! | Minnie the Magic Magician | 41 episodes |
| 2000–2001 | The Magic Key | Biff | Regular role |
| 2001–2002 | Death Comes to Time | Ace | All 5 episodes |
| 2002–2004 | Sergeant Stripes | Stripes | Voice; 7 episodes |
| 2004 | Shadow Play | Ros | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Noddy in Toyland | Lindy | Voice; 5 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | Dennis & Gnasher | Dennis | Voice; 25 episodes |
| 2010–2011 | Bob the Builder | Muck (US) | Voice |
| 2011–2013 | Bananas in Pyjamas | Morgan (UK) | Voice |
| 2012 | Tree Fu Tom | Tom | Voice; 30 episodes |
| 2013 | The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot | Sophie Aldred | TV film |
| 2016 | Peter Rabbit | Mrs Rabbit | Voice; 7 episodes |
| 2016 | Cops and Monsters | Lady Audrey MacDiarmid | Episode: "Revolution in a Teacup" |
| 2020 | Gentrification | Tabitha | All 9 episodes |
| 2023 | Tales of the TARDIS | Dorothy "Ace" McShane | Episode: "The Curse of Fenric" |
Video games
edit| Year | Title | Voice Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Pure Pinball | Excessive Speed Announcer |
| 2011 | Inazuma Irebun GO: Shine | |
| 2011 | Inazuma Irebun GO: Dark | |
| 2014 | Dragon Age: Inquisition | Additional voices |
| 2018 | Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom |
References
edit- ^David J. Howe; Mark Stammers; Stephen Walker (1996).Doctor Who: The Eighties.Virgin Publishing. p. 112.ISBN978-1852276805.
- ^ab"The Den of Geek interview: Sophie Aldred".Den of Geek.14 February 2008.Retrieved4 September2015.
- ^"Interview with 'Doctor Who' star Sophie Aldred".independent.co.uk.Archived fromthe originalon 10 February 2012.Retrieved4 September2015.
- ^ab"Doctor Who: Ace visitor in Norwich".BBC.Retrieved29 December2011.
- ^"SueTerryVoices: Sophie Aldred female voiceover artist".sueterryvoices.Retrieved4 September2015.
- ^Dennis is a menace to 2012 equestrian plansLondon Evening Standard,7 October 2009
- ^"The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot",BBC programmes, retrieved 26 November 2013
- ^Jeffery, Morgan (25 November 2019)."Sophie Aldred says she" burst into tears "after reading script for her Doctor Who comeback".Radio Times.
- ^Doctor Who: At Childhood's EndPenguin Books,6 February 2020
- ^Mzimba, Lizo (17 April 2022)."Doctor Who: Former companions to join Jodie Whittaker's farewell".BBC News.
- ^"Doctor Who: Welcome to The Whoniverse where every Doctor, every companion and hundreds of terrifying monsters live".BBC Media Centre.BBC. 30 October 2023.
- ^"Q&A with Sophie Aldred".Doctor Who Magazine.No. 559. UK. 5 January 2024.
- ^Barkham, Patrick (1 April 2008)."Beyond a Joke".The Guardian.London.Retrieved22 April2014.
- ^"Exclusive interview with 'Doctor Who' star Sophie Aldred – CultBox".CultBox.15 October 2014.Retrieved4 September2015.
- ^"23 May 2020".Pointless Celebrities.BBC1.
- ^"What I eat in a week...Sophie Aldred".Vegan Life Magazine.Retrieved23 October2022.
External links
edit
- Official website
- Sophie AldredatIMDb
- Sophie AldredatRotten Tomatoes
- Sophie Aldreddiscography atDiscogs
- BBC Norfolk interview: Sophie Aldred – Feb '08