Frazer Hines
 |
Frazer Hines | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1954–present |
| Website | http://www.frazerhines.com |
Frazer Hines is a British actor best known for his roles as Jamie McCrimmon in the BBC science fiction television series Doctor Who, and Joe Sugden in Emmerdale.
Early life
At the age of eight, after studying acting at the Corona Stage Academy, he made his acting debut. He was thirteen when he appeared in Charlie Chaplin's A King in New York (1957) and by the age of fifteen, he had appeared in six films. In 1960 he appeared in the eight-part serial The Young Jacobites. His television roles included Jan in The Silver Sword (1957-8), Tim Birch in Emergency Ward 10 (1963-4), and Roger Wain in Coronation Street (1965).
Doctor Who
In Doctor Who he played the part of Jamie McCrimmon, a companion of the Second Doctor, from 1966 to 1969 as well as reappearing in The Five Doctors (1983) and The Two Doctors (1985). Though much of his work on Doctor Who has been lost, he appeared in more episodes than any other actor, save for those playing the first four Doctors. In terms of screen-time, he is easily the longest-serving co-star, although Nicholas Courtney appeared regularly over a greater number of years. This phenomenon is due to the fact that during the 1960s, the show had a much higher episode count than in the 1970s and 1980s. Hines also released a novelty record entitled "Who's Doctor Who" during his tenure in the series. Released on the Major Minor record label, it didn't chart.
He had to leave the show after his agent decided he didn't want Frazer in the show. Frazer left at the same time as Patrick Troughton, who had to leave due to similar circumstances (his wife disapproved of the show).
Emmerdale
After his three-year stint as Jamie in Doctor Who he resumed the life of a jobbing actor until 1972, when he was cast in the soap opera Emmerdale Farm as Joe Sugden — a role he played until 1994. In between making episodes of Emmerdale, as it was renamed in 1989, he has continued a career in the theatre and made occasional appearances in other TV shows.
Other work
Until 2007, Hines was the only still-living Second Doctor companion actor not to act in a Big Finish Productions Doctor Who audio play (the others have played characters other than their television roles). In November, 2007, he starred as Jamie in "Helicon Prime," the second installment in Season 2 of Big Finish's Companion Chronicles. Hines has also recorded linking narration for many Second Doctor serials which no longer exist in video form; the soundtracks, along with Hines' narration, have been released on CD by BBC Audio.
Hines also appeared in Peter Kay's Comic Relief video of 2007, as one of the many guests dancing to Kay's Brian Potter and Matt Lucas' Andy Pipkin to the song I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by The Proclaimers.
Personal life
Hines has been twice married, first to Irish actress Gemma Craven from 1981 to 1984, and secondly to ski racing champion Liz Hobbs from 1994 to 2003.
Hines was a noted amateur jockey.
Hines' autobiography, Films, Farms and Fillies, was published by Boxtree in 1996 in a paperback edition. A revised and re-edited hardback edition, titled Hines Sight, was published at the end of 2009.