Why is the mild-mannered Ian Chesterton punching this smartly dressed gentleman?

Source: tragicalhistorytour.com

This is actually a behind-the-scenes photo from the filming of The Crusade.  Here’s a better picture of the man William Russell is aiming his punch at:

Source: tragicalhistorytour.com

That’s Derek Ware, the fight arranger, also credited as a Saracen Warrior.  His association with Doctor Who goes almost right back to the start, as fight arranger in the caveman story (the 2nd, 3rd and 4th episodes of An Unearthly Child).  He also co-ordinated the fight sequences in The Aztecs, The Myth Makers, The Daleks’ Master Plan, The Smugglers, The Underwater Menace, The Web of Fear and The Sea Devils.  He had minor roles where stunt work was required, as Tuthmos in The Daleks’ Master Plan, the Spaniard in The Smugglers, a UNIT sergeant in Ambassadors of Death, Private Wyatt in Inferno and Pigbin Josh in The Claws of Axos.  He also had uncredited roles, performing stunt work as minor characters or doubles for other actors, in The Chase, The Web of Fear and Terror of the Autons.  He founded the stunt company Havoc in 1966, and worked in many television productions, including Adam Adamant Lives!, Paul Temple, Colditz, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, Z Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, The Two Ronnies and Last of the Summer Wine, but for Doctor Who fans he’s simply one of those familiar faces that kept popping up in different stories, whenever something dangerous was happening.  If anyone could survive the Ian Chesterton sucker punch, it was Derek Ware.   RP

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