William Hartnell (in-universe)

Billy was a young actor working in Brighton in 1936. Billy had been acting in films in London, including I'm an Explosive and While Parents Sleep, when his friend, Max Miller, invited him down to Brighton to pick up some tips.

When Miller encountered the Sixth Doctor and Evelyn Smythe and began assisting them in their investigations of some mysterious murders and disappearances, Billy was entirely sceptical of the Doctor's stories of evil aliens and disappointed by Miller's willingness to believe them.

After the alien entity was defeated and the Doctor and Evelyn departed, Miller headed back to the pub to tell Billy all about it. (AUDIO: Pier Pressure)

Behind the scenes

 * I‘m an Explosive and While Parents Sleep were actual films made in the UK in the 1930s, both of which starred a young actor known as Billy Hartnell. In 1936, Hartnell was 28 years old. After Tom Baker's appearance in TV Action!, this was the second time that a real life Doctor actor had appeared as himself in a Doctor Who storyline.