Ian McKellen

Sir Ian McKellen (born 25 May 1939) portrayed the voice of the Great Intelligence in the Doctor Who television story The Snowmen. He also appeared as himself in the 50th Anniversary story The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.

He is the third knighted actor (after Derek Jacobi and Michael Gambon) and one of the few Oscar nominees to appear in Doctor Who.

He was considered for the role of the Eighth Doctor. He appeared alongside Sylvester McCoy in the 2012 film The Hobbit.

In the sitcom he plays an actor whose "Doctor Who" character was voted "the 10th most popular villain of all time."

He has now been given an honourary doctorate from the University of Ulster.