William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (baptised 1564-died 1616) was an English poet and playwright widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language, as well as one of the greatest in Western literature, and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He wrote about 38 plays and 154 sonnets, as well as a variety of other poems. Already a popular writer in his own lifetime, Shakespeare's reputation became increasingly celebrated after his death and his work adulated by numerous prominent cultural figures through the centuries. In addition, Shakespeare is the most quoted writer in the literature and history of the English-speaking world. He is often considered the English, or arguably the British, national poet and is sometimes referred to as the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard") or the "Swan of Avon".

In City of Death, the Fourth Doctor claims to have known Shakespeare as a child, calling him a little boy who never said a word when he didn't need to. The Doctor also recognizes the handwriting in an original draft of Shakespeare's Hamlet as being the Doctor's own - Shakespeare having sprained his wrist writing sonnets. The Doctor also claims to have warned Shakespeare that Hamlet's line "to take up arms against a sea of troubles" was a mixed metaphor, byt that Shakespeare would not listen.