Ralph Cornish

Professor Ralph Cornish was controller of Space Control.

Biography
Professor Cornish began working at the British Rocket Group in the late 1960s, revitalising the organisation and renaming it the British Space Centre, intending on making it a worthy rival to other space programmes. After harassing politicians, standing before Parliament and borrowing equipment, he helped Ashley Chapel with International Electromatics following Tobias Vaughn's death and gained access to cutting-edge technology. (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy)

The BSC lost contact with Mars Probe 7 after it landed on Mars but were aware that it was returning. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death) Professor Cornish gave an interview to James Stevens for the Daily Chronicle during this time but put a stop to it after Stevens asked about Vaughn, telling him that he would have to take it up with UNIT. (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy)

Professor Cornish directed Recovery 7 in a mission to rescue Joe Lefee and Frank Michaels, during which they lost contact with Charles Van Lyden. He cooperated with the Third Doctor and contacted Sir James Quinlan to get permission for another recovery mission, instead resorting to sending the Doctor. He came to believe that General George Carrington was insane and, after the general's defeat, was helped by Liz Shaw to communicate with the ambassadors. (TV: The Ambassadors of Death)

In 1997, Professor Cornish and his boyfriend, Timothy Todd, attended a press conference for the Mars Probe 13 mission. He did not recognise the Doctor, who was by that time in his eighth incarnation. Todd was murdered shortly after. (PROSE: The Dying Days)

Personality
Professor Cornish was aware of his good looks and considered them to be something of a handicap. (PROSE: The Ambassadors of Death)

Appearance
Professor Cornish was a tall, dark and handsome man (PROSE: The Ambassadors of Death) with immaculate hair and slate grey eyes that betrayed a slight weariness. (PROSE: Who Killed Kennedy)

Behind the scenes
In The Ambassadors of Death, Cornish is referred to as both "professor" and "controller" by the Brigadier and Wakefield and "Mr Cornish" by the Doctor and Carrington.