Davros

"Few people can be said to have changed the course of history, how many people have saved their own race from destruction? ensured the survival of their people to the very end of time itself? created life itself? And been responsible for the deaths of billions of people throughout all eternity? One person has done all that, and more... Davros!"

- Jack Harkness, Davros Monster File


 * This article is about the character. For the Big Finish Audio see Davros (audio story)

Davros, originally the head of the Kaled Scientific Elite on the planet Skaro, presided over the creation of the Daleks. During the Imperial-Renegade Dalek Civil War, he served as Emperor of the Imperial faction and later of the Dalek race itself.

Actors
Michael Wisher (who had previously played the voice of the Daleks in several Third Doctor stories) portrayed Davros (as well as provided the Daleks' voices) in his debut story Genesis of the Daleks. The creator of the Daleks and of Davros, Terry Nation, intended to imply that Davros had not actually died during that story by showing Davros' life support button still working, a detail not actually shown in the filmed story. When Davros returned in Destiny of the Daleks, Wisher could not play the part, so David Gooderson was cast in the role.

Subsequently, Terry Molloy, who first appeared in Davros' third story, Resurrection of the Daleks, has played the role on television and audio more times than any other actor. Rory Jennings played Davros as a child in a flashback sequence in the Big Finish Productions audio mini-series I, Davros, which examined Davros' past prior to creating the Daleks. Molloy has stated that Julian Bleach's performance has stayed true to the type of person that Davros seems to be.

Un-official productions
Davros appeared in a one-off fan-produced stage play, The Trial of Davros, with Michael Wisher. A second revised staging of the play starred Terry Molloy, with Peter Miles reprising his television role as Davros' henchman Nyder.

Other non-canon appearances
Davros appeared on stage once more played by Julian Bleach during Doctor Who at the Proms. He dramatically appeared on-stage to welcome attendees to his Dalek Empire and claimed the Royal Albert Hall as his new palace.

Other information
It is believed by Russell T Davies that he survived his "death" at the end of Journey's End, perhaps using an emergency temporal shift or yet another escape pod.