Gilbert and Sullivan

Gilbert and Sullivan were human musicians. The First Doctor claimed that they once gave him a coat, which he in turn lent to Ian Chesterton. (DW: "The Brink of Disaster")

Behind the scenes

 * Peter Pratt was for many years the principal comedian of the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, which performed Gilbert and Sullivan's works. Pratt played the "patter" roles, such as the Major-General in The Pirates of Penzance and Ko-Ko in The Mikado.
 * Gilbert and Sullivan's songs from The Mikado, HMS Pinafore and The Pirates of Penzance formed the basis of the songs sung in Doctor Who and the Pirates.