Kenneth Kendall

Kenneth Kendall (7 August 1924-14 December 2012 ) was an English television newsreader, working variably for the BBC, and as a freelancer. He appeared as a fictional version of himself in The War Machines.

Biography
Kendall was notable within the world of newscasting for being the first newscaster to ever appear presenting the news on camera in 1955.

Though predominantly a newsreader, Kenneth Kendall did on a few occasions appear as fictional version of himself in dramatic TV productions. This included The War Machines. As a result, Kendall was arguably the first real-world celebrity/public figure to portray themself in Doctor Who.

Two months after transmission of The War Machines, Kendall would make another appearance as himself for dramatic purposes in an episode of the offbeat fantasy adventure series Adam Adamant Lives! (1966-67), produced by original Doctor Who producer Verity Lambert: "The Doomsday Plan" (originally transmitted 1 September 1966), in which the unfortunate newsreader is kidnapped from the BBC Television Centre after the evening news as part of the dastardly plot of so-called prophet Doctor Mort, who predicts the world will end.

Kendall was romantically connected with Mark Fear for twenty-three years, and they entered a civil partnership in 2006. They remained together until Kendall's death in 2012.

In the DWU
On 20 July 1966, Kendall reported on the War Machine attacks in London. (TV: The War Machines)

Kendall presented the news at 8.00 p.m. on BBC3, ten minutes before the start of The Passing Parade: Live from Devil's End. (PROSE: "BBC 3 Schedule")