John Ransome

John Ransome was a designer with Auto Plastics Ltd.

In or shortly before 1970, Ransome came up with a new doll with which managing director George Hibbert was quite enthusiastic. Hibbert promised to make Ransome a partner if he could get the project funded and made a success. To that end, Ransome was sent to the United States in 1970 to secure investment funding from another company.

During Ransome's six-month absence, one of the Nestenes' facsimiles, Channing, gained control over Hibbert. Auto Plastics' factory was retooled to produce Autons, most of the staff were terminated, and Ransome's laboratory was tightly secured for Channing's use. Hibbert successfully returned with the signed agreements from America, and was shocked to find a termination notice waiting for him at home. He angrily confronted Hibbert the next day but left unsatisfied.

A disgruntled Ransome secretly returned to the factory and narrowly escaped being killed by an Auton mannequin with a gun concealed in its hand. In panic, he fled and was briefly sheltered by UNIT. Soon after, he was hunted down and killed. Channing ensured there would be no evidence of his demise by ordering his total destruction. After he was snuffed out, his body was then completely destroyed by an Auton's hand weapon. (TV: Spearhead from Space)