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. Ransome 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 into the woods and was briefly sheltered by UNIT.

He was taken to UNIT HQ and told his story to the Brigadier. He returned to the woods while the Brigadier went to Sam Seeley's cottage to investigate his finding of one of the meteorites. He stayed in a UNIT tent, but Channing found out Ransome was back in the woods and sent an Auton to kill him. The Auton ripped its way into the tent and murdered Ransome. Channing ensured there would be no evidence of his demise by ordering his total destruction. His body was completely destroyed by the Auton's hand weapon. (TV: Spearhead from Space)

Behind the scenes
Ransome's first name is changed to Harry in the novelisation.