David Collings, the versatile stage and screen actor, and one of Doctor Who’s most popular guest stars, has died at the age of 79.

He appeared in no less than three stories spanning the Fourth and Fifth Doctors’ incarnations. In Revenge of the Cybermen, he was hidden behind a mask but still made an impression as Vorus, full of pride and aggression as he sought to defend his people.

1977’s

Canon. It’s a complicated matter. No two fans take exactly the same position on it. How can we? There is over 50 years’ worth of continuity to try to fit into it. There’s 26 series of Classic Who, over 150 Target novelisations (many of which tied continuity in knots by themselves), New, Past and Missing Adventures, Eighth through to Twelfth Doctor Adventures, who knows how many comic strips,…