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Philip Martin, the writer of Gangsters and the creator of Sil for Doctor Who, has died aged 82.

Martin cut his teeth on Z Cars, but it was the often unusual Gangsters that made his name. He wrote Vengeance on Varos for Colin Baker’s Doctor Who, which introduced the character of Sil, who appeared in episodes  5-8 (Mindwarp) of The Trial of a Time Lord for Baker. Martin penned Mission to Magnus for the cancelled Season 23 of the show, which he later adapted for Big Finish, and he also wrote two other Big Finish plays. One of his last screenplays was Sil and the Devil Seeds of Ardor for Reeltime Pictures, which has gained over 50 awards and which he novelised for Telos Books. His other SF work included an episode of Star Cops.

SFB’s Paul Simpson had the pleasure of interviewing Martin live on stage at Gallifrey One, and later chatted to him about Sil which can be accessed here.