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Nabil Shaban, known to generations of Doctor Who fans as Sil in Philip Martin’s various stories and the co-founder of Graeae, has died, aged 72.

The news was posted to social media that “Today Marcella, Zen had to say goodbye to Nabil as he passed away peacefully”. In addition to playing Sil twice on TV opposite Colin Baker, he reprised the role for Big Finish for a version of the lost Season 23 story Mission to Magnus, as well as a new story Antidote to Oblivion, and in 2019 was on screen at the heart of Sil and the Devil Seeds of Ardor for Reeltime. His other genre work included the adaptation of Children of Men.

He co-founded Graeae, which supports disabled actors, in 1980 and received a honorary doctorate from the University of Surrey for promoting Disability Arts in 1997.