Frazer Hines

Frazer Hines (born in Horsforth, Yorkshire) is a British actor best known for his roles as Jamie McCrimmon in the BBC science fiction television series ‘Doctor Who’, and Joe Sugden in ‘Emmerdale Farm’ (later just ‘Emmerdale’).  At the age of eight, after studying acting at the Corona Academy, he made his acting debut. He later appeared in the first Hammer horror film ‘X The Unknown’ (1955) and then Charlie Chaplin’s ‘A King in New York’ (1957) followed by ‘The Weapon’, starring Lizabeth Scott, in the same year. By the end of the 1950s he had appeared in twelve films. In 1960 he appeared in the eight-part serial ‘The Young Jacobites’ for the British Children’s Film Foundation. His television roles included Jan in ‘The Silver Sword’ (1957-8), Tim Birch in ‘Emergency Ward 10’ (1963-4), and Roger Wain in ‘Coronation Street’ (1965).  In ‘Doctor Who’ he played the part of Jamie McCrimmon, a companion of the ‘Second Doctor’, from 1966 to 1969 as well as reappearing in ‘The Five Doctors’ (1983) and ‘The Two Doctors’ (1985).

After his three-year stint as Jamie he resumed the life of a jobbing actor (appearances include ‘The Last Valley’ (1970) with Michael Caine and Omar Sharif, and ‘Zeppelin’ (1971) with Michael Yorke) until he was cast in the new soap opera’ Emmerdale Farm’ as Joe Sugden in 1972 — a role he played until 1994. In between making episodes of ‘Emmerdale’, as it was renamed in the 1980’s, he has continued a career in the theatre and made occasional appearances in other TV shows.  Hines was a noted amateur horse jockey, and still maintains a great interest in horseracing through his breeders club at Newmarket. Other interests include cricket, fine dining, women and wine.

Hines has recorded linking narration for many ‘Second Doctor’ serials which no longer exist in video form; the soundtracks, along with Hines’ narration, have been released on CD by BBC Audio. He has also appeared in several of Big Finish’s ‘Doctor Who’ audio plays. Among his many theatre credits are twenty eight consecutive pantomimes in which he has played everything from Buttons to Fleshcreep. He is an accomplished after dinner speaker and co-owns a record company in Australia with his nephew Clive.