Simpson's first work on Doctor Who was during William Hartnell's era as the First Doctor in Planet of Giants, in 1964, but he is primarily associated with the programme in the 1970s. He also appeared on screen as a music hall conductor in the 1977 story The Talons of Weng-Chiang; Simpson had to be paid a special fee for this appearance, as he was a member of the Musicians' Union and not Equity.
When John Nathan-Turner became producer of Doctor Who in 1980, he decided that the music needed to be updated, and took Simpson out for a meal telling him how much he appreciated his work on Doctor Who but that it would no longer be required as he intended to have the BBC Radiophonic Workshop provide music from now on. Simpson's last broadcast work on Doctor Who was for The Horns of Nimon (although he also composed music for the unbroadcast Shada).
Between 1964 and 1980, Simpson composed the music for 60 Doctor Who stories, (61 counting Shada).
Read more about this topic: Dudley Simpson
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