'I was in awe...' Russell T Davies loved having Pauline Collins in Doctor Who
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has paid tribute to actress Pauline Collins, who has died at the age of 85, and he remembered the time she starred in a 2006 episode of the BBC sci-fi series.
Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies said it was an "honour" to have the late Pauline Collins star in the BBC sci-fi series.
The actress - who died at the age of 85 after living with Parkinson’s disease for several years - played Queen Victoria in the 2006 episode Tooth and Claw.
Following news of her death on Thursday (06.11.25), Russell took to Instagram and remembered the time he worked with her on Doctor Who, saying: "We had the huge privilege of working with Pauline on Doctor Who - Tooth and Claw, the one with Queen Victoria vs the werewolf, happy days! It was such an honour to have her on set, I was in awe."
He also recalled how much Pauline - who also starred in a 1967 episode of Doctor Who, titled The Faceless Ones, as Samantha Briggs - disliked Queen Victoria's outfit.
Russell continued: "Though she soon cut that down to size - I remember one night, meeting her in a wet Cardiff car park as she hauled Victoria’s yards of bombazine through the puddles, 'This f****** dress is so heavy!'
"I told her she looked like Giles’s Grandma, and she swore royally. And then roared with laughter! Oh, she was salty and wonderful, and the finest of actors."
And Russell has been a fan of Pauline's work - particularly in the Upstairs, Downstairs spin-off Thomas and Sarah, as well as the 1989 comedy-romance film, Shirley Valentine - since he was a child.
He finished his heartfelt tribute with: "As a kid, I thought Thomas and Sarah was TV magic (an actual spin-off! Good idea!). I loved No Honestly. As for Shirley Valentine, as @mrmatthewtodd says today, 'Says more about UK life at that time than any history book ever could.'
"A true star. And she’d laugh at that. (sic)"
Pauline - who received an Oscar nomination for her lead role in Shirley Valentine - passed away “peacefully” at her care home in London, surrounded by loved ones.
In a statement released on Sunday (02.11.25), which came to light on Thursday evening, her family said: "Pauline was so many things to so many people, playing a variety of roles in her life. A bright, sparky, witty presence on stage and screen. Her illustrious career saw her play politicians, mothers and queens.
"She will always be remembered as the iconic, strong-willed, vivacious and wise Shirley Valentine – a role that she made all her own. We were familiar with all those parts of her because her magic was contained in each one of them.
"More than anything, though, she was our loving mum, our wonderful grandma and great-grandma. Warm, funny, generous, thoughtful, wise, she was always there for us. And she was John’s life-long love. A partner, work collaborator, and wife of 56 years.
"We particularly want to thank her carers: angels who looked after her with dignity, compassion, and most of all love. She could not have had a more peaceful goodbye.
"We hope you will remember her at the height of her powers, so joyful and full of energy, and give us the space and privacy to contemplate a life without her."
Pauline is survived by her 84-year-old husband, retired actor John Alderton, their three children - Nicholas, Kate and Richard - and their grandchildren.
