John Leeson

John Leeson
John Leeson at The Television & Movie Store, Norwich, England, on 20 September 2008.
Born	John Francis Christopher Ducker (1943-03-16) 16 March 1943 (age 74) Leicester, Leicestershire, England
Nationality	British
Occupation	Actor/ Freelance wine educator
Years active	1964–present
Known for	K-9 in Doctor Who

John Leeson (born John Francis Christopher Ducker, 16 March 1943 in Leicester, Leicestershire) is a British actor who is known for voicing K-9 on the television series Doctor Who from 1977 to 1979, then from 1980 to 1981, and has returned for two single episode in the revived series. He also voiced K-9 in the show's spin-offs K-9 and Company, The Sarah Jane Adventures and K-9.

RADA trained, Leeson's varied stage and television career spans nearly half a century. It includes work in both repertory and West End productions including Neil Simon's Plaza Suite (1969), Flint (1970) and Don't Start Without Me (1971) and character work across a wide range of television sitcoms and costume dramas from the 1970s onwards, including Dad's Army, Sorry, Rings on Their Fingers, The Barretts of Wimpole Street, Vanity Fair, Shadow of the Noose, Crown Court Longitude, etc. He also embarked on a parallel career in voiceover work, freelancing as a continuity announcer with BFBS Television in Germany, BBC Television, and Channel 4.

Leeson was brought on as the voice of K-9 for 1977's The Invisible Enemy and producer Graham Williams liked the concept so much that the decision was made to retain him as a regular character, to appeal to the younger members of the audience. Tom Baker detested the character of K-9, but luckily got on very well with Leeson (when Leeson appeared on Tom Baker's edition of This Is Your Life in 2000, Leeson entered on all fours). Leeson however became frustrated himself with the limitations of the character, and left the programme after the conclusion of the 16th season in 1979. He was also seen on-screen that season as the character Dugeen during the serial The Power of Kroll (1978–79). David Brierly took over for four stories (one of which was never completed due to a BBC strike) the following year. When John Nathan-Turner took over as producer of the series for season 18 in 1980, he tempted Leeson back, with the promise that the character would be 'killed off' that year. Although the character was, eventually, not killed off, merely written out, Leeson agreed to return.