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Arnold Yarrow dead: Doctor Who legend & oldest surviving cast member dies aged 104 as fans pay tribute
Watch the star in action in an episode of Doctor Who in the video player below
ARNOLD Yarrow, the beloved actor known for his guest role in the classic Doctor Who series, has died at the age of 104.
Yarrow was the oldest surviving credited cast member in the history of the iconic science fiction show.
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The British actor, screenwriter, and playwright had a career spanning several decades.
Born on April 17, 1920, he became a familiar face on television screens and a respected figure behind the scenes as a writer.
Yarrow made his mark on Doctor Who in 1974, playing the fan-favourite character Bellal in the series Death to the Daleks.
Appearing alongside Jon Pertwee's Third Doctor and Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane Smith, Yarrow’s Bellal was a member of the Exxilon species who assisted the Time Lord in battling the Daleks.
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Playing Bellal meant Yarrow had to wear a complicated and uncomfortable costume, something he openly talked about in a 2020 interview with Doctor Who expert Toby Hadoke, reports.
"It was made of separate bits that were all glued together – I was stuck in there for three hours at a time," Yarrow recalled.
"There were two tiny pinholes for eyes to look out of and nostrils to breathe through. My vision was extremely limited."
Devastated fans have been paying heartfelt tributes to the late star online.
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On X (formerly Twitter), one user shared a clip from Death to the Daleks, writing: "RIP Arnold Yarrow (1920–2024) Yarrow appeared (completely consumed in a latex costume which utilised front axial projection to make it glow) as Bellal in 'Death to the Daleks' alongside Jon Pertwee and Elisabeth Sladen."
Another fan posted: "Bye bye, Bellal. RIP Arnold Yarrow.";
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Despite the challenges of the role, Yarrow fondly remembered Jon Pertwee, praising the Doctor Who star’s kindness and support on set.
“Jon was very considerate,” Yarrow said in the 2020 interview.
“He looked after me and guided me around the set.”
But he admitted that the discomfort of the costume would have stopped him from a longer stint on the show.
Bellal had a long-lasting popularity as he was seen as "oddly endearing" despite his odd looks.
Bellal also made a brief return via archive footage in The Sarah Jane Adventures in 2010.
Beyond Doctor Who, Yarrow had decades of a splendid career in British TV.
He appeared in early episodes of EastEnders as Benny Bloom, as well as roles in Coronation Street, Dr Finlay’s Casebook, and Life with Cooper.
Yarrow also contributed as a script writer for shows like EastEnders and Softly, Softly.
His other television appearances include roles in Crane, Ghost Squad, The Onedin Line and London's Burning, as well as a part in the 1993 film Son of the Pink Panther.
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Arnold Yarrow leaves behind a legacy of memorable performances and creative contributions to British television, cherished by fans of all generations.
Not much information on Yarrow's life off the screen is known, but the star, who turned 100 in 2020, lived a quiet life in Herne Bay, Kent.
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