Sophie Aldred
Encyclopedia
Sophie Aldred is an English actress and television presenter, best known for her portrayal of The Doctor
's companion Ace
in the television series Doctor Who
during the late 1980s.
, London, but grew up in nearby Blackheath
. She attended Blackheath High School
from 1973 until 1980, before enrolling as a drama student at University of Manchester
. She graduated in 1983 and decided to embark on a career in children's theatre.
Both before and since Doctor Who, Aldred has had a varied and busy television
career, particularly in children's programming
, where she has presented educational programmes such as Corners
, Melvin and Maureen's Music-a-grams which ran from 1992 to 1996, long-running BBC
series Words and Pictures since 1993 to date and also CITV paranormal show It's a Mystery
in 1996. She also played the character Minnie The Mini Magician from Series 8 onwards on CITV
's ZZZap!
between 1999 and 2001. Aldred has presented and sung in several BBC Schools Radio series, including Singing Together, Music Workshop, Time and Tune and Music Box. She has also performed on radio
and in the theatre. She has also reprised her role as Ace in the charity special Dimensions in Time
and the Doctor Who audio plays produced by Big Finish Productions
. Throughout the 2000s she has worked extensively as a voice-over artist for television advertisements, and has also provided voices for animated series such as Bob the Builder
and Dennis & Gnasher
.
She co-wrote the hardback reference book, Ace, The Inside Story of the End of An Era with Mike Tucker
, published by Virgin Publishing in 1996. (ISBN 1-85227-574-X).
Aldred provided voices for the 2009 series Dennis and Gnasher, including that of title character Dennis the Menace
.
on 12 July 1997. They have two sons, Adam and William, who make occasional convention appearances with their mother.
Doctor (Doctor Who)
The Doctor is the central character in the long-running BBC television science-fiction series Doctor Who, and has also featured in two cinema feature films, a vast range of spin-off novels, audio dramas and comic strips connected to the series....
's companion Ace
Ace (Doctor Who)
Dorothy Gale McShane, better known by her nickname Ace, is a fictional character played by Sophie Aldred in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who...
in the television series Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
during the late 1980s.
Early life
Aldred was born in GreenwichGreenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, London, but grew up in nearby Blackheath
Blackheath, London
Blackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
. She attended Blackheath High School
Blackheath High School
Blackheath High School is situated near Blackheath Village in southeast London, England. It was founded in 1880 as part of the Girls' Day School Trust. The Senior Department is located in Vanbrugh Park after moving from Blackheath in 1993/4. The school in Blackheath village then became the Junior...
from 1973 until 1980, before enrolling as a drama student at University of Manchester
Victoria University of Manchester
The Victoria University of Manchester was a university in Manchester, England. On 1 October 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology to form a new entity, "The University of Manchester".-1851 - 1951:The University was founded in 1851 as Owens College,...
. She graduated in 1983 and decided to embark on a career in children's theatre.
Career
In 1987, she was cast as Ace in Doctor Who. Her tenure on the show spanned the last nine stories of the programme's original run, which ended in 1989.Both before and since Doctor Who, Aldred has had a varied and busy television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
career, particularly in children's programming
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
, where she has presented educational programmes such as Corners
Corners (TV series)
Corners was a BBC children's television series in the 1980s. Produced by Alison Stewart, the format of the programme was that viewers would submit questions and queries , and the two hosts, Sophie Aldred and Simon Davies, would try to answer the questions, aided by an anthopomorphised...
, Melvin and Maureen's Music-a-grams which ran from 1992 to 1996, long-running BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
series Words and Pictures since 1993 to date and also CITV paranormal show It's a Mystery
It's a Mystery (CITV)
It's a Mystery was a networked Children's ITV programme which ran for five series from 1996 - 2002. It was produced by The Media Merchants Television Company Ltd and Meridian Broadcasting Ltd. Series five was simply called Mystery....
in 1996. She also played the character Minnie The Mini Magician from Series 8 onwards on CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
's ZZZap!
ZZZap!
Zzzap was a British children's television comedy programme. The concept of the show was a giant comic that has been brought to life. The show ran from 8 January 1993 until 21 September 2001, and was produced by The Media Merchants and Meridian Broadcasting...
between 1999 and 2001. Aldred has presented and sung in several BBC Schools Radio series, including Singing Together, Music Workshop, Time and Tune and Music Box. She has also performed on radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and in the theatre. She has also reprised her role as Ace in the charity special Dimensions in Time
Dimensions in Time
Dimensions in Time is a charity special crossover between the British science fiction television series Doctor Who and the soap opera EastEnders that ran in two parts on 26 and 27 November 1993. It was filmed on the EastEnders Albert Square set, and features several of the stars of that programme...
and the Doctor Who audio plays produced by Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions
Big Finish Productions is a British company that produces books and audio plays based, primarily, on cult British science fiction properties...
. Throughout the 2000s she has worked extensively as a voice-over artist for television advertisements, and has also provided voices for animated series such as Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder
Bob the Builder is a British children's animated television show created by Keith Chapman. In the original series Bob appears as a building contractor specialising in masonry in a stop motion animated programme with his colleague Wendy, various neighbours and friends, and their gang of...
and Dennis & Gnasher
Dennis & Gnasher (2009 TV series)
Dennis and Gnasher is a British/Australian animated television series currently being aired on CBBC. Based on the original comic strips from The Beano, it features the adventures of the rebellious schoolboy Dennis the Menace and his dog Gnasher...
.
She co-wrote the hardback reference book, Ace, The Inside Story of the End of An Era with Mike Tucker
Mike Tucker
Mike Tucker is a special effects expert who worked for many years at the BBC Television Visual Effects Department, and now works as an Effects Supervisor for his own company, The Model Unit. He is also the author of a variety of spin-offs relating to the television series Doctor Who and...
, published by Virgin Publishing in 1996. (ISBN 1-85227-574-X).
Aldred provided voices for the 2009 series Dennis and Gnasher, including that of title character Dennis the Menace
Dennis the Menace (UK)
Dennis the Menace, later called Dennis the Menace and Gnasher and now Dennis and Gnasher, is a long-running comic strip in the British children's comic The Beano, published by D. C...
.
Personal life
Sophie Aldred married Vince HendersonVince Henderson
Vincent P. "Vince" Henderson in Liverpool is an English television presenter, actor, and street performer. He is best known for hosting the Sky Sports Saturday morning show Soccer AM, and ITV's game show Chain Letters...
on 12 July 1997. They have two sons, Adam and William, who make occasional convention appearances with their mother.