As an actor, Mark Strickson got to pretend to have adventures—but eventually, that wasn't enough. He wanted to experience the real thing.
Best known to Doctor Who fans as Turlough, Mark went on to study zoology in Australia and build a career in wildlife filmmaking, including making Steve Irwin’s first film. His earlier experiences—as a musician, actor, and member of a theatre company touring Britain by narrowboat—came along with him in unexpected ways.
In this conversation, Mark shares how knocking on an office door landed him his Doctor Who role, why talent and hard work don’t guarantee success, and how a camera off its tripod helped create a different kind of wildlife television.
We also talk about Turlough’s complicated loyalties, the importance of a good script, the satisfaction of making things with your hands, and finding purpose in work that encourages people to care.
In this episode:
• Growing up with music and theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon
• RADA, poverty, and the role of luck in an acting career
• Life aboard Mikron Theatre Company’s narrowboat
• Getting cast in Doctor Who and finding the person behind Turlough
• Storytelling, special effects, and monsters that couldn’t move
• Returning to study and becoming a zoologist
• Working with Steve Irwin and cameraman Jeff Goodman
• Real adventures, conservation, and making television with compassion
Chapters:
0:00 Welcome and introduction
1:30 A childhood of music and theatre
5:50 Why acting success isn’t just about talent
9:59 Touring Britain on a narrowboat
17:11 How Mark landed Doctor Who
22:37 Understanding Turlough
30:59 Why the story comes first
33:27 Kamelion, the Myrka, and ambitious television
37:18 From acting to zoology
42:45 Becoming a wildlife filmmaker
46:19 Steve Irwin’s first film
53:07 Wanting real adventures
55:08 Making television that encourages compassion
58:21 Life and work in New Zealand
Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in theatre and Doctor Who.
Come play with us: the free Follow Your Curiosity Creativity Circle is an hour each month to stop overthinking, make something just because you want to, and enjoy some creative company.
Get your free Daily Credit Report and Bingo Card.
Follow Your Curiosity is created and hosted by creativity expert Nancy Norbeck, creator of the Restorative Creativity Framework™. Music by Joseph McDade.
Enjoyed the conversation? Share it with a friend, and leave a rating or review wherever you listen—or on Podchaser.
