The Box of Delights (TV series)
Patrick Troughton was a familiar face on BBC TV from playing the Second Doctor in "Doctor Who"; a contemporary "Blue Peter" feature on the drama makes the connection that in the role of Cole Hawlings, the kindly Punch and Judy Man, Troughton was playing another mysterious, scruffy time traveller. Renny Rye noted that Troughton "who was my favourite Doctor Who...had a quality that is unsurpassed, I think, as someone to pull you into a tale."
List of actors considered for the part of the Doctor
Brian Blessed was offered the role, but declined because of scheduling conflicts; he would go on to play King Yrcanos in the Sixth Doctor serial "The Trial of a Time Lord". Rupert Davies, Valentine Dyall and Sir Michael Hordern were all approached for the role but none wanted to commit to a long-running series. Dyall would later play the Black Guardian in the television stories "The Armageddon Factor" (1979), "Mawdryn Undead" (1983), "Terminus" (1983) and "Enlightenment" (1983) and Slarn in the audio drama "Slipback" (1985). Peter Cushing was also offered the role, but declined and later regretted his decision. He appeared in the big-screen versions of Doctor Who in Dr. Who and the Daleks (1965) and (1966).
The role of the Second Doctor went to Patrick Troughton.