Louise Jameson (as Leela) and Tom Baker (as the Doctor) promote the latest addition to the TARDIS crew in a publicity photo from 1977.
Tony Harding realised how famous K9 had become on a visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum with his children. “They had an exhibition of robots,” he recalls, “and there he was. I thought, ‘My goodness! My creation’s in the V&A!” It was very gratifying. My kids were quite young then and they were really pleased.”
Born in March 1943, Tony studied fine art prior to joining the Art Department at production company Gill Television, where he discovered a talent for making “little gadgets” for its TV commercials. Gill closed in 1965, after cigarette advertising was banned on UK television. One of Tony’s colleagues then suggested he try his luck with Century 21 Productions.