Connections The Secret of Crickley Hall

The Secret of Crickley Hall was a novel written by British Horror Writer James Herbert, famed for writing one of my favourites of all horror trilogies, The Rats. Herbert sadly died aged 69 in March 20th, 2013.

It tells the story of a family, who lose a child, and who embark on a new life in Devil's Cleave. They rent a house which used to be a children's home during WWII, where tragically all the children but one was drowned in a great flood. The caretaker of the property, Percy Judd warns the family that it's not safe to stay in the house, and to watch the children. Unsure of his intentions, the family remain in the house, but strange things begin to happen and Eve hears her son's voice in a spinning top, and makes psychic connections to the ghostly children who are still trapped within the walls.

Douglas Henshaw plays the wicked brother of the owner of the school who has a thing about caning disobedient children, and one in particular, a young Jewish boy, who he blames for his injuries.

For a James Herbert story, it's full of scares and frights but equally a brilliantly put together drama that I sat through the two - hour and a half episodes, back to back till it was over. I had tears, people. Tears. Even the Weevil was sniffing.

Written and Directed by Joe Ahearne in 2012. Joe was also director of 5 episodes of Doctor Who in 2005.

Cast

Suranne Jones played Eve Caleigh for 3 episodes in 2012. Played not only Idris in Doctor Who episode The Doctor's Wife in 2011 and uncredited as The TARDIS and Idris in the episode Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS in 2013 but played Mona Lisa in the two part SJA story in 2009.

Tom Ellis played Gabe Caleigh for 3 episodes in 2012. Played Thomas Milligan in Doctor Who episode Last of the Time Lords in 2007.

David Warner played Percy Judd for 3 episodes in 2012. Played Professor Grisenko in Doctor Who episode Cold War in 2013. Sang 'Hungry like the Wolf' and 'Vienna' in this episode but was uncredited.

Sarah Smart played Magda Cribben for 3 episodes in 2012. Played Jennifer in Doctor Who episodes The Almost People and the Rebel Flesh in 2011.

Maisie Williams played Loren Caleigh for 3 episodes in 2012. A little piece of trivia - while filming for Crickley Hall drama, Maisie was also filming for her role in GoT. Maisie played Me in The Woman Who Lived episode of Doctor Who and Ashildr in The Girl Who Died, Face the Raven and Hell Bent all in 2015.

Fern Deacon played Susan Trainer for 3 episodes in 2012. Played an uncredited role in Doctor Who episode A Good Man Goes to War in 2011.

Susan Lynch played Lili Peel for 2 episodes in 2012. Played Angstrom in Doctor Who episode The Ghost Monument in 2019.

Donald Sumpter played Gordon Pyke for 2 episodes in 2012. Played Erasmus Darkening in SJA episodes The Eternity Trap parts 1 & 2 in 2009. Played Enrico Casali and Commander Ridgeway for Doctor Who stories - The Sea Devils in 1972 and The Wheel in Space in 1968.

Paul Clayton played the Publican for 1 episode in 2012. Was Mr Bartle in Doctor Who episode Planet of the Ood in 2008. Was the voice of Mergrass in Doctor Who mini series The Infinite Quest in 2007.

For Big Finish Paul has voiced characters for: The War Master: Rage of the Time Lords, Torchwood: God Among Us Parts 1, 2 & 3,  Aliens Among Us parts 1, 2 & 3, Torchwood: The Torchwood Archive including the Gay Times Excerpt, Doctor Who The Wormery, and Bernice Summerfield: The Kingdom of the Blind. Other non Whoniverse roles can be found in Judge Dredd: War Planet, The Confessions of Dorian Gray: The Prime of Deacon Brodie, The Night of the Triffids and The Confessions of Dorian Gray Series 1 - 2.

Velile Tshabalala played the Teacher for 1 episode in 2012. Played Rosita in Doctor Who episode The Next Doctor in 2008.

Film Editing

Graham Walker film editor for 3 episodes in 2012. Was film editor of 5 episodes of Doctor Who in 2005.

Makeup Department

Lin Davie was hair designer / makeup designer for 3 episodes in 2012. Was makeup supervisor for 13 episodes in 2005 and make up designer for 2 episodes in 2013.

Clare Golds was hair / makeup artist for 3 episodes in 2012. Was makeup artist for Doctor Who episodes The Time of the Doctor and The Day of the Doctor in 2013.

Davy Jones was prosthetics for 3 episodes in 2012. Was makeup designer for 13 episodes of Doctor Who in 2005. Was makeup effects artist for 1 episode in 2010 and special makeup effects artist for 1 episode in 2010. Was special effects artist for 2 episodes of Who both uncredited and with Millennium FX in 2013.

Kathryn Newsome was hair / makeup artist for 3 episodes in 2012. Was assistant makeup artist for Doctor Who episode The Day of the Doctor in 2013 and makeup designer/supervisor for The Night of the Doctor, but was uncredited on this, in the same year.

Ruth Parry was prosthetics trainee for 1 episode in 2012. Was prosthetics technician for 3 episodes of Doctor Who from 2014 - 2017 and mould technician for 1 episode in 2017.

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

Matt Jennings was third assistant director for 3 episodes in 2012. Was first assistant director for Doctor Who episodes The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos and Demons of the Punjab in 2018. Was third assistant director for An Adventure in Space and Time in 2013.

Sound Department

Richard Fordham was sound effects editor for 3 episodes in 2012. Was dialogue editor for Doctor Who episode In the Forest of the Night in 2014 and foley recordist for Time Heist in the same year.

Jay Price was adr recordist (uncredited) for 3 episodes in 2012. Was additional sound editor for 4 episodes of Doctor Who in 2014.

Special Effects

Ben Ashmore was special effects supervisor (uncredited) for 3 episodes in 2012. Was special effects coordinator for 31 episodes of Torchwood from 2006 - 2009, was special effects coordinator for 35 episodes of SJA from 2007 - 2009 and Special effects coordinator for 36 episodes from 2006 - 2008.

Visual Effects

Simone Coco was digital compositor (uncredited) for 3 episodes in 2012. Was senior compositor for Doctor Who episode Resolution in 2019.

Stunts

Gordon Seed was stunt coordinator for 3 episodes in 2012.

Tina Maskell was stunt performer for 1 episode in 2012. Was stunt performer for 2 episodes of Doctor Who from 2005 - 2006.

Helen Steinway Bailey was stunt performer for 1 episode in 2012. Was stunt performer for Doctor Who episode Amy's Choice in 2010.

Stephen Walsh was stunt performer for 1 episode in 2012. was stunt performer for Doctor Who episode The Time of the Doctor in 2013.

William Willoughby was stunt performer for 1 episode in 2012. Was stunt performer for 7 episodes of Doctor Who from 2005 - 2012 and 2 episodes from 2007 - 2010. Was stunt double for 2 episodes of Torchwood from 2006 - 2008 and one in 2009, two of which were uncredited.

Camera and Electrical Department

Peter Chester was best boy for 3 episodes in 2012. Was best boy for 81 episodes from 2005 - 2011 and gaffer for 2 episodes from 2006 - 2007. Was gaffer for Doctor Who: Music of the Spheres in 2008.

Christopher J. Reynolds was first assistant camera: a camera - dailies for 3 episodes in 2012. Was focus puller for 3 episodes of Doctor Who in 2013, and daily focus puller for 1 episode in 2010. Was focus puller for 5 episodes of Torchwood in 2008 and first assistant camera for 3 episodes in 2006.

Gavin Walters was gaffer for 3 episodes in 2012. Was electrician for Doctor Who episode Love & Monsters in 2006.