John Leeson (born March 1943 in Leicester, England) is a British actor who although having had a varied stage and television career spanning forty years including both work in repertory and West End productions including "Plaza Suite" (1969); "Flint" (1970) and "Don't Start Without Me" (1971) and character work across a wide range of 1970s television sitcoms including "Dad's Army", is best known for having played the voice of K-9 on the television series Doctor Who from 1977 to 1979, and again in the 1980–1981 season. He was also seen on-screen as the character Dugeen during the serial The Power of Kroll. Tom Baker detested the character of K-9, but luckily got on very well with Leeson (when Leeson appeared on Tom Baker's edition of This Is Your Life in 2000, Leeson entered on all fours) Leeson however became frustrated himself with the limitations of the character, and left the programme after the conclusion of the 16th season in 1978.

David Brierley took over for four stories (one of which was never completed due to a BBC strike) the following year. When John Nathan-Turner took over as producer of the series for season 18 in 1980, he tempted Leeson back, with the promise that the character would be 'killed off' that year. Although the character was, eventually, not killed off, merely written out, Leeson agreed to return.

Leeson also agreed to return to voice K-9 in K-9 and Company (1981), a spin-off from Doctor Who which was not picked up after the airing of its pilot episode. He also voiced K-9 for the 20th anniversary episode of Doctor Who, The Five Doctors, though it was little more than a cameo appearance. He has also reprised K-9's voice in two BBV and several Big Finish audio dramas including Zagreus and the Gallifrey series.

He also voiced K-9 for its return in the 2006 Doctor Who episode "School Reunion", then its cameo in the pilot episode of The Sarah Jane Adventures. Leeson's voice was also heard most recently in the Doctor Who episode "Journey's End" once more as K-9 (Doctor Who). Leeson also voiced K-9 in a Doctor Who-themed episode of The Weakest Link.

Similar to 0 things you like: