David Banks (80's Cyberleader)

[Whofan]

Anybody know what he's been up to lately? While the current Cybermen have mainly been faceless automatons with voices recorded off-stage (Which is fine, after all that's how the Cybermen started), the 80s Cybermen were a bit different as the voices were provided by the actors inside the suits-David Banks and Michael Hardy. Bank's deep voice, tall stature and his "Excellent!" catchphrase became part of Cybermen and Who lore. David played about four different Cyberleaders, but they all were very similar in character.

Banks also played a supporting role in the late 80s Stage play The Ultimate Adventure, as well as a stand-in for the Doctor when Jon Pertwee was ill.

Since the original series was cancelled it seems he's mainly done some WHO work here and there such as DVDs and some writing, but I'm kind of curious what he thinks of the New series and the new Cybermen.

 

[diankra]

He also did a stint in Brookside, and in a LiveTV newsroom soap, plus lots of stage work. Also a very nice bloke, particularly over a post-play or con drink, whose enthusiasm for the Cybermen is entirely genuine.

 

[Rarewolf]

He doesn't live in the UK full time anymore, but he has recently returned to the fan signing/convention circuit.

He did the audio version of the Ultimate Adventure a few years ago, but had no desire to do the Cyberleader's voice too.

 

[matthunter]

I saw his Ultimate Adventure stand-in for Pertwee, and a damn fine job of it he did too.

He even managed to turn a forgotten line into a great comedy moment:

"Oh, that idiot! It's... no, I can't describe it. I just cannot tell you what that stupid Dalek has done! I really, really can't!"

"It hasn't discombobulated the TARDIS' dimensional stabilisers, has it?"

"That is PRECISELY what it has done!"

 

[The]

He should have played "Lumic" in the Tennant episodes. That would have been a nice passing of the torch, so to speak...

 

[Starkers]

That would have been cool!