Dudley Simpson (born 4 October 1922) is an Australian television composer who is best known for his work on Doctor Who. He was born in Melbourne.
Prior to leaving Australia, Simpson composed for the Borovansky Ballet Company, forerunner to the Australian Ballet. Among his early television work was the music for Moonstrike. Simpson was also responsible for the memorable theme music for The Tomorrow People, Moonbase 3 (1973), The Ascent of Man (1973), Blake's 7 (1978) and the 1985 production of Titus Andronicus.
Simpson's first work on Doctor Who was during William Hartnell's era as the First Doctor in Planet of Giants, in 1964, but he is primarily associated with the programme in the 1970s. He also appeared on screen as a music hall conductor in the 1977 story The Talons of Weng-Chiang; Simpson had to be paid a special fee for this appearance, as he was a member of the Musicians' Union and not Equity.
When John Nathan-Turner became producer of Doctor Who in 1980, he decided that the music needed to be updated, and took Simpson out for a meal telling him how much he appreciated his work on Doctor Who but that it would no longer be required as he intended to have the BBC Radiophonic Workshop provide music from now on. Simpson's last broadcast work on Doctor Who was for The Horns of Nimon (although he also composed music for the unbroadcast Shada).
This entry is from 
