The man who inspired Outlander was once a Doctor Who companion
In short: Before he became a staple of British soap opera and a face of cancer awareness, Frazer Hines was the most enduring companion in early Doctor Who history. His role as Jamie McCrimmon didn't just define a television era; it literally inspired one of the world's biggest modern literary franchises.
Frazer Hines first appeared in Doctor Who in 1966, initially cast for a single guest appearance as Jamie McCrimmon. However, his performance resonated so strongly that he became a regular alongside Patrick Troughton’s Second Doctor from 1966 to 1969. This tenure made him the companion actor with more appearances than any other in the show's history, surpassed only by the first and fourth Doctors. Despite this legacy, many of his original episodes are now lost to time. Hines’ impact extended far beyond the TARDIS. Author Diana Gabaldon revealed that watching Hines in 'The War Games' inspired her to write Outlander. She was captivated by his appearance in a kilt and his physical presence, leading her to name the novel's male protagonist Jamie.
While she chose the surname Fraser as a coincidence—due to truncated credits on her local PBS station—she later sent him a copy of the book, confessing that his performance had been the catalyst for her time-travel epic. Beyond his sci-fi roots, Hines spent over two decades as Joe Sugden in Emmerdale Farm (1972–1994). He eventually left the soap to own a stud farm and escape the cycle of working during dark hours. In later years, he became a prolific voice actor for Big Finish Productions, where his ability to mimic Patrick Troughton's Doctor earned him critical acclaim. He also spent years privately battling colorectal cancer, an experience that now fuels his public advocacy for cancer research.
Hines eventually reprised his role in the 2015 Outlander television adaptation, playing a prison warden—a full-circle moment for the actor who unknowingly provided the blueprint for the series' lead character.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Frazer Hines
- Also: Wikidata — Frazer Hines · CC0
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