Peter Tuddenham, a talented actor, was born on November 27, 1918, and passed away on July 9, 2007, at the age of 88.
Born in Ipswich, Suffolk, Tuddenham grew up in Felixstowe and began his professional career in repertory theatre on the pier at Hastings before World War II. During the war, he served in the Royal Army Service Corps, where he honed his performing skills with Stars in Battledress.
After the war, Tuddenham joined a production of Ivor Novello's The Dancing Years and later appeared in BBC productions of The Dancing Years and Perchance to Dream. He also appeared in Noel Coward's Ace of Cards, which received negative reviews in London's West End.
Tuddenham's small-screen debut was in The Granville Melodramas, one of ITV's earliest productions, starring Hattie Jacques and John Le Mesurier. He then took a regular role in Anglia Television's Weavers Green, a short-lived soap that made early use of location videotape recording.
Tuddenham became an expert on Suffolk accents and became Anglia's regular dialect coach. He was heard but not seen as the spirit of East Anglia in Sir Peter Hall's film adaptation of Ronald Blythe's book, Akenfield, which was first screened on television and then released theatrically.
Tuddenham provided the contrasting voices of the computers in the science-fiction series Blake's 7, which was created by Terry Nation. He reprised his roles in revivals for radio and audio tapes made by fans.
Tuddenham also appeared in serious drama, playing doctors and authority figures. He was in North and South, The Lost Boys, and The Burston Rebellion, among other productions. He also made lighter guest appearances in shows such as Nearest and Dearest, Only Fools and Horses, and One Foot in the Grave.
Tuddenham remained a genial character and was an unfailingly popular guest at sci-fi conventions. He is survived by his second wife, Rosie, and their son Julian, as well as a son from his first marriage.
