EXTERMINATE! Exterminate! — the menacing Dorium Maldovar’s inter-galactic tour touches down in Blackburn next week.

Actor, voice artist, raconteur and the ghost of the Fat Friar in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, Simon Fisher-Becker is a man of many faces.

But his role as the roguish, purple-faced black marketeer Maldovar during Matt Smith’s era of Doctor Who transformed his career.

His one-man show — My Dalek Has a Puncture — takes a light-hearted romp through the sometimes hilarious life of a working class actor and gives a fascinating insight behind the scenes of Britain’s longest running sci-fi series.

“If I knew what I do now I’d have painted my face purple 20 years ago," joked Simon, ahead of his appearance at the Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn. It was a family tradition to watch Doctor Who – but, like most kids, I hid behind the sofa when it came on. My mum has got a photograph of me cowering behind a chair during one of the cybermen episodes, biting my fingernails.

“I was always a big fan but I never ever imagined that one day I’d be in Doctor Who.”

Simon quit a safe job in the Civil Service to pursue his acting dream and when he was the victim of crime in 2009 — he was attacked by three youths at a petrol station — he was left with permanent damage to his spine, meaning he now has to use a walking stick.

He was still recovering from his injuries and, although unable to play his part in a pantomime, he was available for casting in Doctor Who and landed the part of Maldovar, whose character quickly became a firm favourite in the series.

“I was a jobbing actor for many years, but Maldovar changed everything,” said the 52-year-old.

“People were suddenly asking about my availability instead of me asking them about auditions and that was nice.

“I’ve travelled the world with Maldovar. The science fiction conventions are fantastic and I’ve been to Australia, New Zealand and America.

“I’ve become good friends with Katy Manning (Jo Grant, Dr Who’s old assistant) and Sergeant Benton from the series (John Levene).

“Doctor Who is like being a member of a family and I’d love be in the series again.

“I have let it be known I would be happy to continue playing Dorium Maldovar.

“I would love to go head-to-head with Peter Capaldi, the new Doctor Who.

“Will Dorium return? That’s up to the hope so.”

He has also appeared in One Foot in the Grave and Hale and Pace but Simon most fondly recalls his short but memorable cameo in Harry Potter as the Hufflepuff House ghost the Fat Friar, who honed his frightening skills at the Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

“I consider myself very lucky to have worked on Harry Potter. It was a brilliant experience but a little disappointing too.

“Most of the ghosts’ extracts filmed ended up on the cutting room floor. The film credits of the Philosopher’s Stone were longer than my four second part, but that’s showbiz luvvie.”

Simon added: “Even though I only had a miniscule part, I had my own driver and all the filming and locations remained top secret.

“National newspapers were phoning me up me for interviews and I even had a feature in Vanity Fair.”

So what advice would Simon give to a young actor just starting out?

“Build a thick skin early and try not to be intimidated,” he said.

“All actors are just that — actors.

“Famous people are no different from non-famous people — particularly actors.

“My first acting part was as a griffin in Alice in Wonderland and I made it to Doctor Who and Harry Potter, so anything can be achieved.”

  • My Dalek has a Puncture, October 10, Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn, 01254 685500. £15, concessions £12.