Carole Ann Ford, who was the first Doctor Who companion Susan, the legendary character’s granddaughter in 1963, and one of the first to encounter the Daleks on screen is facing off
against a new monster in Shogun Films’ latest horror movie HARBINGER.
HARBINGER centres on a haunted ‘Zoltar’ style fortune telling machine owned by serial killing devil worshipper Henry Decker (Peter Woodward) whose sole surviving victim Julia (Jeanine Sothcott) is lured back to the scene of his crimes by TV presenter Mike Craggs (Gary Webster) for a Most Haunted style show. Uncovering the Harbinger machine, Mike and his crew take their fortune cards, sealing their grisly fate as a terrifying evil is awakened. Carole plays Sue, Julia’s mother, who loves the show and encourages her daughter to take part, telling her that as a blitz survivor she has to confront her past to move on.
Carole said: “It was such a supportive atmosphere. I’ve fallen in love with everyone on set from my wonderful ‘daughter’ Jeanine, to the make up artist Flea. Having not done a movie for quite a few years I was looking forward to renewing my love for the experience of film making. But never in my wildest dreams could I have anticipated such warmth and generosity from everyone. Working with Jeanine was so natural, she could easily have been my actual daughter and I look forward to working with her again. James Crow was such a lovely Director and Jonathan ensured the atmosphere was relaxed while still very focused.”
Jeanine Sothcott said “it was an honour to work alongside such an amazing, iconic actress – what a total inspiration she is. Carole was warm, funny, gorgeous and generous – I couldn’t have asked for a better on-screen mum. Her character is strong, loving and positive and it’s lovely to see an actress in her eighties not playing a character consigned to bed.”
Alongside her iconic run as Susan in Doctor Who (she reprised the role in the 1983 Anniversary special The Five Doctors), after whom the first story An Unearthly Child was titled. In cinema, Carole is known for playing Bettina in the classic 1962 film adaptation of Day of The Triffids and she also appeared in The Great St Trinian’s Train Robbery (1966). Her television work includes Public Eye, Moonstrike, Emergency Ward 10, Dixon of Dock Green, Z-Cars, and Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads.
Harbinger is the latest film from indie production company Shogun Films, whose previous movies Renegades and Nemesis have featured the likes of Lee Majors, Ian Ogilvy, Danny Trejo, Bruce Payne and Julian Glover. Shogun Films founder Jonathan Sothcott said “one of the privileges of making our films is working with so many legendary older actors. Britain has such a rich heritage of film and television and it’s wonderful that we can offer different Roles to such iconic performers. Shogun’s latest film, Helloween, starring Jeanine Sothcott and Michael Paré is now on release in America and arrives in the UK at the end of this month.
Harbinger is directed by James Crow (Nemesis) and stars Jeanine Sothcott, Gary Webster, Tony Sands, Peter Woodward and Johnny Palmiero. It was created by Jonathan Sothcott with a story by Harry Boxley and a screenplay by Simon Cluett. Harbinger is set for release in early 2026 by Trinity Content.
Further information: www.shogunfilms.com
