The video will start in 8 Cancel

Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - celebs Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A row has broken out over the Christmas episode of Doctor Who because BBC bosses did not seek permission to use a relative of ­Nicholas Courtney’s classic recurring character Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge-Stewart.

The episode, which was Peter Capaldi’s final outing as the Doctor, featured comedian Mark Gatiss as Captain Archibald Lethbridge-Stewart.

He was revealed to be the grandfather of the Brigadier.

At the preview screening, Gatiss gushed: “To end up being the Brigadier’s grandfather, I couldn’t have imagined anything more brilliant.”

(Image: Mirrorpix)

But not everyone was thrilled.

The creation of the Captain has angered the estate of one of Lethbridge-Stewart’s original creators, Mervyn Haisman, and it is now considering legal action.

Andy Frankham-Allen, creative director of the Haisman Estate, said: “Characters are considered creative works and are protected by copyright law.

“As such, we reserve the right to determine what is officially part of our intellectual property.

“If derivative works are created without our permission, then we will determine if/how they fit into our IP.

(Image: PA)

“We reserve the right to accept or reject any additions to our intellectual properties.”

Oh dear.

The Brig, as he was known, first appeared in 1968 and popped up in 22 more stories in the 1970s and 1980s. His final appearance was in 1989.

Last night a BBC spokesman insisted: “This claim is without foundation. There has been no breach of copyright.”

Handbags at the dawn of time.