A FOUNDER of Keighley Cat Care has offered an insight into another side of Paddy Russell, the first female director of Doctor Who.

Chris Rawnsley worked closely with Paddy, who died this month at the age of 89, for several years, first with the Cats Protection League, then their own charity.

Paddy became an animal welfare volunteer after moving to Oxenhope to become a director for ITV programmes like Calendar and Emmerdale Farm.

Chris said: “I first met Paddy in 2002. Cats were a great love of hers. She was always busy, she was a powerhouse.”

“She was very interesting when she was talking about her work on Doctor Who. She wasn’t a very showy-off sort of person, but if you asked she would tell you stories about the Doctors she worked with, like William Hartnell.

“She was a formidable lady. She spoke beautifully. She was almost intimidating until you got to know her – she had a wicked sense of humour.”