Mill Hill actor Patrick Troughton will appear in a collection of stamps released by Royal Mail to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who.

Each stamp will depict the actors who played the role of the doctor over the last five decades, including Troughton, who was born in Mill Hill in 1920.

Troughton grew up in the area, attending Mill Hill School, before going on to become an actor and the second-ever Doctor, starring in the hit television programme for three years. He died in 1987 in the USA.

The first two stamps are in black and white, as the first two incarnations of the Doctor were broadcast in monochrome.

Andrew Hammond, managing director of stamps and collectibles at Royal Mail, said: “We are delighted to be able to celebrate this remarkable 50th anniversary. These stamps pay tribute to the brilliant actors that have played the Doctor over the years as well as the adversaries that helped make the show so popular.”

The stamps will be launched on March 26 2013, but Doctor Who fans can pre-order them by registering at the Royal Mail website.

www.royalmail.com/DoctorWho