Born in Statford-on-Avon, Mark Strickson was brought up in the small village of Ilmington. His father was a professional musician and Strickson had learned to play several instruments - as well as singing in the Trinity Church choir - by the time he went to grammar school, where he continued his musical training. After finishing school, Strickson went to RADA, where he studied music and acting. His first acting job was as part of the Mikron Theatre Company, who travelled the canals of Britain on a narrow boat performing up and down the country. Strickson wrote and composed many of the plays performed by the company over the two years he worked with them. Leaving the theatre for a while, Strickson gained his first television roles in "Celebration" and "Strangers", both for Grenada television. For the BBC he appeared in "Angels", and "Juliet Bravo" before being auditioned for the role of Turlough. Strickson found himself in the enviable position of having to choose between the role of Turlough and the part of an ambulance driver in "Angels", which he had also been offered. After leaving Doctor Who, Strickson played the young Scrooge in a remake of Dickins' "A Christmas Carol" (1985). In 1988 he emigrated to Australia with his wife, actress Julie Brennan, where he took a break from acting to study for a degree in zoology. He returned to UK in 1995, and in 1996 he produced a number of wildlife films for television.