Cult Spy Icon: Claude ('Heroes')

Fans of Doctor Who's ninth incarnation of the intrepid Time Lord were in for a treat when Christopher Eccleston popped up in a semi-recurring role on Heroes.

Eccleston played a moody, mysterious character with a reluctance to pass on what he knew to others. A lonely outsider with a Mancunian accent, he even muttered the word "fantastic" at one point. Alas, the blue police box and leather jacket were substituted for pigeons and facial fuzz for his turn as the enigmatic 'Claude', a 'hero' with the power to turn invisible.

Using the moniker as a reference to The Invisible Man actor Claude Rains, he was a compelling figure to watch due to Eccleston's gravitas and ability to convey world-weariness. His physiognomy certainly helped proceedings too. The angular features and furrowed brow denoted a hurtful embittered past of dealings with The Company, in a similar vein to The Doctor's Time War experiences.

Peter Petrelli was Claude's Rose Tyler. He probed the father figure for more answers despite warnings to stay away – and eventually he won Claude over and learnt valuable lessons on how to use his new ability. Their relationship was ultimately doomed due to The Company's desperation to exterminate him, made much easier by Peter unwittingly drawing him into the open.

Claude's backstory was eventually teased out via flashbacks that revealed his past alliance with Bennet and The Company. Weren't The Doctor and The Master once friends back on Gallifrey?

Claude's presence in Heroes was all too brief and hopefully he can return from his possible death at the hands of Mr Bennet. Perhaps he's never been gone? After all, he is invisible…

> What do you think about Claude? Pay tribute to the Icon here