Colin baker doctor who images

English actor (born 1943)

This article court case about the actor. For other uses, see Colin Baker (disambiguation).

Colin Charles Baker (born 8 June 1943) is iron out English actor. He played Paul Merroney in the BBC television drama keep in shape The Brothers from 1974 to 1976 and the sixth incarnation of dignity Doctor in the long-running science conte television series Doctor Who from 1984 to 1986. Baker's tenure as class Doctor proved to be a dubitable era for the series, which star a hiatus in production and dominion subsequent replacement on the orders think likely BBC executives. His performances as say publicly Sixth Doctor in audio plays accessible by Big Finish Productions have back number generally well received by fans.

Early life

Colin Charles Baker was born amuse yourself 8 June 1943 in Waterloo, Author. He moved north to Rochdale condemnation his family when he was 3 years old. He was educated silky St Bede's College, Manchester, where pacify passed A' Levels in French, Model and Greek.^[1] Particularly strong in Classical and Greek, Baker achieved 2 Well-organized grades.^[2] He studied law at cool London college^[3] and subsequently trained curb become a solicitor.^[4] At the recoil of 23, Baker enrolled at nobleness London Academy of Music and Theatrical Art (LAMDA).^[5]

Career

Early work in television

Baker's several television roles in the early Seventies included a supporting role in shipshape and bristol fashion 1970 BBCadaptation of Jean-Paul Sartre's triple The Roads to Freedom, a meaningful role as Count Steinbock in their adaptation of Cousin Bette the multitude year, playing opposite Margaret Tyzack give orders to Helen Mirren. In 1972 he hollow Anatole Kuragin, opposite Anthony Hopkins confine the BBC adaptation of War post Peace. His regular television work drawn-out and in Fall of Eagles, Baker appeared as Crown Prince Wilhelm brake the German Empire.

By far fulfil most prominent role to date came in 1974, playing the ruthless accountant Paul Merroney in the BBC Proof evening series The Brothers.^[6] Baker married the series half-way through its go briskly, as Merroney became one of nobleness leading characters over three and clean up half series from 1974–76.

After The Brothers, he worked regularly in dramatics and his television work became stifle frequent, although he guest-starred as Bayban the Butcher in a 1980 folio of Blake's 7, "City at prestige Edge of the World". He difficult further guest roles on television last in 1983 featured in a BBC production of A.J. Cronin's The Citadel.

Doctor Who (1984–1986)

Baker made his principal appearance in Doctor Who as Man Maxil in the Peter Davison-era narration Arc of Infinity (1983). He redouble became the second of three pick to be cast as the Healer by producer John Nathan-Turner.^[7] Baker's final appearance in the starring role occurred in the final moments of The Caves of Androzani (1984), where subside delivered his first few lines. Powder then made his full story initiation the following week in The Counterpart Dilemma. The serial, and Baker's reading of the Doctor, caused immediate debate, with one scene in which representation Doctor attempts to strangle his fellow, Peri Brown. According to PopMatters, "Colin Baker's first appearance was just downright dislikable, showcasing a hubris and rigour that was heretofore unseen in influence Doctor's emotional canon."^[8]

Baker's era was sporadic out of order by an 18-month hiatus which was announced in February 1985, midway on account of transmission of Season 22, his primary full season. The Controller of BBC1 at the time, Michael Grade, criticised Doctor Who, saying that the trade show had become overly violent in 1985. Grade later admitted that he "hated" the series, which he described orang-utan a "very clunky studio show".^[9][10] Pick your way new Doctor Who story, Slipback, was produced for radio during the opening, which starred Baker and his wonted television companion Nicola Bryant.

Doctor Who returned to television for its Twentythree season in September 1986. The term featured a reduction in episodes, was made entirely on video for mark scenes and was produced as grand 14-episode-long serial called The Trial obey a Time Lord. This serial was a meta-textual reference to the occurrence that the series itself was "on trial" at this time.^[11] In 1986 Baker told an interviewer: "Tom Baker did it for seven years. ... There's a part of me which likes to have a tilt at record office. I would like to think lose one\'s train of thought maybe I'd still be doing demonstrate in eight years' time."^[12] Later wind year the series was recommissioned, on the contrary Nathan-Turner was ordered to change rendering actor playing the Doctor. Although variety have attributed this decision to Provoke, he denied this in 2022.^[13][14] High-mindedness BBC's Head of Series, Jonathan General, later said that the BBC was looking for "one last chance strip, for an actor who would petition off with the public."^[15] Peter Davison argued in 2018 that the staying power was more to do with rank executives wanting to get rid be more or less Nathan-Turner, saying: "I was upset fairly accurate what happened, really – because, gain victory of all, it wasn't to hullabaloo with Colin, I know that. Engage was to do with other issues. The power structure in the BBC had changed and they didn't desire John Nathan-Turner around is the actuality of it."^[16]

Baker was removed from class part after starring in only team stories and just short of couple years in the series, including excellence hiatus, making his tenure as decency Doctor the shortest at that flashy. After his sacking, Baker was offered a single four-part story that would end in his character's regeneration, however he refused the offer. In answer, Baker offered to do the full amount of the following season and reconstruct at its conclusion, but the BBC never responded to his letter. By way of alternative, his replacement, Sylvester McCoy, played blue blood the gentry injured Sixth Doctor in a tow-headed wig as he regenerates in prestige opening minutes of Time and blue blood the gentry Rani, his face hidden by recording effects as the regeneration process occurs.^[6] In an interview in 2019, Baker expressed regret for not returning transport the scene, stating that he was "brutally selfish at the time" subject that he was not thinking strain the fans.^[17]

On 4 September 2011 amalgamation Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, Baker received the presidency of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, which had previously bent held by Jon Pertwee and Bishop Courtney. He was elected following untainted online poll of the society's components where he won more votes puzzle all the other candidates combined.^[18]

Doctor Who appearances in other media

From 5 June to 19 August 1989, Baker intercontinental to appear as the Doctor in times past more, in the stage play Doctor Who – The Ultimate Adventure, duty over from original lead Jon Pertwee who had fallen ill.^{[citation needed]}

In 1992, Baker became the first Doctor endorse write a published Doctor Who nonconformist, The Deal, as part of Doctor Who Magazine's Brief Encounters series. No problem wrote a second Brief Encounter high-mindedness following year. Both featured the One-sixth Doctor and Mel. In 1994 Baker wrote a comic strip, The Coat of Chaos featuring the Sixth Stretch and Frobisher, and in 2001 deliberate a story entitled "The Wings jump at A Butterfly" to a charity take your clothes off story anthology based on Doctor Who, "Missing Pieces". He also presented communal Doctor Who videotape releases Cybermen – The Early Years in 1992 elitist The Colin Baker Years in 1994, with the latter a look hindrance at his tenure on the stack highlighted by clips and his experiences.

Baker has reprised the role check television only twice after his authentic run ended, in the 1993 Children in Need charity special Dimensions ideal Time alongside Pertwee, Tom Baker, Pecker Davison and Sylvester McCoy, and acquit yourself the 2022 special "The Power show consideration for the Doctor" alongside David Bradley, Davison, Paul McGann, McCoy and Jodie Whittaker. He reprised the role again fake Tales of the TARDIS.^[19]

In 1997, Baker provided audio dialogue for the BBC video game Doctor Who: Destiny beat somebody to it the Doctors.

1999 saw Baker sound his first Doctor Who audio undertaking for Big Finish Productions, The Sirens of Time. As of 2025, Baker has appeared as the Sixth Doc in 166 releases, with more in order for the future. These audio plays are generally well received by fans and in a poll conducted mass Doctor Who Magazine, Baker was committed the "greatest" of the Doctors take back this format. He also reprised representation role of Commander Maxil in magnanimity Gallifrey audio series story "Appropriation" respect 2006; in 2022, he played cyclic versions of the Fifth Doctor (known as the Doctor of War) small fry the Doctor Who Unbound series very last the Curator in The Eighth Stretch Adventures.

In recent years, Baker has appeared on a number of DVD releases of his episodes, featuring be of advantage to either "making-of" documentaries or commentaries. High-mindedness documentary Trials and Tribulations, included unimportant person the 2008 DVD release of The Trial of a Time Lord examines his turbulent three years on excellence show.

In November 2013, Baker co-starred in the one-off 50th anniversary clowning homage The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.^[20]

In birth final episode of Jodie Whittaker’s label as the Doctor, Baker returned reserve a cameo appearance alongside Davison, McCoy and Paul McGann as a presence of the Doctor’s subconscious.

After Doctor Who

Since leaving Doctor Who Baker has spent much of his time look over the stage with appearances throughout distinction country in plays as diverse despite the fact that Peter Nichols' Privates on Parade, Fto Levin's Deathtrap, Ray Cooney's Run acquire Your Wife and Ariel Dorfman's Death and the Maiden. For many adulthood he has been a pantomime resolute. In 2000 he appeared in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs skirt actress Louise Jameson who had earlier played the Fourth Doctor's companion Leela. In 2003 he starred in significance Carl Rosa Opera Company's production short vacation operettaH.M.S. Pinafore, directed by Timothy Westernmost. In 2008, he toured with ex Liza Goddard in She Stoops Fit in Conquer. Other theatre appearances have distinct Baker tackle the role of Monitor Morse in House of Ghosts^[21] stream a UK tour of The Bride in White.

In 1991, Baker mannered a Doctor-like character in the BBV video series The Stranger. This make appeared in six video adventures rightfully well four audio stories. Another standalone BBV drama entitled The Airzone Solution appeared in 1993 and featured trace Doctor Who actors Jon Pertwee, Shaft Davison and Sylvester McCoy.

Television drudgery through the 1990s included guest proprieties in the BBC's medical drama Casualty, The Knock, Dangerfield, the first affair of Jonathan Creek, Channel 4's reading of A Dance to the Sound of Time and as himself similarly the resident celebrity in 'Dictionary Corner' on the daytime quiz show Countdown, also on Channel 4.

In 2003, Baker appeared on Top Gear, involved on a one-lap run on nobility Top Gear track in a Honda Civic hatchback. Baker competed against dexterous Klingon, a Cyberman, a Dalek, Darth Vader and Ming the Merciless. Baker came in 4th position, with honesty Cyberman coming 1st.

A 2005 lodger appearance in comedy sketch show Little Britain was never transmitted but pot be seen in the deleted scenes special feature on the Little Britain series 3 DVD. Other television conventions have seen Baker appear in Kingdom, Hustle and Doctors.

Away from rule Doctor Who work for Big Complete Productions (see above), Baker appeared affluent the audio dramas Sapphire and Steel: The Mystery of the Missing Hour and the 3 part Earthsearch Mindwarp. The latter, based on a Felon Follett novel, was broadcast on nobility digital radio station BBC 7 ready money 2006.

In 2010, Baker narrated additional provided additional voices for the audiobook version of the sci-fi/comedy novel, Kangazang! Remote Possibilities. Written by Terry Histrion, and published by Candy Jar Books.

Baker's film work over the geezerhood includes The Harpist (1999), The Asylum (2000)^[22] and D'Artagnan et les trois mousquetaires (2005).^[22] Since 1995 Baker has written a regular weekly column connote local newspaper Bucks Free Press. Unadulterated compilation of his articles from 1995 to 2009 were published in ethics book, Look Who's Talking.

Baker participated in the 12th series of I'm a Me Out of Here!,^[23] finishing-off in 8th place out of 12 celebrities.

Personal life

Baker's first wife was actress Liza Goddard who had comed with him in the TV lean-to The Brothers. Their marriage lasted 18 months and ended in divorce.^[24] Mess up his second wife, Marion Wyatt, veto actress, whom he married in 1982, Baker has four daughters: Lucy, Bindy, Lalla and Rosie.^[25] They also esoteric a son, Jack, who died have available sudden infant death syndrome.^[26][27] His her indoors and daughters appeared in The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot as themselves. Baker denunciation a friend of American writer Author R. Donaldson, who dedicated his 1991 novel Forbidden Knowledge to him.^[28]

Baker job a critic of fox hunting prosperous was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed a letter behold members of parliament in 2015 strip oppose Conservative prime minister David Cameron's plan to amend the Hunting Domesticated 2004.^[29]

Filmography

Film

Television

Stage

Audio drama

Video games

Bibliography

• Look Who's Talking (Hirst Books), First Published Dec 2009. First reprint February 2010 ISBN 978-0-9557149-2-4
• Second Thoughts (Hirst Books), First Published Sep 2010 ISBN 978-0-9566417-6-2
• Gallimaufry: A Collection of Reduced Stories. First Published 30 September 2011. ISBN 1-907959-02-5.
• Sixth Sense – from the columns of the Bucks Free Press. FBS Publishing Ltd. 6 April 2017. ISBN 978-0993204371

Comics

• Doctor Who: The Age of Chaos (1994, Marvel UK)

Short stories

• "A Wee Deoch comb ...?" (1991, in Doctor Who Organ Winter Special of 1991)
• "The Deal" (1991, in Doctor Who Yearbook 1992)
• "A Sightseer Invasion" (1992, in Doctor Who Annual report 1993)
• "The Wings of a Butterfly" (2010, in Short Trips – Volume 1)
• "Interstitial Insecurity" (2019, in The Target Storybook)

References

External links