Colin Baker
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Colin Baker | |
---|---|
Born | Waterloo, London, England | 8 June 1943
Education | St Bede's College, Manchester |
Alma mater | London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1970–present |
Known for | Sixth incarnation of the Doctor in Doctor Who |
Spouses |
|
Children | 5 (1 deceased) |
Website | colinbakeronline |
Colin Baker (born 8 June 1943) is an English actor. He played Paul Merroney in the BBC television drama series The Brothers from 1974 to 1976 and the sixth incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running science fiction television series Doctor Who from 1984 to 1986. Baker's tenure as the Doctor proved to be a controversial era for the series, which included a hiatus in production and his subsequent replacement on the orders of BBC executive Michael Grade.
Early life
Colin Baker was born in
Career
Early work in television
Baker's numerous television roles in the early 1970s included a supporting role in a 1970
By far his most prominent role to date came in 1974, playing the ruthless banker Paul Merroney in the BBC Sunday evening series The Brothers.[6] Baker joined the series half-way through its run, as Merroney became one of the leading characters over three and a half series from 1974–76.
After The Brothers, he worked regularly in theatre and his television work became less frequent, although he guest-starred as Bayban the Butcher in a 1980 episode of
Doctor Who (1984–1986)
Baker made his first appearance in Doctor Who as Commander Maxil in the Peter Davison-era story Arc of Infinity (1983). He then became the second of three actors to be cast as the Doctor by producer John Nathan-Turner.[7] Baker's first appearance in the starring role occurred in the final moments of The Caves of Androzani (1984), where he delivered his first few lines. He then made his full story debut the following week in The Twin Dilemma. The serial, and Baker's portrayal of the Doctor, caused immediate controversy, with one scene in which the Doctor attempts to strangle his companion, Peri Brown. According to PopMatters, "Colin Baker's first appearance was just out-and-out dislikable, showcasing a hubris and harshness that was heretofore unseen in the Doctor's emotional canon."[8]
Baker's era was interrupted by an 18-month
Doctor Who returned to television for its
Baker was removed from the part after starring in only eleven stories and just short of three years in the series, including the hiatus, making his tenure as the Doctor the shortest at that point. After his sacking, Baker was offered a single four-part story that would end in his character's regeneration, but he refused the offer. Baker offered to do the entirety of the following season and regenerate at its conclusion, but the BBC never responded to his letter. Instead, his replacement, Sylvester McCoy, played the injured Sixth Doctor in a blonde wig as he regenerates in the opening minutes of Time and the Rani, his face hidden by video effects as the regeneration process occurs.[6] In an interview in 2019, Baker expressed regret for not returning for the scene, stating that he was "brutally selfish at the time" and that he was not thinking about the fans.[16]
On 4 September 2011 at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, Baker accepted the presidency of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, which had previously been held by Jon Pertwee and Nicholas Courtney. He was elected following an online poll of the society's members where he won more votes than all the other candidates combined.[17]
Doctor Who appearances in other media
From 5 June to 19 August 1989, Baker agreed to appear as the Doctor once more, in the stage play
In 1992, Baker became the first Doctor to write a published Doctor Who story, The Deal, as part of
Baker has reprised the role on television only twice after his official run ended, in the 1993
In 1997, Baker provided audio dialogue for the BBC video game
1999 saw Baker voice his first Doctor Who audio adventure for Big Finish Productions, The Sirens of Time. As of 2024, Baker has appeared as the Sixth Doctor in 166 releases, with more planned for the future. These audio plays are generally well received by fans and in a poll conducted by Doctor Who Magazine, Baker was voted the "greatest" of the Doctors in this format. He also reprised the role of Commander Maxil in the Gallifrey audio series story "Appropriation" in 2006; in 2022, he played alternate versions of the Fifth Doctor (known as the Doctor of War) in the Doctor Who Unbound series and the Curator in The Eighth Doctor Adventures.
In recent years, Baker has appeared on a number of DVD releases of his episodes, featuring in either "making-of" documentaries or commentaries. The documentary Trials and Tribulations, included in the 2008 DVD release of
In November 2013, Baker co-starred in the one-off 50th anniversary comedy homage The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.[19]
In the final episode of Jodie Whittaker’s tenure as the Doctor, Baker returned for a cameo appearance alongside Davison, McCoy and Paul McGann as a manifestation of the Doctor’s subconscious.
After Doctor Who
Since leaving Doctor Who Baker has spent much of his time on the stage with appearances throughout the country in plays as diverse as
In 2003, Baker appeared on Top Gear, participating on a one-lap run on the Top Gear track in a Honda Civic hatchback. Baker competed against a Klingon, a Cyberman, a Dalek, Darth Vader and Ming the Merciless. Baker came in 4th position, with the Cyberman coming 1st.
Colin Baker appeared in the British television series Casualty entitled "Cry for Help" in series two playing the husband of a lady who falls down the stairs at home.
A 2005 guest appearance in comedy sketch show Little Britain was never transmitted but can be seen in the deleted scenes special feature on the Little Britain series 3 DVD. Other television appearances have seen Baker appear in Kingdom, Hustle and Doctors.
Away from his Doctor Who work for Big Finish Productions (see above), Baker appeared in the audio dramas
In 2010, Baker narrated and provided additional voices for the audiobook version of the sci-fi/comedy novel, Kangazang! Remote Possibilities. Written by Terry Cooper, and published by Candy Jar Books.
Baker's film work over the years includes The Harpist (1999), The Asylum (2000)[21] and D'Artagnan et les trois mousquetaires (2005).[21] In 2010 he filmed scenes for an independent feature film, Shadows of a Stranger.[22] Since 1995 Baker has written a regular weekly column for local newspaper Bucks Free Press. A compilation of his articles from 1995 to 2009 were published in the book, Look Who's Talking.
Baker participated in the 12th series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!,[23] finishing in 8th place out of 12 celebrities.
Personal life
Baker's first wife was actress
Baker is a critic of fox hunting and was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed a letter to members of parliament in 2015 to oppose Conservative prime minister David Cameron's plan to amend the Hunting Act 2004.[29]
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1981 | Dangerous Davies: The Last Detective | William Lind | |
1991 | Summoned By Shadows |
The Stranger | |
1992 | More Than A Messiah |
||
1993 | In Memory Alone |
||
The Airzone Solution | Arnold Davies | ||
1994 | The Terror Game |
The Stranger | |
The Zero Imperative | Peter Russell | ||
Breach of the Peace |
The Stranger | ||
1995 | Eye of the Beholder |
||
1999 | The Harpist | Father Rupitsch | |
Soul's Ark | Galico | ||
2000 | The Asylum | Arbuthnot | |
2014 | Shadows of a Stranger | William Fallon | |
2015 | A Dozen Summers | The Narrator | |
A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens | ||
2017 | Arrows of Time | Narrator | |
2021 | Hiraeth | Wynn Seaward | |
You Might Get Lost | Conrad | ||
The Ghosts of Borley Rectory | Charles Sutton | ||
2022 | Minacious | DS Rawlins | |
2023 | Secrets of a Wallaby Boy | Bruce | |
Christmas at the Holly Day Inn | Ben Holly | ||
TBA | Bug-Eyed Monsters Conquer the Universe! | Sous Chef |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1970 | The Adventures of Don Quick | Rebel | Episode: "People Isn't Everything" |
Happy Ever After | Receptionist | Episode: "The Ambassador" | |
No – That's Me Over Here! | Uncredited | 2 episodes | |
Roads to Freedom | Claude | 3 episodes | |
1971 | The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder | Reigate | Episode: "The Shadow Man |
Public Eye | Town Hall Clerk | Episode: "The Man Who Didn't Eat Sweets" | |
Cousin Bette | Count Wenceslas Steinbock | 5 episodes | |
The Silver Sword | German Lieutenant | Episode: #1.3 | |
Now Look Here | Uncredited | Episode: #1.4 | |
1972 | War & Peace | Anatole Kuragin | 4 episodes |
The Moonstone | John Herncastle | Episode: #1.1 | |
The Man Outside | Glover | Episode: "Murder Story" | |
Villains | Reporter | Episode: "His Dad Named Him After the General" | |
1973 | The Edwardians | Joseph Laycock | Episode: "Daisy" |
Harriet's Back in Town | Mike Baker | 2 episodes | |
Orson Welles Great Mysteries | George Barclay | Episode: "A Terribly Strange Bed" | |
1974 | Within These Walls | David Jenkins | Episode: "Prisoner by Marriage" |
The Carnforth Practice | Bob Anderson | Episode: "Undue Influence" | |
Fall of Eagles | Crown Prince Willie | 2 episodes | |
1974–1976 | The Brothers | Paul Merroney | 46 episodes |
1979 | Doctors and Nurses | Mr. Bennett | Episode: Mums and Dads |
1980 | Blakes 7 |
Bayban | Episode: "City at the Edge of the World" |
For Maddie with Love | Uncredited | ||
1982 | Juliet Bravo | Frankie Miller | Episode: "The Intruder" |
1983 | The Citadel | Mr. Vaughan | Episode: "Part 4" |
Doctor Who | Commander Maxil | Episode: "Arc of Infinity" - 3 episodes | |
1984 | Swallows and Amazons Forever!: Coot Club | Dr. Dudgeon | TV film |
Swallows and Amazons Forever!: The Big Six | TV film | ||
1984–1986, 1993, 2022 | Doctor Who | Sixth Doctor | 34 episodes |
1985 | Jim'll Fix It | Episode: "A Fix with Sontarans" | |
1986 | Roland Rat: The Series | Episode: #1.3 | |
1989 | Casualty | Colin Miles | Episode: " Accidents Happen "
|
1993 | The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles | Harry George Chauvel | Episode: "Palestine, October 1917" |
1995 | Harry's Mad | Mr. Perkins | Episode: "Meaty Chunks" |
1997 | The Famous Five |
Fake Mr. Brent | 2 episodes |
Jonathan Creek | Hedley Shale | Episode: "The Wrestler's Tomb" | |
The Knock | Donald Dewhurst / Desmond Dewhurst | 4 episodes | |
A Dance to the Music of Time | Canon Fenneau | Episode: "Post War" | |
The Bill | William Guthrie | Episode: "Going Down" | |
1998 | Casualty | David Vincent | Episode: " An Eye for an Eye "
|
1999 | Sunburn | John Buchanan | Episode: #1.2 |
The Waiting Time | Giles Fleming | TV film | |
Dangerfield | Vicar | Episode: "Haunted" | |
2000 | Hollyoaks | The Judge | Episode: #1.524 |
Time Gentlemen Please | Professor Baker | Episode: "Day of the Trivheads" | |
2001 | Doctors | Jack Howard | Episode: "Matters of Principle" |
2004 | The Impressionable Jon Culshaw | Mr. Allen | Episode: #1.2 |
The 4 Musketeers | Rutaford | 2 episodes | |
2005 | Little Britain | Man in Regatta Tent | Deleted scene |
2006 | The Afternoon Play | Judge | Episode: "Your Mother Should Know" |
Doctors | Charles Dillon | Episode: "Honourable Gentlemen" | |
2009 | Kingdom | Mr. Dodds | Episode: #3.2 |
Doctors | Professor Claybourne Jarvis | Episode: "The Romantics" | |
2010 | Hustle | Phil | Episode: "Tiger Troubles" |
2011 | Doctors | Augustus Bloom | Episode: "Every Heart That Beats" |
2013 | The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot | Colin Baker | TV film |
2014 | Comedy Feeds | Colin Baker | Episode: "The Committee Meeting" |
2015 | Star Trek Continues | Minister Amphidamas | Episode: "The White Iris" |
2021 | Emmerdale | Michael | Episode: #1.9156 |
2023 | Tales of the TARDIS | Sixth Doctor | Episode: "Vengeance on Varos" |
Stage
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1971 | Caesar and Cleopatra | Porter 1 | Chichester Festival Theatre Company |
1972 | Conduct Unbecoming | 2nd Lt. Arthur Drake | Liverpool Playhouse |
Vivat! Vivat Regina! | Darnley | ||
1973 | Hamlet | Laertes | Theatre Royal, Windsor |
1977 | Let’s Do It Your Way | Unknown | The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare, Harrogate Theatre, and other locations. |
1978 | Trap for a Lonely Man | The Man | Theatre Royal, York, Theatre Royal, Lincoln, and other locations. |
The Flip Side | Theo | Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, and other locations. | |
1981 | The Norman Conquests | Norman | Windsor Theatre Company |
1982 | Relatively Speaking | Bill Kenwright | Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon, Richmond Theatre, and other locations. |
1988 | Deathtrap | Sidney Bruhl | Theatre Royal, Bath, Theatre Royal, Winchester, and other locations. |
1989 | Doctor Who: The Ultimate Adventure
|
Sixth Doctor | Grand Theatre, Leeds |
1990 | Spider's Web | Inspector Lord | Theatre Royal, Bath, Theatre Royal, Windsor, and other locations. |
Born in the Gardens | Mo | Redgrave Theatre, Farnham | |
1991 | Time and Time Again | Leonard | Theatre Royal, Bath |
2000 | Out of Order | The Manager | Theatre Royal, Bath, Theatre Royal, Nottingham, and other locations. |
2004 | The Haunted Hotel | Sir Francis Westwick | Mercury Theatre, Colchester, Arts Centre, Darlington, and other locations. |
2007-8 | She Stoops to Conquer | Mr Hardcastle | Richmond Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and other locations. |
2009-10 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Festival Theatre, Malvern | |
2010 | House of Ghosts | Morse | Devonshire Park Theatre, Eastbourne, Gordon Craig Theatre, Stevenage, and other locations. |
2022 | The Hound of the Baskervilles | Sherlock Holmes | Crime and Comedy Theatre Company |
2023 | A Christmas Carol | Ebenezer Scrooge | Crime and Comedy Theatre Company |
Audio drama
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985 | Doctor Who: Slipback | Sixth Doctor | 6 episodes |
1999–present | Doctor Who: The Audio Adventures | Sixth Doctor, The Curator | 170 episodes |
2006 | Gallifrey | Commander Maxil | Episode: "Appropriation" (uncredited) |
2011–2018 | Jago & Litefoot | Sixth Doctor | Series 3–5, 11, 14 (8 episodes) |
2016 | The Diary of River Song
|
Series 2 (2 episodes) | |
2021 | Avalon | Bayban | Volume Two |
Bayban the Butcher |
Video games
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Destiny of the Doctors |
Sixth Doctor | |
2015 | Lego Dimensions | Archive sound | |
2024 | Fallout: London[30][31] | Mysterious Scientist 2 | Guest role |
Bibliography
- Look Who's Talking (Hirst Books), First Published December 2009. First reprint February 2010 ISBN 978-0-9557149-2-4
- Second Thoughts (Hirst Books), First Published September 2010 ISBN 978-0-9566417-6-2
- Gallimaufry: A Collection of Short 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
References
- ISBN 9781447806806.
- ^ "The Best Days of your Life". The Herald. 1 August 2006. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021.
- ^ Shaw, Alan (7 October 2016). "I loved being Doctor Who even though they axed me, says Colin Baker". The Sunday Post. Archived from the original on 16 May 2021.
- ^ "Colin Baker biography". BFI Screenonline. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Ask Colin". Colin Baker Online. Archived from the original on 4 June 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
Having recently been digging out information about my ancestors, I would love to go back to to [sic] the end of the 18th Century and see just what it was like being a labourer on the land as my great, great great grandfather Thomas Baker was in Lound in Suffolk in the 1790s and it would enable me to go back a bit further too and find out about Thomas' parents and where they came from. I would like too to find out about my mother's Irish ancestry, which is quite difficult to uncover.
- ^ a b "Colin Baker: Time Gentleman". Cambridge News. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Death of former Doctor Who producer John Nathan-Turner". BBC Online. 2 May 2002. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
- ^ Sawdey, Evan (23 March 2010). "Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma". PopMatters. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
- ^ "Amid the suits, a man who stands out". The Guardian. London, UK. 3 April 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ "Michael Grade delivers second opinion on Doctor Who: 'I was wrong'". The Guardian. London. 5 January 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ DVD Commentary: Trial of a Time Lord, Discs 1–4 Region 1 Edition
- ^ David Woodward (Writer, producer, Director) (1986). They All Axed for Who (Television production). New Orleans: WYES. Event occurs at 0:05:30.
- ^ "Colin Baker". BBC Online. Retrieved 7 May 2017.
- ^ Trials and Tribulations – documentary on Colin Baker's era of Doctor Who (2008 2entertain DVD release).
- ^ McEwan, Cameron K. (3 December 2018). "Doctor Who star Peter Davison thinks he 'dodged a bullet' by quitting when he did". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
- ^ Jeffery, Morgan. "Colin Baker says he was "selfish" not to film Doctor Who regeneration scene: 'I forgot about the fans'". Radio Times. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
- ^ "Colin Baker – Honorary President!". DWAS Online. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Doctor Who: Welcome to The Whoniverse where every Doctor, every companion and hundreds of terrifying monsters live". BBC Media Centre. BBC. 30 October 2023.
- ^ "The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot", BBC programmes, retrieved 26 November 2013
- ^ "Inspector Morse Has Stage Debut with Colin Baker". What's On Stage. 5 May 2010. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ a b Westthorp, Alex (16 April 2014). "Dr Who: Films of Peter Davison, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy". Den of Geek. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "Doctor Who News: People Roundup". Gallifrey News base. 26 June 2010. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Celebrities: I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!". ITV.com. Retrieved 28 July 2014.
- ^ Walne, Toby (1 April 2013). "Actress Liza Goddard: 'Money is made to be spent'". The Daily Telegraph. Marrying Dr Who and a glam rock star – a financially astute move?.
- ^ "Biography". Colin Baker Online. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
- ^ "Visits 'would help prevent deaths'". BBC News. 2 February 2000.
- ^ "Colin's Major role". BBC Three Counties Radio. 24 September 2014. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
- ^ Donaldson, Stephen R. (August 2004). "Gradual Interview". stephendonaldson.net. Retrieved 29 January 2014.
- ^ "SNP to vote against Tories on fox hunting ban in England and Wales". STV. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
- ^ Fallout London - Official Gameplay Trailer, retrieved 3 February 2024. Event occurs at 3:33.
- ^ McNulty, Thomas (19 May 2022). "Fallout: London Mod Boasts Doctor Who Voice Talent". ScreenRant. Retrieved 3 February 2024.
External links
- Official website
- Colin Baker at IMDb
- Colin Baker at the BFI's Screenonline
- Archive of columns by Baker at the Bucks Free Press Archived 14 March 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- Another archive of columns by Baker
- Interview with Colin Baker on Dracula and acting for theatre
- Article in the Guardian 30 October 2007