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Before being selected to replace [[Peter Davison]] as the Doctor, Baker was an established [[television]] actor. His most notable role was Paul Merroney in ''The Brothers''. Baker also guest starred as Bayban the Butcher in the ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]'' episode ''[[w:c:blakes7:City at the Edge of the World (episode)|City at the Edge of the World]]''.
Before being selected to replace [[Peter Davison]] as the Doctor, Baker was an established [[television]] actor. His most notable role was Paul Merroney in ''The Brothers''. Baker also guest starred as Bayban the Butcher in the ''[[Blake's 7 (series)|Blake's 7]]'' episode ''[[w:c:blakes7:City at the Edge of the World (episode)|City at the Edge of the World]]''.


Baker made his ''Doctor Who'' debut as Commander [[Maxil]] in ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'' in 1983. Later that same year, he was cast as the [[Sixth Doctor]] following [[Peter Davison]]'s decision to leave the series. His era on ''Doctor Who'' was interrupted by an eighteen-month hiatus, officially because the show was moved back from the spring to the autumn schedule. He was ultimately dismissed from the part at the insistence of [[BBC]] management, who wanted to refresh the show. The Controller of BBC One at the time, [[Michael Grade]], criticised ''Doctor Who'', saying that the programme had become overly violent and its storylines farcical. Baker was offered the [[Time and the Rani (TV story)|first four episodes]] of [[Season 24|the next season]] in order to pave the way for a regeneration, which he turned down as he did not wish to miss out on other work in the meantime. He did offer to do the whole season and have the Doctor regenerate at the end, but this was refused. {{As of|2021}}, he is the only actor to play the Doctor who has been fired by the BBC. Years later, Baker would express regret for this decision, claiming he was being "selfish" and "not thinking about the fans". Prior to his dismissal, Baker claimed he would gladly have done the show for as many as eight years.
Baker made his ''Doctor Who'' debut as Commander [[Maxil]] in ''[[Arc of Infinity (TV story)|Arc of Infinity]]'' in 1983. Later that same year, he was cast as the [[Sixth Doctor]] following [[Peter Davison]]'s decision to leave the series. His era on ''Doctor Who'' was interrupted by an eighteen-month hiatus, officially because the show was moved back from the spring to the autumn schedule. He was ultimately dismissed from the part at the insistence of [[BBC]] management, who wanted to refresh the show. The Controller of BBC One at the time, [[Michael Grade]], disliked ''Doctor Who'', believing that the programme had become overly violent and its storylines farcical.  


Since leaving ''Doctor Who'', Baker has continued to act, mainly on the stage, where he played the Doctor again in ''[[The Ultimate Adventure]]'', replacing [[Jon Pertwee]] in the part. He returned to television as the Doctor in the 1993 charity special ''[[Dimensions in Time (TV story)|Dimensions in Time]]''. He has played a Doctor-like character in the [[BBV Productions]] video series ''The Stranger'', reprised the role of the Doctor in a series of audio plays produced by [[Big Finish Productions]], and played an [[Burner Doctor|alternate version of the Doctor]] in [[AUDIO]]: ''[[Disassembled (audio story)|Disassembled]]''. In a poll conducted by ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'',{{which}} fans voted Baker the "greatest" of the Doctors in the audio plays.
As of 2022, Baker is the only actor to play the Doctor who has been fired by the BBC. Prior to his dismissal, he claimed he would gladly have done the show for as many as eight years.


Baker's post-''Who'' television work during the 1990s included guest appearances in the BBC's medical drama ''Casualty'' and Channel 4's adaptation of ''A Dance to the Music of Time''. He also appeared as himself as the resident celebrity in 'Dictionary Corner' on the daytime quiz show ''Countdown'', also on Channel 4. He appeared in the first episode of ''Jonathan Creek'' and in an episode of the George Lucas TV series ''The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles'', making him one of four classic series Doctors (the others being [[Jon Pertwee]], [[Tom Baker]] and [[Peter Davison]]) to appear in an American TV series after leaving the role. In an appearance in an episode of the BBC's long-running medical drama series, ''Casualty'', Baker played a Doctorish patient named David Vincent (named after Roy Thinnes' character in ''The Invaders'' TV series) who was a UFO nut, and in an episode of Al Murray's pub sitcom, ''Time Gentlemen Please'', made by Sky TV, he appeared as a character named Professor Baker.
Baker was offered the [[Time and the Rani (TV story)|first four episodes]] of [[Season 24|the next season]] in order to pave the way for a regeneration, but declined, as he did not wish to miss out on other work in the meantime. He did offer to do the whole season and have the Doctor regenerate at the end, but this was rejected. Years later, Baker would express regret for refusing the BBC's request, claiming he was being "selfish" and "not thinking about the fans".  


In 1994, Colin Baker had the distinction of being the first Doctor to have written a ''Doctor Who'' story, penning ''[[The Age of Chaos (comic story)|The Age of Chaos]]'', a graphic novel published by [[Marvel UK]] featuring the Sixth Doctor and [[Frobisher]]. He has also written several short stories for ''Doctor Who Magazine'' and its ''Yearbook''s featuring the Sixth Doctor. Although [[Matt Smith]] is known to have written several short stories featuring the Doctor in preparation for playing the [[Eleventh Doctor]], as of 2019 none have been published and thus it was not until the release of the ''[[Scratchman (novelisation)|Scratchman]]'' by [[Tom Baker]] that another Doctor actor has been credited for writing published ''Doctor Who'' fiction.
Despite the circumstances of his departure from ''Doctor Who'', Baker has remained involved with the franchise. He reprised his role as the Doctor in the play ''[[The Ultimate Adventure]],'' replacing [[Jon Pertwee]], and on television in the 1993 charity special ''[[Dimensions in Time (TV story)|Dimensions in Time]]''.          In the [[BBV Productions]] video series ''The Stranger'', he played the eponymous character, who was similar to the Doctor. Since 1999, he has acted in audio dramas produced by [[Big Finish Productions]], usually as the Doctor. Occasionally, however, he has played alternate versions of the Doctor, such as the [[Burner Doctor]] in ''[[Disassembled (audio story)|Disassembled]]'' and [[the Curator]] in ''[[Stranded]].'' In a poll conducted by ''[[Doctor Who Magazine]]'',{{which}} fans voted Baker the "greatest" of the Doctors in the audio plays.


Since 1995, Baker has written a column for the ''Bucks Free Press''. In 2010, [[Hirst Books]] published a volume of a hundred of these columns called ''Look Who's Talking.'' They announced a second collection, including Baker's Doctor Who fiction entitled ''Gallimaufry''. Baker both wrote and read ''[[The Wings of a Butterfly (audio story)|The Wings of a Butterfly]]'' for ''[[Short Trips - Volume I]]''.
In 1994, Colin Baker became the first Doctor to have written a ''Doctor Who'' story, penning ''[[The Age of Chaos (comic story)|The Age of Chaos]]'', a graphic novel published by [[Marvel UK]] featuring the Sixth Doctor and [[Frobisher]]. He has since written several short stories about the Sixth Doctor, mainly in ''Doctor Who Magazine'' and its ''Yearbook''s. [[Matt Smith]] is known to have written stories featuring the Doctor in preparation for his role as the [[Eleventh Doctor]], but none have been released; it was not until the release of [[Tom Baker|Tom Baker's]] ''[[Scratchman (novelisation)|Scratchman]]'' that another Doctor actor would be credited for writing published ''Doctor Who'' fiction.


Since [[Nicholas Courtney]]'s death in 2011, Baker has been the honorary President of the [[Doctor Who Appreciation Society]]. Although it is said the two didn't really know each other, Baker paid his respects to the late [[Elisabeth Sladen]] after she died the same year.
Since [[Nicholas Courtney]]'s death in 2011, Baker has been the honorary President of the [[Doctor Who Appreciation Society]]. Although it is said the two didn't really know each other, Baker paid his respects to the late [[Elisabeth Sladen]] after she died the same year.
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In 2013, Baker appeared alongside [[Peter Davison]] and [[Sylvester McCoy]] in ''[[The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (TV story)|The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot]]'', in which they attempt to appear in the 50th anniversary special ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]''.
In 2013, Baker appeared alongside [[Peter Davison]] and [[Sylvester McCoy]] in ''[[The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot (TV story)|The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot]]'', in which they attempt to appear in the 50th anniversary special ''[[The Day of the Doctor (TV story)|The Day of the Doctor]]''.


In 2015, Baker finally saw a chance to perform a genuine regeneration story for his Doctor in the Big Finish audio anthology ''[[The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]]'', putting to bed his jest that he had never handed over the role, which he discussed at length in the commentary featured with the release. At 28 years since his exit from ''Doctor Who'', he holds the record for the longest time an actor who played the Doctor has waited to perform a regeneration scene after leaving the series, even surpassing [[Paul McGann]]'s extensive wait of 17 years.
In 2015, Baker finally acted in a Sixth Doctor regeneration story, the Big Finish audio anthology ''[[The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure]].'' In the commentary featured with the release, he remarked this finally put to bed his jest that he had never handed over the role. Baker has waited the longest of the Doctors to perform a regeneration scene, at 28 years since his exit from ''Doctor Who''; only  [[Paul McGann]], who regenerated in [[The Night of the Doctor (TV story)|''The Night of the Doctor'']] 17 years after the [[Doctor Who TV movie|TV movie]], comes close.


In 2019, Baker appeared on the ''Doctor Who'' [[YouTube|Youtube]] channel in [[The Sixth Doctor is on trial AGAIN! (webcast)|''The Sixth Doctor is on trial AGAIN!'']]'', ''a short video promoting the the upcoming release of the Blu-ray [[Season 23]] collection.
In 2019, Baker appeared on the ''Doctor Who'' [[YouTube|Youtube]] channel in [[The Sixth Doctor is on trial AGAIN! (webcast)|''The Sixth Doctor is on trial AGAIN!'']]'', ''a short video promoting the the upcoming release of the Blu-ray [[Season 23]] collection.

Revision as of 16:55, 15 June 2022

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You may be looking for his DWU counterpart or the parodical version of himself from Doctor Who?.

Colin Baker (born 8 June 1943[1]) played the Sixth Doctor from 1984 to 1986, beginning with an appearance at the conclusion of The Caves of Androzani, continuing from The Twin Dilemma to The Ultimate Foe.

He reprised the role for the 1989 stage show The Ultimate Adventure and the 1993 Children in Need special Dimensions in Time, as well as for numerous Doctor Who audio stories for Big Finish Productions.

Prior to becoming the Doctor, he was cast as Commander Maxil in Arc of Infinity and was considered for the roles of Arnold Jellicole in Robot (REF: Doctor Who The Handbook: The Fourth Doctor), Persuasion in Four to Doomsday (REF: TCH 34) and Scobie, Bilton and Sheard in Time-Flight (REF: TCH 35).

Profile

Before being selected to replace Peter Davison as the Doctor, Baker was an established television actor. His most notable role was Paul Merroney in The Brothers. Baker also guest starred as Bayban the Butcher in the Blake's 7 episode City at the Edge of the World.

Baker made his Doctor Who debut as Commander Maxil in Arc of Infinity in 1983. Later that same year, he was cast as the Sixth Doctor following Peter Davison's decision to leave the series. His era on Doctor Who was interrupted by an eighteen-month hiatus, officially because the show was moved back from the spring to the autumn schedule. He was ultimately dismissed from the part at the insistence of BBC management, who wanted to refresh the show. The Controller of BBC One at the time, Michael Grade, disliked Doctor Who, believing that the programme had become overly violent and its storylines farcical.

As of 2022, Baker is the only actor to play the Doctor who has been fired by the BBC. Prior to his dismissal, he claimed he would gladly have done the show for as many as eight years.

Baker was offered the first four episodes of the next season in order to pave the way for a regeneration, but declined, as he did not wish to miss out on other work in the meantime. He did offer to do the whole season and have the Doctor regenerate at the end, but this was rejected. Years later, Baker would express regret for refusing the BBC's request, claiming he was being "selfish" and "not thinking about the fans".

Despite the circumstances of his departure from Doctor Who, Baker has remained involved with the franchise. He reprised his role as the Doctor in the play The Ultimate Adventure, replacing Jon Pertwee, and on television in the 1993 charity special Dimensions in Time. In the BBV Productions video series The Stranger, he played the eponymous character, who was similar to the Doctor. Since 1999, he has acted in audio dramas produced by Big Finish Productions, usually as the Doctor. Occasionally, however, he has played alternate versions of the Doctor, such as the Burner Doctor in Disassembled and the Curator in Stranded. In a poll conducted by Doctor Who Magazine,[which?] fans voted Baker the "greatest" of the Doctors in the audio plays.

In 1994, Colin Baker became the first Doctor to have written a Doctor Who story, penning The Age of Chaos, a graphic novel published by Marvel UK featuring the Sixth Doctor and Frobisher. He has since written several short stories about the Sixth Doctor, mainly in Doctor Who Magazine and its Yearbooks. Matt Smith is known to have written stories featuring the Doctor in preparation for his role as the Eleventh Doctor, but none have been released; it was not until the release of Tom Baker's Scratchman that another Doctor actor would be credited for writing published Doctor Who fiction.

Since Nicholas Courtney's death in 2011, Baker has been the honorary President of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society. Although it is said the two didn't really know each other, Baker paid his respects to the late Elisabeth Sladen after she died the same year.

In 2013, Baker appeared alongside Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy in The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot, in which they attempt to appear in the 50th anniversary special The Day of the Doctor.

In 2015, Baker finally acted in a Sixth Doctor regeneration story, the Big Finish audio anthology The Sixth Doctor: The Last Adventure. In the commentary featured with the release, he remarked this finally put to bed his jest that he had never handed over the role. Baker has waited the longest of the Doctors to perform a regeneration scene, at 28 years since his exit from Doctor Who; only Paul McGann, who regenerated in The Night of the Doctor 17 years after the TV movie, comes close.

In 2019, Baker appeared on the Doctor Who Youtube channel in The Sixth Doctor is on trial AGAIN!, a short video promoting the the upcoming release of the Blu-ray Season 23 collection.

Personal Life

He was once married to Liza Goddard but the pair divorced. Baker later re-married and had five children. His son, Jack, sadly died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in 1983, activating Baker's support for the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. Since then, Baker has had 4 daughters, including Rosie Baker. All four daughters, as well as Baker's wife, played themselves in The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.

Colin Baker is of no relation to Tom Baker, who played the Fourth Doctor.

In the DWU

Colin Baker appeared as himself in the webcast The Sixth Doctor is on trial AGAIN!, where he is put on trial for an unpaid parking fine which he received whilst filming new material for Doctor Who Season 23.

Credits

as the Sixth Doctor

Television

Doctor Who

Mini-episodes

Stage

Webcasts

Doctor Who

The Collection

Other

Audio

BBC Radio

Doctor Who Main Range

Special Releases

The Lost Stories

The Sixth Doctor Adventures

Classic Doctors, New Monsters

The Stageplays

The Tenth Doctor and River Song

Out of Time

The Companion Chronicles

Short Trips

Doctor Who Unbound

The Diary of River Song

Peladon

Jago & Litefoot

The Lives of Captain Jack

Audiobook readings

Target Novelisations

BBC Audio

Doctor Who Audio Annuals

Other Roles

Television

Doctor Who

Audio

Doctor Who Main Range

Stranded

Doctor Who Unbound

As The Warrior

Bernice Summerfield

Gallifrey

Writing Credits

Comics

Short Stories

Brief Encounters

The Target Storybook

Audio

Short Trips

Footnotes

  1. ↑ BFI

External links

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