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Colin Baker | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Baker in 2014 | |
| Born | (1943-06-08)8 June 1943 (age 81) |
| 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 inDoctor Who |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 5 (1 deceased) |
| Website | colinbakeronline |
Colin Charles Baker (born 8 June 1943) is an English actor. He played Paul Merroney in theBBC television drama seriesThe Brothers from 1974 to 1976 and thesixth incarnation ofthe Doctor in the long-runningscience fiction television seriesDoctor 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 executives. His performances as the Sixth Doctor in audio plays published byBig Finish Productions have been generally well received by fans.
Colin Charles Baker was born on 8 June 1943 inWaterloo, London. He moved north toRochdale with his family when he was 3 years old. He was educated atSt Bede's College, Manchester, where he passedA' Levels in French, Latin and Greek.[1] Particularly strong in Latin and Greek, Baker achieved 2 A grades.[2] He studied law at a London college[3] and subsequently trained to become a solicitor.[4] At the age of 23, Baker enrolled at theLondon Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA).[5]
Baker's numerous television roles in the early 1970s included a supporting role in a 1970BBCadaptation ofJean-Paul Sartre's trilogyThe Roads to Freedom, a leading role as Count Steinbock in their adaptation ofCousin Bette the following year, playing oppositeMargaret Tyzack andHelen Mirren. In 1972 he played Anatole Kuragin, oppositeAnthony Hopkins in the BBC adaptation ofWar and Peace. His regular television work continued and inFall of Eagles, Baker appeared asCrown Prince Wilhelm of theGerman Empire.
By far his most prominent role to date came in 1974, playing the ruthless banker Paul Merroney in the BBC Sunday evening seriesThe 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.
AfterThe 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 ofBlake's 7, "City at the Edge of the World". He had further guest roles on television and in 1983 featured in a BBC production ofA.J. Cronin'sThe Citadel.
Baker made his first appearance inDoctor Who as Commander Maxil in thePeter Davison-era storyArc of Infinity (1983). He then became the second of three actors to be cast as the Doctor by producerJohn Nathan-Turner.[7] Baker's first appearance in the starring role occurred in the final moments ofThe Caves of Androzani (1984), where he delivered his first few lines. He then made his full story debut the following week inThe 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 toPopMatters, "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-monthhiatus which was announced in February 1985, midway through transmission ofSeason 22, his first full season. The Controller ofBBC1 at the time,Michael Grade, criticisedDoctor Who, saying that the programme had become overly violent in 1985. Grade later admitted that he "hated" the series, which he described as a "very clunky studio show".[9][10] One newDoctor Who story,Slipback, was produced for radio during the hiatus, which starred Baker and his regular television companionNicola Bryant.
Doctor Who returned to television for its23rd season in September 1986. The season featured a reduction in episodes, was made entirely on video for location scenes and was produced as a 14-episode-long serial calledThe Trial of a Time Lord. This serial was a meta-textual reference to the fact 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 records. I would like to think that maybe I'd still be doing it in eight years' time."[12] Later that year the series was recommissioned, but Nathan-Turner was ordered to change the actor playing the Doctor. Although sources have attributed this decision to Grade, he denied this in 2022.[13][14] The BBC's Head of Series,Jonathan Powell, later said that the BBC was looking for "one last chance saloon, for an actor who would take off with the public."[15] Peter Davison argued in 2018 that the decision was more to do with the executives wanting to get rid of Nathan-Turner, saying: "I was upset about what happened, really – because, first of all, it wasn't to do with Colin, I know that. It was to do with other issues. The power structure in the BBC had changed and they didn't want John Nathan-Turner around is the truth of it."[16]
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. In response, 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 ofTime 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.[17]
On 4 September 2011 atRiverside Studios, Hammersmith, London, Baker accepted the presidency of theDoctor Who Appreciation Society, which had previously been held byJon Pertwee andNicholas Courtney. He was elected following an online poll of the society's members where he won more votes than all the other candidates combined.[18]
From 5 June to 19 August 1989, Baker agreed to appear as the Doctor once more, in the stage playDoctor Who – The Ultimate Adventure, taking over from original leadJon Pertwee who had fallen ill.[citation needed]
In 1992, Baker became the first Doctor to write a publishedDoctor Who story,The Deal, as part ofDoctor Who Magazine'sBrief Encounters series. He wrote a secondBrief Encounter the following year. Both featured the Sixth Doctor and Mel. In 1994 Baker wrote a comic strip,The Age of Chaos featuring the Sixth Doctor andFrobisher, and in 2001 contributed a story entitled "The Wings of A Butterfly" to a charity short story anthology based on Doctor Who, "Missing Pieces". He also presented specialDoctor Who videotape releasesCybermen – The Early Years in 1992 andThe Colin Baker Years in 1994, with the latter a look back at his tenure on the series highlighted by clips and his memories.
Baker has reprised the role on television only twice after his official run ended, in the 1993Children in Need charity specialDimensions in Time alongside Pertwee,Tom Baker,Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy, and in the2022 special "The Power of the Doctor" alongsideDavid Bradley, Davison,Paul McGann, McCoy andJodie Whittaker. He reprised the role again inTales of the TARDIS.[19]
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In 1997, Baker provided audio dialogue for the BBC video gameDoctor Who: Destiny of the Doctors.
1999 saw Baker voice his firstDoctor Who audio adventure forBig Finish Productions,The Sirens of Time. As of 2025, 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 byDoctor Who Magazine, Baker was voted the "greatest" of the Doctors in this format. He also reprised the role of Commander Maxil in theGallifrey audio series story "Appropriation" in 2006; in 2022, he played alternate versions of theFifth Doctor (known as the Doctor of War) in theDoctor Who Unbound series andthe Curator inThe 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 documentaryTrials and Tribulations, included in the 2008 DVD release ofThe Trial of a Time Lord examines his turbulent three years on the show.
In November 2013, Baker co-starred in the one-off 50th anniversary comedy homageThe Five(ish) Doctors Reboot.[20]
In thefinal 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.
From 2023 onwards, Baker hosts the Big Finish produced podcastInto the TARDIS, presenting the various audio stories broadcast in the series.
Since leavingDoctor Who Baker has spent much of his time on the stage with appearances throughout the country in plays as diverse asPeter Nichols'Privates on Parade, Ira Levin'sDeathtrap,Ray Cooney'sRun for Your Wife andAriel Dorfman'sDeath and the Maiden. For many years he has been apantomime stalwart. In 2000 he appeared inSnow White and the Seven Dwarfs alongside actressLouise Jameson who had previously played theFourth Doctor's companionLeela. In 2003 he starred in theCarl Rosa Opera Company's production ofoperettaH.M.S. Pinafore, directed byTimothy West. In 2008, he toured with ex-wifeLiza Goddard inShe Stoops To Conquer. Other theatre appearances have seen Baker tackle the role ofInspector Morse inHouse of Ghosts[21] and a UK tour ofThe Woman in White.
In 1991, Baker played a Doctor-like character in theBBV video seriesThe Stranger. This character appeared in six video adventures as well four audio stories. Another standalone BBV drama entitledThe Airzone Solution appeared in 1993 and featured formerDoctor Who actors Jon Pertwee, Peter Davison and Sylvester McCoy.
Television work through the 1990s included guest appearances in the BBC's medical dramaCasualty,The Knock,Dangerfield, the first episode ofJonathan Creek,Channel 4's adaptation ofA Dance to the Music of Time and as himself as the resident celebrity in 'Dictionary Corner' on the daytime quiz showCountdown, also on Channel 4.
In 2003, Baker appeared onTop Gear, participating on a one-lap run on the Top Gear track in a Honda Civic hatchback. Baker competed against aKlingon, aCyberman, aDalek,Darth Vader andMing the Merciless. Baker came in 4th position, with the Cyberman coming 1st.
A 2005 guest appearance in comedy sketch showLittle Britain was never transmitted but can be seen in the deleted scenes special feature on theLittle Britain series 3 DVD. Other television appearances have seen Baker appear inKingdom,Hustle andDoctors.
Away from hisDoctor Who work for Big Finish Productions (see above), Baker appeared in the audio dramasSapphire and Steel: The Mystery of the Missing Hour and the 3 partEarthsearch Mindwarp. The latter, based on aJames Follett novel, was broadcast on thedigital radio stationBBC 7 in 2006.
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 includesThe Harpist (1999),The Asylum (2000)[22] andD'Artagnan et les trois mousquetaires (2005).[22] Since 1995 Baker has written a regular weekly column for local newspaperBucks 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 ofI'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!,[23] finishing in 8th place out of 12 celebrities.
Baker's first wife was actressLiza Goddard who had appeared with him in the TV seriesThe Brothers. Their marriage lasted 18 months and ended in divorce.[24] With his second wife, Marion Wyatt, an actress, whom he married in 1982, Baker has four daughters: Lucy, Bindy (an accomplished singer), Lalla and Rosie.[25] They also had a son, Jack, who died ofsudden infant death syndrome.[26][27] His wife and daughters appeared inThe Five(ish) Doctors Reboot as themselves. Baker is a friend of American writerStephen R. Donaldson, who dedicated his 1991 novelForbidden Knowledge to him.[28]
Baker is a critic offox hunting and was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed a letter to members of parliament in 2015 to opposeConservative prime ministerDavid Cameron's plan to amend theHunting Act 2004.[29]
Baker had a visually-impaired pet to which he referred as Eric, the Blind. This prompted him to dedicate an autographed 45 rpm vinyl record of theDoctor Who theme song to a fan as "Eric, the Sighted."
| 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 |
| 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 | Serial:Arc of Infinity- 3 episodes | |
| 1984 | Swallows and Amazons Forever!: Coot Club | Dr. Dudgeon | TV film |
| Swallows and Amazons Forever!: The Big Six | |||
| 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" |
| 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 |
| 1975 | September Tide | Evan Davies | The Forum Theatre Billingham and other locations. |
| 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. |
| 1987 | Corpse! | Strand Theatre, London | |
| 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 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Doctor Who: Slipback | Sixth Doctor | 6 stories |
| 1999–2021 | Doctor Who: The Monthly Adventures | 170 episodes | |
| 2006 | Gallifrey | Commander Maxil | Episode: "Appropriation" (uncredited) |
| 2009–present | Doctor Who: The Lost Stories | Sixth Doctor | 13 episodes |
| 2011–2018 | Jago & Litefoot | 8 episodes | |
| 2015–present | The Sixth Doctor Adventures | 28 episodes | |
| 2016–present | Classic Doctors, New Monsters | 4 episodes | |
| 2016 | The Diary of River Song | 2 episodes | |
| 2021 | Avalon | Bayban | Volume Two |
| Bayban the Butcher |
| 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 |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | The Doctors Say Thank You | Himself |
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.
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