Tom Baker offers an honest and unflinching recollection of his departure fromDoctor Whoand his regrets about leaving the Fourth Doctor behind. A more eccentric and eclectic take on the Time Lord than his three predecessors,Baker helmed the TARDIS from 1974 to 1981, facing Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans,and aliens posing as Egyptian Gods of Death. Alongside reprising his role in Big Finish audio dramas and various additional projects, Baker would return to portray the mysterious Currator in the final moments ofDoctor Who’s 50th-anniversary special in 2013.
In a rare interview withRadio Times Magazine,Baker reflected on hisDoctor Whodeparture. While still holding the role in high regard to this day,the actor regretted letting go of the role after seven seasons. Baker also admitted that he was difficult to work with, which he attributed to his own insecurity about the impact playing the Doctor had left on him:
It was the most wonderful part I ever had and I was a madman to give it up. I got proprietorial and became demanding and insecure. I talk emphatically about everything because I know very little about anything. I never meant to be difficult, but I began to live in the world of the Doctor, this benevolent alien, and thought no one understood me and I’d had enough. But of course I hadn’t.
Baker then stated he could have easily seenhimself carrying on or returning should the opportunity have arisen, such as in the highly-rumored Stephen Spielberg-helmed revival movie following the show’s initial cancellation. However, he admitted that he wouldn’t have been keen on the project. Check out Baker’s recollection below:
I could have gone on forever. I’ve never really recovered. They wouldn’t give me the film [at the time rumored as being developed by Steven Spielberg], would they? They won’t know how to do it. Popular films are tawdry, about images and not about thinking.
What Baker’s Recollection Reveals About His Doctor Who Exit
Baker Has Been Honest About Behind The Scene Tensions
Baker hasbeen open about his issues behind the scenes of hisDoctor Whotenurebefore, such as the impact of the morality campaigns of Mary Whitehouse and his disagreements with later showrunners Graham Williams and John Nathan-Turner. The star is noted to have felt that an expanded TARDIS team placed too much pressure on the Doctor moving the story forward. He also declined a return in 1983’s 20th-anniversary special due to the capacity of his role, something other Doctor actors have corroborated.
Every Time Tom Baker Almost Returned To Doctor Who (And Why He Didn’t)
With David Tennant’s return, the BBC finally have their most popular Doctor Who leading the show again, something previously attempted with Tom Baker.
As such, while Baker has previously been forthcoming about his disagreements behind the scenes, the actor’s recollection is a welcome glimpse into how he views the role. While he admitted to his somewhat difficult behavior, it is clear that this waspartly due to how important the role was to him.
Our Thoughts On Baker’s Doctor Who Legacy
The Actor Enshrined Many Core Characteristics In A Viewership Peak For The Show
Even though modern incarnations may be more recognizable to more recentDoctor Whoviewers, Baker’s incarnation still remains iconic to this day. As theactor with the longest-running tenure per season, the actor stands out as the most recognizable iteration to play the role in the classic era, enshrining characteristics that would remain with future incarnations.
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The fourth Doctor is often a fan favorite in the Doctor Who community, and this is partly because of his memorable quotes.
As such, with Baker’s response, many may wonder what additional television adventures with the Time Lord may have been. Despite his disagreements with the latter showrunners, and skepticism towards the show’s potential future, his willingness to return toDoctor Whoshows that part of Baker will always hold a lot of affection for his time in the TARDIS.
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Doctor Who: Released on July 23, 2025, this series follows the Doctor and their companion as they journey across time and space, encountering a range of extraordinary friends and adversaries, expanding the universe of the long-running British science fiction series.
