Written by: Christopher Lee

FOR THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL!!!! 

*breathe*

Tom Baker who, for those odd few of you who don’t know, is relatively unarguably (I’m not counting the opinions of the “New Who” fans, nyeh) the most famous and beloved of the actors who’ve portrayed “The Doctor” on Doctor Who.

Not too long ago, Baker replied, when asked about the potential of his return to the “TARDIS” for the 50th Anniversary; 

“I think if they ask me nicely, or I can see what they want me to do, I’d consider it. I think the fans have been so good to me, they’d expect me to at least make an appearance.”

So…I’m guessing which it was? A sweetened pleading with scones and tea, or just a really amazing part in the script?

Baker’s run on the show as the 4th incarnation of the Doctor during the years of 1974 to 1981 make him the longest running of the 11 actors yet to portray the character (not counting Peter Cushing who played the 1st Doctor in the “Dr. Who and the Daleks” movie, or Richard Hurndall who portrayed the 1st Doctor in “The Five Doctors” after William Hartnell’s death). He had been asked to come back for the Doctor Who 20th Anniversary special called “The Five Doctors”, but in a decision he now admits to regretting, he declined. They instead used footage of him from the sadly unaired/unfinished story arc, “Shada” which had been penned by none other than “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” author, Douglas Adams (there is a release of the episode with additional narration by Tom Baker that completes the story) and in an odd move, the BBC replaced him with a wax figure alongside the other actors for publicity photos.

So, I’m remarkably excited for this news. I grew up watching Tom’s 4th Doctor. He was my first back in the early 80’s when the NJN on UHF stations was really more like a mini-BBC America (they also introduced me to Monty Python ((which was, as well, shown on PBS)), Faulty Towers, the Young Ones, ect ect ect). Even after seeing the amazing job that has been done since the series “reboot”, I still love Tom’s Doctor. There was just something about him. I think he really took that role, took the idea of *who* the Doctor was and is, and just solidified the mold for all who came after him. If you’re a fan and haven’t seen the 4th Doctor series, you honestly owe it to yourself to do so. You’ll understand soon enough…

…jelly baby?

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