Tom Baker – the iconic Doctor

Yet the report hints towards the future popularity of the Fourth Doctor, with one of the comments from a parent claiming “my two boys (8 and 11) thought the new Dr. Who ‘dead funny’ and liked him very much”. His appeal did win audiences over and he became the children’s hero he discussed with Graham Norton.

During the seven years he played The Doctor Tom Baker regularly made appearances in costume, both on screen and in person, to the delight of children and adults. In 1976 he dropped in on Seaside Special while he was in Blackpool for the town carnival, although Tony Blackburn wasn’t quite sure if he was talking to Tom Baker the actor, or to The Doctor …