Former Dr Who Tom Baker said he would consider a guest role in the hit show’s remake if “they ask me nicely”.
Baker – who lived near Maidstone when he starred as TV’s favourite Timelord in the 1970s – has retained a high profile on the small screen as the voice of cult comedy Little Britain.
But speaking at the launch of an exhibition at Earls Court, London, dedicated to the new series of the science fiction show with David Tennant in the title role he did not rule out a special appearance in a programme which has become famous for reintroducing past favourites, such as journalist Sarah-Jane Smith, robot dog K9 and the villainous Daleks and Cybermen.
“Perhaps I might make a guest appearance - perhaps,” he said.
“Providing they ask me nicely, of course.”
But Baker admitted he has not been following the new adventures of The Doctor.
“I don’t actually watch [Dr Who],” he said.
“I didn’t even watch it when I was in it - for all sorts of reasons.
“But I do get messages from David Tennant and I have seen him in other things of course.
“He has been a huge success and I am very pleased about that.”
During the 1960s and 70s the show was famous for its unconvincing special effects and cardboard style sets.
But the 21st century remake has seen big budgets, computer generated images for effects and more sophisticated costumes and make up for aliens.
After visiting the show, which runs throughout the summer, Baker said: “Well it’s moved on a lot hasn’t it? We had very small budgets but that has all changed. It’s more like a film now.”
He succeeded Jon Pertwee in the role of Dr Who in 1974 after a former “career” as a monk and work on a building site.
During his seven years at the controls of the time and space travelling Tardis, Baker became probably the most popular of the original actors to play the iconic role - and was best known for offering jelly babies to enemies and for his long scarf.
In 1986, Baker married Sue Jerrard, who had been an assistant editor on Doctor Who. They moved to an old property in Boughton Malherbe near Maidstone, where they kept several cats, before emigrating to France in 2002.
During this time he was a regular in the Red Lion in Lenham village. The couple sold the property to Vic Reeves, with whom Baker had worked on Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased), although Reeves has subsequently moved to neary Charing.
For a full interview with Tom Baker and a tour of the exhibition go to www.yourkenttv.co.uk.
POSTED: 23/03/2008 09:00:00
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