Tom Baker 'On Set'

What Tom Baker was like to Work with, Including interviews with Lalla Ward and Other members of the production team

[leokimvideo]

Tom Baker was the best Dr Who, because he cared about the script & story

[brianjlevine]

Tom innately understood the Doctor and wasn't afraid to speak up for him.

[count]

"I could waggle my ducks?"
"No, don't waggle your ducks"
"Don't waggle my ducks?"

[excalibur]

I've heard that Tom Baker himself admitted that he became withdrawn and moody after Elisabeth Sladen left the show, so he obviously missed her. Louise Jamison did feel as if Baker was treating her badly during her first season, but she would later confront him about it and their working relationship did improve in her next and final season with Baker. But Mary Tamm and Lalla Ward clearly did not have any problems with Baker, as Tamm got along quite well with him and Ward fell in love with him.

[Boop__Doop]

Most lethal jobs in the world
3, Logging Workers
2, Fishing and Hunting Workers
1, Tom baker's director/scriptwriter

[abrahamminky]

I could waggle my ducks, Tom Baker was winding them up, and they didnt know it lol, love Tom Baker, best doctor ever.

[Sunshine-zmfx]

Tom Baker was not self-centered or egotistical. He simply loved his role and the show and didn't like seeing it go downhill after Elisabeth left. There is a huge difference between acting like a diva and caring about a show you're involved in. He wasn't trying to get more for himself. He was trying to get more for the show.

[ngNudraconis]

re-watching this one. Uhm I think its fair enough. His entire life had been a tragedy, so much sadness that he wanted to run away from the past, to make a change. And when he finally got his chance of a life time which was Dr Who, he didn't simply try his best, he gave it his life, everything.

[DWA]

From the Tom Baker web-site, in his OCT 2009 Newsletter on the death of Barry Letts, Tom says,

"I had no idea how to approach the part. I just turned up and did my turn and Elisabeth Sladen was pleased and so was Barry...And I always think of Liz Sladen with such tender memories for the confidence she had in me. We had such a happy time together."

Elisabeth Sladen was a star when Tom was an unknown in the long shadow of Jon Pertwee. Her support made him successful.

[DWA]

Your assessment of Tom Baker is accurate I feel. And I agree Tom's not "mean" he's just "different".

Elisabeth Sladen loved working with Tom, as she makes clear in her autobiography. Tom adored her, because she was "so nice to him" and she solidly supported him right from the start. That's why he was so devastated when she left WHO. He now admits to becoming "moody and withdrawn" when she left, and that's why he treated poor Louise Jameson so terribly at first.

[GhostLightPhilosophy]

I like an actor who makes sure that their voice is heard and doesnt just read lines to get a paycheck

[Schizophaith]

I think there came a point where Tom Baker knew that character inside and out, and took it VERY seriously. When you've been doing something a long time and you know your business, and then someone comes along and says "do this" You fight for what you believe in. The scripts had a very slow decline after Liz left and then a rapid decline by the time Adric came around. It wore on him.I can say Baker has an ego, but I wouldn't say he was a dick for protecting his art and the character/show.

[DWA]

Early during the commentary on PLANET OF EVIL, as Tom & Lis exit the TARDIS, Tom sighs and says, "I don't think I've ever been as truly happy as I was then...with you Elisabeth.".

It is a very revealing and quite touching comment by Tom.

[lDrownded]

Is it wrong that this makes me like T. Baker even more?

[swanvictor]

The last clip, oddly in black and white (?) showed Tom trying his very best to make a great show! He was suggesting improvements and adding value, as was Mary: this is why you want to hire good actors! He took the role seriously and was utterly superb. Compare him to the trainwreck of the last three years and ...Her....

[smoog]

They need to make a entire series of Tom Baker Dr Who outtakes.

Failing that, a good solid hour of Tom waggling his ducks.

[DWA]

I think you are correct that Tom can be a bit self-centered.

Now, if you carefully watch all the Season 12-14 stories with Tom & Lis Sladen, it is pretty obvious that Tom doesn't get the spotlight most of the time. If anything, Tom & Lis are very much a double act who work superbly well together, & the 2 of them is a main reason that era is so fondly remembered.

Tom adored Lis Sladen, and that probably moved him away from being self-centered in those stories with her.

[trevorphillipsgtav]

I can definetely see where Tom's coming from. Because first of all he was angry about the bad scripts from Dr Who. Second of all he was angry at the directors and how they direct actors is probably in the sense from where he's coming from, because he loved playing the Doctor. Then thirdly, he didn't like how the costume was changed with the burgandy costume, plus the question marks as well, which has pushed Tom to leave the series because he didn't get along with JNT the producer and how they've drastically changed it. Phillip Hinchcliffe, Liz Sladen and a few actors supporting Tom Baker were the only ones who kept him happy for 2/3 years. And it was saddening that Liz passed away about 4 years ago. That definetely caused a great pain in Tom Baker and they were totally a companion pair for the Doctor Who series for 3 years before she left Doctor Who. She was a great actress and a brilliant character of the famous Sarah Jane Smith. Best companion pair ever.

[KevinJonDavies]

"I could waggle my ducks" :)

[kyrauniversal]

I think Tom Baker and Christopher Eccleston would have a good chat and hug over their grievances with the BBCs bullshit, honestly. The one who cares for the story and the one who cares for the crew.