by William John
Easily the most polarising Doctor, Colin Baker had the toughest time as the titular hero. During a time of scrutiny from those at the top of the BBC (we’re looking at you, Michael Grade!), the shows producers decided to take a bold, if futile step away from the wacky, heroic Timelord we were used to, by making the sixth Doctor a far darker, angrier and more ferocious character. Despite portraying one of the most compelling incarnations of the Doctor, Baker’s time was cut short when the show was unceremoniously, indefinitely cancelled and he himself fired.
Easily the most polarising Doctor, Colin Baker had the toughest time as the titular hero. During a time of scrutiny from those at the top of the BBC (we’re looking at you, Michael Grade!), the shows producers decided to take a bold, if futile step away from the wacky, heroic Timelord we were used to, by making the sixth Doctor a far darker, angrier and more ferocious character. Despite portraying one of the most compelling incarnations of the Doctor, Baker’s time was cut short when the show was unceremoniously, indefinitely cancelled and he himself fired.
So why did the sixth Doctor have such a hard time of it? There are several variables to consider here, but a prevailing factor is, undeniably, the shows producers and their lack of conviction in their choices. After deciding to take a step down tonally, it becomes completely baffling as to why you’d dress your darker, angrier Doctor as a clown. A far cry from his predecessor, the sixth Doctor wore a patchwork, multicolour frock coat, with bright yellow trousers to match. Clearly an attempt to stand out from the fifth Doctor’s single beige colouring, and perhaps attempting to match the new, more manic personality, all the outfit succeeded in doing was turning viewers away and undermining the rude, brash character they began setting up from his first scene.
From his first line, an air of arrogance and self assurance gave us a clear indication that this was not the kindly man we once knew, and despite one of the worst post-regeneration stories ever produced, having your new Doctor attempt to strangle his companion due to regenerative trauma was a brave choice that cemented our new characters personality. So, with this in mind, who-oh-why would you dress him like a clown?! In recent years, Colin Baker has stated that he suggested a far more sombre, almost completely black outfit, similar to Ecclestone's ninth Doctor, which would’ve suited his character far better. Even the BBC’s animated episode ‘Real Time’ gave us a far more suitable blue outfit.
From his first line, an air of arrogance and self assurance gave us a clear indication that this was not the kindly man we once knew, and despite one of the worst post-regeneration stories ever produced, having your new Doctor attempt to strangle his companion due to regenerative trauma was a brave choice that cemented our new characters personality. So, with this in mind, who-oh-why would you dress him like a clown?! In recent years, Colin Baker has stated that he suggested a far more sombre, almost completely black outfit, similar to Ecclestone's ninth Doctor, which would’ve suited his character far better. Even the BBC’s animated episode ‘Real Time’ gave us a far more suitable blue outfit.
A man is defined by the company he keeps, and the sixth Doctor kept some interesting company. Over the course of his short tenure, we saw the Doctor strike up tenuous relationships with some unsavoury characters, including long time enemy The Master, as well as the lovable pirate, second Doctor companion Jamie and thief Sabalom Glitz, but none were closer to our unlikely hero than Peri. Sweet and kind-hearted, Peri was the antithesis and moral compass to the Doctor. Despite seemingly treading on eggshells, she constantly questioned his motives and balanced out the still slightly unhinged Doctor. Despite his frustration with her simple nature, the 6th Doctor cared very deeply for Peri, so much so that he was left distraught when he discovered she had seemingly been killed during a civil war.
It was this darkness that was to be the downfall of the show. After numerous complaints of violence, some justified (Attack of the Cybermen), and some just ridiculous (Mary Whitehouse), the show was taken off air completely. With fan pressure, we were given a final goodbye to the sixth Doctor in the form of the epic Trial of a Timelord, where once again, like the show itself, the Doctor was put on trial by his own people. The Doctor may have triumphed, but Baker was fired.
Brash, loud & unsympathetic to his enemies, but with a heart of gold, the sixth Doctor only graced our screens for a short while, but he had some of the better, darker stories in Doctor Who’s history. With another dark Doctor starting this weekend, we’re supremely confident they’ve got it right this time!
It was this darkness that was to be the downfall of the show. After numerous complaints of violence, some justified (Attack of the Cybermen), and some just ridiculous (Mary Whitehouse), the show was taken off air completely. With fan pressure, we were given a final goodbye to the sixth Doctor in the form of the epic Trial of a Timelord, where once again, like the show itself, the Doctor was put on trial by his own people. The Doctor may have triumphed, but Baker was fired.
Brash, loud & unsympathetic to his enemies, but with a heart of gold, the sixth Doctor only graced our screens for a short while, but he had some of the better, darker stories in Doctor Who’s history. With another dark Doctor starting this weekend, we’re supremely confident they’ve got it right this time!
What was your favourite memory of the sixth Doctor?
Have you picked up your TARDIS Operators Licence from the Shop yet?
Let us know in the comments!
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