Tom Baker is well known for not liking his final season as the Doctor and fighting with the producer at the time, John Nathan-Turner. What If he had decided that series 17 was his final series as the Doctor? Who would replace him? How would he Regenerate? And How would Doctor who be shaped after this event?
Doctor Who: What If Tom Baker Left After Series 17
- Thread starter ross harstad
- Start date
Equally important: who will succeed Baker in this timeline? Because I'm pretty sure Peter Davison wouldn't be able to do it thanks to All Creatures Great and Small.
Ok lets look at this. The last story in series 17 was the Horns Of Nimon. Soldeed could turn out to be a regenerated Black Guardian who seriously injures the Doctor in the climatic battle. The Doctor, Romana and K9 leave in the TARDIS but the Doctor starts regenerating.
As regards potential 5th Doctors..
John Alderton
David Jason
Patrick Mower
Gareth Hunt
As regards potential 5th Doctors..
John Alderton
David Jason
Patrick Mower
Gareth Hunt
Graham Williams said his doctor would have been Bayldon, who had already been cast that season elswhere.
I think it's likely that they would have still tried to cast a relatively famous star, so as to alleviate the departure of Baker who, by this point was synonymous with the part in the eyes of both the fandom, and the general public.
Here are some potential big names the BBC might have gone for:
Donald Pleasance
Brian Blessed
Clive Dunn
Richard Briers
Peter Egan
Edward Woodward
David McCallum
Ian Carmichael
Leo McKern
There's a slim chance they might have gone for a female Doctor, as Baker implied OTL.
Apart from the obvious choices like Frances de la Tour and Judi Dench, here are some actresses from that time that I think would have excelled in the part:
Diana Rigg
Brenda Blethyn
Annette Crosby
Una Stubbs
Francessca Annis
Here are some potential big names the BBC might have gone for:
Donald Pleasance
Brian Blessed
Clive Dunn
Richard Briers
Peter Egan
Edward Woodward
David McCallum
Ian Carmichael
Leo McKern
There's a slim chance they might have gone for a female Doctor, as Baker implied OTL.
Apart from the obvious choices like Frances de la Tour and Judi Dench, here are some actresses from that time that I think would have excelled in the part:
Diana Rigg
Brenda Blethyn
Annette Crosby
Una Stubbs
Francessca Annis
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I think Brian Blessed would be more likely because of how they kinda had him in mind for a fifth Doctor IOTL
With all due respect a female doctor in the late 70's was unlikely. Yes the above choices are excellent but the political climate was not ready. Yes we did have a female Prime Minister at the time which in itself was a seismic shift but as we know all too well the BBC at the time was riven with sexist behaviour. Have to say though a female TARDIS team would have been interesting.
I've just finished a TL where there is a female doctor in the late 80's after DW goes through a major crisis:
doctor-in-distress.496470
I've just finished a TL where there is a female doctor in the late 80's after DW goes through a major crisis:
doctor-in-distress.496470
Geoffrey Bayldon, very good for Doctor, i like his Catweazle, by the way he played in Dr Who !
Donald Pleasance, he was know to be sometimes difficult to work with.
David McCallum, would be interesting choice, how his doctor would look like you an see in ITV "Sapphire & Steel"
Leo McKern, watch The Prisoner,
Brian Blessed, perfect !
just imagine that scene: a Dalek on run, follow by Blessed with mace in hand saying
COME BACK YOUR COWARDLY TINCAN, FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!
Donald Pleasance, he was know to be sometimes difficult to work with.
David McCallum, would be interesting choice, how his doctor would look like you an see in ITV "Sapphire & Steel"
Leo McKern, watch The Prisoner,
Brian Blessed, perfect !
just imagine that scene: a Dalek on run, follow by Blessed with mace in hand saying
COME BACK YOUR COWARDLY TINCAN, FIGHT ME LIKE A MAN!
Too drunk to make a good actor. In the 1980s he was going through a bottle or more a day of Vodka. Brilliant comedian but a bit disjointed in his acting ability. Having recently read his biography, he was a bit of a sorry fellow about being gay... Nothing wrong with that of course, particularly at the BBC.
Graham Chapman had be brilliant Doctor Who
But sadly during Time frame series 17, he had serious issue with alcoholism and addicted to smoking.
in 1979 he underwent therapy to be clean to play in Life Of Brian
after that he change to Cocain...
But sadly during Time frame series 17, he had serious issue with alcoholism and addicted to smoking.
in 1979 he underwent therapy to be clean to play in Life Of Brian
after that he change to Cocain...
Agreed.
Personally, I feel Michael Palin would be a safer bet if you were to look at any of the Pythons for the job.
Knowing that Geoffrey Bayldon was a name under direct and active consideration, it would be interesting to follow a timeline that saw The Doctor suddenly pulled back to the "aged scientist" archetype. Also, wasn't one the reason for Graham Williams leaving was that he was told firing Tom Baker was not an option? If Baker quits, then we might have at least one more series under Williams. The other possibility, one that happens in my Doctor Who TL, is that Shada is a regeneration story, but one that is still stymied by strike action but HAS to be remounted. Unless they feel confident in starting S18 with a new Doctor and either a Time And The Rani style regeneration or just a few lines explaining the change.
Woodward would be interesting but his health was in decline. I met him during the filming of "Breaker Morant". He was nice enough to me, an extra. I had followed his career since the days of Callan.
He starred in The Equaliser in the mid to late 80s. This required a fair bit of action, so he could have been able to do it if he wanted.
And they could always give the Doctor a companion or two who can handle more of the action, returning to the Hartnell-Troughton era like they intended with the 4th Doctor before they ended up casting someone younger than they originally were looking for.