Tom Baker was voted the greatest Doctor ever in a poll by Radio Times, while companion Sarah Jane Smith was voted best companion. Said Baker, "The readers' vote is very pleasing and reassuring. I was lucky because all my stuff was in colour, the scripts were coming along, the effects were getting more refined, the sets didn't fall over so often. I loved it so much. Some were more successful Doctors than others, but no-one ever failed at Doctor Who. Twenty years on, the Doctor's image has stayed with me. People remember me fondly and are kind to me in the street, sometimes even physically affectionate. It's better than being royalty." Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane, noted that she "had a ball working on Doctor Who for three years - it was only after I left that I realised just what an incredible impact it had." The Cybermen were voted "favorite villains" (after the Daleks were removed, obviously to give someone else a chance!) Anthony Stewart Head of "Buffy" fame was voted the man who should play the next Doctor (see separate story on the TV News Page).

You can't keep Tom Baker down... he just keeps doing outrageous and extremely funny interviews. In a new chat withMetro Cafe Tom talks Doctor Who and more. Some of the highlights: Have you kept any memorabilia from the show? "I did have quite a lot but it was all begged off me. You know, smart begging. It is very highly organised now, isn't it? If I had held on to some of it, it would have been terribly valuable. I just gave it away." Tom on sexuality and the ladies: "Well, I tell you this: I am sexually - even as Tom Baker - irresistible to ladies over 80. They often say: 'It's Tom Baker, isn't it? The old Dr Who?' And I say: 'Yes.' And they say: 'I thought it was. As soon as I saw you, my bosoms began to tingle.' In Waitrose, there are lots of old ladies trying to pull me. They smash their trolleys into mine, saying: 'I live quite close by, dear.'" On his ex-wife: "I married one. I married Lalla Ward, who played Romana - she is terrifically articulate and witty. She was in New York at some science fiction bash. Somebody from the floor said: 'Ms Ward, what was your favourite monster?' and she said: 'Tom Baker.'" More on the new series: "Eddie Izzard would be excellent. Because he is so mysterious and strange, yet benevolent. He would be very good indeed. And Judith Chalmers perhaps as the assistant? Or am I getting her mixed up with Melinda Messenger? Oh yes, that's right, Melinda Messenger then." Would he reprise the role? "I might jib at that but I want to suggest the BBC makes me The Master. The new viewers wouldn't be bothered as they wouldn't recognise me - but for older people, there would be a certain frisson. The BBC wouldn't like it because it is a bit witty. But I am used to rejection." And on death: "What do you mean? I have a bloody coffin ready and waiting full of cat litter in the garage. You have got to be prepared these days. I am a professional. That's why I go to bed early. I am rehearsing for death." Click on the link above for the whole very entertaining article.

In an interview on Sunday with the Telegraph, Tom Baker set the record straight on his comments about Eddie Izzard being in the new series. "I went on the radio last week and told someone it would be Eddie Izzard. I have been putting the word around that it's him, with Sue MacGregor [formerly of Radio 4's "Today" programme] as his assistant. Sue MacGregor is a joke, but Eddie Izzard would be politically interesting..." In other words, don't count on it. (And we've since heard in the papers from Eddie, who discounted it anyway.) (Thanks to Steve Tribe)

Today's installment of The Age, a Melbourne Australia paper, features a very flippant (and quite amusing) interview with Tom Baker, among which he discusses why he left the show, tripping over his scarf, sipping gin and tonic in his French countryside house, and even the fact that the TARDIS didn't have any lavatories! "It didn't," Tom says. "The extraordinary thing was there was no sign of anyone eating either, was there? It's funny, in literature no one ever goes to the lavatory. No one ever says, 'Dorothy's just having a great Rabelaisian bowel movement.' No one ever says that, do they?" You can read the full article by clicking here. (Thanks to Catherine McIver, Steve Tribe)

Fourth Doctor Tom Baker will be a guest on UK's GMTV this Wednesday morning. Tom will also appear on Radio 2 during Mark Goodier's show this Friday afternoon; the show is broadcast between 1400 and 1700 GMT but it's unlikely Tom will be no before 3.15pm. Tom will likely be discussing his thoughts on the show's return on both shows. Tom will also be a guest of BBC Radio London 94.9 chat show host Danny Baker this Friday morning and the show will be webcast (listen by going to this website); Tom will be discussing the new series announcement among other topics. This is in addition to his Wednesday GMTV and Friday Radio 2 appearances (see next item). (Thanks to Lloyd Ellis)
          According to BBCi, Jon Culshaw did his impression of Tom Baker on the "Dead Ringers" comedy sketch series in a performance that pinned the new Doctor Who series as a "makeover/reality TV" show, with the first 'episode' ending as the Doctor regenerates into "Changing Rooms" designer Linda Barker ("well, at least I'm not Sylvester McCoy!")
          The gentlemen behind BBC's South East Today contacted us regarding last Friday's news item they ran regarding the return of the seris. The show also featured a rundown of the top three locations used in the South East (such as Brighton) and an interview with DWM's Clay Hickman in the DWM offices at Tunbridge Wells, among others. Certainly there's a lot of press interest now that the BBC's made their announcement.
          (Thanks to Richard Allison, Ian Robinson, Andrew Curry, Dan Hadley, Andrew Swann & Stuart Maisner for the September 29th stories)

The UK's Channel 5 will be airing a documentary entitled Celebrity Naked Ambition on Monday, September 1 at 10pm, looking at "celebrities who have appeared nude on stage or screen to enhance their public profile and boost their flagging career." Among such notable personalities whose career choices are being featured are Madonna, Richard Gere, Russell Crowe and our own Fourth Doctor, Tom Baker, likely due to his appearance on the 1980's television series "The Lives and Loves of a She-Devil". Not the sort of thing we usually mention here at Outpost Gallifrey but as it does touch on a prominent Doctor Who celebrity we thought we'd mention it! (Thanks to Steve Stratford)

August 6, 2003  •  Posted By Shaun Lyon