Colin Baker this week tells Sunday Life about his time in Doctor Who, vampires and appearing in Little Britain. "It seems like a distance of many light years between intrepid time traveller and grumpy old man, but former Dr Who Colin Baker is very comfortable with his latest incarnation," writes Liz McPherson. Colin Baker notes that "I suppose I am just a grumpy old man," going on to recite a long list of pet hates, which include bad manners, loud music in pubs, computerised switch boards, and fox hunting. He discusses his current role in Dracula at Belfast's Grand Opera House, and discusses being in Northern Ireland. "I'm having a lot of fun with it," he laughs. While I'm in Belfast, I might just jump on a plane and go to Cork, because I've got ancestors there. My mother's father was born there." Asked about the new Dr Who series, he replies: "I think the new series is fabulous. The scripts are excellent, and the production values are very good." Baker says he's now looking forward to his next role, a cameo in the irreverent comedy, Little Britain. "I enjoy doing comedy after drama. It's a bit like a diet. You need variety."

BBC Wiltshire has an interview up with Colin Baker about his role as Van Helsing in "Dracula" coming to the Bath Theatre Royal next week, including an audio clip; check out the website for full details. (Thanks to Dan Garrett)

Colin Baker is now starring as Van Helsing in the world premiere of award-winning playwright Bryony Lavery's adaptation of "Bram Stoker's Dracula," according to several news reports which interview the sixth Doctor about his experiences on the stage. "My first experience of live theatre was as a child watching The Follies on a beach in Lancashire," Baker says. The article notes that his love of theatre started when he was sitting with his mother watching the North Manchester Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of the King and I at the Palace Theatre in Manchester. "When it finished, I turned to my mother and said, loudly enough for the bloke in the seat in front to hear: 'I would love to be in something like this'. The man in front turned round and said: 'Young man, I'm the president of this drama group, why don't you come along to rehearsals next Friday?' So I did. The following Friday I went along, saw they had about 80 percent girls there. I thought it looked like a good idea then," he jokes. The presentation of "Dracula" runs April 26-30 at the Plymouth Royal Theatre; information is available via telephone on 01752 267222.

Yesterday's icCheshire Online discusses the role Colin Baker is playing in the new play "The Haunted Hotel," which starts at the Chester Gateway Theatre next week. "As a former Doctor Who, Colin Baker has had to confront some of the nastiest creatures in the universe. But Daleks and Cybermen pale in comparison to the terrifying evil he faces in The Haunted Hotel." Adapted from the novella by Wilkie Collins, The Haunted Hotel is "a chilling tale of supernatural malevolence and inescapable destiny." Baker stepped into the role at the last minute after Brian Blessed took ill. For more details visit the website here. (Thanks to Paul Engelberg)

Artist Ben Morris (who illustrates Russell T Davies' Production Notes column in Doctor Who Magazine) has published a line of greeting cards for Christmas to benefit the Foundation for the Study of Infant Death, whose chairman is Colin Baker. Baker has endorsed the cards line as a fundraising tool for the holidays: "I am delighted to support this wonderful Christmas card with a donation from each sale going to The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths. When my son Jack died, FSID helped my wife and me a great deal. They work hard not only to support bereaved parents, like us, but to fund life-saving research and give every baby the chance of a lifetime." For details about buying the cards and supporting a worthy charity on Colin Baker's behalf, visit Ben Morris' website by clicking here. (Thanks to Ben Morris)

Colin Baker appaered last weekend on "The Weakest Link," playing the game for charity. The theme of the episode was "TV Doctors" and of course our beloved Sixth Doc was in usual fine form, likening host Anne Robinson to the Rani because, although she was an evil villain, "you know she's wicked but at the same time you are drawn to her"... Good fun! (Thanks to John Pettigrew, Andrew Hinton)

Today's icLiverpool has a brief story about next Sunday's Evening with Colin Baker at the Alexander's Jazz Theatre in Chester, sponsored by Enigma Events.

Meanwhile, Sylvester McCoy is starring as Mr Bennett in "Pride and Prejudice" at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre in Guildford, Surrey UK from the 14th - 18th September, alongside Rula Lenska ("Resurrection of the Daleks"); more details available at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre website.

The July 27 edition of the Express featured a brief sidebar about Colin Baker and his tiring of fans commenting on his "expanding waistline". Says the article, "Recalling a recent encounter in Nottingham, the rotund 61-year-old - who was relatively slimline in his Time Lord days - complains that insensitive comments about his weight have become an all too frequent topic of conversation. 'I was greeted with words that are now becoming familiar,' says Colin who played the Doctor from 1984 to 1986. 'I remain at a loss to understand the thought processes that lead the questioner to feel that it is OK to address a stranger with the words, 'My God, you've put on a bit of weight since you left Doctor Who'.'" We hope that this isn't any of our fans... after all, Colin's a smashing bloke. So be nice! (Thanks to Paul Engelberg)

According to the Bucks Free Press on June 7, Colin Baker recently visited Wycome High School in Marlow Road last Thursday for a discussion with students about the science fiction genre. "Legends and myths have always fascinated me," Baker told the Press. Students were quite pleased and seemed to take more interest in science fiction, one student discovering that like himself, Colin is a John Wyndham fan. (Thanks to Paul Engelberg)