Colin Baker, the sixth incarnation of Doctor Who and now one of many collection’ so-called Guardians of The Edge, has been speaking to us about seeing the primary of the upcoming sixtieth Anniversary Specials, returning to Doctor Who final 12 months and the second coming of Russell T Davis.
After a protracted and fascinating chat about his position in his new film, Christmas At The Holly Day Inn, his love of the season, many, a few years in panto and the best way appearing for the display has modified throughout his 50-year profession – which you’ll be able to learn in Film Stories journal quickly – chat got here round to his position in 2022’s Power Of The Doctor, and his response to seeing the primary instalment of the three upcoming specials starring David Tennant.
That episode is titled The Star Beast, and shall be directed by huge Film Stories favorite (and contributor), Rachel Talalay. She’ll be returning to the collection for the primary time since directing the Peter Capaldi send-off, Twice Upon A Time, for the Christmas Special of 2017. She can also be answerable for bringing to display the fantastic Hell Bent/Heaven Sent and World Enough And Time/The Doctor Falls story arcs which might be so widespread amongst followers.
“I used to be on the preview a few nights in the past,” Baker instructed us. “It was the primary [new] David Tennant story… And whereas my lips are sealed about content material and all different issues. They’re not sealed about saying I used to be blown away.
“Doctor Who now has a funds… boy it has a funds – and that might kill the programme. Too a lot cash, for one thing like Doctor Who, you would kill it. But it hasn’t. What he’s achieved is enabled them to do the issues they may solely trace at earlier than and do them credibly, splendidly and magnificently.”
Baker then elaborated on the efficiency of David Tennant, and the contribution of one other returnee – Russell T Davis.
“David has grabbed it with each arms, and anybody who doesn’t see it has my sympathy. I might need watched it, I don’t know… But I’m so glad I did. And now I’ll in all probability watch all of the others. Disney is concerned, but it surely hasn’t been Disneyfied. It’s been Russell T Davies-ified! And that’s a very good factor.”
Echoing the ideas of Paul McGann in our current chat with him, Baker too heaped reward on the returning showrunner. Comparing him to the person that purchased him to the Tardis again in 1984.
“I like Russell T Davis, the person’s a genius. He did what John Nathan Turner did as a producer within the 70s and 80s. He’s the person for all seasons. The factor that John didn’t have, that Russell does, is the flexibility to jot down magnificent tales and to infuse a nation with a brand new pleasure in Doctor Who.“
When requested about his personal return to Who, he had a really completely different expertise filming for 2022’s Power Of The Doctor than McGann described – having filmed his scenes alone. And definitely extra time to arrange.
“Jodie [Whittaker], was there after I did mine, and so was Sylvester [McCoy] and so was David Bradley. We have been all there on the identical time. We recorded a few 12 months earlier than it went out and I acquired sufficient discover so I might study the 4 strains, or no matter it was. I might have had 20 minutes’ discover and I’d have been in a position to do it. So it wasn’t that difficult. Bear in thoughts, I’ve been taking part in my physician for 40 years, I’ve achieved over 200, two-hour audios taking part in my physician. So although it wasn’t ‘my’ physician, it was a Guardian of The Edge, everyone knows why that Guardian of The Edge appeared like my physician. It’s the style, and it’s a beautiful style as a result of you may play with it and do probably the most imaginative, contradictory issues – and the character himself can say, ‘properly, that’s bizarre’, mirroring what you’re saying watching it! Well, the physician would by no means say that. Well, I can say ‘I by no means thought I’d hear myself say that.’
While there’s no phrase of if we’ll see The Guardians once more because the collection transitions to Ncuti Gatwa’s tenancy of the Tardis, Baker has been again within the position of the Doctor very lately. When we spoke to McGann, the current Tales Of The Tardis episodes – accessible on the BBC iPlayer – have been nonetheless firmly below wraps, however Baker loved his probability to return once more for the and teaming up together with his previous companion Nicola Bryant, describing it as “beautiful” to do.
“It acknowledges that, after you’ve regenerated your self, you’re nonetheless pottering about someplace along with your companion and the ageing course of is allowed. So yeah, they will do something now. And in all probability will.”
You can see Colin and Nicola Bryant’s Tales Of The Tardis, which revisits their basic Vengeance On Varos storyline, on BBC iPlayer now and – in case you’re seeking to get into the Christmas spirit – you will discover Christmas At The Holly Day Inn (we love a very good pun) to lease or purchase on many main streaming platforms as properly. Here’s the trailer!
