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Doctor Who's Tom Baker poses in rarely seen pictures from Radio Times archive

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Doctor Who's Tom Baker poses in rarely seen pictures from Radio Times archive

It's almost 50 years since Baker's first Doctor Who serial.

Tom Baker at Longleat in 1996 sitting in a classic car

Jamie Hughes/RadioTimes

Louise Griffin

Published: Thursday, 19 December 2024 at 12:00 pm

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An important date in Doctor Who history is rapidly approaching, as we celebrate 50 years of Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor.

While the actor, who's approaching his 91st birthday, first appeared uncredited at the end of Planet of the Spiders, his first full serial was Robot, which started airing on 28th December 1974 and began his epic and unforgettable seven-season run as the Doctor.

To celebrate, Radio Times will be publishing a digital bookazine, filled with archive features and images of one of the most iconic actors to ever play the Doctor (available from 20th December).

But, in the meantime, we've dug some gems out from the archive to share.

Below are a series of shots taken by photographer Jamie Hughes at Longleat in 1996. Baker posed for pictures and also greeted fans, signing photos and chatting away.

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Tom Baker at Longleat in 1996

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Jamie Hughes/RadioTimes

Baker is the longest-serving actor to have played the Doctor, starring as the Time Lord from 1974 to 1981, with his incarnation being one of the most popular of all time.

Last year, Baker sat down with Radio Times to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Doctor Who, during which he was asked about any advice for his successor, Ncuti Gatwa, who plays the current incarnation of the Doctor.

"Knowing anything is a bit dangerous when you play Doctor Who," he said. "It’s better to know nothing. And to be good-natured. The trick is to respond generously to other actors, which halves your task because you don’t have to be driving it all the time."

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As for any reunions with his fellow Doctors? "I avoid them, you know. Not with any malice. A degree of contempt, perhaps. But mildly. Mildly contemptuous."

He added: "Nobody failed as Doctor Who, did they? Well, we mustn’t be ungenerous to anyone. But certainly I didn’t."

Certainly, he didn't.

Radio Times's free digital bookazine, Tom Baker: 50 Years in Time and Space, will be available from 20th December.

Doctor Who: Joy to the World will air on Wednesday 25th December on BBC One and BBC iPlayer at 5:10pm. Previous seasons are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to see what's on tonight. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Authors

Louise GriffinSci-Fi and Fantasy Editor

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.

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