Doctor Who - Tom Baker - The Fourth Doctor

Jelly Baby?: Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor

When Tom Baker took on the role of the Doctor, many were unsure about him but he quickly made the role his own. With his voice that has been described as 'sonorous', and his manic, off-beat humour, audience numbers sky-rocketed to a number that hadn't been seen since the 'Dalekmania' that had hit Britain during William Hartnell's tenure. Baker's Doctor was also the first to be seen in the United States, when it was broadcast on PBS.



As such, Baker's Doctor is still widely considered the definitive Doctor Who, of the classic and modern series. As the longest serving Doctor, his long coat, multi-coloured scarf and floppy hat is the most recognizable. 

His personality and style made him the most unpredictable. He was a bit more of an alien than his previous incarnations. His manner, his obsession with jelly babies, all contributed to his long lasting imprint of the Doctor's image. Indeed, many fans of the Doctor utilize the Fourth's outfit at conventions.

For those wanting to revisit the Tom Baker years, you can buy his collections here.

Tom retired from the role in 1981, regenerating into the Fifth Doctor, played by the young Peter Davison. It's interesting to note that Tom distanced himself from the role for a number of years after he stepped down. Refusing to appear for 1983's 20 year anniversary 'The Five Doctors' after originally agreeing to take part so production had to edit footage of him together and then there was the infamous publicity shot of a mannequin of Baker with Richard Hurndall, Troughton, Pertwee and Davison.