Some national names are not only proud of their roots, they also write a column for their local paper. Here they explain why - and how- they do it
COLIN BAKER
Former Doctor Who
Bucks Free Press
"I've lived in the area for 20 years and I was quite high-profile when I started the column 10 years ago.
I'm a man of many opinions and few opportunities to air them; it was an opportunity to bang on about things which I've seized with both hands and relished. I get more feedback around and about Wycombe for my articles than I do for my theatre and television work; and locally I am known as Colin Baker the Bucks Free Press columnist, which is quite nice. I like writing - it uses a different part of the brain to acting but I get very cross with subeditors who tinker"
Sharon Walter, deputy editor of the Bucks Free Press, on Colin Baker
"He brings a personality to the paper and that's what you want in the column. When we had the new Doctor Who series it was a bonus having him in the gape!: We did a story on him and he wrote his column on it that week. There are a lot of people under 30 who wouldn't have 'mown him from Doctor Who who now know him from the pap.: He lives here and takes a keen interest in the town, but he tends to write about his own experiences, which aren't necessarily related to the town. It's added value and definitely gives people another reason to pick up the paper."
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