LONDON, Fri. — Dr Who — actor Tom Baker — has quit the long - running BBC-TV hit series.
It came as a cosmic shock on the heels of yesterday's announcement that unknown 23-year-old Australian actress Janet Fielding had landed the plum role as the time-travelling doctor's offsider.
Janet, who has acted in Britain since 1977, will become Doctor Who's 11th girl assisstant in 17 years when she takes over in the New Year, but she will be starring opposite someone other than the gangling, curly-haired and immensely popular Baker. Baker, 43.,is the fourth Dr Who and has taken the show to a peak popularity.
He said he did not know who was likely to succeed him but, "I would like it to be James Stuart. But perhaps he would feel he's done it, too ..."
The first actor to play the doctor was William Hartnell (1963 to 1968). He was followed by Patrick Troughton (1966 to 1970) and Jon Pertwee from 1970 to 1974.
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