John Lavalie: Created page with "{{article | publication = Sandwell Evening Mail | file = 1988-11-09 Sandwell Evening Mail.jpg | px = 650 | height = | width = | date = 1988-11-09 | author = | pages = 9 | l..."

2022-08-18T21:48:25Z

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Dr Who actor Colin Baker who was axed from the science fiction series in 1986 has spoken for the first time over his treatment by BBC TV chiefs.

He said: "I discovered that actors are treated like mushrooms — fed on muck and left in the dark."

The 42-year-old actor was dropped after BBC 1's then Controller Michael Grade temporarily shelved the children's show — now in its 25th year — for being stale.

"I have not spoken to Michael Grade since," he said. "He is very shrewd, clever and populist maker of TV programmes and I agree with 99 per cent of what he says.

"I just objected to the one decision he made about me. I played Dr Who for three years, and at the time it was extremely irritating. I thought I was being messed about.

"They decided they wanted a new Doctor and I tried to find out why. Nobody was particularly keen to tell me."

Baker said he still receives 200 letters a month at his Buckinghamshire home from fans "mourning my abrupt departure from the series" — one of British television's longest-running programmes.

"I get sacks of letters from people assuming I left Dr Who voluntarily," he said.

"It was 500 a month at its peak but is now down to 200. It touches me. I answer most of the letters personally.

"Dr Who was great fun but I have had a 20-year career and that was three years."

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Axed Dr Who star breaks his silence - Revision history

John Lavalie: Created page with "{{article | publication = Sandwell Evening Mail | file = 1988-11-09 Sandwell Evening Mail.jpg | px = 650 | height = | width = | date = 1988-11-09 | author = | pages = 9 | l..."