Exterminate: Baker axed as Dr Who
- Publication: The Daily Telegraph (Australia)
- Date: 1987-01-19
- Author: Robin Oliver
- Page: 27
- Language: English
COLIN Baker, the latest in a long line of actors to play the legendary Dr Who, has been exterminated from the role.
Baker got the message on a good and bad news day for Dr Who fans in 30 countries: the on and off again show will definitely continue in production but Baker (above, with Nicola Bryant) was told to resign and keep mum about the fact that he had actually been sacked. So far there is no indication who will be Who in the new series, though production dates are said to be looming.
The return of the legendary Doctor has been made more curious by the antics of BBC Controller Michael Grade, who has infuriated British viewers by sounding off at the show and describing its fans as loonies."
Before the decision to renew the show, Grade tried to save face by inviting Baker back to make four more episodes, in which the traditionally invincible Doctor would be killed off.
"I told them what they could do with the offer," Baker said.
There were more surprises to come. Officially terminated, Baker was convinced there had been a mistake when the BBC invited him to go to the U.S. with some other actors on a promotional tour with Michael Grade and other top Beeb officials.
"I wasn't paid a penny for a fee," Baker said. "I went mainly because I hoped I would be able to discuss my future with Grade.
"But though he was pleasant and terribly polite, we never had a chat. "Yet publicly he would introduce me along with the others as one of the BBC's most important actors. What an irony!"
Disclaimer: These citations are created on-the-fly using primitive parsing techniques. You should double-check all citations. Send feedback to whovian@cuttingsarchive.org
- APA 6th ed.: Oliver, Robin (1987-01-19). Exterminate: Baker axed as Dr Who. The Daily Telegraph (Australia) p. 27.
- MLA 7th ed.: Oliver, Robin. "Exterminate: Baker axed as Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph (Australia) [add city] 1987-01-19, 27. Print.
- Chicago 15th ed.: Oliver, Robin. "Exterminate: Baker axed as Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph (Australia), edition, sec., 1987-01-19
- Turabian: Oliver, Robin. "Exterminate: Baker axed as Dr Who." The Daily Telegraph (Australia), 1987-01-19, section, 27 edition.
- Wikipedia (this article): <ref>{{cite news| title=Exterminate: Baker axed as Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Exterminate:_Baker_axed_as_Dr_Who | work=The Daily Telegraph (Australia) | pages=27 | date=1987-01-19 | via=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025 }}</ref>
- Wikipedia (this page): <ref>{{cite web | title=Exterminate: Baker axed as Dr Who | url=http://cuttingsarchive.org/index.php/Exterminate:_Baker_axed_as_Dr_Who | work=Doctor Who Cuttings Archive | accessdate=5 December 2025}}</ref>
