Tom Baker: Doctor Who killed my career – Daily TV round-up

Tom Baker has said that his time as the fourth Doctor on ‘Doctor Who’ “killed his career”.

Baker, who first took on the role in 1974 and held onto it for seven years, made the comments despite citing it as the “loveliest job I ever had”. 

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“It essentially killed my career stone dead,” he said, “because I suddenly realised I liked being Doctor Who more than anything that had ever happened to me before.”

Since handing over the keys of the TARDIS to Peter Davison in 1981, Baker has enjoyed roles in ‘Monarch of the Glen’ and ‘Medics’ but is perhaps best known to younger viewers for his narration of sketch show ‘Little Britain’.

“When I went to play Macbeth the audience wanted me to play Macbeth in the style of Doctor Who and naturally I did. I realised then that the people coming to see me didn’t want to see me playing Jack the Ripper or whatever it was.”

Fellow former Doctors have done better post-Who - Peter Davison has appeared in dramas including ‘At Home With The Braithwaites’ and most recently appeared in sitcom ‘Miranda’, while Sylvester McCoy has a role in Peter Jackson’s ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ set for release this year.

The most recent retired Doctor, David Tennant, has done well for himself too with acclaimed TV and stage performances. Tennant has also enjoyed roles in films like ‘How to Train Your Dragon’ and ‘Fright Night’ and recently signed up to play a detective in a new ITV show inspired by the cult Danish series ‘The Killing’. [The Sun]

Also in today's press

Auntie Beeb is reportedly planning to steal Take That star Gary Barlow from ‘The X Factor’ in an attempt to transform ‘The Voice’ upon its return.  Barlow, who is currently filming the audition stage of ITV’s talent show, is set to receive “an offer he can’t refuse”. [The Mirror]

In more believable ‘X Factor’ news, Barlow and host Dermot O’Leary are said to have pressured producers into changing the show’s schedule so they and the show’s crew have time to watch England’s first match of Euro 2012 against France next Monday.  [Digital Spy]