How cantankerous did Tom Baker get in his final years?
Clackers
Posts: 628 Forum Member
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I have recently been searching YouTube for some behind the scenes footage but did not find any.
By all accounts Baker became IMPOSSIBLE to work with towards the end of his tenure as the Doctor, being rude, arrogant, aloof, and generally crotchety with other cast members and crew.
Are there any written chronicles online somewhere that goes into more detail about his bad attitude?
By all accounts Baker became IMPOSSIBLE to work with towards the end of his tenure as the Doctor, being rude, arrogant, aloof, and generally crotchety with other cast members and crew.
Are there any written chronicles online somewhere that goes into more detail about his bad attitude?
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There was one clip behind-the-scenes of The Leisure Hive (where the Doctor Was to throw the golden helmet into the Tachyon Generator's screen to smash it), something went wrong and Baker was heard swearing, and very angry, to try and get it right.
There are examples where he had to shoot with Lalla Ward, and he literally refused to look her in the eye.
Matthew Waterhouse thought he was being helpful when his 17 year-old self was giving 50-odd Tom Baker acting tips. Clearly an experienced actor of Baker's vintage wouldn't accept someone so experienced giving him acting tips. Baker was quite offended by this.
Also can't remember what, but something happened that turned the relationship between Matthew and Lalla somewhat frosty.
Take into account Baker was actually quite ill for some time during this series, and also he didn't like JNT's plans for the show, especially as he had effectively been allowed to guide Graham Williams towards what he (Baker) wanted between 1977-1980.
I am told there are many clips on the Logopolis (new beginnings) DVD, but I don't own it, so I was searching on YouTube. I will try to find the Leisure Hive clip.
Thanks for the help, and if true, that was really cheeky and stupid from Matthew.
There's little point trying to defend Baker's abusive behaviour, but it is of it's time. Guess the 11th Doctors final speech holds true, change is good.
No, I'm certain it was Tom Baker that he gave acting tips to. As a result, Tom Baker avoided contact with him as much as possible whilst they were working together.
He definately did to Richard Todd. Peter Davison has delighted in telling that story many times. Poor MW.
Answer to OP, suspect the answer is Very...if he was in a mood. Certainly remember seeing some tense moments during the making of 'Shada' on a DVD extra.
It was Richard Todd, it's talked out about in the Kinda DVD commentary of which I listened to last night!
Richard Todd was certainly one of the beneficiaries of Waterhouse's advice, but I for one would not be surprised if it turned out he was not alone: Waterhouse was certainly bumptious enough. On the Logopolis DVD commentary, though, I seem to recall Tom Baker says something to the effect that he disliked Waterhouse because he was an inexperienced actor who kept picking up TB's own mannerisms instead of providing his own.
Tom Baker was hardly the first Doctor Who to have become cantankerous and difficult towards the end of his tenure. I don't suppose he was any worse than Hartnell or Pertwee. I think it's just something that comes with the territory (and all three actors would respond graciously to the correct handling).
It's human nature and as a pretty eccentric human being, Tom Baker would have been no different.
Poor Tom! He was only 46 when he left the show!
I think Waterhouse refuted this in his book, saying it was just a story Davison liked to put about on the convention circuit
I only listened to the audio version of his book, I think it was abridged, but I don't recall him mentioning much about Davison that was of interest. From what I've gathered from reviews about the dvd commentaries, Waterhouse seems to get quite a bit of grief from his fellow cast members, I don't know whether this is just teasing or not.
I think this is why I prefer his early performances so much. He seems so much more relaxed and at ease in the role at a time when he wasn't so domineering offset and the strain of being a big star of the show had yet to set in.
That's pretty much my take on it. From various interviews with people in front of and behind the camera that I've read over the years, it was Season 15 when he got a bit more, um, 'difficult'and his performances IMO less consistant.Of course then there was a new young producer in place, Tom wasn't keen on the Leela character and after 3 years he was established as a big TV star.
I've wildly speculated before that he was in a good mood and gave some of his most fun performances in Season 16 because he didn't want to look a t*t in front of the breathtakingly beautiful and down to earth Mary Tamm!
Yes, I agree. I think the best person to have noticed the biggest change in him the most was Christopher Barry, who directed his first story and then came back several Seasons later and noticed how much he'd changed offset to a more domineering force.
Also agree about the change of producer, it seems from what I've read, Hinchcliffe kept him in check regarding the humour but Williams, to coin a phrase, let him off the leash. He was given almost free reign to do as he pleased which maybe why he kicked off even more when JNT took over in Season 18 and reigned him in and cut down on the humour.
To be honest, Tom probably got quite bad, but he wasn't very well (he looked pretty ropey in his final season) and he wasn't too keen on JNT from what I understand.
He's a funny one is old Tom, he loves to change his stories. One of his favourites is that he was on his way home when he realised that Doctor Who was about to be shown so he called at a nearby house and asked if he could go in to watch it. Nowadays he says he NEVER watched the programme !
I forgot to reply to this post earlier but apparently Patrick Troughton of all Doctors got a bit irascible towards the end of his time as well. Apparently the heavy workload and the nature of the last few stories took it's toll on him as he just wanted to leave at that point.
Considering how many episodes were made in those days you can understand it. It must have been a long slog to get to the end of that Season when you've already decided to leave.
Funnily enough, Hinchcliffe's departure coincided with Baker's initial request to leave
I know he was grumpy - but he seemed to have more of a 'presence' if you like - maybe due to the new costume?
#As for his cameo in the 50th -
I had to hide my face away watching as I started to sniffle[wife would've taken piss], he looks so old and frail - heartbreaking.