Fourth Doctor actor, Tom Baker, has given a rather charming interview in which he speaks warmly about Doctor Who fans approaching him in the street. In fact, that, he says, is the main reason he hopes it continues!

While promoting the latest audio series, AUK’s Sir Sherlock, in which he, of course, plays Holmes (with John Leeson, aka K9, as Dr Watson), Tom said:

“I can’t even watch myself play Doctor Who, you know. So, it would be difficult to watch others play him. ‘I wouldn’t do it like that’, I’d be saying. And that would be naughty, because they can play it how they like. I do think the show will continue. If only so people will keep saying ‘hello’ to old Tom in the street!”

It’s no secret that Tom adored the role and brought a lot of himself to it; similarly, it’s not a shock for him to say he doesn’t watch others playing the part. Nonetheless, he’s rewatched some stories for the Doctor Who: The Collection Blu-ray series, in which he appears, with various other actors, in the Behind the Sofa documentary series.

Tom further explained:

“You know I’m always surprised about how many people have played the Doctor. And Sherlock. Basically, [how many actors have] done everything I’ve done! And been successful, too. They’re both great characters, I suppose, Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes. They can be very predictable — in the sense that they’re going to win. They’re always going to win. They very rarely fail. They might be teased or meet their match but to be Holmes is to be a winner.

“So, you have to find a way to make the winning entertaining and not too obvious. That’s why a little bit of Tom Baker creeps into the characters when I play them. I like to be entertaining! Doctor Who is always entertaining, isn’t it? That’s why it still keeps going.”

You can support AUK’s Sir Sherlock series by heading over to Kickstarter and find out more about the next release, The Doctor’s Son.