Editing Colin Baker (section)

===''Doctor Who'' (1984–1986)===
Baker made his first appearance in ''Doctor Who'' as Commander Maxil in the [[Peter Davison]]-era story ''[[Arc of Infinity]]'' (1983). He then became the second of three actors to be cast as the Doctor by producer [[John Nathan-Turner]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2002/05_may/02/nathanturner.shtml | title= Death of former Doctor Who producer John Nathan-Turner | work=BBC Online | date=2 May 2002 | access-date=5 May 2020}}</ref> Baker's first appearance in the starring role occurred in the final moments of ''[[The Caves of Androzani]]'' (1984), where he delivered his first few lines. He then made his full story debut the following week in ''[[The Twin Dilemma]]''. The serial, and Baker's portrayal of the Doctor, caused immediate controversy, with one scene in which the Doctor attempts to strangle his companion, [[Peri Brown]]. According to ''[[PopMatters]]'', "Colin Baker's first appearance was just out-and-out dislikable, showcasing a hubris and harshness that was heretofore unseen in the Doctor's emotional canon."<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.popmatters.com/122276-doctor-who-the-twin-dilemma-2496179219.html | title= Doctor Who: The Twin Dilemma | work=[[PopMatters]] | first=Evan | last=Sawdey | date=23 March 2010 | access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>

Baker's era was interrupted by an 18-month [[Hiatus (television)|hiatus]] which was announced in February 1985, midway through transmission of [[Doctor Who (season 22)|Season 22]], his first full season. The Controller of [[BBC One|BBC1]]<!-- Current rendering dates from 1997. --> at the time, [[Michael Grade]], criticised ''Doctor Who'', saying that the programme had become overly violent in 1985. Grade later admitted that he "hated" the series, which he described as a "very clunky studio show".<ref>{{cite news | url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/2004/apr/03/broadcasting.politicsandthemedia3 | title= Amid the suits, a man who stands out | work=The Guardian | date=3 April 2004|access-date=7 May 2017|location=London, UK}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/mediamonkeyblog/2009/jan/05/doctor-who-michael-grade|title=Michael Grade delivers second opinion on Doctor Who: 'I was wrong'|work=The Guardian|date=5 January 2009|access-date=7 May 2017|location=London}}</ref> One new ''Doctor Who'' story, ''[[Slipback]]'', was produced for radio during the hiatus, which starred Baker and his regular television companion [[Nicola Bryant]].

[[File:Colin Baker, Whovent 1986 2.jpg|thumb|left|Baker at Whovent in September 1986]]

''Doctor Who'' returned to television for its [[Doctor Who (season 23)|23rd season]] in September 1986. The season featured a reduction in episodes, was made entirely on video for location scenes and was produced as a 14-episode-long serial called ''The Trial of a Time Lord''. This serial was a meta-textual reference to the fact that the series itself was "on trial" at this time.<ref>DVD Commentary: ''Trial of a Time Lord'', Discs 1–4 Region 1 Edition</ref> In 1986 Baker told an interviewer: "[[Tom Baker]] did it for seven years.&nbsp;... There's a part of me which likes to have a tilt at records. I would like to think that maybe I'd still be doing it in eight years' time."<ref>{{cite video
 | people     = David Woodward (Writer, producer, Director)
 | date       = 1986
 | title      = They All Axed<!--sic--> for Who
 | medium     = Television production
 | publisher  = [[WYES-TV|WYES]]
 | location   = [[New Orleans]]
 | time       = 0:05:30
}}</ref> Later that year the series was recommissioned, but Nathan-Turner was ordered to change the actor playing the Doctor. Although sources have attributed this decision to Grade, he denied this in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/classic/news/briefhistory/cbaker.shtml|title=Colin Baker|work=BBC Online|access-date=7 May 2017}}</ref><ref name=Conversation>{{cite AV media |date=2022 |title=''Doctor Who'': The Collection Season 22 |chapter=Michael Grade in Conversation |type=special feature |publisher=[[BBC Studios]]}}</ref> The BBC's Head of Series, [[Jonathan Powell (producer)|Jonathan Powell]], later said that the BBC was looking for "one last chance saloon, for an actor who would take off with the public."<ref>''Trials and Tribulations'' – documentary on Colin Baker's era of Doctor Who (2008 2entertain DVD release).</ref> Peter Davison argued in 2018 that the decision was more to do with the executives wanting to get rid of Nathan-Turner, saying: "I was upset about what happened, really – because, first of all, it wasn't to do with Colin, I know that. It was to do with other issues. The power structure in the BBC had changed and they didn't want John Nathan-Turner around is the truth of it."<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a871595/peter-davison-doctor-who-exit-dodged-bullet/ | title= Doctor Who star Peter Davison thinks he 'dodged a bullet' by quitting when he did | work=[[Digital Spy]] | first=Cameron K. | last=McEwan | date=3 December 2018 | access-date=7 May 2020}}</ref>

Baker was removed from the part after starring in only eleven stories and just short of three years in the series, including the hiatus, making his tenure as the Doctor the shortest at that point. After his sacking, Baker was offered a single four-part story that would end in his character's regeneration, but he refused the offer. In response, Baker offered to do the entirety of the following season and regenerate at its conclusion, but the BBC never responded to his letter. Instead, his replacement, [[Sylvester McCoy]], played the injured Sixth Doctor in a blonde wig as he regenerates in the opening minutes of ''[[Time and the Rani]]'', his face hidden by video effects as the regeneration process occurs.<ref name="cambridge-news.co.uk"/> In an interview in 2019, Baker expressed regret for not returning for the scene, stating that he was "brutally selfish at the time" and that he was not thinking about the fans.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Jeffery |first1=Morgan |title=Colin Baker says he was "selfish" not to film Doctor Who regeneration scene: 'I forgot about the fans' |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/tv/2019-09-16/colin-baker-doctor-who-regeneration/ |website=Radio Times |access-date=8 October 2019}}</ref>

On 4 September 2011 at [[Riverside Studios]], Hammersmith, London, Baker accepted the presidency of the [[Doctor Who Appreciation Society|''Doctor Who'' Appreciation Society]], which had previously been held by [[Jon Pertwee]] and [[Nicholas Courtney]]. He was elected following an online poll of the society's members where he won more votes than all the other candidates combined.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dwasonline.co.uk/node/572 |title=Colin Baker – Honorary President! |work=DWAS Online |date=5 September 2011 |access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref>