Tom Baker addresses Doctor Who's future - and reveals incredible reason he wants it to continue

Doctor Who icon Tom Baker has opened up on the show's next steps, including the amazing reason he wants the series to continue long into the future.

The beloved actor played the Fourth Doctor from 1974 to 1981, and is still considered one of the greatest incarnations of the Time Lord.

Speaking exclusively to Radio Times as he reprises his role as Sherlock Holmes in AUK's Sir Sherlock series for the next story, The Doctor's Son, Baker said: "I was sure there weren’t any other Doctors. It was just me, wasn’t it? Ahem. You know I’m always surprised about how many people have played the Doctor. And Sherlock. Basically, done everything I’ve done! And been successful, too.

"They’ve 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.

"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!"

Doctor Who is currently being put out to tender, with Baker also sharing his advice to the next actor who will take on the role of the Time Lord.

Meanwhile, Baker is also reuniting with his Doctor Who co-star, John Leeson, for his Sir Sherlock adventures.

"Ah, K9! How wonderful to be reunited with John Leeson. He’s always such an encouraging actor and shamelessly boosting my ego," he said.

"He just is so easy to work with. Very supportive. A lot of silent ‘thumbs-up’ to each other. I guess because we’ve known each other for such a long time now, it just has its own chemistry.

"I mean, I know he’s been doing a bit of moonlighting by working with other Doctors but come on, David Tennant won’t love him like I do!"

Sir Sherlock: The Doctor’s Son is the fourth adventure in the Sir Sherlock series from AUK Studios. The three previous adventures are: The Red Letter Day, The Sickle and the Sea and The Parting Shot.

For more information on The Doctor's Son, check out AUK's Kickstarter campaign. Doctor Who is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Authors

Louise Griffin is the Sci-Fi & Fantasy Editor for Radio Times, covering everything from Doctor Who, Star Wars and Marvel to House of the Dragon and Good Omens. She previously worked at Metro as a Senior Entertainment Reporter and has a degree in English Literature.