The gap between my initial encounter with the television debut of the
fourth Doctor in December 1974 and what I now know about the actor who played
him is Atlantic wide. To a kid, Tom was the lively, boggle eyed, long scarf
bedecked grinning hero who saved us all from the squidgy monsters and helped
make 5.20 pm on a Saturday night a magical place. To an adult, Tom became a
bawdy, crazy eccentric obsessed with death and, er, ironing. Inevitably these
two aspects came together in 1997 when Tom Baker published his autobiography.
In some ways it was something you didn’t want him to do as explanations often sabotage the most beguiling people. By this time though Tom was
out and about on the convention circuit and re-engaging with his best known
role. These appearances- and the book they promoted- did not disappoint.
