Doctor Who Showrunners Praise Former Doctor As “The Most Phenomenal Piece Of Casting On Any Show Ever”

Doctor Who showrunners Russell T Davies and Steven Moffat come together to celebrate the “phenomenal” casting of one Doctor in particular. Looking back at the Fourth Doctor era, Tom Baker assumed the role in 1974, leading the show for 172 episodes across 7 seasons. Baker’s final battle against the Master (Anthony Ainley) in 1981’s “Logopolis” brought his adventures to an end with the Fourth Doctor’s regeneration, but he has since reprised the role in one-off appearances and audio dramas.

When speaking to Doctor Who Magazine (via RadioTimes) in a larger retrospective on Phillip Hinchcliffe’s producing tenure, Moffat turned attention to the cast of that era, particularly praising Baker, Elizabeth Sladen, and Ian Marter’s TARDIS team of the Fourth Doctor, Sarah Jane Smith, and Harry Sullivan. He went so far as to say Doctor Who hasn’t a better cast, explaining:

Steven Moffat: I know this was a legacy of the previous producer, but I’m not sure Doctor Who has ever had a better cast than that first year with Tom Baker, Lis Sladen and Ian Marter [as Harry Sullivan], I think one of Philip’s rare mistakes was getting rid of Harry. That dynamic – two companions who’d talk about the Doctor – was so useful.

We’ve never quite stopped that. There’s an awareness about it all that means it simply doesn’t matter that the giant rat [in Talons] is a bit silly, because have you noticed Li H’sen Chang? And it doesn’t matter that Li H’sen Chang’s a bit silly, because have you noticed how c**p his plan is? It just doesn’t matter, because the show is thoroughly enjoying riffing on those horror tropes, and you’re not meant to take things like giant rats and mummies and Frankenstein’s monster seriously – unless there’s something genuinely wrong with you.

Davies agreed, praising Baker’s Doctor Who casting as “the most phenomenal piece of casting in any show ever” and celebrating how Hinchcliffe and script editor Robert Holmes knew just how to emphasize the actor perfectly throughout the era.

Russell T Davies: That’s part of the joy. They know. You can see Philip Hinchcliffe and Robert Holmes leaning into their great success, realising what a lead they have. In fact, Tom and Lis [also cast by Letts] were terrific. They got the casting right twice. Throughout the history of Doctor Who, that’s when the miracles happen.

Also the miracle of a very strong script editor. Robert Holmes is all over every episode – that man must be rewriting tons of stuff, and it works. But it works because it fits. It fits monsters like Morbius. It fits the classics – the mummy story, the Frankenstein story, the Old Testament! They’re great stories because they work. It’s all just genius. Genius meets genius. A great producer meets a great actor meets great scripts.

What Baker’s Era Meant For Doctor Who

The Era Redefined The Series’ Tone And Characters

Hinchcliffe’s Doctor Who tenure saw a major shift from what came before, as the series pivoted away from the James Bond-esque adventures of Jon Pertwee’s Third Doctor and dove into a more terrifying universe. Not only did these stories feature the more blatant monstrosities that played on classic tropes, such as the Egyptian-inspired Sutekh (Gabriel Woolf) and the patch-work body of Morbius (Michael Spice), but they also explored the still-lingering terror of fascism through the celebrated origin story for the Daleks. However, it is hard to imagine that these stories would have hit as hard without their distinct casts.

A far cry from Pertwee’s action-hero-esque Time Lord, Baker’s performance created the eccentricities that would become character-defining features for future incarnations, from his familiarity with historical figures to his unique fashion choices. Furthermore, Sarah Jane and the companions that followed her would bring the role closer to what modern audiences would be familiar with. She, Leela (Louise Jameson), and Romana (Mary Tamm and Lalla Ward) provided the show with dynamics that challenged the Doctor and had their own skills to compliment the Time Lord.

Our Take On Davies And Moffat’s Praise For Baker’s Era

The Actor Remains An Iconic Incarnation

Baker remains a fan-favorite Doctor to this day, with his era in particular holding some of the most influential stories. As such, it is unsurprising that two of the writers who helmed the series’ revival are keen to celebrate the contributions of Hinchcliffe, Baker, and the rest of the cast. With his continued involvement in the franchise through Big Finish’s audio dramas, Baker is one of the more recognizable actors to take on the role alongside the modern incarnations. Both Davies and Moffat’s praise for the classic era of Doctor Who is well-deserved and a fitting tribute to the series’ past.