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Fifth Doctor actor Peter Davison reflected on Doctor Who’s 20th-anniversary special, The Five Doctors. He shared his regrets about not working with Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor. Davison joined the series in 1981, taking over from Baker. He played the Time Lord for three seasons.
The Five Doctors aired in 1983. The special saw the first five Doctors pulled from their timelines for a dangerous game on Gallifrey. To mark the release of Doctor Who: The Collection (20th series), Davison, Janet Fielding, and Sarah Sutton attended a Q&A session at BFI Southbank. During the event, Davison discussed Baker’s absence from the special.
Radio Times reported Davison’s thoughts on Baker’s uncertainty about returning. Ultimately, Baker chose not to participate, as he had played the role for seven years and wanted to move on. Davison expressed disappointment, not just as a Doctor Who fan but as someone who admired Baker’s acting.
How Doctor Who’s Crew Featured Tom Baker in The Five Doctors
In Doctor Who, Baker’s absence was explained as a mistake by the mysterious enemy. The Time Scoop attempted to capture the Fourth Doctor and Romana (Lalla Ward) while they were on a gondola. Instead, they became trapped in a time vortex and did not reach the Death Zone. After the other Doctors completed their mission, Rassilon (Richard Matthews) freed them.
Behind the scenes, the production team found creative solutions to include Baker. William Hartnell had passed away, so Richard Hurndall played the First Doctor. For Baker, the team reused footage from the unfinished episode Shada. This allowed them to depict his capture by the Time Scoop. Additionally, a waxwork of Baker from Madame Tussauds was used in promotional materials alongside the other actors.
Though The Five Doctors celebrated Doctor Who’s 20th anniversary, Baker’s absence remained notable. Davison understood Baker’s reasons for stepping away. However, many fans still see it as a missed opportunity. The Fifth Doctor actor’s regrets highlight what could have been a memorable collaboration. Fans continue to wonder how the Fourth Doctor might have fit into the beloved story.
