In the lead up to the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who on November 23, I shall be posting an article on each Doctor. Today, I have a look at the Sixth Doctor, played by Colin Baker.

After the departure of Peter Davison, it was decided to increase the apparent age of the Doctor again. As a result, after a lengthy search, Colin Baker was cast as the Sixth Doctor. Baker's casting was another first for the show, as he became the first actor who had appeared in Doctor Who previously to be cast in a main role. Baker had played the part of Commander Maxil in the Fifth Doctor story 'Arc of Infinity'. The character was a Time Lord, and rather ironically, shot the Doctor at one point during the story.

In an extreme departure from the Fifth Doctor’s more timid and reserved personality, the Sixth Doctor was extremely obnoxious, rude and egotistical, and viewed himself as a great improvement over his previous incarnations. In stark contrast to his previous selves, the Sixth Doctor had very few qualms about resorting to violence to make sure he escaped from whatever situation he had landed himself in. A notable example would be when he tossed two guards into an acid pit – and walked away seemingly uncaringly.

The Doctor’s radically different personality also greatly affected his relationship with his companion, Peri. Soon after his regeneration, he experienced a brief moment of madness which culminated with him almost strangling Peri to death. Peri, although extremely shaken, soon recovered, and as time progressed, came to form a close bond with the Doctor despite his arrogant persona – though at times it appeared if she only tolerated his behaviour. Despite his behaviour towards her, the Doctor cared for Peri as well, and would do whatever necessary to ensure her safety. Unfortunately, there was one time where events were outside his control, and as a result, Peri died. The Doctor was devastated, and he needed a significant amount of time to recover from the shock.

Despite his exterior personality, at heart, the Sixth Doctor remained a kind and compassionate person, displaying great sympathy for those in need. If he found a situation that he believed needed his help, he would do everything hecould to see justice prevail. These more ‘Doctorish’ attributes would be explored further in the many Big Finish audio plays the Sixth Doctor has appeared in, with many fans of the opinion that Six’s audio plays are the definitive version of the character.

Unfortunately, the Sixth Doctor’s era was a turbulent time for Doctor Who, with the show being cancelled after only one season with Baker in the lead role. Michael Grade, the then Director of Programmes at the BBC, justified the decision by saying that Doctor Who had become too violent and was losing its audience. However, a considerable backlash against his decision caused him to change the cancellation into an eighteen month hiatus. Once the show returned, though, it wasn’t long before Grade ordered that Baker be sacked, and a new Doctor be found.

Thus, Colin Baker’s tenure as the Doctor was cut short, leaving him with only two seasons to his name. As a result, his Doctor was unable to mellow into a more likeable character on screen, and he is usually found at the bottom of ‘best Doctor’ polls. However, as I was watching ‘The Two Doctors’ on ABC iView the other day, it struck me that I had fallen in love with Colin’s take on the Doctor. His sarcastic humour struck a chord, and I realised, that, up until that point, I had viewed the Sixth Doctor unfairly, simply assuming that his Doctor was the worst because that was the position the majority of the fandom held. (I had seen some of his episodes, but not for several years, so the memories were a bit hazy). I have come to respect Colin and his take on the Sixth Doctor, for it was amazing in its own, unusual way.

Despite the poor treatment Colin received while playing the Doctor, he has gone on to be one of the most proactive ambassadors for the programme. While his impact on the show itself may have been minimal, it cannot be denied that his efforts post-Doctor Who have gone unnoticed. Without Colin and his amazing Doctor, the show would certainly not be where it is today.