The Sixth Doctor was a controversial figure , on screen and off , by the end of his land tenure on Doctor Who . At the fourth dimension , Colin Baker ’s going was so furious the worker did not regress for the traditional hand - over of the role to his replacement , Sylvester McCoy . It led to one of the foxy wigs in Doctor Who history , but now , Baker regrets it for another ground .

TheRadio Timesreports that , speaking recently at a talk to celebrate the approaching dismission of the twenty-third season of the classic serial ofWho on Blu - light beam — the far-famed “ trial run of a Time Lord ” arc , where each story was connect by a framing gimmick of the Time Lordscapturing the Doctorand putting him on , well , trial — Baker discussed his far - from - large issue from the series .

The Sixth Doctor ’s brusque characterization had proven controversial among viewers and people at the BBC , and the then - control of BBC One , Michael Grade , had publicly made clear his own disdain of Doctor Who . When the series was seem for renewal on a twenty-fourth time of year , Grade extend a harsh ultimatum : absent Baker from the title role or the show was offset .

Sylvester McCoy, doing his best Colin Baker impression.

Sylvester McCoy, doing his best Colin Baker impression.Gif: BBC

https://gizmodo.com/read-this-scathing-1988-viewer-reaction-to-doctor-who-a-1825597824

The production squad picked fire Baker — they offered him the prospect to return for one more story and complete his prison term as the Doctor in good order , but Baker was understandably upset about his firing and unconditionally refused . One case - down Sylvester McCoy and an incredibly bum wig afterward , viewers tune up into “ Time and the Rani ” to see … this :

It ’s not bang-up . One ofmany , many thingsnot great about the write up , candidly — so in retrospect , a dodgy regeneration was the least of concerns facing Doctor Who at the time . But still , Baker conceded , what upsets him now is the fact that fan never got to see a regeneration done justice :

Argentina’s President Javier Milei (left) and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., holding a chainsaw in a photo posted to Kennedy’s X account on May 27. 2025.

This was in November and [ filming his regeneration ] would take place the play along March / April … I was n’t going to commit myself to two weeks shape the next March / April … and I ’ll be honest , I was hack off . I run across no rationality to be nice to them .

I forgot about [ the fans]–sorry . I was being brutally selfish at the time and I just felt pissed . Because I make love that part … and I think I had more to offer .

It ’s all in good order , Mr. Baker , it ’s totally understandable as to why you did n’t . The wig atop inadequate Sylvester McCoy ’s forefront they replaced you with is really what someone on the Who team should be apologizing for .

William Duplessie

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