Product Details

• Actors: Colin Baker, Anthony Ainley, Lynda Bellingham, Nicola Bryant, Peter Davison
• Directors: John Nathan-Turner
• Writers: Colin Baker, John Nathan-Turner
• Producers: John Nathan-Turner
• Format: Color, HiFi Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• VHS Release Date: August 24, 1994
• Run Time: 88 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6303145914
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #335,521 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Colin Baker, one of the most controversial and short-tenured actors to play Doctor Who, hosts this look at his era (1984-1986) as the sixth Doctor. He reminiscences about his time on the series along with clips from each episode, with funny anecdotes about filming and background information. He seems particularly amused at the attention (particularly on the BBC--included here in clips) that getting the part engendered originally. Many of his stories were criticized at the time, both by fans and his BBC bosses, and Baker acknowledges it with frank, but fond, memories of each one nevertheless. He also candidly discusses the acting process and how it relates to the needs of the series.

This documentary was produced and directed by John Nathan-Turner, the man who originally hired Baker and produced the series during his entire run, so it wasn't likely that Baker was now going to bite the hand that fed him. Instead, he editorializes about the 18-month hiatus that was imposed on Doctor Who in 1985 by the BBC, partially in reaction to what was going on in the series at the time, and his ultimate sacking a year later. And while Baker is more than gracious about most of his guest stars, he is entirely dismissive of Paul Darrow (Blake's 7), who appeared in "Timelash," not even mentioning him by name. The entire production might exist as Baker's final testament about the series and his episodes (or as a vanity piece to promote other videos), but fan opinion continues to be mixed about his era, and his legacy is to be the first Doctor ever let go by the BBC involuntarily. --Ryan K. Johnson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Time runs out for the Doctor, September 15, 2000

By 

N. A. Parry - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Doctor Who - The Colin Baker Years [VHS] (VHS Tape)

In 1985, the television programme Dr Who had been running for over twenty years. When Colin Baker took on the role, the future of the show looked rosy. And then, halfway through his first season as the time-travelling Doctor, amid allegations of bust-ups with the production team behind the scenes, and accusations of 'too much horror and violence' in the programme, Dr Who was suspended. Some fans of the show say it never really recovered. The production team's subsequent lack of confidence, together with the BBC's apparent dislike of the show saw its eventual cancellation in 1989. Colin Baker's all-too-breif time playing the Doctor is well documented here. Introducing this video documentary himself, he also adds candid insights into what happened behind the scenes during what was to become known as a fairly troubled time for the long-running show. This video shows Colin as a humourous and likeable actor who was just getting to grips with the role of the world-famous time-lord when it was taken from him. Watching his recollections of Dr Who makes it all the sadder that was not able to remain with show longer.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable video to watch, through Colin Baker's own words, October 27, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Doctor Who - The Colin Baker Years [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Doctor Who: The Colin Baker Years looks back thru the era of Colin Baker's (short) run as the Sixth Doctor. It is very enjoyable to watch, as Colin looks back on his time on the show. Unlike previous installments in the Doctor Who "Years" tapes (The Hartnell Years, The Troughton Years, The Pertwee Years, Daleks: The Early Years, Cybermen: The Early Years) where they were showcasing surviving episodes of mostly missing stories from the 1960s (or 1970s for color versions of missing Pertwee episodes), or the Tom Baker Years set (where Tom just watches clips and talks about what he may remember, where sadly his memory was very lacking on recalling anything), Colin Baker remembers as much as he can, and brings lots of those memories to the viewer.

It is sad that during Colin's run on the show, that the series went went through turmoil (behind-the-scenes), ratings dropped/ loss of viewers, and was deemed more violent, to the point that Dr. Who's owners, the BBC (upper management to be precise), lost interest in the show by that time and eventually to the dropping of Colin from the lead part itself after only doing two seasons (with an 18 month hiatus between seasons 22 and 23 not helping, and reducing the series to just 14 episodes for its last 4 years, seasons 23-26). Colin's portrayal of the Sixth Doctor was not well liked back then, and remains something to debate about to this day, and even some of the stories that were produced back then. Colin can't be blamed for this, but he got the axe, and was treated badly by the BBC in a drastic mood for some changes. A dark period in Dr. Who's history from which the series never really recovered from 1984-1986, and even afterward into Sylvestor McCoy's run as the Seventh Doctor (1987-1989).

The Colin Baker Years was a short era indeed, but the look back on this period is a fun watch never the less. Add it to your Dr. Who video library.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating., May 15, 2000

By 

G.Spider - See all my reviews

This review is from: Doctor Who - The Colin Baker Years [VHS] (VHS Tape)

A must-have for fans of Dr Who or sci-fi in general, this is a look back at the most unfairly under-rated era of the series. Various clips from the Colin Baker stories are here, together with some footage from Dr Who conventions.

The only downside is the lack of 'Revalation of the Daleks' clips. This was one of the strongest Dalek stories and so its writer refusing to let it be novelized or released on video remains a mystery.

That aside, this is a first-rate release.