Colin Baker
Colin Baker, previously known for playing the villainous Paul Merroney in BBC drama The Brothers, exploded onto the screen as the most outrageous of the Doctors in 1984.
With a costume as brash as his temperament, Colin’s Doctor was prone to violent mood swings. He even tried to strangle companion Peri at one point. On the other hand, the Sixth Doctor was probably the most eloquent and poetic of them all.
The harder, more violent stories and falling viewing figures were causing concern at the BBC, however.
In February 1985 the BBC announced that the show would be temporarily rested, sparking a wave of outrage amongst its loyal viewers. It eventually returned in September 1986, trimmed to 14 episodes a year and with the Doctor (and the show itself) once more on trial.
Although ratings weren’t spectacular, BBC1 Controller Michael Grade agreed to commission another season on the sole condition that a new actor was cast in the lead role.
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