Art, Films and Television

I must confess I'm one of the rare people on this planet who has never seen an episode of Doctor Who. Or a James Bond film or Star Trek. Come to think of it, any film or TV programme which has a 'cult' following I can guarantee I won't have a clue about it.

Which made interviewing the sixth doctor, Colin Baker, quite a challenge. 

Figuring one of the doctor's superpowers would be knowing how to spot a chancer, I decided to confess to my dark secret to the doctor rather than spurt out random facts recently learnt from Wikipedia.

"I have to say you are in the minority by not watching it. Never having seen it before is quite remarkable, I don't know how you managed it," said Colin.

'Great honour'

So what was the doctor doing in Shepton Mallet? Well it was to launch a convention which will take place in the town in August.

Since the show's resurgence in 2005, Colin has become a professional doctor again as he attends many conventions, much to the delight of the fans. In fact his weekends seem to be fully booked with convention appearances - in the next couple of weeks he's in Gloucestershire and Stoke-on-Trent.

Colin Baker starred in 1984-86

"It was very popular when I was a young man and I'm delighted that it's receiving the same kind of popularity now. It's a family event, that's what I like about it - it's not for children, it's not for adults, it's for families."

He said the new series has been so successful because technology has advanced, the budget has increased and it has been cast 'superbly'. 

So does Colin wish he could climb into the tardis one more time?

He said he was not jealous of the new doctors but instead remembers his time there with affection.

"It's lovely to be a part of it again - even though it's new and different it is still the same - it's the same doctor, same tardis and the same kind of stories and feeling to it but it's moved on," he said.

"For three years of my life I was someone who could walk around and talk to anybody. It's such a huge part of British television culture, that I'm one of less than a dozen people to have played the part so it's a great honour and I'm proud to have been a part of it."

The convention takes place on 16 and 17 August in Shepton Mallet.