Ever since waking up with mad energy in his debut story “Robot”, Tom Baker’s Doctor made an incredible impression on all viewers, an impression that’s lasted for over 50 years. It’s easy to see why. One clear thing about Tom Baker’s performance is that he puts so much of himself into the role. His energy, his enthusiasm, his outright weirdness – all of these reasons helped to make his Doctor incredibly iconic.
It's wonderful to know that Tom Baker is still with us at the age of 91. For many of us, Tom Baker isn't just a Doctor - he is the Doctor, "the definite article, you might say". And based on his recent video messages, he’s still got the same spark that made all of us love him.
On top of that, just weeks ago, he was given the honor of becoming a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). Tom Baker seems to have enjoyed an excellent year in 2024. I hope that remains true for 2025.
How to celebrate
If you’re a fan who wants to celebrate the occasion, there are a few options. For example, the Doctor Who YouTube channel has uploaded a compilation of highlights featuring the Fourth Doctor. The compilation is extensive, covering the whole of his era from “Robot” to his final TV story “Logopolis”. Surprisingly, the final clip isn't his emotional regeneration scene. But I must admit that it’s still very fitting.
Of course, another way of celebrating is by watching one of Baker’s many, many great stories in full. At this point, there are several easy ways to do this. In the UK, you can access most of the Classic Series on BBC iPlayer. (Sadly, “Terror of the Zygons” and “The Seeds of Doom” – arguably, two of the best Fourth Doctor stories – are currently unavailable due to rights issues.)
While BBC iPlayer is unavailable in the US, there are other options. For example, the streaming service BritBox has most of the Classic Series available for streaming. There’s also Tubi, where you can watch Doctor Who for free, as long as you don’t mind commercials.
Doctor Who: Classic on YouTube
A fairly new option that I've already grown fond of is the Doctor Who: Classic YouTube channel. The channel has existed for years, but for a long time, it seemed to be inactive. And then suddenly, beginning last month, entire stories have been uploaded to the channel every day for free. And it’s not in chronological order either, so you don’t know what story or Doctor is going to be selected next.
I highly recommend checking the channel out and enjoying one or two classic Tom Baker stories, especially as the comments section means you get to discuss these great stories with other fans. "Genesis of the Daleks" and "City of Death" are my recommendations. They're incredibly different stories that highlight the best of Tom Baker's Doctor.
As for myself, I’ll be enjoying his era by listening to some of The Fourth Doctor Adventures. It’s amazing to think that, decades after leaving the TV series, Tom Baker is still playing the Doctor even now. My recommendations include last month’s “The Curse of Time”, which captures the spirit of Baker’s debut season so perfectly, and “Out of Time”, where the Fourth Doctor meets the Tenth for the first time.
There are many brilliant stories to enjoy with the Fourth Doctor. Often, the biggest reason they are so enjoyable is the man himself. So happy 91st birthday, Tom Baker, and thank you for giving so much to the Doctor Who fandom.