Colin Baker in Blake's 7

A clip of Colin's now legendary turn as the fearsome Bayban the Butcher in a 1980 episode of BLAKE'S 7...

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Colin Baker is such a good actor. I met him in 2011. Nice guy. Good sense of humor.

[@Eltonlaleham]

I adored Colin Baker,s role as Bayban in B7 but I IMO think Colin Baker would have made an awesome Blake if Gareth Thomas had not been cast as Blake

[@TryksterJawbreaker]

I keep waiting for him to shout "Peri!" in an indignant tone ^-^

[@janetbailey3804]

OH MY GOD, COLIN BAKER ONE OF MY FAVORITE CLASSIC DOCTORS, RIGHT BEHIND TOM BAKER AND JON PERTWEE!!!GARY BAILEY

[@janetbailey3804]

THANKS FOR ALL THE THUMBS UP WITH MY COMMENT ON COLIN BAKER, THAT MAN, NEVER, NEVER GOT A FAIR SHAKE ON DOCTOR WHO, AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT HE WAS GREAT, AND WAS THRILLED TO SEE HIM ON BLAKE'S 7!!!GARY BAILEY KING OF DARKNESS AND GOD OF THUNDER AND LIGHTNING

[@Crazy56U]

In my head, I have an idea about who Bayban was originally. He's the Sixth Doctor if in "The Twin Dilemma", he stuck to his plan of becoming a hermit... and went INSANE over it.

[@DoctorBootstrap]

Or became the Valeyard. They even wear similar colors.

[@MrCdawson17]

That’s a good alternate idea, love that!

[@kinosping697]

My dads favorite shows as a kid

[@formlessentity]

Mine too! And he passed down the love of the show to me :]

[@markeccleston1941]

Colin Baker...Such a GREAT actor!👍

[@Retrochild1979]

He does that glare thing amazingly well, makes me go all wibbly at the knees! What a dish!

[@jerobriggs6861]

I like Colin Baker as a bad guy.

[@stanssoapbox]

He even played the doctor as a 'bad guy'.

[@MaskedMan66]

+Stefano Pavone Um, they did give him an outfit like this. You see? He's wearing it right before your eyes.

[@yannatoko9898]

In Doctor Who, they mean. It would've been bad, but nowhere near as bad.

[@andreistoica2470]

@@stanssoapbox 2 Words Adagio Dazzle

[@BillOweninOttawa]

@Stefano Pavone "Fatass" There, fixed it for you.

[@einezcrespo2107]

"What do mean after Blake?" LOL

[@tungstenkid2271]

"I was working my way up that list"... hahaha..:)

[@richmotroni]

Colin was just flat out awesome in the role!

[@Mrpaulaustin08]

Colin was amazing here. Just chewing away at that scene. Great stuff.

[@johnwhittington2998]

Colin is the greatest

[@Long23]

"What outfit is it?" We call this outfit "Michelin Man in bondage gear".

[@angelawinwood4019]

Oh my!! I had a bit of a crush on ol sixy back in the day despite the god awful outfit he was forced to wear, but THIS is hot!!! I'm now thinking very naughty thoughts.... excellent actor & my fave doctor up with Peter Capaldi. Such a shame that wanker Grade had it in for him and the show in general. Imagine if Colin had been given a script like Heaven Sent & Peters outfit.... sigh...

[@MaskedMan66]

He wasn't "forced" to wear it, and he's worn it willingly since.

[@tost6956]

The Twin Dilemma > Heaven Sent. Sorry, I just had to.

[@sillygoose635]

@@tost6956 Heaven Sent > The Twin Dilemma. Sorry, had to.

[@SimonFoston]

@@MaskedMan66 He still deserved a better outfit.

[@MaskedMan66]

@@SimonFoston Cosplayers love that ensemble!

[@TallSilentGuy]

I can totally picture Colin playing Frank Furter.

[@rosscollingwood5189]

I do so enjoy looking back on this old 70's and 80's science fiction shows - their spin on future fashions is hilarious to say the least! 😅😅😅

[@TomthatiscalledTom]

The Federation seems to have inspired a lot of resistance from men with curly hair

[@danielwilliamson6180]

I've met Colin Baker.

[@einezcrespo2107]

So have I.

[@jediewok16]

My goodness he's good looking. :D A great actor too. XD That's one of the reasons he's tied for my favorite doctor. ^^

[@ShamrockParticle]

there's one distinct camera angle at the end of the episode which is probably the most unintentionally rudest joke in the entire series! 🤯🤣

[@therealKINDLE]

Colin Baker was never given full reign to do what ever they wanted like the Other Doctors were. JNT: "Be Agressive, Argue more, Here's the Script & Wear this Coat made from bits of all my Hawain Shirt Collection". Colin Baker was NEVER given a chance to be himself. Otherwise, he would have PISSED on Peter & Sylvester.

[@jasonfury1]

Should have kept the sixth doctor as the anti hero he appeared to be in TOD. It worked so well against the 5th Doctors moral assurance.

[@PhilDrury]

Bayban, Maxill and the Doctor walk into a bar... That'd be a good story. Bayban would be "What is this, one of Servalan's mind tricks? I will rip her and you to pieces for taking my face in this mockery!" Maxill would be "It is no trick, my people have been watching you and the humans for a long time and YOU are one of the worst of them. We may have use for you to deal with one of our own renegades." Then the Doctor walks in. "Oh dear." Maxill then says "You... you HAVE'NT! You took MY face in your latest regeneration?" To which the Doctor replies "I assure you it wasn't by choice! Now who is this fellow in that ridiculous outfit?"

[@shadowtheshowman]

I say, shoving different characters played by the same actor into a room is a fun idea!

[@TheTwillerZone]

this is Colin Baker's best role I think.

[@jilliandonohue8146]

can we talk about his hair

[@UnchainedEruption]

Very well acted, I like this.

[@MelissaHash]

I just wanna say...Meow Colin Meow! That leather deal was purrfect badass! #OhMyJinkies Good on ya, Colin, good on ya! Must look up this Blake's 7 show!

[@jayrox40]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZ2zmZxnn6yFmZY

[@jediewok16]

Also, why in the name of Rassilon did they stick Colin in the nightmare rainbow coat when he looks so darn good in black! :O I woulda been like ; " Here, have some leather. Black leather. And velevet. And satin. that's nice. Yep. Here ya go, have some cool boots while your at it!"

[@ShamrockParticle]

the producer of Doctor Who wanted something "completely tasteless". he was onto something with some of the idea, but he went overboard with the requirements. something alien-like is a bold idea. Even solid black trousers to go with THE JACKET(tm) would have been more visually appealing, to balance selling a conceptually alien sartorial style with "regular viewer accessibility", a task that isn't easy by any measure. by the mid-80s, more viewers grew up with it than being new to the show - hence the use of returning monsters and lore, and expanding on them. especially after season 20.

[@TheUTubeTeamSucks]

"I was working my way up that list before he crept out of his creche!"

[@cobraxus]

god look how pretty and svelte he was

[@MerryWonderland]

I KNOW! his hair is so curly! and i can Never get over his LOVELY voice! *Sighs in a day dream* OMG, so CUTE!

[@Mr.cladmaniac]

I wonder if he and Davison are the Matt Smith and David Tennant of the 80s, Girls fawned over their conventionally good looks.

[@laineylarsen245]

Colin Baker dang I love him

[@mushroomhead3619]

This is the outfit Colin should have worn as the Doctor.

[@tost6956]

why?

[@mushroomhead3619]

Why not?

[@klaxoncow]

@@tost6956 It's best not to ask about fetishes, I find. You'll only regret it, should someone actually answer you.

[@Caredroia]

Thinking more about my last posting, Colin did play Bayban in that grand, OTT style. Mind you, the script did call for that kind of acting. Paul Darrow must have seen it, and decided that he would do the same to Colin's show in TIMELASH. Talking about short Who Tenures, why didn't they bring back Paul McGann as the Doctor. If Eccelston only wanted to appear in one series (another waste of a regeneration) I don't know why he left, but it would have been nice to give it to Paul apart from one film

[@ShamrockParticle]

sci-fi of the era often called for it. Baker and Darrow were great. timelash needed more creativity to sell its ideas but it wasn't conceptually bad. can't blame Darrow for going so OTT with it as some dialogue was so banal...

[@tomnorton4277]

Colin's not over-the-top in this scene. I haven't seen the rest of his Bayban performance, but he's not overdoing it here.

[@flashkraft]

I'm sure if you watched Blakes 7 and Dr Who closely they probably shared a fair few stage sets, costumes, outdoor locations and props as well as the occasional actor.

[@Lythgoemania]

Well Blakes is written by Terry Nation who created the Daleks

[@NateSean]

Wow. Now I want to see the sixth doctor episodes all the more. Colin Baker has that psychotic walking on eggshells glare down like a science.

[@ShamrockParticle]

I appreciated the era more than many in the 80s, can see story flaws, but there's still a quality that is there despite all the issues coalescing. including script editor and producer not agreeing on who should be the lead and IMHO JNT cast Colin well. or tone, Saward got the tone to closer match 80s action shows. it wasn't as brutal as all that, especially with Cybermen where it felt germane to what they do, but it wasn't all incense and cherrycakes either. (note that the violence aspect started before Colin too, season 21 - as with 13 and 14 - have quite a few moments...)

[@jadewarlock]

@kamelion7 Technically his isn't the shortest - the honors go to McGann and Eccelston (the latter I know is popular but I think his attitude has always harmed my view of watching him in the role). Colin was an excellent Doctor and when you hear him in "Big FInish" you can see what he could've been had he been given better scripts (they're not all gems but they are not tripe either here), and had a decent costume. I am in the minority on the coat - it'd been better in blue - I hated the rest.

[@sirhborn]

I wish they have dvd on this?

[@tyunglebower8582]

0:47 Put glasses on him, and he could be Radar from MASH.

[@stanssoapbox]

He reminds me of Edward Woodward playing Robert McCall in 'The Equalizer' when he glares, pauses, then says: "Yes I do mind you asking..........I mind very much". Woodward delivered many very similar lines in a very similar manner witth all the same menace and more. The one I remember most is: "Do not........say something.......you will not live to regret".

[@dr.impossibleofcounterpunc1984]

The leathers certainly look the part.

[@1958peter1958]

I remember B7 went from 1977-1997 great show

[@Caredroia]

The average consensus here is that; Colin Baker is a nice bloke. If he hadn't had such dire scripts during his tenure, didn't have that prolonged hiatus enforced by that incredible shit Michale Grade, and lost that coat (maybe dress him up in something morbid, and depressing. To reflect his mood. Kinda like the Valyard or a undertaker) acting wise, he could hold his own with any Doctor! I'm also sure he would have had a wonderful rapport with Paul Darrow, if he had been Blake.

[@ShamrockParticle]

due to basic script ideas or poor editing? season 22 didn't faze me much, though anyone not watching "Caves" for needed context would take Colin's premiere way out of context. and, yeah, "Twin Dilemma" has its share of problems - and it's the final half that improve things no end thanks to Saward's deft handling of a script that was a dumpster fire. its original author had dramatic script credentials but the ideas didn't gel. not sure if he was good for DW or if other scripts may have been better... or why they wanted to end the season with a new Doctor that was so uneven thanks to a regeneration cobbled by the spectrox toxemia. should have held it off or ditched it, and I will defend some of that story's ideas (even when others are just bad)

[@benjaminhopley3045]

Dr takes his face

[@borgduck]

Bakers best role!!!

[@SanFran51]

I can't imagine why JNT chose him as the Sixth Doctor.

[@andypitchless5515]

And then they all went to Torture Garden.

[@TheValeyard92]

This is like a Blackadder scene.

[@kerravon4159]

He made a terrible Dr Who but he was absolutely *amazing* in this role. When somebody mentions Collin Baker I dont think Dr Who, I think Baben the Butcher. This episode really showcased Michael Keating's talents too, I wish he was given more episodes focusing on Villa.

[@ariaflame-au]

Actually he just got terrible scripts, his Big Finish Audio series is rather good.

[@kerravon4159]

@@ariaflame-au I've heard that from other people too. Might have to try and get a hold of some of his Big Finish work.

[@borusa32]

he was a superb Doctor.i agree you will enjoy his Big Finish adventures

[@truthseeker3503]

He's was an amazing Doctor and his stories during his tenure actually hold up pretty well. He just happened to be caught in a political battle at the BBC who wanted any old excuse to cancel the show.

[@SanFran51]

That's only because he had to put up with the dross the writers gave him.

[@CaptEoNinja83]

@CaptEoNinja83 I am glad I'm not the only one who thinks he's cute.

[@danielwilliamson6180]

0:45 "Bayban the Berserker. Bayban the Butcher" Sounds like Conan.

[@davidfoxall3344]

Colin Baker really is a rum actor isn’t he?

[@tf2whackyengineer]

I would love to see a version with the guy across from Bayban/Colin Baker played by Peter Davison. Just something about the way the guy says "oh no" reminds me quite a bit of Peter Davison's doctor.

[@uttaradit2]

episode ?

[@therealKINDLE]

@kamelion7 Indeed. Peter never really had that extra Element that the others had if you ask me. He was just a basic actor. My Least Favourite. See, Bill was Dr WHO. But Pat was the Very 1st "Doctor". And if it wasn't for his Veteran Acting, the show would have never progressed past the 1st ever Regeneration. Pat is My Favourite Dr. But Colin is without a Doubt the most underated. Tom, was the most Over-Rated & used Humour as a cheap way of bumping up figures. Just like Love does now.

[@ShamrockParticle]

win 🏆 👍

[@tomstarkey8712]

are you. doctor. who

[@TungstenKid]

I've always thought Thomas was miscast as Blake right from the start, far too roly-poly instead of being a lean mean rebel. Baker was a bit too baby-faced and chubby too. Paul Darrow would have made a better Blake, he was certainly tough enough, lasting 4 seasons against the Federation, something Thomas never achieved..;)

[@einezcrespo2107]

Disagree. Paul Darrow was perfect as Avon.

[@neddystark3351]

Maybe Colin Baker would've made a better Master than Doctor...

[@TungstenKid]

No I wouldn't have liked to see Baker playing Avon because Baker was too baby-faced

[@MaskedMan66]

You wouldn't have known any different.

[@TungstenKid]

Unless he's only obliterated his name and has got a new one..;)

[@Drakelx55]

No one can take him seriously after he wore "The coat" in Doctor Who....

[@MaskedMan66]

Of course they can. I do. He's a brilliant actor with the ability to rise above any such limitations.

[@tost6956]

what is wrong with 'the coat' exactly?

[@emtherobot]

I actually love his coat

[@MondySpartan]

Colin Baker wanted to have his costume exactly similar to what Christopher Eccleston would wear decades later. A leather jacket. Dunno why it was vetoed in favor of that rainbow coat... But still, I like his coat

[@LandersWorkshop]

@@tost6956 If you have to ask that....

[@Captainnationalexpress247]

Happy Special birthday to the Scientific Expert of Time Machine. Represent from London, England, UK. European Union Icon of Presentation. Colin Baker in Adventures of Doctor Who. In this particular event, he's a convenient Actor to be in the show case where he and his team plan to travel from one place to another in the World of Time Machine where it can be Historic Adventures from one destination to another. Sometime it can be out of space where ti can be from another side of the world.

[@CaptEoNinja83]

Ok, it's official. It is now FORBIDDEN to say that Colin's outfit on Doctor Who was hideous, I mean LOOK AT WHAT HE'S WEARING NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's so leather and studded and WRONG!!!

[@mushroomhead3619]

But it looks badass!

[@LandersWorkshop]

It's kinda cool and edgy in some ways but they could have improved it.

[@TungstenKid]

Hywel was certainly a big name on TV in the 60's but then fizzled out a bit during the 70's and I think he began putting on weight, so I can't really see him as Blake which began filming in '78 because he was too roly-poly by then. Same applies to David Hemmings, he was a great rebel leader in Barbarella in '68 but was too chubby to play Blake by '78.

[@TheHoliday2012]

One character actor deranged !

[@paulhunter6742]

Most of the roles Collin Baker played in British Sci fiction series were laughable. He did a passable job as Dr Who #6.

[@TungstenKid]

Yes Thomas did himself no favours carrer-wise by quitting the show at it's peak and sinking into obscurity. And Baker was much better as Baban the Butcher than as that poncey overgrown schoolboy Dr Who.

[@CaptEoNinja83]

AAAAHHHH, AN EARRING TOO?!?!? I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!!!!!! I don't know whether to think this is awsome, or to puke in horror!!

[@radic888]

This is so camp.

[@TungstenKid]

Tarrant was another lean mean rebel, he'd been trained by the Federation as a spaceship pilot and looked the part. Baker was too chubby-faced

[@danielwilliamson6180]

Tarrant was a bully rebel.

[@TungstenKid]

Darrow could have played Blake, and Thomas could have played Avon. Darrow was more lean and mean so he'd have made a good Blake devoted to destroying the Federation. Thomas as Avon would have been softer and favouring a less risky approach. McCallum always seemed too neurotic to me to be a rebel. Alternatively an American actor could have been cast as Blake right from the start, possibly George Segal.

[@youknow227]

Earring😖