Doctor Who legend Tom Baker has opened up on reprising his role as Sherlock Holmes, suggesting that he and the detective have a few things in common.
The actor, who's best known for his iconic stint as the Doctor in the beloved BBC sci-fi, has turned his hand to playing Sherlock Holmes a number of times – in the BBC's 1982 series The Hound of the Baskervilles, in the 1985 stage play The Mask of Moriarty, and now in AUK's audio drama series Sir Sherlock.
Very aptly, the new story is titled The Doctor's Son.
Speaking exclusively to Radio Times about returning to the role, Baker said: "The sheer pleasure of waking up and knowing you’re going to be engaged in something exciting, like being an actor.
"Holmes was a frustrated actor. All those disguises and voices he used over the stories. Yes, he was an old ham. But that quality Holmes has of never apologising, he needs to get things right. With a certain charm and tact. Oh yes, I can tell a lie to get my own way with the best of them!"
He added: "So, really, I can be a bit like Holmes as an actor and as a person, I suppose. I bring myself to the role more than the other times I’ve played him, I guess.
"I like people to like what I do and, if I’ve got the power, being allowed to do it my way. If I haven’t got the power, I just have to go along with it.
View Green Video on the source website"But, with Sir Sherlock, I had a smattering of power to be the Holmes I wanted to because the director (Barnaby Eaton-Jones) said to me, 'I’ve always been an admirer of yours, Tom.' And I said: 'Well, when?!' He said: 'Always.'
"So, subsequently, he loved anything I had to say. I mean, I can’t remember a word of it but I’m sure I said some interesting things. We had fun together, recording Sir Sherlock. Oh, we did. Well, who wouldn’t if you’re being constantly admired?"
Of course, countless other actors have also depicted the famous detective – but did any other portrayals inspire Baker?
"Well, you really couldn’t get away from seeing Jeremy Brett, could you? His performance was a real eye-opener, and he clearly relished it so shamelessly and so protectively," he said.
"Basil Rathbone was so very well spoken. A very erudite and centred Holmes, not given to those explosions of a manic nature that Jeremy Brett used. The writers and actors have to make fresh what’s already so familiar to us, really. I tried to give something fresh as Sir Sherlock. I inspired myself! Ha."
Sir Sherlock: The Doctor’s Son is the fourth adventure in the Sir Sherlock series from AUK Studios. The three previous adventures are: The Red Letter Day, The Sickle and the Sea and The Parting Shot. All of the stories have reunited Baker with his Doctor Who co-star John Leeson (who played K-9).
The synopsis for The Doctor's Son reads: "When Doctor John Watson vanishes from his Baker Street bedroom in the dead of night, Sir Sherlock Holmes wakes to a mystery unlike any he has faced before.
"The ransom note is troubling enough but the young man who delivers it is soft-spoken, of military-bearing, and has a striking resemblance to Watson himself. He claims to be the Doctor's illegitimate son.
"Holmes, Sergeant Emily Lestrade and the ever-tenacious Norton pursue the missing pieces to this personal puzzle, in order to make the picture clearer. Is this a kidnapping to extort money or a genuine countdown to the good Doctor’s demise?"
For more information on the Doctor's Son, check out AUK's Kickstarter campaign, which is launching soon.
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