
Colin's first entry
into the amazing world of Doctor
Who was in the Peter Davison
serial "Arc Of
Infinity". This story was
notable for two other reasons: it
featured the return of the Time
Lord exile Omega and rare use of
location filming took some of the
cast to Amsterdam. Colin's role
as Commander Maxil, a member of
the Time Lords chancery guard,
was a modest role that Colin took
with great alacrity. As Colin
explained in DWM #118:
"It was a
smallish part, and my agent said,
'Do you want to do this ?' I
happened to be free (actually I
was working in the theatre, and
it all fitted in rather nicely),
so I said 'Yes, of course I'll do
it,' and came along, and I had a
very pleasant time playing this
guard. I'm not an actor who's
inclined to think 'Oh, that's a
boring part, so I'll play it in a
boring way.' I tend to think 'How
can I spice it up a bit ?' I tend
to perhaps give a little bit more
than is required sometimes, in
the belief that a director will
always pull you back. So, I did
make this guard into quite an
interesting character, which was
probably beyond it's
requirements, and in fact I got a
note from the producer, John
Nathan-Turner, when he saw it !
Then the assistant floor manager
on that particular show invited
me to her wedding about two
months later, and I went along
with my wife, and John was there
and Peter Davison. What I didn't
know at that point was that Peter
had told John he was leaving, so
John was thinking in terms of who
was going to be the next Doctor,
and he says, (and modesty should
prevent me from repeating this!),
that I was witty, entertaining,
and all those things on that
particular day, and as he left he
said to someone else, 'I think I
have found my next Doctor.'
"
Thus it was that a
small-ish role in "Arc of
Infinity" led to the casting
of the sixth Doctor. An enjoyable
romp, as it turned out both the
past was celebrated and the
future was glimpsed.
COLIN BAKER
ONLINE RATING 6/10

The Maxil Show starring
Commander Maxil and some other
people

Anyone lost a
handbag ?
Could actors with
outrageously camp head gear,
please leave now !

Die you blonde
bimbo... or regenerate into
someone rather handsome !!!

Arc Of Infinity
is available on BBC DVD as part
of the Time-Flight/Arc
Of Infinity box set (Regions
2 & 4) and individually
(Region 1).
An antimatter
creature has crossed into normal
space via a phenomenon known as
the Arc of Infinity but needs to
bond physically with a Time Lord
in order to remain stable.
A traitor on
Gallifrey has chosen the Doctor
as the victim.
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