Doctor Who legend Tom Baker’s best 7 moments as the Fourth Doctor ranked

I was a huge fan when Tom Baker played the Doctor! He was in so many episodes – 172, if you can believe it! – and he played the role for seven whole years, from 1974 to 1981. It felt like he was the Doctor during that time.

The Doctor’s distinctive style is now as famous and recognizable as classic elements like the Daleks and the TARDIS.

Now that he’s been honored with an MBE, it feels like a great time to revisit some of the most memorable moments from one of the most iconic Doctors – it’s amazing to think about everything he’s done!

We’ve chosen 7 of the best moments featuring Tom Baker as the Doctor! Do you agree with our selections?

7. A new wardrobe for a new Doctor (from Robot – 1974)

“There’s no point in being grown-up if you can’t be childish sometimes.”

It’s become a tradition for each new Doctor to establish a signature style, and Tom Baker really embraced that. He playfully showed off a range of unusual outfits to his companions, Harry Sullivan and the Brigadier, hoping for their approval. He first appeared as a Viking, then as the Jack of Hearts, and even as a Pierrot clown, before finally landing on the look we all know – the hat, coat, and incredibly famous striped scarf.

When designing the new Doctor’s outfit, costume designer James Acheson drew inspiration from a Toulouse-Lautrec poster called ‘Ambassadeur’. He asked Begonia Pope to knit a long, flowing scarf reminiscent of the painting’s style. However, Pope miscalculated the amount of yarn needed and used every single ball she had, creating an exceptionally long scarf.

This scene showed a much lighter, more cheerful side of the Doctor’s confusion after regenerating into a new form. Like always with Doctor Who, the show was undergoing a big shift, moving away from the stories centered around UNIT, which had been a focus during Jon Pertwee’s time as the Doctor. Tom Baker’s first episode, “Robot,” introduced a Doctor who was much more unpredictable and quirky, with a playful and mischievous personality.

6. The Doctor regenerates (from Logopolis – 1981)

“It’s the end, but the moment has been prepared for.”

Tom Baker’s time as Doctor Who included many important moments for the show, and he traveled with a number of companions, including Sarah Jane Smith, Harry Sullivan, Leela, K9, and two versions of Romana. Towards the end of his run as the Fourth Doctor, he also encountered Adric, Nyssa, and Tegan, who would go on to become key companions for the Fifth Doctor.

Season 18 marked a big shift for the show, with new producer John Nathan-Turner taking the helm and introducing a fresh creative direction – even updating the Doctor’s clothes, famously adding question marks to each outfit. But how do you bid farewell to such a legendary Doctor? Through a dangerous showdown with his arch-enemy, the Master, naturally.

The Fourth Doctor’s final moments weren’t complex. He fell to his death from the Pharos Project telescope tower, thinking about the enemies who wished him harm. As he landed, he was comforted by the loving memories of all his past companions and their belief in him. This touching scene became a model for future regenerations, allowing both the Doctor and the audience a chance to pause and reflect on what had been.

Logopolis was a quietly effective regeneration story, and like the rest of season 18, it showed the Fourth Doctor as more fragile and human than we’d seen before.

5. The battle against Sutekh (From Pyramids of Mars 1975)

“Kneel before the might of Sutekh!”

Pyramids of Mars is a classic story from when Philip Hinchcliffe produced Doctor Who (1974-1977), a period known for its spooky, gothic horror elements. The story features Sutekh the Destroyer, the last of the Osirans, a truly powerful villain. Sutekh pushed the Doctor to his limits, both physically and mentally, in a desperate struggle for his own freedom, making him one of the Doctor’s greatest challenges.

“Pyramids of Mars” is a beloved story for good reason. It showcases the Fourth Doctor at his most troubled and distant, beginning with a somber moment where he tells Sarah Jane (Elisabeth Sladen):

“The Earth isn’t my home, Sarah. I’m a Time Lord, I walk in eternity.'”

4. Leela meets the Doctor (The Face of Evil 1977)

“Would you like a jelly baby?”

In “The Face of Evil,” the Doctor is both playful and authoritative when he first encounters his new companion, Leela (Louise Jameson). The first thing Leela notices is his iconic scarf as she falls at his feet. He immediately apologizes for frightening her and offers her a jelly baby.

Almost immediately, the Sevateem tribe wrongly identified him as a dangerous villain, surrounding him and threateningly aiming crossbows at him.

“Put down your weapons!” the Doctor says, weakly holding a member of the tribe hostage. “Or I’ll… well, I’ll harm him with this jelly baby!”

‘Kill him then,’ remarks one of his assailants.

The Doctor snapped back, refusing to be told what to do, and popped a jelly baby into his mouth.

While many remember Tom Baker’s Fourth Doctor offering jelly babies, it was actually Patrick Troughton’s Second Doctor who first started the habit. It unexpectedly became a well-known part of the show thanks to Baker’s portrayal.

The inspiration for this moment might have come from Patrick Troughton, as Tom Baker greatly admired his portrayal of the Doctor. However, regardless of where the idea originated, it’s clear that no one has ever consumed a jelly baby with such a perfectly emotionless and fierce intensity as Tom Baker did in this scene.

3. Goodbye Sarah Jane and onwards to Gallifrey (The Hand of Fear and The Deadly Assassin – 1976)

“Until we meet again, Sarah.”

For many Doctor Who fans, the ending of ‘The Hand of Fear’ remains a particularly memorable departure. The Fourth Doctor said goodbye to Sarah Jane with his usual confidence, letting just a touch of sadness show through.

“Look, it’s too late apologising now, everything is packed, I’ve got to go,” Sarah Jane announces.

“How did you know?” the Doctor asks, explaining he’s been called back to his home planet, Gallifrey, and can’t bring her along. What followed was an incredible adventure that pushed the show into some of its darkest territory, rarely explored in any Doctor Who story.

The Deadly Assassin was famously frightening, even prompting a complaint from Mary Whitehouse about a scene where the Doctor was held underwater. The story was also bold for portraying the Master (Peter Pratt) at his most dangerous, engaging in a brutal and intense fight with the Doctor in the final episode.

Robert Holmes’s writing in ‘The Deadly Assassin’ established much of the foundational history and culture of Gallifrey, which remains central to Doctor Who today. The story also featured Tom Baker’s most powerful and arguably best performance as the Doctor, as he faced a solo, challenging mission.

2. The Doctor meets Count Scarlioni (City of Death – 1979)

“I say, what a wonderful butler, he’s so violent!”

Tom Baker’s portrayal of the Doctor is remembered for his clever, almost poetic humor and unwavering optimism, even when facing terrible dangers. That’s why Douglas Adams was the perfect writer for him. Adams penned some of the Doctor’s most memorable lines and funny scenes in this four-part story, quickly rewriting an old, unused script in just a single weekend.

“Three waters, make them doubles”

City of Death skillfully blends comedy and serious moments, lightheartedness with darkness. The scenes featuring Julian Glover as Count Scarlioni and Tom Baker are particularly powerful – they feel like watching a stage play, with both actors delivering performances that truly do the script justice. It’s easy to see why Julian Glover’s work here led to him being cast as Kristatos in the 1981 James Bond film, For Your Eyes Only.

Steven Moffat described the story as a truly exceptional piece of writing, calling it one of the best television scripts ever, not just within Doctor Who.

This episode is also the most-watched Doctor Who story ever – the fourth part brought in a remarkable 16.1 million viewers.

1. The dilemma at the heart of Doctor Who (Genesis of the Daleks – 1975)

“Do I have the right?”

The key to a compelling Doctor seems to be a cool, detached exterior that hides a deep sense of caring. This applies to both the character and the actor portraying them. It’s clear this was a particularly meaningful scene for Tom Baker during ‘Genesis of the Daleks,’ the story that introduced both the iconic villain Davros and a powerful moral challenge.

The Doctor is holding two wires that, if joined, would destroy the Daleks before they even begin to exist. He pauses, questioning whether he’s justified in taking such a drastic action.

Many fans consider this scene the most crucial in Doctor Who history because it beautifully illustrates the Doctor’s constant struggle with right and wrong, and the difficulties that come with having immense power. He could save millions by allowing the wires to connect, but would committing such a large-scale act of destruction make him no better than the Daleks? He voices this internal conflict while arguing with Sarah Jane, stating:

Ultimately, the decision rests with me, and me alone. Let me ask you this: if you knew a child was destined to become a terrible dictator, someone who would cause immense suffering and death, would you be able to kill them to prevent it?

The situation is grim, and there’s no room for humor. However, this speech, written by Doctor Who’s original creator Terry Nation, remains the Fourth Doctor’s most memorable scene. It revealed the show’s core identity: a science fiction series that could be lighthearted, but always remembered to tackle serious themes.

As a lifelong Doctor Who fan, I can honestly say Tom Baker defined the show for so many of us. He wasn’t just a Doctor, he was the Doctor for a whole generation, and really helped turn it into the British institution it is today. Seeing him return as the Curator in the 50th anniversary special felt incredibly special – like a perfect full-circle moment. That scene was a beautiful tribute to him, and it’s something I think will always be a core part of what makes Doctor Who so magical.

Now that that’s settled, would you like a jelly baby?

2025-11-22 11:38