A legacy of stories
Bob Baker, a masterful television scriptwriter and visionary storyteller, was born in Bristol this day, 26th July, in 1939.
He studied art and design at college, initially intending to become an art teacher, before helping to found a small film production company, Hexagon Films. Then a chance meeting with advertising copywriter Dave Martin led Bob into turning his hand to writing for a living. The duo began collaborating on scripts for Harlech Television (HTV), the ITV franchise for Wales and the West Country, and together they proved to be a formidable creative force.
One day in early 1970, a script about life in the army that Bob and Dave had written and sent to the BBC came to the attention of Derrick Sherwin and Terrance Dicks, then producer and script editor respectively of Doctor Who. They invited ‘the Bristol Boys’ to write for the show, and thus began a creative partnership that would encompass 38 episodes of the series over the next decade. Their first story was ‘The Claws of Axos’ and, although their over-ambitious first draft needed considerable input from script editor Dicks, the imaginative story gave a strong hint of what was to come. Subsequent stories written by the pair included the tenth anniversary celebration ‘The Three Doctors’, ‘The Hand of Fear’, ‘The Invisible Enemy’ and ‘Nightmare of Eden’, and they soon became sought-after scriptwriters for other series.
Meanwhile, Baker and Martin continued to create and write science-fiction and fantasy series for HTV, including Sky (1975) and King of the Castle (1977).
Without doubt, Bob Baker and Dave Martin’s longest-lasting contribution to Doctor Who has been their creation of the beloved robotic dog, K9. Initially intended to appear only in one story (‘The Invisible Enemy’ in 1977), K9 quickly became an iconic character adored by fans of all ages, leading to various spin-off shows and appearances in other media.
While Baker’s work in science fiction had already gained significant recognition, he achieved unparalleled success when he collaborated with Nick Park to write for the films featuring the stop-motion animated characters, Wallace and Gromit. Baker’s work on the series won him two BAFTA awards, and several of the films have also been honoured at the Oscars.
Bob Baker died on 3rd November 2021 at the age of 82. His dedication to the art of storytelling, alongside his collaborations with talented peers, brought forth captivating narratives that continue to entertain and inspire audiences worldwide. His ability to blend humour, heart, and imagination into his scripts made him a highly sought-after mentor for aspiring writers; and his contributions to British television and animation have left an enduring impact on the global entertainment landscape.
Bob Baker’s autobiography, K9 Stole My Trousers, is published by Fantom and available now in paperback, while his novelisations of King of the Castle and Sky are available in hardback and on CD. He can also be heard discussing the Doctor Who stories ‘The Claws of Axos’ and ‘The Three Doctors’ in our Who Talk audio series.
