Who on Earth is Tom Baker? - An Autoiography [Paperback]

This is, unlike most autobiographies, a life story worth reading. You don't have to be a Doctor Who fan to appreciate it, in fact serious fans might be disappointed by how little mention there is of the Tardis, daleks and so on. But not for long.
An extraordinary account of a truly unique life, 'Who on Earth' manages to make you laugh on every page, even when reflecting on the author's intensely personal and tragic moments. An astounding achievement.

I've been a huge fan of Tom Baker since my childhood exposure to his wonderfully charismatic performance as Doctor Who in the 70s. I bought this autobiography to enjoy his personality once again and find out more about his perspective and experiences, especially during his time with the show that made him a household name. Having finished reading the book last week, I was left with mixed feelings, though this partly reflects the great affection I feel for the guy.

His legendary irreverence shines through enjoyably during the telling of his story and there are several memorable anecdotes, especially during his early years. In fact, his childhood, education and early career are explored in satisfying depth whereas his glory days as the Doctor feel disappointingly glossed over, despite seven years of potential material to mine. His stint on the show is characterised as one long adrenaline rush - he obviously relished the fame, the admiration of children and parents, and the attention of groupies - but I wanted more anecdotes about the show itself as well as his relationships with cast and crew. These elements are treated rather perfunctorily.

Finally, the period from the end of his Who to the present day makes for a very dull read, mostly consisting as it does of vaguely recalled episodes of heavy drinking in London pubs. I think even Tom himself had become bored by this part of the book. In fact, the sense I have is of a

book that was begun with an enthusiasm and energy that gradually evaporated as he worked his way through his life.

Unexpectedly, there is a regularly recurring sadness and resignation at his own failings, especially in his relationships. I admired his honesty here and I related to his sense of feeling terribly vulnerable to the whims of others but I would dearly liked to have been allowed more detail. For instance, the story of his first marriage is never quite concluded, while his marriage to the gorgeous and witty Lalla Ward is covered in just a few sentences. Perhaps such aspects or events were simply too uncomfortable for Tom to revisit.

I don't agree with the book jacket's claim that it stands comparison with Spike Milligan's autobiography, which is a far more developed and sustained piece of writing. However, it's certainly worth a read if you're already a Baker fan and want to fill some of the gaps in your understanding of his career, or be reacquainted with his wonderfully skewed perspective.

I am not the least bit interested in Doctor Who. So I was less than enthusiastic when I received this book for my birthday. More fool me. Tom Baker is a tremendous autobiographer, the type who makes you feel that to read him is to know him. And what a sad and sorrowful life our Mr Baker has had - from a bomb-dodging childhood in Liverpool to a life of being slave to his troublesome in-laws. Only about 30 pages of this 260 page book mention that BBC sci-fi series he used to star in.