10 Most Unusual Demands Made By Doctor Who Guest Stars
5. Paul Darrow Was Out For Revenge Against Colin Baker - Timelash
Actors take on roles for all manner of reasons. For Paul Darrow, he accepted the role as Tekker in Timelash purely out of a thirst for revenge. Back in 1980, Colin Baker had made a scene-stealing appearance as the villainous Bayban the Butcher in the Blake's 7 episode City at the Edge of the World. Darrow felt that Baker's bombastic performance upstaged him on his own show. He's not wrong, it's a role that lives long in the memory and has now spawned a Big Finish spin-off.
Darrow decided to return the favour five years later on the set of Timelash. Nathan-Turner had cast him to play the role of the collaborator Maylin Tekker in the same cool, anti-heroic manner that he played Avon. Darrow declined this offer and instead decided to perform the part as if he was Shakespeare's Richard III, hump and all!
Director Pennant Roberts declined the hump, but Darrow proceeded to exaggerate his performance in what is one of the more memorable Doctor Who guest turns. And at least Colin Baker got some good convention stories out of it. After all, it could have been worse, Steven Berkoff was also in contention for the role of Tekker. Much more on him later...