----- news & stories -----

TOM BAKER, TOM BAKER, TOM....

I've just received the strangest autograph from the absolutely wonderful Tom Baker - the former (and the best) Dr Who.

Firstly, I'd written to Mr Baker just before Christmas '97 and not long after, I was delighted to receive a colour Dr Who postcard.  Not the greatest of results you might think, but he'd taken the time to write a nice message on the reverse:

"To David Hopkins, Thank you for your kind letter.   This is to wish you a happy New Year, Tom Baker"

Quite unusual in itself, to get such a nice personal message from a celebrity.  Also, I'm sure that because of his Dr Who connection, Tom Baker must receive a large quantity of fan mail on an on-going basis, so I was chuffed he'd written this note!

In addition, and in my collecting experience this is unique, he'd hand-written the return envelope - lord knows where my own SAE went!  He'd also cut-out a picture of himself from a magazine and glued in onto the reverse of the envelope!!  Has anyone else had this same strange envelope system from Tom Baker?

Anyway, knowing the address to be correct and Tom Baker to be a reliable signer, I purchased and posted three 10x8" pictures which were returned in just three days.

Scans of the first two are shown below.  Note; the inscription on the Dalek picture (outside BBC TV Centre, London)... I somehow imagine "Happy days" is more than a simple phrase plucked from the air.  Perhaps his time as the Doctor was his favourite period.  Probably his most successful, from a commercial point of view if nothing more!

Now... this third picture is the strange one!  The scan doesn't show it at all well and indeed, at first glance I must admit that I didn't notice, but on this ONE picture are FOUR 'Tom Baker' signatures!! 

The blue signature is clear.  However, he has also autographed the picture in green pen on his left collar, his middle finger and the cuff of his shirt!  These green signatures are barely visible in the scan, but if you look very closely, you can still see them!

This is what I can only imagine happened.  Tom Baker went to sign this picture first out of the set of three, using a green fibre-tipped pen.   He signed the collar (the least visible signature) and thought that it wasn't clear enough.  He then moved onto his finger (slightly lighter area you see...) and still wasn't happy.  Next, he moved onto the cuff - being white, this should have produced the best result.  However, this one didn't show up very well either and he finally admitted defeat and found a decent blue pen!!

Of course, it could just be the signings of a man with a lovely, mischievous sense of humour.  Has anyone else ever received a such a multi-signed picture as this from the great man?  If so, please let me know... I'd be delighted to find out!