Thread by @aaronsagers

On the occasion of Tom Baker’s 85th birthday, allow me to share the time the Fourth Doctor of #DoctorWho (and my first Doctor) led to international intrigue in 2013, and potential blacklisting... /1

I was excited to do a phone interview on a Friday morning, Nov. 8, 2013, w/ #TomBaker about #DoctorWho 50th anniv special. He was amazing, and delightful. I asked him the obvious question (normally I avoid these because I know they’ll get shot down and waste precious time): /2

"Will you be in #DoctorWho 50th?" I could almost sense glee building over phone lines. “I am in the special. I’m not supposed to tell you that, but I tell you that very willingly and specifically; the BBC told me not to tell anybody but I’m telling you straightaway.” /3

Holy crap. He just unloaded a major bit of news. People accidentally reveal things all the time in interviews. If it’s a slip, I don’t run it to avoid spoilers, and out of respect. But Tom Baker was going rogue, and LOVING it. He went on gave me ALL the goods. /4

Tom Baker goes on to describe the ENTIRE final scene from #DoctorWho 50th where he's a museum curator meeting Matt Smith & it’s implied he’s The Doctor. He just keeps going, and the publicist –who likely tuned out– comes on the line and tries to shhh him. But he KEEPS going. /5

The line cuts out. It goes dead. I try to re-connect. Nothing. I email the pub. Nothing. I run with the scoop w/ a tweet first, only about his appearance, not all the details. I promise more to come. My timeline goes nuts, with most people thinking I am full of it /6

Eventually, the publicist calls me back. They say something to the effect of, “That was all off the record.” I reply Tom Baker is a longtime pro, and knew exactly what he was doing, and clearly didn’t give AF. I say, this is a legit and valid quote. The pub's tone shifts. /7

The publicist switches into mafia mode with intimidating line about how Doctor Who has been a friend to me for a long time, and they know I’m a “fan” (an insulting thing to say to a journo in this context) and –no joke-- “it’d be a shame” if my access were to suffer. /8

I was floored. And pissed. It was offensive, but also: I STILL had the whole description of the final scene of the 50th via Tom Baker. Seemed insane to switch into threatening mode like that (even though I know they were freaking out over there about these quotes) /9

Somewhere as things were getting contentious, I said something like, “Well, I’ve already tweeted out the announcement.” The pub said it was unprofessional to tweet about an interview quote. That made me laugh, even in 2013. The pub has to hang up to call London (6pm Friday) /10

The pub emails me to ask me to remove the tweet (which I do after it’s been out there a bit - a move I still regret). More back and forth. I say I don’t like how the conversation is going; I am acting ethically here, and don’t like the insinuations. /11

There is an entire scene description I haven’t released. I honestly didn’t plan on spoiling that part since it was so huge. But I didn't like the intimidation. I say I’m running Baker's announcement & ask for their official statement. But there's no putting the genie back in /12

Again, all happening as the day ends in the UK, on a Friday. I imagine Tom Baker’s quote getting people on the phone, back to work, all scrambling to sort out the Fourth Doctor’s rogue shenanigans. And this American journalist becoming the focus of Steven Moffat’s night... /13

I agree to sit on this for the weekend. I mean, they know I have this final scene, right? The story ran, and I didn’t spoil 50th special. Life moved on. Despite an icy phase for access, Time healed wounds, and all that. But I’ll never forget how lovely Tom Baker was... /14

Tom Baker uses the interviewer’s name, which is an ingratiating maneuver. I LOVE how gleeful he was over the mischief he was about to stir up. It was like he was JUST waiting to pop. The sad part is I had more interview time (and one with Jenna Coleman) that day but Nooope
/15

So, happy 85th to Tom Baker, not only my first Doctor, but my favorite. And the one that gave me a more memorable interview, which involved an all hands on deck international #DoctorWho scrambling. Such a VERY delightfully mischievous man. /Fin huffingtonpost.com/aaron-sagers/e…

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