Interview with K-9 Creator Bob Baker

Bob Baker along with Dave Martin (1935-2007) originally created K9 for the Fourth Doctor Tom Baker episode The Invisible Enemy (1977).

In the 70's Bob and Dave 'The Bristol Boys' co-wrote several scripts for BBC's Doctor Who including The Claws of Axos, The Mutants, The Three Doctors, The Sontaran Experiment, Hand of Fear, Underworld and The Armegeddon Factor.

Bob's other credits include Shoestring, Bergerac and Wallace and Gromit. Bob is currently working on the brand new K9 Adventures series.

• What was the inspiration for K-9?
  We thought Professor Marius might have a dog on earth that he couldn't take with him into space, so we made up a computer/protector/companion robot dog. Dave [Martin] had several highly sprung Springer dogs which kept getting run over so we devised an indestructible dog.



• What breed of dog is K-9?
  Metal Mutt.



• What do you think of the various K-9 toys and have you ever owned one?
  I liked the small push-along one best. It was the most accurate.



• Did you like Dapol's green version of K-9?
  Sorry what is Dapol's green version?

Dapol Green and Silver K-9 figures

• Character Options make a clean and rusty version of their K-9 action figure. Did it upset Bob to see a rusty K-9 in the New Series?
  Not at all it was part of the story. Sarah Jane had left him in an attic or something. Didn't upset me at all.



• What can you tell us Bob about the new K-9 Adventures? What will K-9 be like?
  The new 'regenerated' K9 will be very streamlined and he will be made of thinking metal which can morph into various 'collars' such as Search & Rescue, Aqua, & Defence. He is not able to kill, but has a load of tricks up his sleeve for Alien would-be villains. The show is set in London 2050 but K9 has been squeezed through a Space Time Manipulator from the 50th century to future London where he will find new companions to help guard the earth from possible alien invasion, strange events, the paranormal, natural disasters and global warming.

• Will there be more K-9 toys?
  Yes. Hopefully there will be toys based on new K9, the characters and hardware from the new series.



• Are you very proud of your creation and are you surprised by K-9's popularity?
  Very proud yes. But not surprised at his popularity, because he's a decent, trustworthy ,very likeable character.



• Would or could K-9 have puppies?
  You never know! They might not be born, but downloaded?

Thanks Bob & Laurie