Sixth Doctor actor Colin Baker is optimistic about the future of Doctor Who, calling fans protective “dragons.”

Baker sat down with Christel Dee on The Whoniverse Show to give his perspective.

“Fandom has evolved again, So now fandom is much more supportive 99%. So it’s uh, it’s like the dragons in Game of Thrones. The dragons are now very powerful, but on your side ‒ they’re fine. And at the moment they’re on our side and we’ll need them in the next couple of years while we re-imagine what.”

Baker is referring to the wait for new Doctor Who series to once again appear on TV screens. The BBC intends to post an Invitation to Tender (ITT) to prompt competitive bids from production companies to develop new episodes of the programme. The process, from ITT to analysing bids, selecting the winning bid, pre-production, filming, post-production to transmission is expected to take years.

“It’s exciting actually. What is Doctor Who going to be because I have no doubt that we’re not in for an 11-year gap. It will happen. And I think it’s quite encouraging that we’ll find some new fresh creative eyes. But let’s all keep [fingers] crossed.”

It is encouraging to hear Baker, who frequently meets fans as a guest at conventions, talk about fans favourably when even a small bit of sullen online discourse can feel demoralizing.

The BBC announced its intention to post the Doctor Who Invitation to Tender some time “this year” with details to be announced in “due course.”