Bob Baker, the son of a signwriter, was born in Bristol and studied painting and animation at art college. As a young boy, he demonstrated a natural talent for filmmaking by creating animations and live-action short films. This early interest in film-making led to one of his first paying jobs as a cartoonist for the BBC.
In addition to his work as a cartoonist, Baker also played saxophone in a jazz-rock fusion band, worked as a stone mason on the renovation of old houses, and edited or designed for various magazines. He met Dave Martin, a like-minded individual, in 1967 and the two formed a writing partnership, known as "The Bristol Boys". They worked together on various projects, including their most famous collaboration, the popular British sci-fi series "Doctor Who".
Baker and Martin's work on "Doctor Who" spanned from 1971 to 1979, during which time they co-created the iconic mechanical dog K-9. After leaving "Doctor Who", Baker went on to work as a script editor on the crime series "Shoestring" and "Call Me Mister", as well as devise and write for the children's show "Into the Labyrinth".
In the 1990s, Baker co-created the beloved animated beagle Gromit with Nick Park, as part of the "Wallace & Gromit" series. He co-wrote three of the most popular episodes, including "The Wrong Trousers", "A Close Shave", and "A Matter of Loaf and Death". For the latter, Baker and Park won a BAFTA Film Award in 2009. Baker also won a shared BAFTA for his work on "Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit" in 2005.
Throughout his career, Baker demonstrated a remarkable versatility, working in various mediums, including documentaries, teaching, comedy, and theatre. In an interview, he stated, "I'll do anything. I've done documentaries, teaching, I've even done comedy. But my forte is crime. The Wrong Trousers started as a domestic drama but moves into crime and I loved that. Science fiction is a favourite but I love doing everything".
Sadly, Bob Baker passed away in November 2021 at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy of innovative and imaginative storytelling.
