In early 1974 Pertwee announced he would step down as the Doctor to resume his stage career in "The Bedwinner", also citing potential typecasting in the role as the reason for leaving, though he later said that the catalyst for his departure was the death of his good friend and co-star Roger Delgado (The Master) and the departures of co-star Katy Manning and producer Barry Letts. His last full-time appearance in the series was in the story "Planet of the Spiders" in June 1974, which finished with Tom Baker replacing him in the role.