David Tennant quits as Doctor Who

[muriel_volestrangler]

David Tennant is to stand down as Doctor Who, after becoming one of the most popular Time Lords in the history of the BBC science fiction show.

Tennant stepped into the Tardis in 2005, and will leave the role after four special episodes are broadcast next year.

Three years was "about the right time" to play the role, he told the BBC.

He made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the National Television Awards.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7698539.stm

I'm a bit surprised he got an award, to be honest. I've had enough of him in the role, anyway. As the piece says, he has been getting good reviews in Shakespeare on the stage, so I suspect he'd like to get his career established as 'serious' before getting typecast anyway.

[Bucky]

1. Well, I hope they don't recast the part. That would totally strain the show's credibility

I suggest a good work around plot like when Valerie Harper quit the show "Valerie" and they had to rename the show "Valerie's Family" with Sandy Duncan as her sister in law who steps in to take over momming the family while Valerie is "away visiting her sick grandmother."

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. 'Locum Who'? It could work, in a pinch (nt)

[YellowRubberDuckie]

15. Wait, have you ever watched Doctor Who?

They have always changed the Doctor every few years. This is one show that can take that hit.
Duckie

[YellowRubberDuckie]

17. They actually changed it to the Hogan Family.

And Valerie died.
http://www.sitcomsonline.com/thehoganfamily.html
Duckie

[jobycom]

19. Credibility?

:rofl:

Yeah, they've changed doctors regularly for over forty years--minus the hiatus--but this one will strain credulity. Fans can except a Tardis, Time Lords, and Daleks, but this would make them all go "Hey, wait, that can't happen! Ahh, I'm switching to American tv, this is bunk."

:rofl:

[Forkboy]

3. Joseph To Be First Black Doctor?

Joseph To Be First Black Doctor?

David Tennant hasn't yet abandoned his starring role in the BBC SF series Doctor Who, but rumors have already begun circulating that Paterson Joseph--who guest-starred in the first season--may be the leading candidate to replace Tennant as the 11th Doctor. Joseph would be the first black actor to assay the iconic role.

Joseph's agent reportedy denied the Doctor Who rumor when approached about it last week. When SCI FI Wire contacted Joseph directly, his initial response was a text message that said, "I am on a list of God knows how many others, but flattered to be considered."

That was followed by an e-mail a day later, saying, "The news on Who was news to me as of last Wednesday, when my agent said they'd had lots of journos asking if the rumors were true. That's all I know, and I'm very pleased to even be thought of in this way. It's a blast!"

The rumor, which should be taken with a grain of salt, was first reported by British journalist Richard Johnston last week in his online column "Lying in the Gutters."

Joseph played Roderick in the Doctor Who two-part episode "Bad Wolf/The Parting of the Ways."

Joseph's recent TV appearances include the U.K. series Peep Show, Green Wing and Hyperdrive, but he is probably best known to genre fans for his scene-stealing performance as the Marquis de Carabas in writer Neil Gaiman's short-lived 1996 BBC series Neverwhere.

Perhaps more germane to this particular story is the actor's work in last year's Jekyll miniseries, which was created by Steven Moffat, who will be taking over as the new Doctor Who show runner in the upcoming fifth season in 2010. Did that role give Joseph the inside track? Only time will tell.

While many Doctor Who purists are already resisting the notion of a black actor taking on the role, the biggest obstacle could actually be Joseph's role as Greg Preston in the BBC's upcoming revival of the 1970s post-apocalyptic drama Survivors. According to the show's producer Adrian Hodges (Primeval), "He's a lovely actor, and he has immense likability on screen. To me, he has hero written and integrity written all over him, and he's a great actor. We're very pleased with him, and we won't kill him off anytime soon, I promise you that!"

The fourth season of Doctor Who will be released in the United States on Nov. 18. The series is currently on hiatus in the United Kingdom but will continue with a series of one-off specials, after which a new production team will take over with season five in 2010. --Joe Nazzaro

http://www.scifi.com/sfw/news/sfw_news_20081027.html

I haven't watched the show since the Tom Baker days, but figured this might be of interest. Sorry if it's old news to you guys.

[tigereye]

12. an English African ? Dr. Who would be cool!

maybe we need a female one at some point, as well!

[YellowRubberDuckie]

18. I believe the term you are looking for is Anglo-African.

[tigereye]

26. thanks - I was blanking on it....

[Bucky]

14. should they hire a black Dr Who when there could be woman Dr Who who has more experience?

That's sexist!!

[jobycom]

20. .

:spray: Very good!

[Mojambo]

24. Paterson Joseph has been fucking hilarious in his semi-regular role on Peep Show.

I would love to see him get the role.

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. OH NO!! That's awful news! He's the best doctor ever! However, if it helps his career

(and I'm sure it does) probably best that he quit now, as you say, to avoid the typecasting and end of career that so many other doctors have suffered.

But, damnation, he is a fucking wicked excellent Doctor.

[buzzycrumbhunger]

8. The best doctor ever?

That will always be Tom Baker. To me, he is as Sean Connery is to Bond. (If you ever have a chance to see the movie Nicholas and Alexandra, he plays the Best.Rasputin.Ever.)

[Rabrrrrrr]

9. I grew up with Tom Baker and John Pertwee; and yes, Tennant is better.

Not they were bad by any means - but Tennant is wonderful!

[elshiva]

16. How about...

"The Doctor Dances," anyone? I loved that episode.



THIS TIME, ROSE, EVERYBODY LIVES! :)

[jobycom]

21. As Sean Connery is to Bond...

Old, bald, out of shape, and bored at the end?

Baker was a fantastic Rasputin. (And yes, I loved his Doctor Who. And Bond's Connery.)

[T_i_B]

23. I'm sorry, but I have to disagree

I have never rated Tennant. Christopher Ecclestone on the other hand was superb.

But I still have to go with those whose favourite Doctor of all was Tom Baker!

As to replacements? Well I did once join a Facebook group calling for Boris Johnson to be the next Dr Who but then he ran for Mayor of London and after that I decided that reality is stranger then fiction after all!

[elshiva]

5. Oh, I love David Tennant.

:loveya: Just as long as he continues acting, this is par for the course. I hope they do get a black British Doctor.

"Always bring a banana to a party." - David Tennant as Doctor Who

:loveya:



IN DRAG:

[Mojambo]

6. Not a huge surprise. Sad though. Tennant was awesome in the role. n/t

[YankeyMCC]

7. What is it with this role in the latest incarnation of the show

they can't keep a star for more than a season or two.

[tigereye]

10. Noooooooooo!

he was the best one since Tom Baker IMHO!


:cry:

[DarkTirade]

11. It was bound to happen eventually.

He's done a damn fine job in the meantime. I just wonder how they'll explain that one character who knew him from the future if he's not around. :shrug: Eh, who knows. Time travel's a funny thing.

[kojak]

13. If it's the same character I'm thinking of

IIRC that character mentions that the Doctor looks different in the future.

I will miss Tennant and his spiffy suits.

[DarkTirade]

22. I'll have to rewatch that episode now. It's been a while since I saw it. :)

Welcome to DU!

[JCMach1]

25. No way!

Double plus uncool! :(

My daughters will be devastated.

[Hayabusa]

27. Wow...

They really should have had him completely regenerate in Journey's End, then.