David Tennant Stands Down From "Doctor Who"

Dave Knott writes "After winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the British National Television Awards, David Tennant announced that he will be quitting the iconic role of The Doctor. Quoting Tennant: 'When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won't be with me. Now don't make me cry. I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair.' Tennant will appear in a Christmas special, titled The Next Doctor, before filming four more specials in January. After that, the search will be on for the actor to play the 11th incarnation of The Doctor."

Comments

Re:Continuity

[KasperMeerts]

No, they can regenerate 12 times. So we can still switch actors until the Thirteenth doctor, where they will have to invent a way to give him new "lives". The Master succeeded in this before he died permanently.

Interview with David Tennant

[BorgAssimilator]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7698200.stm

It's an interview with David Tennant about his thoughts of the show and him leaving. The best thing I saw in this article was the fact that Davies was leaving, hopefully paving the way for better episodes..... (but that's just my opinion).

Re:Interview with David Tennant

[sunami]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7698200.stm

It's an interview with David Tennant about his thoughts of the show and him leaving. The best thing I saw in this article was the fact that Davies was leaving, hopefully paving the way for better episodes..... (but that's just my opinion).

And Steve Moffat is picking up the reigns of main writer, the man who, in my opinion, has made the best episodes of the revived series.

Re:Interview with David Tennant

[sapphire wyvern]

Yep. "Blink", "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances", "The Girl in the Fireplace", "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead" (hey, who turned out the lights?). In other words, every single one of the best stories in the new Doctor Who (while Russell T Davies is sadly over-represented in the "worst stories" category, although he's not responsible for all of them).

Also, he wrote much of "Press Gang" and quite a few "Coupling" episodes, as well as a recent adaptation of "Jekyll" that was awesome. He's one of my favourite television writers in fact. I am looking forward to the next season *so much*.

Re:Interview with David Tennant

[AJWM]

"Blink" took the Hugo Award (voted by science fiction fans registered for Worldcon) this year for "Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form". In 2007 that award went to the Dr. Who episode "The Girl in the Fireplace", also by Steven Moffat, and the year before that to "The Empty Child", again by Steven Moffat.

Not a bad track record.

New direction

[Anonymous Coward]

I love Tennant but this could be a good thing - current show runner Russell T Davies is leaving at exactly the same time, so not only will there but a new Doctor, but also a new guiding hand on the show.

It would be nice if we could have the Doctor actually leaving Earth for more than 1-2 episodes a season again. Less soppy romance with companions swooning over him couldn't hurt, either.

Re:We have a problem

[Goldberg's Pants]

Baker had been WAY more typecast though. Plus with the success of the show I'm fairly sure Tennant's career is on a far better trajectory.

And Tom Baker is an arse anyway. Refusing to appear with other Doctors at conventions etc... Always loved him, but given what I've read and heard recently, Baker was, and will always, an arse.

Sad Tennant is leaving. He has been a fantastic Doctor. Not as big a wrench to me though as my kids. I've had eight Doctor regenerations now when this one happens. My eldest has only seen Eccleston (but never had time to get attached) and my youngest has only ever known Tennant.

Re:We have a problem

[nine-times]

I'd say that the bigger problem is that David Tennant has been a good Doctor. I hope they can find an equally good replacement, but fear they won't.

Re:We have a problem

[Caduceus1]

It was the Colin Baker (6th) Doctor, not Tom, and the Valeyard wasn't the 11th Doctor. The wording was strange, but it was implied that it was his last, or 13th, incarnation. And since this is Doctor Who anyways, it is possible that particular incarnation will never come to be. Plus, if the ratings are there, the Doctor will obtain or be granted additional regenerations somehow, which has already been established as possible.

The Doctor's Regenerations

[nordaim]

Time Lords were limited, I believe by Rassilon, to 12 regeneration cycles, allowing for a possible total of 13 Doctors. However, in one of the early seasons, this limit is removed from the Doctor and it is not clear whether or not it was ever reapplied.

But, with characters such as Captain Jack or Jenny (the Doctor's clone-daughter), it would be easy enough to write it out so the show can go on forever.

I am still hoping the 13th doctor is evil.

Re:Continuity

[Nazlfrag]

You've almost got it. The real reason though, that continuity has never been one of Doctor Who's strong points is that time travel itself is often self-contradictory.