David Tennant's Doctor Who news...

[fajrdrako]

So now the official announcement has been made: David Tennant is leaving Doctor Who at the end of the 2009 specials. Not surprising, really, but... I can't help agreeing with his assessment: "Better to leave when people will still miss you, than outstay your welcome." Yes. And he no doubt has other things he wants to do, especially after good reviews as Hamlet and Berowne.

Am I disappointed? No. I came into Doctor Who when Eccleston had already left, so I had no chance to be devastated when he quit. I already liked Tennant. Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant have been so good in the role, I can't imagine who will be as good to follow in their footsteps, but at the same time I have enough faith in the people behind the show - well, in Steven Moffat, and is Julie Gardner still around? - to hope that the quality will remain high. This is optimistic; with so many people changing over, is there really much hope that it won't lose it edge and sparkle, that it won't become more like all the mediocre TV shows out there?

Seems to me the quality is more likely to fall when the creators are losing their impetus and enthusiasm - look at the sad case of X-Files. Better to have new and fresh people who love it and won't be doing the same old thing.

And it's great to give Steven Moffat a fresh start with a new Doctor.

So: who do I want as the next Doctor? Russell T Davies said he wanted Russell Tovey, which I think is a terrible idea - I don't like him at all. But I would have said that about Catherine Tate as Donna before series 4, and look how good she turned out to be. On the other hand, I don't trust Russell T Davies' taste or judgement: he thinks Burn Gorman is sexy.

The BBC site mentions possibilities: Paterson Joseph, whom I like a lot, but who has already been on Doctor Who in another role - I don't think the new Doctor should be someone the Doctor has actually met, along with the viewers. The same for their other picks, David Morissey (who will have been seen in the Christmas special in two months) and John Simm. Besides which, I think Simm would be awful - I'm not nearly as impressed with him as everyone else seems to be. Their other suggestion is James Nesbitt, whom I don't think I've ever seen.

My choices for the Eleventh Doctor are:

1. Robert Carlyle - my first pick. I think he'd be magnificent; he has charm and scope and sexiness and he's a terrific actor in the myriad ways the role calls for. I can believe this man is an alien while simultaneously believing that he is the ultimate in humanity.
   
2. Peter Woodward, for all the same reasons as Robert Carlyle.
   
3. Eamonn Walker, since they've been talking about making the Doctor black, and he is both talented and attractive.
   
4. Shaun Parkes, whom I adore, though be breaks my rule of not using actors who have already been on the show
   
5. Michael Praed. He has, among other talents, a great voice.
   
6. Sean Pertwee. Added to his considerable abilities, there's something delicious about having the son of one of the actors who played the Doctor take over the role.

But they aren't going to ask me, are they? And what the Doctor will be like is up to Steven Moffatt: he won't be the same as Nine or Ten, though he'll have some elements in common.

We shall see. Meanwhile there's plenty of fodder for speculation.

Comments

[17catherines.livejournal.com]

7. Joanna Lumley (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who_and_the_Curse_of_Fatal_Death)!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

That would be fun, in its way - but I'm not one of the fans who wants to see a female Doctor. (Again.) And if we were to get a female Doctor, I want Diana Rigg, Yasmin Bannerman, or Whoopie Goldberg.

[angevin2.livejournal.com]

Although I am pretty sure it will never happen, I continue to root for Mark Rylance. As per my icon. :D

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I have heard nothing but good of Mark Rylance from a zillion sources, and it is one of my great regrets that I never saw his Hamlet. But I've never seen the man in anything, so I can't judge how he'd be. On reputation alone, I have no problem with that idea at all.

[xinef.livejournal.com]

Michael Praed as Robin Hood (back in the mid 80's) was one of the most watchable men I've ever seen in a tv show. Couldn't take your eyes off him. Worth watching the show just for glimpses! No idea what he's like 20 years later, but willing to take a look!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I loved Michael Praed in Robin of Sherwood - he was the best thing about the show - and I thought he had incredible presence in a small teen role in The Professionals. But most of all I loved him when I saw him on stage in a Daphne du Maurier thriller.

Judging by his recent pictures, he still looks good, and I bet his acting is more than up to it.

Oh yes

[boji.livejournal.com]

for your first two choices. Robert Carlyle made The Last Enemy as far as I was concerned, and even scruffy and deadly he was sexy as hell. Peter Woodward was terribly interesting, charismatic and compelling once upon a time in Crusade as a technomage. At least I think Galen was a technomage.

The rest? I'm a tad meh...

Re: Oh yes

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

even scruffy and deadly he was sexy as hell

Yes, yes, and again yes.

I think Galen was a technomage

Yes, he was. And he acted circles around everyone else in the show. Peter Woodward also has an impish, infections sense of humour that reminds me of David Tennant.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's ultimately unavoidable, but I try to avoid this type of information for as long as possible.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I often do try, but it's so often unavoidable. It fits a different category in my head than "spoilers for the story".

repeats

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

Eve Myles had appeared in an episode of Dr Who (Unquiet Dead, the one with Charles Dickens) before becoming Gwen Cooper.

Re: repeats

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know. There's precedent. I just don't particularly like it. I don't like it in the case of Gwen, either - it makes it look as if there's a connection that there really isn't. It spoils the suspension of disbelief for me, a little. Just a little. I wish they hadn't done it.

[boji.livejournal.com]

Oh and if we can cast a vote for massively unlikely but OMG squee, how about Bill Nighy? Or Fiona Shaw for a season? Less Shakespearean and younger? Guy Flanagan who got booted from Being Human? Or how about Tom Hollander?

Mind you I won't be surprised if it's Jack Davenport - thanks to the Coupling connection.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, I have been momentarily rendered speechless by the beauty of your icon. Okay... happy sigh... back to the topic at hand.

if we can cast a vote for massively unlikely but OMG squee, how about Bill Nighy

Yes, yes, and again yes. I should have thought of him.

Fiona Shaw for a season

I haven't seen Fiona Shaw. Have I? Rushing to IMDb to check ... okay, I saw her in the Harry Potter movies, where she made no impression at all. I'm really not familiar with her work.

I've never seen Guy Flanagan, unless I saw him in Holby City and didn't know it. I watched a few episodes because of Peter Wingfield. I'm not a Tom Hollander fan particularly, though everyone I know seems to think he's remarkable.

Jack Davenport... I never would have thought of him. But of course. After all, if Russell T Davies could pick his old friends, so can Steven Moffatt. Of course! I wouldn't mind him at all. He has talent and presence. He can do comedy and serious stuff. He might be excellent.

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Ooh. Michael Praed, pretty please. He was terrific in The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne, which also starred Francesca Hunt, who is my idea of the perfect Shards-era Cordelia Vorkosigan.

This will also free up David Tennant so that he can climb in his time machine and un-age himself about twenty years so that he can play Miles in The Warrior's Apprentice [g].

BTW, Mark Rylance was a fantastic Bassanio in a Globe stage production of The Merchant of Venice ten years ago, too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

This will also free up David Tennant so that he can climb in his time machine and un-age himself about twenty years so that he can play Miles in The Warrior's Apprentice [g].

You optimist!

Nice thought, though.

I've yet to hear anything bad about Mark Rylance. Wish I could have had a chance to see him live - maybe someday, as neither of us are dead yet.

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

" I don't think the new Doctor should be someone the Doctor has actually met, along with the viewers. "

Well, it worked okay for Romana II.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well, it worked okay for Romana II.

Did she have two roles?

Dare I suggest...

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Rick Mercer (http://rickmercer.com/), if the CBC's still providing any financing at all to this revival? Granted, that's going to put a crimp in the Mercer Report, but I don't think he's ever seriously tried SpecFic before outside of that Secret Nation movie about the Newfoundland Referendum.

Alternatively, there's Chiewetel Ejoifor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiwetel_Ejiofor), although certain Black Panther fandom factions may have an argument with the Whovians over that one.

Re: Dare I suggest...

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Rick Mercer? Well - It's an idea! I almost said Colm Feore. He's a type I like for the role. Doesn't mean he could - I'm not sure if has the range, good though he is.

Chewitel Ejiofor was on my list, but I took him off because I'm not sure how he'd be. I decided I was too uncommitted to the choice. I can't picture it. He's a brilliant actor but so different from role to role - it would all depend on how the Doctor was written and I don't know how Steven Moffatt will change things.

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Well, if Tennant must go... Tilda Swinton? Possibly as a male; she's done that a few times very effectively.

Or, just to throw everyone into total confusion, Ewan McGregor. XD

[dewline.livejournal.com]

Good luck with landing that last one, if the Beeb tries for real!

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Damn! Last I'd read it looked like Tennant would come back for at least one more season after the soecials. I will miss his manic intensity (and good acting).

Perhaps he can't take the Doctor Who celebrity any more?

I like Sean Pertwee, but who knows?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I will miss his manic intensity (and good acting).

I will too. I liked Eccleston also - more - but Tennant was a pleasure to watch. I haven't liked him as much in his other roles.

Perhaps he can't take the Doctor Who celebrity any more?

I could hardly blame him for wanting to get away from it. To go back to real life, unbothered by the tempests of publicity.

The more I think about Sean Pertwee, the more I think he's a good choice, but I'd better not get any emotional attachment to the idea, since the BBC are not consulting me and will probably - I almost hope - pick someone I never heard of.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

You didn't cut it/....

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oops.

[katkim.livejournal.com]

Julie Gardener is leaving too, so series 5 will have fresh faces all around!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

It will be interesting to see if the show changes as lot, or keeps it tone. I predict change - but I can hardly predict what type of change!

It may be best to have all the people who are changing over, changing over at once. All that enthusiasm of the newbies all at once.

Do we know who will be taking Julie Gardner's place?

[allyra.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched Doctor Who since the early days of Peter Davison's tenure, so clearly I have no real opinion. But I think it would be fantastic if they stole Hugh Laurie away from House to be the new Doctor! (Especially given the sad state of that series right now.... *sighs*)

*runs away giggling*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Why is House in a sad state? I haven't seen it since the first season. (And I haven't seen all of the first season, either.)

I think Hugh Laurie might be fun as the Doctor - I don't really have a feel for the actor, and I wouldn't want him to play it the way he plays House, but... he's good, he's versatile.

But I think he's happy where he is now.

[gypsylady.livejournal.com]

Sean Pertwee? What a lovely bit of continuity that would provide. I like Sam Troughton (http://samtroughton.co.uk/) for the role, too. Add to his acting ability, he has teh pretty, and as the grandson of Patrick Troughton and son of David Troughton (http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0087134/) he has a respectable Doctor Who lineage, too.

I admit I'm disappointed to lose Tennant, but the regeneration episodes have always been exciting to me.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Sean Pertwee? What a lovely bit of continuity that would provide.

I'd like that. I've loved the actor since Brother Cadfael and always wished I could see him in more.

Sam Troughton - oh, yes! I like that idea, too.

The only regeneration scenes I've ever seen were in "The Parting of the Ways" and "The Stolen Earth", unless you count the regeneration of the Master in "Utopia". And thought the suspense factor in "The Stolen Earth" was terrific, it didn't become a 'real' regeneration because we still had Ten at the end of it. (Doubled.)

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

The BBC speculates about candidates for the next Doctor at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7699513.stm

I like their comment about Sean Pertwee: "Sean Pertwee is reportedly eager to follow in his father's footsteps. Ignored by the bookmakers, but a strong contender according to Doctor Who fansites,"

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I see that James Nesbitt isn't who I thought he was. I wonder who I was confusing him with. Maybe he's someone I haven't seen?

I thought I came up with Sean Pertwee all on my own - ! Heh. Not likely. Still. I like him as a pick for various reasons.

I wonder why Paterson Joseph is so popular with the bookmakers. I find him an oddly charismatic actor, but I see nothing that would make him particularly suited to the lead on Doctor Who. I haven't been impressed with Russell Tovey so far, not at all, and I only ever saw David Morissey in Blackpool where he played a horrible character, not making me like him as an actor. But David Tennant was kind of horrible in that, too, except in a sexy way, which is so much better.

And - ah-hah! - the penny finally drops (because they told me) as to who James McAvoy is. No, not someone I've seen, but at least someone whose movies I've heard of.

If it's to be any of those actors, I'd go for Sean Pertwee. I do think Robert Carlyle would be better.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, not everyone is mourning Tennant's leaving, for example today's Telegraph:

"it was Tennant who truly embraced the part, his childhood history of Doctor Who fandom informing the performance of a man genuinely having the time of his life.

There is, of course, a limit to the dramatic range you can show in what is, at heart, a children’s series: if we were being unkind, we could say the constant switchblade between gurning buffoonery and deadly-cold drama in Tennant's performance was becoming just a little too familiar.

The Scot was probably right to end it where he will – with the crowd wanting more. Indeed, it will probably be best for the show, too: for a traditional piece of drama, Doctor Who has succeeded by being surprisingly bold in its choices, tackling subjects and making casting decisions (Catherine Tate as the returning Donna; even Billie Piper as Rose) that were as unexpected as they were inspired."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/10/30/do3007.xml

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this link - most interesting, and I agree. I liked the paragraph:

if we were being unkind, we could say the constant switchblade between gurning buffoonery and deadly-cold drama in Tennant's performance was becoming just a little too familiar.

This is not to say I think there was anything wrong with his ice-and-fire approach, not at all, but that it wasn't going anywhere. Without development or resolution the character would eventually become stale.

I'm not sorry to see him go but I will be sorry if I don't like his successor.

[janne-d.livejournal.com]

If Robert Carlyle was the next Doctor, I would probably faint from excitement.

he has charm and scope and sexiness and he's a terrific actor in the myriad ways the role calls for

Absolutely. I know people that I had to physically show the cast lists before they would believe that he played both Hamish MacBeth and Begbie in Trainspotting.

Though I will also note that Jack Davenport is enormously sexy and has a beautiful line in sarcasm. So he would be fine too.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

If Robert Carlyle was the next Doctor, I would probably faint from excitement.

Me to. I would be thrilled.

I certainly have no problem with Jack Davenport.

I do have a problem with Russell Tovey. No accounting for tastes, hmm?

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't say no to Derek Jacobi... even if that might be a bit awkward after that tiny little stint as the Master :P

Damn it, why do I have no I, Claudius icon? I fail at this.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've never liked Derek Jacobi much - until I saw him in "Utopia" and thought he was excellent. I wouldn't choose him as the Doctor, though, but I do agree he might really do it well.

[silverwhistle.livejournal.com]

What about Jason Isaacs?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Oooooooooh.

Good idea.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

I don't know a thing about the Doctor but I want to say I love the kitty picture.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Isn't the kitty picture fun? That's from the episode "Gridlock", in series 3.