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

[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.

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

I don't think they'd choose him regardless, I just have an extreme soft spot for him. heh

I'm more than willing to leave it to their wisdom since, honestly, I never would've picked Chris Eccleston either before seeing him in the part. I would've pictured him all creepy in Shallow Grave and thought they'd lost their damn minds. heh

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Yes. If the casting is as good as it has been, I don't think we need to worry. And I suppose in my heart of hearts I'm hoping they'll find and cast a newcomer, someone we never heard of, who is as good as Eccleston and Tennant were, and as good as Carlyle and Pertwee and others might be, and who gives the role his own unique twist.

Notice I say 'he'. I really prefer to keep the Doctor male.

[star-momma.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see them try a male companion, but, honestly, I'm fine with the Doctor continuing to be male... as much so that I don't have to sort out the gender issues involved as so the Doctor doesn't ;) And I agree fully that someone I've never heard of (or barely heard of) is absolutely fine with me. Of course, given my limited familiarity with BBC programming, that still leaves a large field open! heh

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I'd like to see them try a male companion

We had Jack, though all too briefly, and never on his own. Though he was invited.

Of course, given my limited familiarity with BBC programming, that still leaves a large field open!

For me too. There are no many names proposed I never heard of. Turns out many of them are big names in UK theatre. Much as I would love to see the current plays in London, I can't, so I don't know the actors unless they turn up in TV and movies.