You don't get much more official than an announcement from the BBC. David Tennant will be leaving the lead role in Doctor Who at the end of the 2009 specials.It kind of makes sense. That's when the changeover from Russell T. Davies to Steven Moffat takes place. If one was going to leave the show, that would be the time. Still, Tennant was utterly amazing in the role. Even when the episode was crap, his youthful enthusiasm made the character always a pleasure to watch. His love for the role and the character always shone through. It's probably best for him to leave while the fans are wanting more and he hasn't worn out his welcome.
There is an upside to this. While in his tenure as the Doctor, Mr. Tennant wasn't permitted by BBC to attend any conventions. Perhaps now we'll be able to catch him at one, if he isn't busy with moving on in his career.
Who should play the next Doctor? I vote for Paul McGann. Discuss.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
10-29-2008 @ 9:23PM
erik said...
Good thing you didn't put the spoiler in the title!
Asshat.
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10-29-2008 @ 9:33PM
Jon said...
Come on, this is Dr. Who. That title may or may not have had anything to do with Tennant leaving the role. Paul McGann would be absolutely awesome, but since we definitely the seventh doctor regenerate into him (as far as we aren't ignoring that part of the movie as well as the half-human rubbish) the chronology would get even more convoluted, even given wibbley-wobbley timey-wimey issues. I almost just wish that if he was going to leave that he would have done it at the end of series 4. They had better get someone as fantastic as the last two doctors though. Both have been absolutely brilliant ancors.
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10-29-2008 @ 9:34PM
StillBash said...
SPOILER GOD DAMMIT!
When will you learn? WHEN!?!
My only hope at the moment is that this story is so unfounded and based on nothing that you saying he will die is mere speculation.
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10-29-2008 @ 9:55PM
RobynM said...
Sorry, Bash - there's footage of David himself announcing it at the National Television Awards (remotely, between acts of Hamlet) available on YouTube.
As far as spoilage goes - yeah, the header's unfortunate, but I think this one's gonna be unavoidable.
10-29-2008 @ 9:39PM
Noe Qwert said...
I was avoiding spoilers of this nature. Nice job with ruining the surprise!
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10-29-2008 @ 9:50PM
Claire said...
it was an official announcement.....you'd hear it eventually if you'd been paying attention to anything. This was hardly a spoiler so get over it.
that aside, i can't think of anyone to fill The Doctor's shoes. David was just so good. I trust them to get someone good. the casting is always superb with that show.
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10-29-2008 @ 10:27PM
jim said...
I wish he was staying for one more season so we could see a full arc building up to his departure. He played it so well and I would have loved one season of him under Moffat's direction.
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10-29-2008 @ 10:34PM
pumpkinhead said...
I guess this pick would be more in keeping with the style of the old Dr. Who, but I think that guy who played Jonathan Creek would have made a good Doctor. Davies is his name I think...?
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10-29-2008 @ 10:50PM
RobynM said...
Yeah, that'd be Alan Davies. He'd be an interesting choice, as would James Nesbitt.
10-29-2008 @ 10:41PM
1iPete said...
I think James Nesbitt would be an interesting choice.
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10-29-2008 @ 11:02PM
Saavik said...
Noooooo!!!! I knew it had to happen eventually, but I was so looking forward to getting to see what David Tennant could do under Steven Moffat. Sigh.
I suppose, as suggested by pumpkinhead, Alan Davies (Jonathan Creek) could be good. I'm less excited by the idea of James Nesbitt. Honestly, at the moment its really hard to imagine anyone else in the role. I guess I'll just have to trust that they'll pick someone good, even if it won't be the same.
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10-29-2008 @ 11:03PM
redheadedgolem said...
The new Doctor should and will be Paterson "The New Speedo" Joseph.
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10-29-2008 @ 11:48PM
bookie said...
Richard Armitage
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10-29-2008 @ 11:48PM
Kathy Beaumont said...
David Hewlett keeps volunteering. Sounds good to me. If we have to loose David Tennant, that is.
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10-30-2008 @ 12:15AM
TraV333 said...
My pipe-dream vote is for Simon Pegg
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10-30-2008 @ 1:06AM
Ryan said...
I've already did my whole "NOOOOO!!!!!" thing. So now that I'm adjusted, I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of Tennant's bout as Dr. Who and excited to see who they get to replace him.
Godspeed Mr. Tennant. Now do lots of movies so I can have my fix somewhere else.
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10-30-2008 @ 5:19AM
Preach said...
Let's close the circle, and have Sean Pertwee become the next Doctor Who!
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10-30-2008 @ 7:32AM
MacLean said...
there will never be an unspoiled proper regeneration. no point moaning about it being "spoiled", its unavoidable.
alan davies would probably be the worst doctor ever, and james nesbitt would be ok if predictable. go for something different, bearing in mind the last two choices were controversial but ended up being awesome. Paul McGann, Patterson Joseph or David Morrissey would all be ace if possible.
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10-30-2008 @ 7:51AM
penguendedektif said...
I had said it before, I will say it again:
Bill Nighy...
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10-30-2008 @ 7:52AM
Martin said...
Seriously, how is a story saying David Tennant is leaving Dr. Who not going to involve the Doctor's death. The only way to get the actor playing the Doctor out of the show is to kill him so he can regenerate into another look for another actor to play. Everyone should really quit crying spoiler.
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