We already mentioned something about it, but for those fans of the show who actually haven't read the news yet, here it is. As a warning, the video can only be watched from the U.K. (I never understood that particular habit of the BBC. Why do they limit who can view their videos like that?).I am leaving the spoiler until after the jump so nobody decides to blow up my house in retaliation for ruining the surprise.
So as the 11th Doctor we have the relatively unknown Matt Smith, who is both male and white (thus disappointing my desire for the next Doctor to be of a different race or gender). He's also looks thin like David Tennant. The fact that an unknown actor was chosen doesn't surprise me. British bookmakers must be ecstatic at keeping a lot of money since I didn't see Matt Smith on any of the lists.
At 26 years old, he's younger than any of the previous actors who have inherited the role. In fact, if you look at the press release, he looks like something out of Twilight. That's when it struck me...
They must be going to the young female demographic that made that movie and book so popular, possibly the Goths or Vampires. They already have the male demographic, so the showrunners are probably trying to expand the base. The publicity photos are quite dark and foreboding. Are they going for the dark, emo Doctor the next time around?
As for his age, perhaps the Time Lords age backwards with each regeneration. Maybe the 12th Doctor will in fact be 12 years old.
I'm somewhat disappointed in the choice, but I trust Steven Moffat to make things interesting. What are your thoughts?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-03-2009 @ 10:40PM
MrC said...
I guess my dreams of James Nesbitt as Dr will have to wait at least another cycle.
I do trust Moffett with Dr, more that I trust RAD, so hopefully in a year plus we'll know for sure.
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1-03-2009 @ 11:44PM
Jeb said...
The BBC is funded by a TV licence fee in the UK... I guess they want to keep it available to the ratepayers only?
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1-04-2009 @ 5:26PM
Ian said...
It's a bit silly of the BBC to block ALL stuff for viewing outside of the UK. After all which TV station would regard to new Dr Who annoncement as news? Thus interbiews which potential help extend the reach of the BBC, w/o trampling on material which US stations BUY, should be allowed.
Also it's about time the BBC allowed overseas subscriptions as BBCAmerica and PBS coverage are so tiny as to be almost non-existent in reach.
1-03-2009 @ 11:55PM
Meghan said...
There's a video on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=badPcBlIJvo
I'm reserving judgment until I see him in action, but I trust Moffet and co. Though I'll be sad to see Tennant go, I admit I'm looking forward to Eleven. (I got into the show once season three started airing, so I've never experienced the reveling of a new Doctor in real time before.)
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1-04-2009 @ 12:01AM
SirCrumpet said...
"As a warning, the video can only be watched from the U.K. (I never understood that particular habit of the BBC. Why do they limit who can view their videos like that?)."
For what it's worth, all the American TV companies do exactly the same thing - those outside of the US are unable to watch the videos on sites like AOL Television, Hulu or the TV companies/shows sites.
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1-04-2009 @ 6:40PM
The Deej said...
It's especially annoying when now there is all this extra content only available on a network's website and I can't see it from Canada.
It's mostly about copyright issues I know but still pisses me off.
1-04-2009 @ 12:13AM
Claire said...
the interview was wonderful. he seems genuinely thrilled at the chance and very intent on giving it his all. i have faith from what i see that he'll do a decent job at the very least. but, is it bad i am distracted by his hair? it reminds me of that flock of seagulls hair from the 80s with a bit of emo bangs thrown in. and i can't really take that look seriously. unlike David, whose distinct hairstyle didn't get in the way. i miss David already.
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1-04-2009 @ 12:27AM
keithnl said...
Who? Rocky Dennis
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1-04-2009 @ 12:59AM
Cyantre said...
I'm very happy with this choice for #11. David Tennant is my absolute favorite though. I wouldn't want the Doctor to be a different race or gender, it's too far fetched.
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1-04-2009 @ 11:22AM
Jimmy said...
Why would that be far fetched? Maybe with a different gender, but why would a different race be far fetched? If anything, it would truly live up to idea of the time lords if the Doctor regenerated into different races, and maybe even different genders. I'll reserve judgment on Matt Smith until I see him in the role, but the idea that the Doctor must always be a white guy does a disservice to the mythology of Doctor Who.
1-04-2009 @ 3:58PM
Alex - A.S. said...
It's not too far a stretch, seeing as regeneration completely rewrites your DNA. Having dark or light skin is about as random as having blonde hair for the Doctor.
1-04-2009 @ 1:07AM
RAB said...
Re the question about BBC videos being viewable only in the UK: bear in mind that the BBC is funded by the license fee which is paid by British viewers. It's as if the BBC were a subscription service getting money from its subscribers. If they made all that content freely available to non-subscribers, the subscribers who are subsidizing the whole thing would feel ripped off because we'd all be freeloaders getting the benefit of their investment.
When we see BBC stuff in America, it's either through donor-supported PBS or advertiser-supported cable channels...or on DVDs we pay for directly. The BBC isn't just giving it away for free.
Someday perhaps the BBC will be available everywhere via a paid subscription, and we'll get to see all those extra goodies. But it's hard to argue we should get them free when we're not chipping in towards the cost of making them.
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1-05-2009 @ 8:45AM
dukeman said...
OK. Then let me log in with my DirectTV log in and see the videos.
1-04-2009 @ 1:13AM
Sgt Ret said...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhmWRjo7gKI is the interview on YouTube.
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1-04-2009 @ 1:14AM
Jenn said...
"Why do they limit who can view their videos like that?"
You're kidding, right? This is the site that regularly posts Hulu videos, which are only available in the US.
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1-04-2009 @ 7:36AM
E1984 said...
Ditto. Do you know how annoying it is for UK viewers? I still desperately want to watch Flight of the Conchords Season 2. No wonder people use torrents.
1-04-2009 @ 1:21AM
bc said...
Well, he seems to be a decent actor in what I've seen. And, two degrees of separation--he played one of Billie Piper's sidekicks in the two Sally Lockhart mysteries that have been filmed so far.
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1-04-2009 @ 4:38AM
DanB said...
Given that we in the UK can't see most videos linked from the Squad - Hulu, SciFi, etc. then it only seems fair that our public broadcasting system paid for by UK license payers should restrict access to their content?!
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1-04-2009 @ 5:43AM
Saavik said...
I want to trust Steven Moffat, and I'm certainly glad that they didn't choose a woman, but . . . I'm still too young for the actor playing the Doctor to be younger than I am. I realize they were never going to go too much older than David Tennant, but I never imagined that they would go this much younger than him. And that hair really does bug me. Oh well, I'll try to reserve judgement until I see him in action.
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1-04-2009 @ 5:46AM
Brendon Connelly said...
These BBC videos aren't just videos, they're actual shows. Full shows. And the BBC being public broadcasting, they're not ad funded. there's no viable way they can let the whole world watch these videos without a public outcry in the UK.
If we pay our license fee, how come the whole world gets to see our BBC?
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