Tennant quits Doctor Who

[Crazy_Vasey]

BBC

David Tennant quits as Doctor Who
David Tennant
Tennant said the role had been "bewildering, life changing, exciting"

David Tennant is to stand down as Doctor Who, after becoming one of the most popular Time Lords in the history of the BBC science fiction show.

Tennant stepped into the Tardis in 2005, and will leave the role after four special episodes are broadcast next year.

Three years was "about the right time" to play the role, he told the BBC.

He made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the National Television Awards.

"I think it's better to go when there's a chance that people might miss you, rather than to hang around and outstay your welcome," he said.


I don't ever want it to feel like a job, so I want to move on when it still feels exciting and fresh
David Tennant

His stint in the show had been "the most extraordinary time, it's been bewildering, life changing, very exciting", he said.

"And just so much fun, such a great show to work on.

"That's one of the reasons I think it's right to take a deep breath and bow out when it's still fun, when it's a novelty.

"I don't ever want it to feel like a job, so I want to move on when it still feels exciting and fresh and that means I'll miss it."

Drama award

Tennant, the 10th actor to play the Doctor Who, left fans guessing about his return at the end of the latest series.

David Tennant and Catherine Tate
David Tennant beat co-star Catherine Tate at the National Television Awards

In the last episode, in July, the Doctor had to defeat his enemies the Daleks to save the universe.

Almost 10 million people watched as the Time Lord apparently started the process of regeneration - but did not complete it.

Tennant will appear in a Christmas special, titled The Next Doctor, before filming four more specials in January.

"They'll be the four last stories that I do," he said.

In a sign of his popularity, he was voted best drama performer in a public vote at the National Television Awards.

He has been named most popular actor at the same ceremony for the past two years. That prize has been discontinued this year.

An average of 8.1 million people a week watched the latest series - the fourth since it made a comeback in 2005 - in its Saturday evening slot on BBC One.

'Spectacular' exit

Mr Davies, executive producer, said: "I've been lucky and honoured to work with David over the past few years - and it's not over yet, the Tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left!

"After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano. But we're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching."

David Tennant in Love's Labour's Lost
David Tennant has recently acted with the Royal Shakespeare Company

A fifth series of the show is scheduled for 2010.

Tennant replaced Christopher Eccleston, who resurrected the show after a 16-year break.

Tennant made his name in TV dramas such as Blackpool and Casanova.

He started his career in theatre and in recent months has returned to the stage with well-received performances in Hamlet and Love's Labour's Lost for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In December last year, Tennant denied rumours that he was planning to quit after Catherine Tate - his new companion in the Tardis - told the Jonathan Ross radio show she thought the next series of Doctor Who would be Tennant's last.

He said at the time: "Catherine Tate stitched me up good and proper. She goes on Jonathan Ross and makes up a load of old nonsense."

Doesn't come as a great surprise but I dread what RTD comes up with for a finale. I wouldn't think it possible for him to top Journey's End for going completely over-the-top, but you never know.

[Revy]

Well damn. It's just a shame that Tennant has to go out under the control of Mr Robert 'Still Hanging On' Davies. I'd rather he left like he said he would after Journeys End and let Moffat make Tennants last episodes.

Still, there's always room for him to come back, what with his handy-man clone hanging around in another universe if he ever wants a guest role.

[Thanas]

Still, there's always room for him to come back, what with his handy-man clone hanging around in another universe if he ever wants a guest role.

Oh I hope not. I want that chapter to stay closed forever. Unless of course, Moffat manages to un-fuck Journey's End, but I doubt even he will be able to pull that off.

[weemadando]

Does this mean that I can finally have my dream run of Ricky Jay as the Dr?

Short of that, Jeremy Clarkson. I want to see his Doctor. Even if it just want for a X-mas special.

[Drooling Iguana]

Damn, I was hoping that we'd get a chance to see a bit of D10 handled by someone other than RTD. Tennant seems like a pretty good actor so it would be nice to see him playing a version of the character that I didn't constantly want to strangle.

[Crazedwraith]

If Davis is writing Tennant out does that mean he gets to pick who the next Doctor will be?

He can still bugger things up epically then.

[Revy]

If Davis is writing Tennant out does that mean he gets to pick who the next Doctor will be?

He can still bugger things up epically then.

Oh god.

RTD: Ladies and gentlemen - I give you the next Doctor Who ... Catherine Tate!!

DUN-DUN-DUUN!

*facepalm*

I've actually been asking people who they'd think would make a good Doctor (or a good Bond). I've never heard Jeremy Clarkson suggested though. I did read someone say that Derek Jacobi would have done a great Doctor Who if not for him having already done the Master, and the fact that these days it seems unlikely that they'll cast an older person for the Doctor. Don't know who I'd vote for. Sean Pertwee maybe? Or maybe RTD will screw us all over and have him regenerate as a Dalek. Or Davros.

[Crazedwraith]

I was thinking after someone mentioned Sean Pertwee was the son of Jon Pertwee (the third Doctor) that he would make an awesome Doctor. Either him or Phillip Glennister (just for LoM fanboyism if ever he faced Simm Master)

[PREDATOR490]

Doctor Who is almost at a close anyway given the Doctor is only supposed to have 13 ? regenerations. A new Doctor will technically be the 12th regeneration if Journey's End counts as one. Otherwise its 11th regeneration.

Or have they quietly done away with the limit on Timelord regeneration with the new series ?

Regardless, the death of the Daleks seems rather close to a closing call for the series. There is no old enemies left unless they want to resurrect them which will make the finales of the Master, Cybermen, Daleks a waste of time. I can only see the Sontarans coming up and perhaps the vague thread left for the Master's return.
Although, the old series had a habit of different Doctors involved in the same story which this series hasnt attempted yet so return cameos from Tennant etc. could occur if they wanted more special material.

That said, I rather liked this Doctor and the way Tennant played him if not entirely the way the series has gone as a whole storywise. I'm finding it difficult to imagine anyone being able to sufficiently replace him as a new Doctor.

[Crazedwraith]

It'll be his 11th body and therefore only his tenth regeneration (Not counting JE, which they probably won't)

[Thanas]

Robert Carlyle anyone?

Or maybe Eccleston could come back? Yeah, no chance of it happening, but I can dream, can't I?

Ah, what the hell. Hugh Laurie as the next doctor. House sucks nowadays anyway, so he can go back. Yeah, no chance of it happening either since he is under contract, but fuck it all.

[Stark]

Short of that, Jeremy Clarkson. I want to see his Doctor. Even if it just want for a X-mas special.

You must be under the misapprehension that Clarkson is an actor, able to vary his performance or surprise the audience. Given his one-note act, I don't see why anyone would be incapable of simply simulating this and saying 'wow, that's dumb'.

But then I keep forgetting how fanservice-driven most idiot nerds are.

Doctor Who is almost at a close anyway given the Doctor is only supposed to have 13 ? regenerations. A new Doctor will technically be the 12th regeneration if Journey's End counts as one. Otherwise its 11th regeneration.

It amuses me that everyone who's ever said this can simply be stamped 'idiot' across their forehead and ignored. Yeah, they're going to totally end the show when they get to a stupid number, just like all those teen shows that ended when highschool ran out, or college ran out, or whatever. Totally!

It's not like the regen limit is purely cultural and the Master had like 3 sets or anything, lol, god no, it's utterly plausible they'd stop a successful show because of some ridiculous lore-based non-limit, it makes so much sense now!!!! I mean there's no Daleks right so DW is finished, it's not like the best period of it's history had like 2 Dalek stories across years and years or anything no WAY.

[Patrick Degan]

Doctor Who is almost at a close anyway given the Doctor is only supposed to have 13 ? regenerations. A new Doctor will technically be the 12th regeneration if Journey's End counts as one. Otherwise its 11th regeneration.

Or have they quietly done away with the limit on Timelord regeneration with the new series ?

Come now, you don't really imagine that would put a stop to anything if the BBC really wanted to carry the series on, do you?

Regardless, the death of the Daleks seems rather close to a closing call for the series. There is no old enemies left unless they want to resurrect them which will make the finales of the Master, Cybermen, Daleks a waste of time. I can only see the Sontarans coming up and perhaps the vague thread left for the Master's return.

Here's a strange concept: the series actually can go on without any of its old standby monsters. It ran for most of Tom Baker's time without repeat appearances of the Daleks, the Cybermen, the Master, et. al. It ran for Pat Troughton's last year without any of them showing up except as a cameo at the end of "The War Games". The secret is: you make up entirely original monsters and villains. The Doctor after all travels the universe of time and can run into just about anything out there.

That said, I rather liked this Doctor and the way Tennant played him if not entirely the way the series has gone as a whole storywise. I'm finding it difficult to imagine anyone being able to sufficiently replace him as a new Doctor.

A problem the series has solved ten times already. I'm sure they'll be up to an eleventh, twelfth, thirteenth, however many afterward.

[DaveJB]

For some reason I get the feeling Tennant thought he'd quietly sneak out the door while everyone was distracted by this whole Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross clusterfuck. Either way, hopefully RTD will do the decent thing and leave Doc 11's selection to Moffat and Piers Wenger... hopefully.

[weemadando]

Short of that, Jeremy Clarkson. I want to see his Doctor. Even if it just want for a X-mas special.

You must be under the misapprehension that Clarkson is an actor, able to vary his performance or surprise the audience. Given his one-note act, I don't see why anyone would be incapable of simply simulating this and saying 'wow, that's dumb'.

But then I keep forgetting how fanservice-driven most idiot nerds are.

I know it's stupid. Very, very, very stupid. But that's why I think it's a X-mas special job.

[Stark]

And you're wrong. Why not the postman? Why not John Howard?

[weemadando]

Call me wrong all you want, but in your heart of hearts, you know it to be very, very right.

Or at least better than some of the other options.

[Johonebesus]

Well crap, I liked Tennant. I just hope the next one doesn't have any silly manic tendencies. After Tennant we need another Pertwee or Davison.

Doctor Who is almost at a close anyway given the Doctor is only supposed to have 13 ? regenerations. A new Doctor will technically be the 12th regeneration if Journey's End counts as one. Otherwise its 11th regeneration.

Or have they quietly done away with the limit on Timelord regeneration with the new series ?

Regardless, the death of the Daleks seems rather close to a closing call for the series. There is no old enemies left unless they want to resurrect them which will make the finales of the Master, Cybermen, Daleks a waste of time. I can only see the Sontarans coming up and perhaps the vague thread left for the Master's return.
Although, the old series had a habit of different Doctors involved in the same story which this series hasnt attempted yet so return cameos from Tennant etc. could occur if they wanted more special material.

That said, I rather liked this Doctor and the way Tennant played him if not entirely the way the series has gone as a whole storywise. I'm finding it difficult to imagine anyone being able to sufficiently replace him as a new Doctor.

Doctor who does not need old enemies to keep going. Over twenty six years, even the Daleks had years in between repeat appearances. And if they really must reuse old enemies, there are many, many villains from the old series that could be used again.

And the native Cybermen should still be around. I'd like to see a redesigned Cyberman that keeps the flexible skin of the old ones.

It wouldn't be hard for them to bypass the regeneration limit. Maybe the Doctor's sentence leading to Pertwee wasn't a forced regeneration, or maybe the Timelords gave him an extra one to make up for it. And of course it would be easy for them to come up with a story somehow resetting his regeneration cycle or taking away the limit.

[Patrick Degan]

It wouldn't be hard for them to bypass the regeneration limit. Maybe the Doctor's sentence leading to Pertwee wasn't a forced regeneration, or maybe the Timelords gave him an extra one to make up for it. And of course it would be easy for them to come up with a story somehow resetting his regeneration cycle or taking away the limit.

The Time Lords renewed his regeneration cycle at the beginning of the Time War, or he's been lying about how many regenerations he had left, or his memory was altered and he had more than he thought due to the Watcher regeneration, or the TARDIS is regenerating him, or has reset his regeneration cycle. Or he's inherited all the regeneration power of the Time Lords since Gallifrey blew up. Or it got reset when he opened the pocket-watch. Or invisible gnomes zapped him. There are any number of ways a writer's fiat can work this. Or the limit is just simply forgotten.

[Sidewinder]

Short of that, Jeremy Clarkson. I want to see his Doctor. Even if it just want for a X-mas special.

Clarkson... You mean the guy from 'Top Gear'? Someone who might customize the TARDIS to transform into a killer robot and/or a giant football, and/or add retractable jet engines and wings, just because he can? Who might drive his customized TARDIS up to the Dalek Emperor's home planet and challenge the "bucket head" to a race, the loser having to wear a dunce cap for the next millenium?

As fun as that may be, I'd prefer to see what Clarkson can do to the USS Enterprise, because Starfleet needs someone with the guts (and insanity) to say "Bugger the peaceniks, let's see how big a warp drive we can fit in this thing before it shakes itself to pieces," and/or "let's see how big a death ray we can fit in this thing before the recoil tears it in half. Why? Because we can."

[weemadando]

Short of that, Jeremy Clarkson. I want to see his Doctor. Even if it just want for a X-mas special.

Clarkson... You mean the guy from 'Top Gear'? Someone who might customize the TARDIS to transform into a killer robot and/or a giant football, and/or add retractable jet engines and wings, just because he can? Who might drive his customized TARDIS up to the Dalek Emperor's home planet and challenge the "bucket head" to a race, the loser having to wear a dunce cap for the next millenium?

As fun as that may be, I'd prefer to see what Clarkson can do to the USS Enterprise, because Starfleet needs someone with the guts (and insanity) to say "Bugger the peaceniks, let's see how big a warp drive we can fit in this thing before it shakes itself to pieces," and/or "let's see how big a death ray we can fit in this thing before the recoil tears it in half. Why? Because we can."

All this has done is convince me that I'm right, and I've now come up with the perfect concept. The next big "comic relief show-swapsies" that the BBC does needs to have Top Gear Dr Who.

[NecronLord]

Does this mean that I can finally have my dream run of Ricky Jay as the Dr?

Short of that, Jeremy Clarkson. I want to see his Doctor. Even if it just want for a X-mas special.

Dear god no. Yegads no. No no no no no no no NO!

If you want Jeremy Clarkson in Doctor Who, about the closest you're (thankfully) likely to get is the most recent BBC7/Big Finish Doctor Who radio play 'Max Warp' which features not-called-Jeremy-Clarkson-for-legal-reasons in space. But I'm not sure if BBC I-player works for you forreners.

Doctor Who is almost at a close anyway given the Doctor is only supposed to have 13 ? regenerations. A new Doctor will technically be the 12th regeneration if Journey's End counts as one. Otherwise its 11th regeneration.

Or have they quietly done away with the limit on Timelord regeneration with the new series ?

It was never very solid. It's highly likely that it can be worked around (indeed, we know it can be worked around by the time lords, who have the ability to reset it to zero (hence the Simm Master was body #15 (16, actually, but one was possessing a human, and so I'm not counting it) and Jacobi was #14).

More seriously, no, it's a silly idea, and if it's acknowledged at all, there will be a workaround brought in. It's comically easy to make an excuse.

"The Doctor was, due to leading the fight against the daleks, invested with the Mantle of Rassilon during the Time War, and thus has as many regenerations as he needs, until such time as the Enemy is utterly destroyed. It is thus shocking and disturbing to him that it's still working when he hits his fourteenth life. Because he hasn't seen any daleks since his tenth incarnation..."

Regardless, the death of the Daleks seems rather close to a closing call for the series. There is no old enemies left unless they want to resurrect them which will make the finales of the Master, Cybermen, Daleks a waste of time. I can only see the Sontarans coming up and perhaps the vague thread left for the Master's return.

There's dozens of old enemies left. No really major ones. But that would hardly be a major problem. Some of the best stories have always involved original antagonists.

[NecronLord]

Well crap, I liked Tennant. I just hope the next one doesn't have any silly manic tendencies. After Tennant we need another Pertwee or Davison.

Personally, I'd like to see another Sylvester McCoy more.

[The Grim Squeaker]

Well crap, I liked Tennant. I just hope the next one doesn't have any silly manic tendencies. After Tennant we need another Pertwee or Davison.

Personally, I'd like to see another Sylvester McCoy more.

I suppose i'm a luddite for still dreaming of the (discredited) rumours of David Bowie or Rowan Atkins as the doctor? (Well, Blackadder the Doctor less so, but Doctor Ziggy would be awesomeness beyond reason or comprehension).

[Ford Prefect]

Personally, I'd like to see another Sylvester McCoy more.

I would very much enjoy a Doctor who defeated his foes on the strength of his manipulative plotting; The Curse of Fenrik is a good example.