The news came through tonight that David Tennant will be leaving Doctor Who after completing the four special episodes to be broadcast in 2010. The BBC has footage of Tennant talking about his time as the 10th Doctor. From the BBC site:
Tennant stepped into the Tardis in 2005, and will leave the role after four special episodes are broadcast next year. He made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the National Television Awards.
“When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won’t be with me,” he said. “Now don’t make me cry,” he added. “I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don’t take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you’ll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair.”
Three years was “about the right time” to play the role, he told the BBC in an exclusive interview. “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.
No doubt Joe will say something more about it tomorrow, but the fun over the coming months will be the manic speculation over the identity of the 11th Doctor.
Rich Johnston, over at his Lying In The Gutters column has already put forward Paterson Joseph as a possible 11th Doctor. And Jennifer Saunders name has long been mentioned as well. As well as Mark Gatiss, James Nesbitt, Robert Carlyle, James Marsters (I think that was before he featured in Torchwood) and many more no doubt. But I’m sure everyone and anyone will be mentioned before Steven Moffat makes an announcement.
October 29th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I really think there’s something in the Zeitgeist saying it’s time for a Black actor to play The Doctor, but I can name two I’d rather see in the role before Paterson Joseph (Idris Elba, Chiwetel Ejiofor). Partly just to piss of Rich Johnston, but primarily because I think the role has became so prestigious again that it needs that level of charisma and star power. Joseph’s great, but I reckon the role these days has to be played by an actor on that delicate threshold between “almost-too-big-for-TV” and “not-quite-yet-a-movie-star”.
October 30th, 2008 at 9:10 am
Indeed, the naming of Doctors is a delicate matter, it isn’t just one of your holiday games…