David Tennant quits 'Doctor Who'; is Russell Tovey the next Time Lord?
Truly sad news just came across the Atlantic. The BBC has an exclusive interview with video announcing that the 10th (and maybe the best) actor to play Doctor Who is moving on.
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. 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.
More from the BBC article:
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."
After the mourning period comes the obvious question: Who's the best person to play the Time Lord now? The BBC has a second article with an interesting suggestion from one of the key architects of the recent revival of the good Doctor.
"Doctor Who" writer Russell T Davies has suggested who he thinks should replace David Tennant as the next Time Lord. In e-mails serialised in The Times newspaper, Davies said Russell Tovey, who appeared in Alan Bennett's play "The History Boys," would fit the role.
The creator, who leaves the show next year as lead writer and executive producer, said he thought Tovey was "going to be huge" and is "amazing". Davies also revealed he had wanted JK Rowling to star in a Christmas special.
"Who" fans might know that Tovey was in last year's Christmas special in which he played a midshipman (photo on right), but his most notable performance to date was on stage and in the film "History Boys." You can see him below, third from the right.
This will be a hot topic for months. Any suggestions who else might be good to hop aboard into the Tardis?
-- Geoff Boucher
Credits: Photo by Adrian Rogers/Sci Fi shows David Tennant as Doctor Who in the episode "The Family of Blood, Part 2." Russell Tovey photo from last year's Christmas special, courtesy of Sci Fi. "History Boys" photo courtesy of Fox Searchlight.
Diana there was no need to be so rude to davinf anthony - I actually agree with him and I am a woman with a husband and 10 year old son! It IS one of the few programmes that boys really enjoy that the whole family can sit and enjoy together.
Personally I don't want to see a female Doctor - there are some traditions that shouldn't be messed with - a female Doctor would 'lose' some of the boys and who would I have to lust over?
Jonathan Rhys Meyer, Bill Nighy, Richard E Grant (has been an animated Doctor already) are all possibles.
Posted by: Hellyon | November 03, 2008 at 02:53 AM
why not an assie it would boost the australian audiences and give the show new limits.
If you wanted to you could even make the actor speak with a brittish accent.
Posted by: Nick | November 03, 2008 at 01:07 PM
How about Paterson Joseph as the first black Doctor Who?
Read about him as being a contender and it sounds great to me.
Posted by: jabalong | November 03, 2008 at 08:41 PM
david morrissey is playing the 'next doctor' in the christmas special
he'd make a pretty good choice to be the 11th doctor
robert carlyle and bill nighy are also supposedly in the running as replacements, but i'm sure it'll be a choice nobody's thought of
the unfortunate thing is that steven moffat has to scrap his plan to bring back river song from the silence in the library/forest of the dead two parter in the 2010 series, it would've been nice to see who she really was
Posted by: joe | November 06, 2008 at 02:53 PM
IN "THE TRIAL OF A TIME LORD", IT WAS REVEALD THAT THE DOCTOR'S 12TH REGERATION HAD ESCAPED, AND HE TRIED TO KILL THE 5TH REGERATION DOCTOR AND THE HIGH COUNCIL. DAVID IS THE 9TH AND 10TH REGENERATIONS DOCTOR. THEREFORE, WHO EVER IS CHOSEN AFTER DAVID, WILL BE THE 11TH REGERATION DOCTOR,AND THE LAST OF HIS REGENERATIONS.
Posted by: ALICE | November 21, 2008 at 01:54 PM
This is so sad. My english boyfriend introduced me to the series and I am hooked. I was so excited when I found the show on USA tv and could enjoy the lovely David Tennet playing the Doctor. It will be truely difficult tto watch the episode where he will die and be regenerated.
On a side note did I read the lead /creater is leaving? I hope that whoever remains will continue the quality script and ideas that are portrayed on the screen. I love Doctor Who and want to continue loving Doctor Who!!
Posted by: Darcy | November 23, 2008 at 08:01 PM
Do you all love David Tennant or do you love the Doctor? David is still here and is leaving so that he can go on to do other things. If you would listen to David, you would have heard him saying that he doesn't want it to become a job. He wants to leave in good spirits about the show and not when he has gotten to the point where he hates it to bits. I love him as the Doctor as well, but I must say that I respect David's decision greatly. I know that David would not want you to stop watching Dr. Who just because he has left it. He would want you to still love the show and watch it for what it is and continue to follow his work because he is still here and he hasn't disappeared off the face of the planet just because he's leaving Dr. Who.
Posted by: Natalie | November 25, 2008 at 10:32 AM
I hate to say this to you people. I am in love with David Tennant. Because I was having some dreams about him . I mean alot . If you read this David Tennant I wish you were my Doctor. I didn't know that you are playing in ( Tim Burton's In Doctor Who : Scream Of The Shalka ). You will probably be hearing the Tardis again. I got one question for you David Tennant . What does it feel seeing two of you.
Posted by: Amy Bates | November 27, 2008 at 05:51 PM
Oh, Russel Tovey is a DOG, and David Tennant is GORGEOUS!! That enough info??
Uh, Hello, David Tennant is, and ALWAYS ALWAYS be the greatest Doctor EVER.
SO WHAT IF RUSSEL TOVEY WAS IN A SHOW??? DAVID TENNANT WAS IN ALL KINDS OF MOVIES!!! AND RUSSEL TOVEY IS AN ATROCIOUS ACTOR!!!!! Okay, this is really pathetic, but, I've written SONGS about DT. And I love him. And he's beautiful.
Posted by: Leyah | December 04, 2008 at 09:12 AM
RUSSEL TOVEY IS AN UGLY DOG, A HORRIBLE ACTOR AND HE HAS A PIG NOSE AND MONKEY EARS, NOT TO MENTION HE IS A HORRIBLE HORRIBLE HORRIBLE ACTOR. DAVID TENNANT IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL MAN ALIVE AND AN AMAZING ACTOR. AND THE BEST DOCTOR!!! AND I HAVE WRITTEN TWO DOZEN SONGS ABOUT HIM!!!! I LOVE U DT PLEASE COME TO THE USA AND DO HAMLET BECAUSE I WOULD GIVE MY LIFE TO SEE YOU. I NEED MY DOCTOR!!!!!!
Posted by: Leyah | December 04, 2008 at 09:16 AM
Having read some of these comments, all I can say is good on Tennant for getting out. I mean, he's a truly wonderful doctor who will always have a special place in my heart, but the given some of the fans he has to deal with... holy crap, if I were faced with obsessives like some of you, I wouldn't even step into the TARDIS in the first place! (Not if I knew it was ever going to be broadcast, anyway.)
Double shame for the insults to Tovey. If you're not familiar with his skills and body of work, you've no right to run round insulting him, and he's a fine-looking chap. Like most men, change up how his hair is styled and what he's wearing and he becomes a very different-looking person.
Anyway, I'm ashamed to be a Doctor Who fan after reading some of these comments. Some of you are giving all of us a bad name with your screaming and moaning.
Posted by: Emm | December 12, 2008 at 11:01 AM
I agree with Emm. I'll bet the obsession of the fans is one of the main reasons David Tennant wants out. I've been a fan since Blackpool and the few costume dramas I've seen him in. He's got great range, and I wish him success in whatever he does next. As for Doctor Who, I adored Christopher Eccleston's doctor, and I was worried Tennant would be a mismatch. Boy was I wrong. I have great hopes for the good taste of Steven Moffat, who has helped make this new Doctor Who really, really interesting. I do rate Russell Tovey, but I think he's too young. You need someone with a few lines and creases, some gravitas. There are loads of actors who could fill the bill. I am looking forward to being surprised and falling in love again with Doctor #11.
Posted by: Kathryn | December 15, 2008 at 07:34 PM
this is awful news... david tennant as the doctor will be a ridiculously tough act to follow.
Posted by: laila | December 15, 2008 at 11:52 PM
I have been watching Doctor Who, since the 1960s. David Tennant has been the very best Doctor so far, He actually embodies the part, and I will miss him, what will be next, painting the Tardis yellow with green stripes?
Posted by: Kenneth Ferrell | January 18, 2009 at 12:13 PM
Just as long as the next Dr is not gay. Only 5% of the population is gay and it isn't right for sexual preferences to even be part of the character.
Posted by: Mark Jones | March 13, 2009 at 02:23 PM
why?! I love doctor who it is so amazing i don't want him to leave I am 12 and me and my friends want to cry because he's leaving it makes me so upset!!!!!!!!!
I think he is the best ever at acting this role, I think he should never leave and be the doctor forever!!!!
Posted by: unanimous | October 12, 2009 at 05:18 PM