David Tennant quits ‘Doctor Who’; is Russell Tovey the next Time Lord?

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.

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.’

‘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.