David Tennant Calls Time On Dr Who

October 29, 2008 11:19 PM

The Doctor is set to regenerate once again as David Tennant calls time on Doctor Who. "When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won’t be with me" Tennant, widely acknowledged as one of the most popular actors ever to play the Doctor, said. "Now don’t make me cry. The 2009 shows will be my last playing the doctor.”

Speculation now turns to who will play the eleventh incarnation of the Doctor. With the 2008 Christmas special named 'The Next Doctor', it is possible that we may not have long to wait until we get some clues. Check out the trailer for 'The Next Doctor' here.

posted by Effigy2000 (160 comments total)

This guy has been mentioned, but I'm sceptical - fucking Neverwhere?
posted by Artw at 11:24 PM on October 29, 2008

He was Johnson though.
posted by Artw at 11:34 PM on October 29, 2008

Hey - he was the best one in Neverwhere!

Not that any of them were great, but he did make a good Marquis. Sorta like how Nathan Fillion made a good Malcolm Reynolds, but sucks in everything else.
posted by Pinback at 11:38 PM on October 29, 2008

That's like being the awesomest chunk of sweetcorn in a turd!
posted by Artw at 11:40 PM on October 29, 2008 [2 favorites]

"Sorta like how Nathan Fillion made a good Malcolm Reynolds, but sucks in everything else."

I won't hear a bad word against Captain Hammer!
posted by Effigy2000 at 11:47 PM on October 29, 2008 [1 favorite]

They ought to do a season in which celebrity fans take turns playing the doctor, a different one (or more) each episode, maybe because he's got a disease that makes him regenerate over and over.

Celebrity fans include Queen Elizabeth[4], comedians Jon Culshaw, David Walliams[5], Mitch Benn, Peter Kay, Mark Gatiss, Stewart Lee, Matt Lucas, Toby Hadoke, Wil Anderson; actors David Hewlett[6], Stephen Fry[7], David Duchovny[8], Eric McCormack[9], Simon Pegg, Anthony Stewart Head, singer/songwriter Marc Almond and Elizabeth Hurley; Simpsons creator Matt Groening, science fiction writer Robert J. Sawyer, horror writer Stephen King, Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson, graphic novelist and fantasy writer Neil Gaiman, horror novelist Brian Keene, Star Trek star Patrick Stewart [3] and critic Harlan Ellison. [...]

posted by pracowity at 12:09 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

"They ought to do a season in which celebrity fans take turns playing the doctor, a different one (or more) each episode, maybe because he's got a disease that makes him regenerate over and over."

Sounds almost like Dr Who & The Curse of the Fatal Death (part 1, part 2), a comedy special for Children in Need starring Rowan Atkinson (amongst others).
posted by Effigy2000 at 12:14 AM on October 30, 2008

STEPHEN FRY

i don't even watch the show
posted by CitizenD at 12:16 AM on October 30, 2008 [5 favorites]

How old is Tom Baker?
posted by Cranberry at 12:27 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

i don't even watch the show

Neither do I, but I was thinking the same thing; Stephen Fry could make me watch. I'd also like to see the queen doing it with her corgis dressed as robots.
posted by pracowity at 12:32 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

I do watch the show, and I think Stephen Fry would be awesome.
posted by pompomtom at 12:47 AM on October 30, 2008

Stephen Fry was the first name I thought of.

That and, since #11 is the next-to-last incarnation according to TimeLord Canon, an older Doctor might be in order, and the current Tom Baker (where DID his hair go?) sounds promising.

Too bad Patrick Stewart already committed to a guest role on the show; but if you pull from Trek veterans, I have to vote for Colm Meaney, the Irish Scotty (who has done a bunch of other good stuff and got replaced on the US version of "Life on Mars" by Harvey Keitel). Similarly, Buffy's Anthony Michael Head has already appeared as a rival TimeLord.

Is there an AMERICAN actor who could do the Doctor without being lynched by an ugly mob of Brit fans?
posted by wendell at 12:55 AM on October 30, 2008

Is there an AMERICAN actor who could do the Doctor without being lynched by an ugly mob of Brit fans?

That would not wendell.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:01 AM on October 30, 2008 [7 favorites]

Patrick Stewart? The Doctor?

Good one Wendell. Best gag I've heard all day.
posted by pompomtom at 1:44 AM on October 30, 2008

.
posted by Mael Oui at 1:48 AM on October 30, 2008

Simon Amstell as the Doctor. The Sugababes as his companions. Bill Bailey as head of UNIT. Phil Jupitus as the Master. Girls Aloud for the villains of season 1. Noel Fielding as Davros.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 1:54 AM on October 30, 2008 [14 favorites]

Wendell: Actually it's the next but one. He has 12 regenerations which means there's thirteen incarnations. Though I think it unlikely they'll simply stop there. In one of the novels we meet a version who's regenerated up to forty times.

The Patrick Stewart story was a fan fabrication. There's a game out there to see how stupid a story fans can get published. It's probably the source of the Patterson Joseph story too. The tabs pay £400 a time for any old tattle.

I'm hoping for Laurence Fox. Don't expect anyone over forty. Apparently they thought about it before but couldn't get the insurance.
posted by feelinglistless at 2:01 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

fucking Neverwhere?

Well if it was Hywel Bennett...

I see Russel Brands got a spot in his diary now.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:10 AM on October 30, 2008

Bill Bailey is awesome, but the head of UNIT is usually the straight man, no?

Is there a reason in the canon that The Doctor is always white and male?
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:11 AM on October 30, 2008

I have said it here before: I think Tilda Swinton would be the best Doctor since... well, since Tennant, actually.
posted by Shepherd at 2:12 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

Pinback: "Hey - he was the best one in Neverwhere!

Not that any of them were great, but he did make a good Marquis. Sorta like how Nathan Fillion made a good Malcolm Reynolds, but sucks in everything else."

Deary me... You scattergun down Laura Fraser and Caleb in one wild swing. Poor show...

Anyhow, Russell Brand for the Doctor, with Georgina Baillie as his assistant. I've already sent my vote in that form to the BBC, and I suggest 24,999 of you do the same!
posted by benzo8 at 2:13 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

(On non-preview - fearfulsymmetry got in the RB gag while I was swigging my tea and checking The Whore's spelling...
posted by benzo8 at 2:15 AM on October 30, 2008

)
posted by benzo8 at 2:15 AM on October 30, 2008

KOOL KEITH
posted by Flashman at 2:23 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

In the crossing the streams moment, I want Jeremy Clarkson as The Doctor, with Richard Hammond as the assistant, and James May as the Master.

I can just hear the rant about how the Cloister Bell goes off every time they leave the door open with the keys in, and, of course, the dramatic race between the Tardis and RMS Titanic, piloted, of course, by Captain Stig.

Alas, I'm pretty sure they'll burn the Tardis down with a chip pan.
posted by eriko at 2:35 AM on October 30, 2008 [8 favorites]

STEPHEN FRY

Only if Alan Davies can be his assistant.
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 2:49 AM on October 30, 2008 [8 favorites]

Is there a reason in the canon that The Doctor is always white and male?

I dunno, but as Shepherd says, Tilda Swinton would be good, maybe as an Orlando-style adrogynous Who (of course, there's no way she'd agree to do it). I've also seen wishful thinking online this morning about Idris Elba, who could be brilliant, I think.

Also, I think I may alone in thinking this, but good riddance to Tennant - I thought his constant panto-style mugging was fucking awful, verging on Sylvester McCoy awful. The Doctor is not supposed to be a total prick you want to punch in the face every time he opens his mouth.
posted by jack_mo at 2:51 AM on October 30, 2008

eriko: you think you joke, but I give you: Time Lord on Top Gear
posted by honest knave at 2:52 AM on October 30, 2008

Mr Moffat favours a certain actor.
posted by chuckdarwin at 2:56 AM on October 30, 2008

That and, since #11 is the next-to-last incarnation according to TimeLord Canon

Yeah, well he never had no wife & kids, either.

I can see this going in a couple of different directions.

1. Scrap the whole twelve regenerations bit. Just pretend like nobody never mentioned nuthin'.


2. Invent some extremely fucking convenient, mystical, ethereal thing that gives you super powers temporarily that nobody else ever thought to try (like the asinine personalized "Heart of the Time Vortex" inside each and every specially-marked TARDIS...) that somehow magically "resets" your regeneration counter.


3. Invent some bullshit Sci-Fi excuse, like "My temporal being was caught in a time loop which allows me to continuously die and be reborn again and again. But as a sad side-note, I CAN NEVER LOVE.."


4. Master-style, the Doctor sucks up the life-force of some Traken dudes and gets his counter reset.

Shame that David is leaving the series, though I've heard the shooting schedule is absolutely arduous--even with the (not-so-new-anymore) 1 hour format. It really doesn't give the principal actors a lot of time to work on side projects (so you're not typecast for the rest of your life... see: Tom Baker).

A black Doctor is a-comin'. Just you wait.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:01 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

Stephen Fry was the first name I thought of.

Fry doesn't like science fiction, and has never seen the show. I don't think he would do it.

Is there an AMERICAN actor who could do the Doctor without being lynched by an ugly mob of Brit fans?

No. Never in a million years. Moffat would laugh you out of the room for even mentioning it.

Tilda Swinton would be good,

Tilda Swinton makes FILMS. With the COEN BROTHERS. She just won an Oscar. She would never do a TV show. The very idea is laughable.

Russell Brand

Um, I think he's done with the Beeb, and the Beeb is done with him. Expect him on Channel 4, if anywhere... but he may even quit the UK for America now. He seems a trifle pissed off, and already flew back to LA, IIRC.

Noel Fielding

Brilliant! But, no. He doesn't like to work without Julian, and he seems REALLY happy in The Boosh.

I do find the idea of a black doctor compelling, though.

My ideal doctor? The brilliant, underrated Richard Ayoade.

But, really, people. Quit fucking around. It's going to be James Nesbitt. Get used to the idea.
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:05 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Invent some bullshit Sci-Fi excuse, like "My temporal being was caught in a time loop which allows me to continuously die and be reborn again and again. But as a sad side-note, I CAN NEVER LOVE.."

Are you sure you don't write for the show?

Shame that David is leaving the series, though I've heard the shooting schedule is absolutely arduous--even with the (not-so-new-anymore) 1 hour format. It really doesn't give the principal actors a lot of time to work on side projects (so you're not typecast for the rest of your life... see: Tom Baker).

He was apparently brilliant as Hamlet this summer (and got raves). I think he wants to tread the boards for a bit.

A black Doctor is a-comin'. Just you wait.

MOS DEF.
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:09 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

Richard Ayoade

OH FUCK YES PLEASE
posted by ArmyOfKittens at 3:14 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

I don't care if an American Doctor is an impossibility; if you want a genuinely new spin on the character, get Jason Bateman or Andy Richter or, in the most incredible piece of stunt casting ever, Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Whorrible!
posted by wendell at 3:16 AM on October 30, 2008

Is it illegal to have a contract longer than 3 freakin' years in England, or what? Of all the gigs that should have long-term deals...

Anyway, I liked the Dark Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, best.
posted by rokusan at 3:26 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

I don't care if an American Doctor is an impossibility; if you want a genuinely new spin on the character, get Jason Bateman or Andy Richter or, in the most incredible piece of stunt casting ever, Neil Patrick Harris, Dr. Whorrible!

Your point is well-taken, and I tip my hat to you (as ever, sir). The fact that I don't have a hat on is beside the point. I'm sitting here in snowy England, sipping tea and thinking of the riots that would spill into the streets after an American Doctor was announced.

Brr.
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:26 AM on October 30, 2008

if you want a genuinely new spin on the character, get Jason Bateman or Andy Richter

Or a woman...
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 3:27 AM on October 30, 2008

Ah! Tennant is gone. *winces*

I say that Barack Obama would be good and not lynched by British fans, but then I hear he's booked.
posted by jaduncan at 3:34 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

Where do you people get your information?

Fry doesn't like science fiction, and has never seen the show.

WHAT? The dude played the voice of the Guide in the movie version of the HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy? He was in V for Vendetta. He was once on board to write a Who script, although that fell through due to time commitments (ah, the irony). He's written an alt.history novel. You are on crack and I claim my five pounds.

Scrap the whole twelve regenerations bit. Just pretend like nobody never mentioned nuthin'.

This was an arbitrary limit set by the Gallifreyans who aren't around any more. The Master has already exceeded it.

Tilda Swinton makes FILMS. With the COEN BROTHERS. She just won an Oscar. She would never do a TV show. The very idea is laughable.

Just like Harvey Keitel. Oh wait.
posted by Sparx at 3:34 AM on October 30, 2008 [4 favorites]

Is it illegal to have a contract longer than 3 freakin' years in England, or what?

No, just ask Mr Ross. Oh, wait. We just like to keep things short and sweet (like The Office). Outstaying one's welcome isn't the way Brits roll.

Unlike the long seasons common in US television, British series tend to be
short, typically six episodes. Generally UK series are written by the same
writer (or often, the same team of two writers) throughout, who don't have
the time to turn out more than about six episodes. Most US series have a
large team of writers, each of whom writes a few episodes a season.

People tend to burn out quickly here.
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:34 AM on October 30, 2008

OK, why ISN'T there are female doctor? Women can't figure out the time travel controls? Hello? 2008? 50% of the population? Hello? (is this thing on?) OK, or... a blind midget albino doctor?
posted by Auden at 3:39 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

WHAT? The dude played the voice of the Guide in the movie version of the HitchHikers Guide to the Galaxy? He was in V for Vendetta. He was once on board to write a Who script, although that fell through due to time commitments (ah, the irony). He's written an alt.history novel. You are on crack and I claim my five pounds.

By god, you're right! I was thinking of someone else (Hugh Laurie?!?)! Come on up and get your money, but you'll need a team of huskies and a sledge to get here.

Still, I can't see Stephen doing the role. He's not, erm, svelte enough for all the running. He'd have to quit smoking (something he seems incapable of) and lose a few stone (ditto).
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:41 AM on October 30, 2008

Sparx, you just bummed me out. Are they making an American version of Life on Mars? FUCK. It'll be awful.
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:44 AM on October 30, 2008

It's high time for a female doctor, I'm voting for Tamsin Greig.
posted by freya_lamb at 3:46 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

Tamsin Greig

...or Sue Perkins.
posted by chuckdarwin at 3:49 AM on October 30, 2008

Why not a female doctor? She could either have male Companions or stick with the female ones.
posted by DU at 3:53 AM on October 30, 2008

(D'oh, I suggested my OMGLASSCEILING idea before I read everyone else doing it. /me slouches off field in manner of Lisa Simpson being accepted onto football team)
posted by DU at 3:57 AM on October 30, 2008

Chuckdarwin: yeah, they did make a US version of Life on Mars. It's...not awful, which is interesting. They replaced the test screen girl with the puppet with a Mars Lander. Harvey is no Philip Glenister, though - too short. You really need a beefy guy to make "you are surrounded by armed bastards" sound like a threat, not some short arse with a pot-belly and an acting rep.

Bear in mind, however, that the first doctor was a silver haired old chap. Running around like a headless chicken is a relatively recent thing - I was watching some of the old Tom Baker stuff recently, and instead of running to get places, he got hit on the back of the head and knocked unconscious a lot, only to wake up where the plot required it. He pretty much defined Dr Snark, however - and the first couple of stories he did - a terrible robot developing a conscience thing with the worst special effects ever, and a space station being invaded by a an alien disease that looks like/actually is bubble wrap painted green are priceless unintentional comedy, though overlong for the modern viewer.

But I digress.
posted by Sparx at 3:59 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

Female lipstick lesbian nerd fantasy doctor?
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:07 AM on October 30, 2008

Sparx, I grew up on the Baker years. I had the scarf and everything. Yes, I got beaten up... but that's beside the point.

People now expect a lot of running and sexual tension. Fry can't pull off either of those things, as much as I love the guy. He may be the gayest man in Britain, which is a real accomplishment when you have guys like Graham Norton and Julian Cleary around.
posted by chuckdarwin at 4:11 AM on October 30, 2008

Female lipstick lesbian nerd fantasy doctor?

Needs a petition link.
posted by rokusan at 4:12 AM on October 30, 2008

If Tilda Swinton was going to be in it, I'd actually prefer she play the Rani. She can project that "indifferent to humanity" vibe really well. (For those that didn't see classic who, the Rani is an evil female time lord (Time Lady). Unlike the Master she isn't interested in taking over the universe, she just wants to do mad science. She doesn't particularly want people to die, she just doesn't really care if they do. Sociopathic rather than psychotic.)
posted by unreason at 4:15 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

...or Sue Perkins.

Great. There goes the rest of my workday.

*wanders off into delightful imaginings of Sue Perkins as the Doctor, and herself as the Doctor's companion....*
posted by Katemonkey at 4:21 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Are you my mummy?
posted by CheeseburgerBrown at 4:22 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

I ♥ Tilda, but I'm not sure if the writers would know what to do with her.
posted by BrotherCaine at 4:28 AM on October 30, 2008

Lothe as I am to admit it, there is in fact something that Stephen Fry wouldn't be awesome at. And it's being Doctor Who.

I'm with Freya_Lamb. Bring on the Tamsin Greig.
posted by Jofus at 4:36 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Tamsin Greig would be excellent, but only if Dylan Moran is made The Master.

Why this has not happened already, I do not know.
posted by Remy at 4:47 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Tamsin Greig would be an awesome Doctor. She's a pretty bloody ace Debbie Aldridge though and The Archers is obviously more important here, thank you very much.
posted by vbfg at 4:49 AM on October 30, 2008

"It's the end - but the moment has been prepared for..."

I shudder to comment on this post least it be seen that I am giving this even a moment's thought, but I am betting that Donna Noble plays a part in the doctor's regeneration. It has already been established that she can take on some of the doctors skills and personality; she may even become the new doctor somehow. If a female Who is on the cards then we could do worse.
posted by AndrewStephens at 4:56 AM on October 30, 2008

Chiwetel Ejiofor was one of the replacements rumoured earlier this year, he would be absolutely amazing. Hugely charismatic and a great actor to boot.
posted by fire&wings at 5:02 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

Tamsin Greig.

Oh god no - Am I the only person in the universe who thinks she automatically makes every show she's in worse?

Yes? Ok - I'll just slink off over here -->
posted by Sparx at 5:33 AM on October 30, 2008

It's high time for a female doctor, I'm voting for Tamsin Greig.

Instead, think Joanna Lumley.

She'd travel the universe being posh and just a little drunk. And when she finally met Rose, there'd be a forced smile and a hint of disdain.
posted by outlier at 5:33 AM on October 30, 2008 [6 favorites]

Tamsin Greig would be excellent, but only if Dylan Moran is made The Master.

Throw in Bill Bailey as a companion and I think we're on to something here.
posted by Spatch at 5:36 AM on October 30, 2008

Richard Coyle, but what do I know.
posted by mandal at 5:39 AM on October 30, 2008

OMG NOOOOOOOO!! *pulls self together, somewhat*

Hmm, what about The Doctor's Daughter taking over? I also want them to bring back Catherine Tate. What they did to Donna at the end was abominable, but she's got that myterious black ring, it twinkled in her final scene, it must be some sort of device that will give her back her memory.

I can't believe we've got to wait until 2010 for regular episodes, that's just insane.
posted by zarah at 5:43 AM on October 30, 2008

Dermot Mulroney with Holly Willoughby as the companion.
posted by smackfu at 5:47 AM on October 30, 2008

I can't believe we've got to wait until 2010 for regular episodes, that's just insane.

Yeah, WTF. I thought the reason they were doing that was to work around Tennant's schedule, so now what's the reason?
posted by smackfu at 5:48 AM on October 30, 2008

As good as David Tennat was, the show is suffering from the technopadded dialogue that he embraced that gave some of the lazier writers too many shots at a deus ex machina, instead of being forced to craft a coherent plot.

Some Dope: "Oh no! We're all going to die!"

Doctor: "Yes. No! Blahbity blah blah blah the blahbity bah, blah blah blahbity blah HA!"
Doctor throws switch, world is saved.

How about Liam Neeson?
posted by Pastabagel at 5:50 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

That and, since #11 is the next-to-last incarnation according to TimeLord Canon

For what I'm sure will nowhere near be the last effing time, what Time Lord Canon?

Doctor Who's "Canon" makes Supergirl's origin read like David McCullough's biography of Thomas Jefferson. Spoiler alert: the last season ended with a humanoid clone of a doctor being created for Billie Piper to fuck in a parallel universe. The very first episode of the new series involved the sudden appearance of "anti-plastic" to kill a plastic monster. The whole "timey-wimey" speech from the previous season was essentially a wink to the fans saying "we've officially decided that this show making no sense makes perfect sense."

Doctor Who can give The Doctor extra regenerations just slightly easier than Adam West was able to grab his "Bat-Shark Repellent." There is Battlestar-meets-Fraggle-Rock fan fiction that has a harder time glossing over plot holes than this show. How they will give the Doctor more than 13 lives will not as much be a challenge as it will be a write-in-contest on the back of a crisps packet.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 5:56 AM on October 30, 2008 [23 favorites]

Ewan McGregor would be excellent.
posted by smackfu at 5:57 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Is there an AMERICAN actor who could do the Doctor without being lynched by an ugly mob of Brit fans?

Sam Rockwell?
posted by Shepherd at 6:03 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

The rumours coming from a friend of mine who works in casting for people involved at the top of D.W. is that some guy called James Bourne has been approached, and is extremely open to the idea of playing Doctor Who.
posted by seanyboy at 6:04 AM on October 30, 2008

Donna Noble [...] if a female Who is on the cards then we could do worse.

Really? I'm struggling to think how that could be possible. Jade Goody? Peaches Geldof?
posted by influx at 6:13 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

How they will give the Doctor more than 13 lives will not as much be a challenge as it will be a write-in-contest on the back of a crisps packet.

Bite your tongue. If they'll take monster designs from Blue Peter viewers, they'd take your idea quicker than you can say "reversing the polarity of the neutron flow."
posted by Spatch at 6:13 AM on October 30, 2008

Eddie Izzard.

I don't watch Who, but seeing Izzard would give me reason to watch.
posted by pxe2000 at 6:14 AM on October 30, 2008 [7 favorites]

All this talk of an American actor to play The Doctor makes me nervous. The last time an American played a Time Lord, the results were rather heinous.

Beyond that, I grow weary of our incessant need to take successful British shows and remake them in our image. Sure, this works in certain cases (see "The Office" leading to "The Office"), but more often than not, remakes are built through so much cherry-picking that the charm or invention of the original is lost (see "Life On Mars" leading to "Life On Mars").

What I'm getting to is that it is far more likely -- horrible as it would be -- that an American network would adapt their own version of "Doctor Who" before an American actor is tapped to take up the mantle of a Time Lord.

And while I'm here ... Paterson Joseph is pretty kick-ass, especially with that voice. Of course, my favorite Who casting rumor of all-time is still this one.
posted by grabbingsand at 6:23 AM on October 30, 2008

Instead, think Joanna Lumley. She'd travel the universe being posh and just a little drunk. And when she finally met Rose, there'd be a forced smile and a hint of disdain.

Oh god please please please. Although I think she should be in character as 'Pat' rather than as 'Pats'.
posted by sixswitch at 6:33 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

OH NOS MY FAVORITE SHOW ISN'T RETAINING THE STATUS QUO FOR MY PLEASURE!
posted by Legomancer at 6:38 AM on October 30, 2008

Are they making an American version of Life on Mars? FUCK. It'll be awful.

Have done.

It is.
posted by elfgirl at 6:39 AM on October 30, 2008

Instead, think Joanna Lumley.

She'd travel the universe being posh and just a little drunk. And when she finally met Rose, there'd be a forced smile and a hint of disdain.

Like this? Posh and possibly drunk, but unfortunately no disdain.

Or maybe they could make the past three years were just a dream and then bring back Christopher Eccleston?

unapologetic Eccleston fangirl.
posted by bibliowench at 6:42 AM on October 30, 2008

Yeah, WTF. I thought the reason they were doing that was to work around Tennant's schedule, so now what's the reason?

Beats me. At least we have the specials that they're going to produce between now and 2010. I think there will be 5 of them, but have no idea of the schedule.
posted by zarah at 6:43 AM on October 30, 2008

Jason Isaacs, fresh off his tour de force in Entourage!
I jest. But not really.

How about Very Special Episode starring Mark Wahlberg for just one regeneration?
Dr. Who: "Hey Dalek, how's in goin? So you're a Dalek, what's that all about? Say hi to your motha for me."
Dalek: "EX-TERM-INATE!"

The rumours coming from a friend of mine who works in casting for people involved at the top of D.W. is that some guy called James Bourne has been approached, and is extremely open to the idea of playing Doctor Who.

Seriously? That guy looks pretty young. Not sure he could pull off the necessary sexual tension referenced supra.

Chiwetel Ejiofor was one of the replacements rumoured earlier this year, he would be absolutely amazing. Hugely charismatic and a great actor to boot.

Yes! I'm Dr. Zira and I approve this message.
posted by Dr. Zira at 6:43 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

This was an arbitrary limit set by the Gallifreyans who aren't around any more. The Master has already exceeded it.

The Master "absorbs" the life-energy of Tremas in The Keeper of Traken. See suggestion #4.

Hmm, what about The Doctor's Daughter taking over?

I can see it now... "DAD! You NEVER let me have the keys to the TARDIS!"
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:45 AM on October 30, 2008

some guy called James Bourne has been approached

Wait: This James Bourne?! Heaven forbid.

I still heart the return of Tom Baker, but either Ewan McGregor or Eddie Izzard would do GREAT as the Doctor.
posted by grubi at 6:47 AM on October 30, 2008

Although I still think *I* would make a wonderful Doctor Who.
posted by grubi at 6:54 AM on October 30, 2008

Is there an AMERICAN actor who could do the Doctor without being lynched by an ugly mob of Brit fans?

Actually I think Hugo Weaving was pretty good in V.

(Ducks for cover).
posted by dudleian at 7:02 AM on October 30, 2008

fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck fuck!

That said, if it has to be, I vote Dylan Moran. Drunk Irish Doctor who smokes a lot = hilarious, if you ask me. Kinda Black Books except he never leaves the Tardis instead the bookstore.

(What? Me? A big ol' David Tennant nerdfan? nooooo, you don't say.)
posted by bitter-girl.com at 7:08 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

Hmmm..thought Hugo was an Australian.
posted by jadepearl at 7:12 AM on October 30, 2008

(by the way, whoever added the 'NOOOOOOO' tag? you are my hero/ine)
posted by bitter-girl.com at 7:15 AM on October 30, 2008

Andy Richter as the Doctor? No. But he could reprise his role from Cabin Boy and play the dimwitted assistant. That would work.
posted by adamrice at 7:40 AM on October 30, 2008

Um, number 11. Could we have a girl doctor this time?
posted by nax at 7:42 AM on October 30, 2008

Hugo Weaving is Australian.
posted by grouse at 7:43 AM on October 30, 2008

OK, Wikipedia says he is Nigerian-born English, naturalized Australian. Still: not American.
posted by grouse at 7:44 AM on October 30, 2008

Ayoade, yes. Nicely done there. Plus, his doctor would be good in the crunch.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:54 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

his doctor would be good in the crunch.

"Have you tried rebooting the TARDIS?"
posted by grubi at 7:59 AM on October 30, 2008

Clive Owen, together with a much darker Dr Who.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 8:02 AM on October 30, 2008

Reece! Reece Shearsmith!

He's weird. He's charismatic. He's not yet 40. He can help write, and he'd be working with Mark Gatiss again. And he's reasonably good-looking, if that's a requirement now. I think it takes away from the show to make the Doctor too handsome, but there it is; today, the public clamors for a hot Doc. Richard Ayoade, if they were going that route, would be an excellent choice as Doctor too, IMO. And Jason Isaacs as the Master, of course. Or Mark Heap. I think he'd be a good Master, too.

Wait, all those guys are good-looking, aren't they? Cripes.

I never care who the companion is. The only one I've ever really liked was Elisabeth Sladen's Sarah Jane in the 70s and I was disappointed when the writers had her carrying a 30+ year crush for the Doctor in the new series. ::gags::

As for David Tennant, it is pretty much now-or-never time if he wants to be a film star and not merely a boyishly cute character actor. Five minutes in a Harry Potter movie isn't going to do it, so I totally understand why he might want to leave. I'd wager the Fifth Doctor (AKA his gf's father) advised him that he's probably been on the show long enough. He's gotta stop that thing where his left eye seems to try to pop out of his head whenever he's surprised, though. It's very disconcerting.

Tom Baker is 74.
posted by droplet at 8:16 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Doctor Who is the only thing like this that I really don't care about. I mean, I want to get into Doctor Who but I just can't. I'm not trying to ruin the thread here, I dig that people are into the Doctor, I just wonder... am I a bad person for not liking Doctor Who?
posted by Mister_A at 8:26 AM on October 30, 2008

Only 3 mentions of Christopher Eccleston? Seeing the 10 faces of the Doctor is interesting, especially as a Yank who was late to the party. My friend brought over episodes of the 9th Doctor, and that's been the only one I ever became familiar with. I guess I got used to the notion of a "dark doctor", and once the chipper David Tennant was known to be the 10th, I wandered off. I watched a few episodes (Blink was quite well done, not saying the rest weren't - I was quite jumpy during that episode).
posted by filthy light thief at 8:37 AM on October 30, 2008

PALIN '09!

(Michael that is. We need an older Doctor again).
posted by blue_beetle at 8:42 AM on October 30, 2008

I want Christopher Walken as the Doctor. And I want him to dance frequently. Michel Gondry would direct, and all the monsters would be made of bubble wrap and wobbly cardboard again. The companion would be replaced by either a seven-year-old girl or Isabella Rosselini; I haven't decided which yet. But due to some never explained glitch in the TARDIS's programming, she can only speak Swedish.
posted by ook at 8:47 AM on October 30, 2008 [9 favorites]

Mos Def needs to travel back in time and be born in Manchester or something. He'd be an awesome Doctor.
posted by drezdn at 8:50 AM on October 30, 2008

I just wonder... am I a bad person for not liking Doctor Who?

Well... actually, yes.

Sorry.
posted by grouse at 8:52 AM on October 30, 2008 [5 favorites]

Civil_Disobedient said: "Yeah, well he never had no wife & kids, either."

Actually, IIRC, the Doctor did have a wife and kids that were killed in the war with the Daleks. Tennant's Doctor mentioned them in an episode. Also, in a recent episode starring Tennant, a young woman, Jenny, was created from his DNA and she's got some Time Lord regeneration abilities. The episode is "The Doctor's Daughter" Jenny is played by Georgia Moffett, the daughter of Peter Davison who played the 5th Doctor.
posted by onhazier at 9:02 AM on October 30, 2008

I want Christopher Walken as the Doctor.

The way I look at it, this TARDIS is my key to the universe. I'll be damned if any Daleks gonna put their greasy toilet plunger hands on my key to the universe, so I hide it in the one form I know I can hide it. A police box. Forty-odd long years I pilot that TARDIS. Then when I died of whatever-the-fuck, I came back as David Tennant, and I realize something. My companion was a fuckin' chav. But that's of minor importance. What is of major fucking importance is that you should not. Fuckin'. Blink.
posted by katillathehun at 9:15 AM on October 30, 2008 [20 favorites]

Does the Doctor not being Tennant screw up the story with the girl at the library planet?
posted by smackfu at 9:45 AM on October 30, 2008

Well, if we are just going to throw names against the wall, I'll pitch David Oyelowo into the ring.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 9:50 AM on October 30, 2008

Does the Doctor not being Tennant screw up the story with the girl at the library planet?

Um. Well. He could meet her and be with her for years and years, all with us not ever seeing anything on screen, and only hearing about it after the fact. Because. You know. It's a show about an immortal guy who travels time. So.
posted by kittens for breakfast at 9:54 AM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

Simon Munnery. Mainly because he needs the work.
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 9:59 AM on October 30, 2008

Heh. Who continuity nerds, your task is more pointless and doomed to faliure than that of the people who try to match up the Judge Dredd, Strontium Dog and Nemesis the Warlock timelines.
posted by Artw at 10:20 AM on October 30, 2008

I've changed my mind. I'm with ook now. Clearly Walken has the technology.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 10:32 AM on October 30, 2008

Only 3 mentions of Christopher Eccleston?

Eccleston is tied with Baker as my favorite, and that's only because the fourth Doctor represents a not-insignificant portion of my childhood. Were it not for that--say, if I were brand-new to the series--Eccleston would be my hands-down favorite. Though, part of me really, really wishes FOX had given Doctor Who a chance with McGann as the Doctor. That could have been FUCKING BRILLIANT... but, alas.

Actually, IIRC, the Doctor did have a wife and kids that were killed in the war with the Daleks. Tennant's Doctor mentioned them in an episode.

No, that's what I'm saying. The closest the Doctor Who "canon" gets to even insinuating that the Doctor was married or [eek] had children, and thus, sex was the first Doctor and Susan (she called him "grandfather," though it was always uncertain if they were actually related).

The last season has been (with two wonderful exceptions) a complete mish-mosh of canon-middle-fingery. Let's see... we've got Doctor sex-clones, some replicant "daughter" cavorting around the universe, a freakin' wife for God's sake? I thought the whole Gallifraen "we stared into the time vortex as children" thing was pretty fucking weak, and the way they pissed all over the Master's character was abominable, but this last season has just been a joke.

Hopefully now that Moffat has the reigns we'll see more story-based episodes than the mundane Who's in love with the Doctor, now? shlock they've been re-churning since Piper left (uh, the first time she left). Eccleston & Piper? Sure. Tennant and Sophia Myles? You bet! But it's starting to get old, guys.

You know who would have made an awesome companion? Sally Sparrow. Oh well.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:40 AM on October 30, 2008

Oh...

Does the Doctor not being Tennant screw up the story with the girl at the library planet?

Nope. You have to keep in mind that at any point in between episodes, the Doctor could, (at least, theoretically-speaking) leave his companion, have a thousand years of experience, then come right back where he left off (provided he wasn't killed in the meantime) without anyone noticing it.

One of the benefits of writing for a (near) immortal time-traveler. You get this built-in excuse for just about any timing discrepancies.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 10:49 AM on October 30, 2008

Another vote for Eccleston as the best Doctor in my (TV-watching) lifetime, along with Tom Baker maybe. It might be just me but I can't stand Tennant and his chipper demeanor. The Doctor == carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders == brooding as fuck, period.

I am betting that Donna Noble plays a part in the doctor's regeneration. [...] If a female Who is on the cards then we could do worse.

Eh, let's not. My face for one looks bothered.

I loved Nesbitt in Cold Feet so I'll be pretty chuffed if it's him. Fry may fit the archetype but the idea of him as the Doctor is as laughable as Laurie as a doctor, I'm afraid. Wait, what?

The Doctor needs to be brooding, as I said, as well as brazen and scrappy. Tennant's way too brisk but we could use a little bit of humour, so barring Nesbitt I will put in my wild-ass outlandish runoff vote for Billy Connolly.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 10:56 AM on October 30, 2008

You all know it's going to be Daniel Radcliffe but no one wants to admit it.
posted by Gary at 11:05 AM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

Seconding that Colm Meaney would make a great Doctor.
posted by finite at 11:13 AM on October 30, 2008

STFU, Gary, S T F U
posted by finite at 11:13 AM on October 30, 2008

Does the Doctor not being Tennant screw up the story with the girl at the library planet?

From what I can tell, there is no consistent concept of continuity between episodes. In one episode, The Doctor invites aliens to take over dead bodies of 19th century Cardiff shrugging away any consequences for Rose. In the same season, mucking with the timeline results in dragons chewing on church windows.
posted by KirkJobSluder at 11:14 AM on October 30, 2008

In one episode, The Doctor invites aliens to take over dead bodies of 19th century Cardiff shrugging away any consequences for Rose. In the same season, mucking with the timeline results in dragons chewing on church windows.

That was, like, totally different, man.
posted by grouse at 11:19 AM on October 30, 2008

Calls time? Like time out? Does that mean he wants to resume the role, but later?
posted by Eideteker at 11:19 AM on October 30, 2008

It's a football/soccer thing, since the officials are the only one with the official clock, so they "call time" to end the game.
posted by smackfu at 11:25 AM on October 30, 2008

"We just like to keep things short and sweet (like The Office). Outstaying one's welcome isn't the way Brits roll."

This is hilarious coming from an American expat who decided to stay in GB.
posted by Eideteker at 11:26 AM on October 30, 2008

What I really want to know is whether a black Dr. Who would be followed by a female doctor (not Joanna Lumley, though she was lovely in her turn). Because my prediction is that the US presidency will follow Star Trek rules; meaning after the black guy gets put in charge, next will be a woman (then it goes back to white guys, affirmative action quotas satisfied).
posted by Eideteker at 11:29 AM on October 30, 2008

From what I can tell, there is no consistent concept of continuity between episodes.

It would probably be best if you just leave your temporal mechanics textbooks at Starfleet Academy when entering the Whoniverse, because the Doctor's timeline consists of a continuous concept of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff, OK?
posted by finite at 11:35 AM on October 30, 2008

It's a football/soccer thing, since the officials are the only one with the official clock, so they "call time" to end the game.

No, it's not... A landlord 'calls time' in a pub when it's time for everyone to drink up and go home. "Time gentlemen, please!"
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 11:40 AM on October 30, 2008

Well, let's look back at the Doctors so far:

1: Doctor Grandpa
2: Doctor Eccentric Uncle
3: Doctor Velvet
4: Doctor Bohemian
5: Doctor Head Boy
6: Doctor Tiresome
7: Doctor Bobby Fischer
8: Doctor, Lord Byron
9: Doctor Leathercoat
10: Doctor Sprightly

You'll want someone who can offer a real contrast to Tennant while not quite occupying any of the above niches; someone a little more solidly built, a bit older, more serious, with the range to complement the show's mix of horror and humor. Ejiofor, Swinton, Owen, Meaney - all of them would work, but they're all of them too known for the role at this point.

Nesbitt, on the other hand, fits all of the requirements, doesn't have the baggage of stardom, and is in good with Moffat. Chuckdarwin's right. Prepare yourselves for number eleven: Doctor Don'tpisshimoff.
posted by Iridic at 11:45 AM on October 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

Does the Doctor not being Tennant screw up the story with the girl at the library planet?

Ew, River Song. I'm still not convinced some 13-year-old fanfic writer didn't somehow make it onto the payroll for that part of the episode.

Anyway, all their adventures could happen either in the specials or just at an undisclosed time before 11. But then again, Steven Moffat did the library two-parter so maybe he'll bring her back somehow when he's head writer.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 11:54 AM on October 30, 2008

Does the Doctor not being Tennant screw up the story with the girl at the library planet?

I thought there was an explicit line of dialogue in that episode relating the fact that the Doctor wasn't in the Tennant regeneration at the time of his later experiences with the woman from the library... Is there another continuity problem I'm missing?
posted by saulgoodman at 12:01 PM on October 30, 2008

All this talk of a female Doctor makes me wonder why they never brought back Romana. One of my favorite companions and a Timelord to boot. I know the Doctor is supposed to be the last surviving Timelord, but still.....
posted by Anders Levant at 1:09 PM on October 30, 2008

rokusan : Anyway, I liked the Dark Doctor, Christopher Eccleston, best.

I agree. I like Tennant, but Eccleston brought a mania to the character. Most of the time it was an exciting sort of "Hey, let's do this fun crazy thing!" but every once in a while he would let the happy-go-lucky mask slip and show the Doctor as a creature who had done unspeakable things and was still trying to come to grips with it.

He brought me back to the franchise.

Going forward, I'd like to see someone like Tim Roth take the roll. He's an astonishingly good actor, and I've seen him slum it enough to believe that he could be convinced to do TV.
posted by quin at 1:28 PM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

You are all wrong. The next Doctor is Jennifer Love Hewitt, because they've never had an Eskimo Doctor.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:40 PM on October 30, 2008

For reals: Sean Pertwee, because how awesome would that be?
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 1:43 PM on October 30, 2008

Jeff Tracy for Doctor!
posted by Superfrankenstein at 2:20 PM on October 30, 2008

Well, if we are just going to throw names against the wall, I'll pitch David Oyelowo into the ring.

BUZZ! He was awful in Spooks.
posted by aihal at 2:40 PM on October 30, 2008

Richard Coyle or Ben Miles, both of whom have worked with Steven Moffat before in Coupling.
posted by filmgeek at 3:52 PM on October 30, 2008

Unlike most in this thread, I preferred Tennant to Eccleston. But I must admit, I got _very_ tired of Dr Shouty.

DrS: "TELL ME WHY YOU'VE DONE THIS TEEEEEEEEEELLLLL MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I DEMAND YOU TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME TELL ME"

Particularly when he hooked up with Companion Shouty(1). This is particularly hightlighted if you watch the Tom Baker episodes, where he.. thinks. And figures. And snarks. And then foils the plans of BadDudeOfTheWeek without having to get all foot-stampy.

Oh, and Dr Nesbitt? Yes please. So long as they let him keep his ACCENT! I'm still sad that Tennant substituted that bland English(2) accent for his dreamy Scottish one(3). Anyway, I'm just hoping that with the next doctor we can finally get away from Earth, and puny humans... please? Pretty please??

(1): Although I did really like Catherine Tate by the end, the shouting still pissed me off
(2): [NOT ENGLISHIST]
(3): What mancrush?
posted by coriolisdave at 4:10 PM on October 30, 2008

Russell T. Davies has spoken!

"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!"
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:16 PM on October 30, 2008

I don't have much to add here. Eccleston was fantastic as a mad, tortured doctor, but perhaps a year of that was already verging on too much. Tennant has been fantastic in a much more mainstream, integrative way, and even though I see how he could turn people off he has really put in some good touches and clearly understands the character as an actor. He'll be missed. I like the Nesbitt idea having seen Cold Feet but nothing else of his, but either way I am very confident in Moffatt being able to make the right choice.

There was a lot of discussion about Georgia Moffett doing a spin-off as Jenny, but not much concrete seems to have been done about it, so maybe they're just keeping her in pocket for a future re-appearance. The end of The Doctor's Daughter certainly suggested a launch, although I've read they didn't intend it that way.

Both she and Sally Sparrow would be welcome back at any time for my part.

And yes, the Doctor had a family. The very first time we saw him he was with his granddaughter Susan.
posted by dhartung at 4:45 PM on October 30, 2008

After Tennant, I think the Doctor has to "go rogue" (as the pundits are calling it nowadays). Deeper, darker, and slight mad. So he's done all these terrible, terrible things. Can't we seem him do all those terrible, terrible things again? We're only seeing one side of him at the moment, and I'm rather interested in the other.
posted by Neale at 5:04 PM on October 30, 2008

Given that this will be the Doctor's tenth regeneration, he's starting to approach the time of the Valeyard. I'll be surprised if that ever shows up again.

River Song could have been a companion for either the Eleventh or Twelfth Doctor, who left to become a space archaeologist. I haven't read any of the novelizations written during the show's interruption, but others have said that River Song is quite similar to Bernice Summerfield. Bernice was with the Eighth Doctor for nearly five years, which would have been enough time to learn the Doctor's real name*; this element could have been incorporated into River's characterization. I'm surprised that there haven't been other attempts to have future companions meet past Doctors, as opposed to the other way around. I know why that can't work in terms of show production, but it's still an idea worth kicking around.

As for 2009, I'm looking forward to RTD finally giving the Time War a once-over, and possibly bringing back the Eighth Doctor to fill in the missing gap (something mentioned in September in the Sun, which I'll take with a huge grain of salt for now, but why not?).

*A bit of fan-wankery speculation regarding the Doctor's name, which I wrote after watching the end of Season 4. I felt the most recent season was a partial redemption of the trainwreck known as the return of the Master in Season 3.
posted by stannate at 6:01 PM on October 30, 2008

(I'm only chiming in to briefly defend the shriekingly gay flamboyant, techno-loving, pre-Heath-Ledger-Joker-esque take on the Master. I know everyone hated him, but I thought it was kinda neat to see his regeneration give him a personality so dramatically different from previous, goatee-stroking incarnations -- at least for an episode or two. Doctor Gollum, however, we shall never speak of again.)
posted by kittens for breakfast at 6:42 PM on October 30, 2008 [2 favorites]

Oooh just saw a suggestion of Robson Green ('Wire in the Blood') -- that could be.. interesting
posted by coriolisdave at 6:47 PM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

I kind of liked that Master, and the drums thing, but god the 2 parter was lame... and the whole tinkerbell/space jesus thing... barf.
posted by Artw at 7:33 PM on October 30, 2008

Russell T Davies apparently said:
"...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!"

To which I can only reply:

Oh, fuck. An RTD "spectacular ending".
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 8:44 PM on October 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

I've a feeling 2009 might be a year to skip if you don't like RTDs particular tics.
posted by Artw at 8:47 PM on October 30, 2008

I suspect you're right. Still, I'm not going to have that much choice; BBC America is way behind BBC1...
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 8:56 PM on October 30, 2008

CBC or SF might show them.
posted by Artw at 9:06 PM on October 30, 2008

Chuckdarwin's right.

I don't think anyone has ever typed that out here before :-)

Anyway, they've been talking about Nesbitt in the rold here for a long time.

OT: I would like to defend RTD for a second... Midnight was a brilliant episode.
posted by chuckdarwin at 4:50 AM on October 31, 2008

Oh, fuck. An RTD "spectacular ending".

Somehow it will involve a Mika song.
posted by smackfu at 5:47 AM on October 31, 2008 [2 favorites]

They ought to do a season in which celebrity fans take turns playing the doctor, a different one (or more) each episode, maybe because he's got a disease that makes him regenerate over and over.

...Simon Pegg...

As AWESOME as a Doctor I think he'd make, Pegg is right out-- he already played a bad guy in season 9.
posted by ShawnStruck at 8:43 AM on October 31, 2008

That leaves Nick Frost right?
posted by BrotherCaine at 9:32 AM on October 31, 2008

The BBC should get in contact with about 50 possible Doctors, and have each one of them shoot the transformation sequence... then put them all on the 'net, before the big transformation.

I don't suppose they'd be able to go with Eddie Izzard, would they?!
posted by markkraft at 4:28 PM on October 31, 2008

The BBC should get in contact with about 50 possible Doctors, and have each one of them shoot the transformation sequence... then put them all on the 'net, before the big transformation.

I don't suppose they'd be able to go with Eddie Izzard, would they?!
posted by markkraft at 4:29 PM on October 31, 2008

WILLIAM HILL ODDS ON NEXT DOCTOR (30th Oct 2008)
5/2 David Morrissey
3/1 Patterson Joseph
6/1 James McAvoy
7/1 James Nesbitt, Robert Carlyle
8/1 John Simm, Rhys Ifans
12/1 Anthony Head
14/1 Alan Davies, Jason Statham
16/1 Nigel Harman, Bill Nighy
25/1 Daniel Radcliffe, Burn Gorman
33/1 Stephen Fry, John Barrowman
20/1 Next Doctor To Be Female
50/1 Christopher Eccleston
posted by Effigy2000 at 1:36 PM on November 1, 2008 [2 favorites]

Wait, the Morrissey they keep talking about isn't the guy from The Smiths?

Oh.
posted by grouse at 8:09 PM on November 1, 2008 [1 favorite]

Oh my, Morrissey. He would be the Doctor to end all Doctors, wouldn't he.
posted by goodnewsfortheinsane at 8:00 AM on November 2, 2008

Billie Piper could be next Dr Who, says David Tennant

Presumably she'd spend two seasons moaning about missing herself.
posted by Artw at 6:29 AM on November 3, 2008 [4 favorites]

Christmas Special trailer - UK only, but I'm guessing the crappy cybermen are back.
posted by Artw at 6:46 AM on November 3, 2008

Billie Piper could be next Dr Who, says David Tennant

Presumably she'd spend two seasons moaning about missing herself.
posted by Artw at 9:29 AM on November 3

A chav-ette Doctor? Really? Seriously?

Ugh. Quadruple ugh. I am so not down with that, 6th Floor BBC people! Billie Piper bugs. The Doctor should be an older-than-30 person. If this is the sort of casting they're considering, I'll send in my headshot toute suite. The show could do a lot worse than me (and my rather good Essex accent).
posted by droplet at 10:50 AM on November 5, 2008

Fortunately it's one of those random Who headlines based on close to nothing.
posted by Artw at 12:05 PM on November 5, 2008