Doctor Who - OMG! It's true! It's true!

Steven Savile · March 31st, 2005, 10:47 AM

Richard E. Grant...

David Thewlis...

**funky_fantasist** · March 31st, 2005, 11:40 AM

The BBC has just announced that Chrisopher Eccleston is to quit at the end of just one series! If it was April 1st today I would be tempted to think it was a joke! After all the fuss - I feel mildly peeved - don't even feel like watching any more episodes now...

Checkout the story here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertain...io/4395849.stm

Yours in grumpiness
Funky

Steven Savile · March 31st, 2005, 12:09 PM

heya Funky -

Yours is an attitude i think is spreading... which is why this is the worst possible news for WHO fans...I can't believe he would up and announce this NOW... the timing is insane...

**Wulfa_Jones** · March 31st, 2005, 02:30 PM

I'm not surprised at all... when I heard yesterday the BBC had commissioned a second series (a little eary I thought... would have waited until the viewing figures for the 2nd episode had come out) I figured he'd bow out. He is not the type of actor to get tied down to a series, I'm surprised he even did it in the first place. His worries about type-casting are very true... Peter Davidson is the most succesful post Doctor Who actor and the shortest lived Doctor. Sci-fi acting nearly always leads to type-casting.

I think David Tennant could make quite a good Doctor, he's got quite a interesting look. Maybe a little young though...

It's clear what is going to happen... Christmas Special will be the hand over episode.

My only worry about this is the shortening of the Doctors potential life span.. 12 regenerations (that's correct isn't it?) and we are already 9 (personally I think we should discount Paul McGanns Doctor like Peter Cushings is discounted) which would mean the Eccleston was number 8.

**Wulfa_Jones** · March 31st, 2005, 02:41 PM

Steven Savile - I disagree... the original series was intended as family programing, not just aimed at kids. I'd say it was the same, if now more so, for the new series, while there are parts that kids can enjoy - the action scenes mainly - there is stuff for adults as well. You can't tell me that all that stuff about the world spinning and the Doctor's view of modern society was aimed at a kid audience. If it continues to be a success I'm sure they'll find some way around the 12 lives rule...

A million an episode.... not to sure about that. StarGate SG1 has a budget only a little over a $1 million an episode and the effects in that are a lot better.

kater - I've heard quite a few people talking about how they'd like to see Sean Pertwee play the Doctor. Not so sure myself, I liked David Tennant in Casanova (very good series I thought) but I think he might be a little young looking - I personally thought the was younger than 33! He'd barely look older than Rose.

Looking forward to Saturday night and the new episode.

**funky_fantasist** · March 31st, 2005, 03:39 PM

There's also suggestion of Richard E. Grant - who played the Dr in audio form being cast in the role. I think that would be a good idea - maybe they could use that return to a previous incarnation as a get out clause - thereby keeping the number of regenerations down. (That is, IF RE Grant is currently counted? Getting myself confused now!

)

The same would apply for Paul MacGann - who I personally thought was an excellent Dr - a sort of backward loop to a previous incarnation...

Funky

**milamber_reborn** · March 31st, 2005, 07:29 PM

I'm praying this is an April Fool's joke.

It's a bit unfair of Ecclestone, who must have known there would be a 2nd season, and no Doctor has ever quit before 3 seasons (Paul McGann not included). I can't think how many new fans might give the 2nd season a miss unless the new Doctor is on par with Ecclestone.

Steven Savile · March 31st, 2005, 07:30 PM

Wulfa, it is all a matter of definition really, and I am not going to try and convince you... I think I was less than clear in my description, so mea culpa. Dr Who was indeed aimed at the family audience as a show the parents could watch with the early teenage kids. By 15 most kids had outgrown the show but held fond memories of it, some, who went on to be sf/f/h fans stayed with it as it and they aged, but in the main the audience rotated every generation, each one owning its own Dr... mine was Peter Davison, though I watched a lot of Tom Baker when it broadcast I was too young and too terrified by the music, and Davros and the Cybermen and the Sea Devils and and and... but it was never meant for the parents to adore, maybe at the very outset with William Hartnell, but by the arrival of Tom Baker it moved firmly into the kids/YA territory on that post Jim'll Fix It watershed.

I am delighted it is back, primarily because the kids today get to have their own Dr... but I do think that critics expecting deep adult storylines need to go back and look at the older Whos... it was never there before... Logopolis and City of Death two of my favourite Baker shows have laughable pseudoscience, clunking plots where almost nothing happens and cheesy cliff hangers that rival King of the Rocketmen... but age 9 I thought they were flippin marvellous... actually, 9 I thought they were terrifying... by 12 I thought they were marvellous...

I am rewatching Davison's Black Orchid right now... a mix of Ten Little Indians and Brideshead Revisited, unsurprisingly they were hot shows of the day... again scriptwise there is none of the sophistication I expected to be there because my fond memories have added it.

Least that is my take on it

Steven Savile · March 31st, 2005, 07:33 PM

24 hrs early for April Fools mate...

To give him the benefit of the doubt, which I don't really want to do... the announcement of the second season rather forced his hand... the best thing that happened though was the commissioning of the christmas special, which will be the handover episode... regen regen regen...

**milamber_reborn** · March 31st, 2005, 07:47 PM

Sean Pertwee would make a good comapnion.

**juzzza** · April 1st, 2005, 02:34 AM

Bring on Jason Stratham!!!

Let's actually have a hard-nut, no bullsh*t Dr, instead of the runty little blurts we seem to select.

What's the average lifespan in Series, of the other Dr actors?

**Wulfa_Jones** · April 1st, 2005, 12:08 PM

Juzza - I'm not a Doctor Who expert but I think Tom Baker was the longest serving Doctor with about 7 years worth. The rest are around the 4 year mark bar Davidson who was 2 years.

**milamber_reborn** · April 1st, 2005, 08:14 PM

It was was April Fool's day when I read it

One more season wouldn't have killed him. He's also in Batman Begins, and it takes time to be typecast.

Peter Davison lasted 3 seasons. It was Colin Baker who only lasted 2.

I'm not sold on David Tenant, though I've never seen him in action. Looks like a flamboyant Doctor, when we need an action one, though I'm sure they want to make #10 as far different from #9 as possible.

**Wulfa_Jones** · April 2nd, 2005, 03:28 AM

As I said I'm no Whovan (or whatever they are called)... just checked on the BBC website... both Davidson and C Baker played the Doctor for 2 years.

Davidson 1982 to 1984 and Colin Baker 1984 to 1986. Don't know if one filmed more episodes or what durring those years.

**Wulfa_Jones** · April 2nd, 2005, 12:43 PM

Hmmm... didn't think that much of this weeks episode. It was alright but not as good as last weeks.

SPOILERS (highlight to read):

More hints at a much darker Doctor, more mention of war.
The destruction of Gallifrey in a war was interesting - but no mention of why he couldn't travel back?
Who was it - my best bet is is the Dareks.
The Doctor also mentions that he is the last Time Lord, I wonder if this means the Master is not back? I heard the plan was to have him body hopping like he did in the McGann film.