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Date: 2005-03-31 20:10:24

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Dr. Who Cares?
by taterbait 2005-03-30 23:01:50
Not me Back
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FIRST
by EARTH 2005-03-30 23:02:14
FIRST Back
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Are we gonna get in on BBC America?
by Human Worm Baby 2005-03-30 23:03:07
I want to see the freaking Doctor. Back
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Running out of regenerations!
by Pi-Rate 2005-03-30 23:08:59
This actually sucks! I've seen the first episode and was surprised to say that I enjoyed it, and particularly the characterisation of The Doctor. I'm eager to see more of the series. For him to bow out saying he's afraid of being typecast, all I can say is "DUH"! EVERYONE who has ever played the part has been typecast. You'd have to be a frickin' idiot not to realise this after 40 years of the show being around. He's either a total moron, or he's holding out for more money. Either way, he's a jerk. I like his work, but for doing this - he's a total sod. Back
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What? OH MY GOD!?
by Krangelus 2005-03-30 23:14:24
i wonder why he wouldnt do the second season? does this make any sense to anyone because right now i am positively freaking out. Back
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The guy probably had a dream about...
by Stan the Bat 2005-03-30 23:19:44
...doing Old Navy commercials with William Shatner forty years from now, woke up in a cold sweat, and made the call.  Back
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Yes, we will be getting Dr. Who in America. It will be called Dr. Whoop, There It Is! It will air on UPN.
by voicebox5 2005-03-30 23:26:10
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Oh for pity sakes!
by RenoNevada2000 2005-03-30 23:39:12
I don't believe this happening! IS Eccelston some kind of idiot?!?!?!?! Back
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pretty quick Herc.
by proper 2005-03-30 23:49:06
The BBC are stupid,they should put anybody playing that role under a 3 year contact that can be exterminated at their discretion.It will be interesting to see who they pick next though.I reckon he quit because he is scared and freaked out over the reaction over the past couple of days,but seriously what did he expect,the selfish coward.Wow,what a way to ruin the party. Back
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He would forever be knowen...
by Drworm2002 2005-03-30 23:50:59
...as the Dr. I can understand why he feels this way...but if he is a good actor then he will get other roles even if he was the Dr. for 10 years. Shatner is funny, but he is Kirk...Hooker or a studpid funny version of himself... Eccelston is more then a Sod...he is a bloody sod (I am american in case you didn't notice. Did I use that right?) Back
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ok, but are they keeping the blonde?
by punto 2005-03-30 23:58:22
she's hot Back
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Not good for the story...
by The_ZeroCorpse 2005-03-31 00:00:05
The Doctor is only supposed to have thirteen regenerations, and this was his ninth. The thirteenth is technically taken, too, as it is the Valeyard from the Trial of A Timelord series. So really, the Doctor has regenerations 10, 11, and 12 available to him. I'm sure they can script their way out of this corner, but it's a really shoddy thing for the actor to step aside knowing that the character has a limited number of easy excuses for new actors in the role. Back
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Replace him with no regeneration
by xeeds 2005-03-31 00:09:13
I don't know if they can find somebody whose appearance is close enough to Eccelston, but I say get somebody else to play the 9th Doctor. Keep the same clothes and mannerisms and just pretend its the same Doctor. Like getting a new Darrin on Bewitched. Back
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Might not happen
by Wyrdy the Gerbil 2005-03-31 00:31:35
Eccelston said a few weeks ago he was afraid of being typecast but that he really enjoyed doing Dr Who(must have as he picked up a new girlfriend on set) ive a feeling this is just someone rehashing old news stories ... Back
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Say, don't the Time Lords owe the Doc a regeneration?
by Eternal Watcher 2005-03-31 00:32:34
During the final episode of "The War Games", the Second Doctor was banished to Earth by the Time Lords (who didn't understand the need to interfere for the common good back then), and they forced him to take a new form (Jon Pertwee). That might guarantee a 14th Doctor if it comes to that, or they get another Time Lord to take over. Hopefully, it will never come to that, but at least we know having the Doctor on the BBC was a good idea. If only they could bring back MST 3000. Back
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Not A Surprise!
by Ken Luxury Yacht 2005-03-31 00:46:08
Not ever been a fan of Ecclestons (and have a friend who positively hates him in everything) but I'd have to say, this is the least surprising thing I've heard in a while. Having seen and heard him on several radio and TV shows in the last few weeks, he has come across as a joyless little fuckwit, who clearly sees the role beneath him. To announce this after just one episode has screened just proves his contempt for the role. I say Shirley Ghostman for the next Doctor! Back
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ive calmed down now
by Krangelus 2005-03-31 00:48:26
and i sort of understand why he would do this. When he signed up for it he probably thought he was getting into a hardcore sci fi cool show, instead of some family sci fi crap. (its not bad family sci fi crap, but still...) Back
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Not suprising, he is after all a real film actor, not some wannabe from 'Enders or some other crap.
by Grando 2005-03-31 01:18:01
Also, wouldn't it technically be a 28th season? Back
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bring back McGann
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 01:27:13
I've been thinking about this since this morning when I read the news on GallifreyOne(dotcom) that the Beeb had announced they'd renewed WHO after the strong showing of the first episode. Considering the Doctor's character only has 5 more regenerations, I'd say the Beeb should do the safe thing and invite McGann back. Although it has never been done before in WHO, there has to be some way to degenerate the Doctor from his 9th to 8th incarnations, whether it is through a genetically modified strain of spectrox toxemia, or some type of Time Lord ingenuity. They could also explain that the 9th Doctor is actually an "nth" Doctor, a personification of a future self manifest in the flesh, sorta like how the "Watcher" was or even the diabolical Valeyard. Somehow the Doctor's self became split right before the 9th Doc showed up and they have to be merged again...or the 9th Doctor becomes unstable, the TARDIS returns to Gallifrey and the Time Lord High Council uses some type of machine (connected to the Matrix) to bring the Doc back to his last stable self, being the 8th Doctor. That would be a good FX shot...the 9th laying on a table in a medical facility, regressing into his prior selves and then finally settle on McGann. Pretty much the entire fan community liked McGann whether they liked the 1996 TV Movie or not. Its time to give him another shot so he's not the George Lazenby of Doctor Who. Make it so, Russell T and the Beeb. Back
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Grando
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 01:30:22
Its like Volume 2: Season 2. Otherwise, yes, it would be Season 28. Or 29, if you count the fact that the original Season 27 had finished scripts but unfortunately for the staff, the BBC didn't renew the series in 1990. I h8 how the Brits refer to it as "Series 2" instead of referring to it as a "season," which makes more sense. A "Series 2" should in the grand scheme a new program(me), like the difference between the original Star Trek and TNG... Back
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David Tennant is in talks for the role.
by The_ZeroCorpse 2005-03-31 01:47:51
David Tennant is the one the BBC is talking to, meaning this would definitely be the 10th Doctor. At this point, I'd almost accept the degeneration idea- Bring back McGann (or hell, any of the previous four Doctors) and have them resume the role. I know a lot of fans didn't like Sylvester McCoy, but I thought he was a good Doctor- Of course, I also liked the Colin Baker version of the mean, bitchy 6th Doctor, whom EVERYBODY hated. They could always pull a Star Wars trick- as with Ewan McGreggor playing the younger Obi Wan- and get an actor to play a younger version of the Pertwee Doctor (the one "owed" to him). I do wonder how they'll resolve the Valeyard situation, though, as he's due to become the Valeyard (or split off into the Valeyard, anyway) in just a few regenerations. It's something he's been fighting ever since the 6th, and there has been no change in the fact that the Valeyard WILL exist, to my knowledge. Back
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Because it's only uphill after a huge sci-fi role! Just ask Denise Crosby!
by Robert_G_Durant 2005-03-31 01:52:39
Who passes something like this up? He got a hit series! Absolutely ridiculous. I really enjoyed the first episode. It's fun, and just hokey enough to be worthy of the name of Doctor Who laughs, without being full-on embarassing. I'll second bringing back McGann. Back
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did the doctor go back in time to play an april fools joke?
by Fantomex 2005-03-31 01:54:55
hmm Back
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you mean he went forward in time for April Fool's
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 02:16:27
It ain't April 1st in the UK yet. Back
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BWA-HA-HA! Denise Crosby...
by Commando Cody 2005-03-31 02:19:44
Yeah, THERE was a brilliant career move. Hope she enjoyed hosting and interviewing assorted Trek cast members in TREKKIES 2 where you just know the invisible thought balloon over her head must've continually been "FUCK! 7 years guaranteed pay for simply showing up! Paid appearances for years to come! Royalty checks I could've wipe my butt with for a lifetime! Note to self: kick own ass, then fire your agent and manager AGAIN!" Back
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The_ZeroCorpse
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 02:20:52
A Young Pertwee? If the Beeb wanted to do that, they could just hire (the late) Jon Pertwee's son - Sean Pertwee. The guy looks like his father and sounds just like him too. He's going bald though...err, thinning. He played the pilot in "Event Horizon." That's probably the role he would be most familiar to American audiences...that or the film "Blue Juice," about British wanna be surfers with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Ewan McGregor. Come to think of it, he was also "Father" in Equilibrium. Back
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Bring Back McGann, Bring Back McGann
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 02:22:33
Say with me, brethren...bring back McGann. And post it also on the BBC's own website....(www.bbc.co.uk and click the "talk" button at the top of the page...post in television). I'd recommend Outpost Gallifrey's forums, but they are being azzes and prohibit any accounts using web-based email. Back
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if there'd been a simple contract...
by Demosthenes2 2005-03-31 02:37:32
it could've saved us all this trouble and annoyance. God knows we probably wouldn't have had more than 12 episodes of Buffy if SMG didn't have a 7year contract. 13 episodes though is simply not enough time for a new regeneration, it's strange. Back
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Time Lords and the Valeyard
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 02:38:23
The Time Lords could always bestow the Doctor with more regenerations. They offered the same to the Master in "The Five Doctors" special...and I think they've dangled the offer to the Doctor before, or alluded to it. It would be a cop-out plot wise, and that's why I thought about the degeneration idea of mine. Plus, if McGann were to retake the role, it would be an easier sell to the SciFi Network, since they still have the repeat rights to the 1996 Film and they are supposed to be airing it again this month in the usual 3am timeslot. There's even a way to bring McGann's 8th Doctor back into the fold without degeneration...the 9th Doctor has become unstable, so the Time Lords pluck the 8th Doctor out of his own timeline (like they did with the elder Doctors in "The Three Doctors" and "The Five Doctors" to allow them to co-exist together) to fulfill whatever secret mission the 9th Doctor had assigned to him...with the 8th given the task of fixing his later version...some type of quest...give the series to McGann for three or four years, then ask Eccleston if he'd like it back again, and if not, have him film a regeneration scene to bring on the 10th Doctor at that point. As for the Valeyard, if memory serves me correctly, he was the personification of evil within the Doctor (that had been suppressed in his final life) and was battling to exist by stealing the rest of the remaining lives from the 6th Doctor. I believe the books tried to explain that the 6th Doctor was flawed due to the effects of the spectrox toxemia that killed the 5th Doctor (Peter Davison) and the Doctor's internal self essentially offed himself to make way for a more stable 7th Doctor. The 7th Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) became shadowy/mysterious/sinister in Season 26 and in the books became "Time's Champion"...However, after spending so many years fixing things, he became depressed, and accepted the assignment to cart the Master's remains back to Gallifrey (which began the events of the 1996 telefilm) knowing full well it would be his last adventure...although I doubt he knew he'd die at the hands of the American Medical Association. Feel free to correct me since I've only read a couple of the books since I feel the whole "expanded universe" is non-canon, although "The Eight Doctors" was a good read. I understand "Lungbarrow" was good too, although that shouldn't count as non-canon since it was at the base level an unproduced script for Season 27. I can't remember which script it was where the 7th Doctor was to use the Key to Time to reboot the entire universe and the series would end and instantly start over as the "new series" (or movie) that Amblin Entertainment was to co-produce with the BBC. Back
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too much work...sigh
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 02:42:56
I couldn't believe the excuse Eccleston used...that it was too grueling to work on Doctor Who. They're only doing 13 episodes a season....whereas most successful American shows involve 22-26 episodes a season. Fox/Universal/BBC signed McGann to a five year contract that was binding if Fox had picked up the series...and that would've been for 22 episodes per season. Hell, its one thing to complain about the duration of a series if the actor is David Duchovny who worked on The X-Files for a good 7 years at 22 episodes per season, and then "pulled a David Caruso" to get off the show, and its another thing to complain about doing 13 episodes for one season... And in other news, PopBitch is reporting that Ewan McGregor is dating Billie (Rose) Piper. Back
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Gruelling
by supertoyslast 2005-03-31 03:09:42
I was initially surprised by this since Eccleston seemed to enjoy being the Doctor, but on second thoughts it is entirely consistent with Eccleston's character. He says that he enjoys doing the unexpected and took Doctor Who for the challenge of doing an extended shoot over a period of months for an episodic TV series - something he had never done before. Working with Davies again was the clincher. So now that he has succeeded at that challenge he feels no need to do it again and move on to something different. It may only have been 13 episodes but it was an eight month shoot - just as long as shooting a 22 episode season in America would take. Oh, and I seriously doubt if Ewan is dating Billie since he seems genuinely happily married and defends his family to the hilt. Back
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Hugh Grant or Paul McGann! All-star Doc!
by Barrymore 2005-03-31 03:13:55
Why not do a different super-star Doctor Who each year? Maybe Hugh Grant or Richard E. Grant or Paul McGann or Colin Firth or Colin Ferrell? Each season, reel in a big-time star to be the Doctor--surely these guys could each take a few months to film a season of the world's favorite time traveller! Back
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by Dave Patrick 2005-03-31 03:16:47
I don't think it's exhaustion that has driven him out of the role, it is the fear of being typecast. Doctor Who is huge in Britain, even after doing just one season, 'Doctor Who' will be on his tombstone. He took this job to change his image and work again with someone he admired (Russell T Davies). It doesn't seem to have been that great a shock to the production team. As to running out of regenerations, that isn't a problem. He's got four left and then he can easily be given a new regeneration cycle by some plot device. It's not a problem. Eccleston might be back for the Christmas special and then regenerate. Ah well, this David Tennant guy is apparently a fan and has been in quite a few Doctor Who audio plays. Back
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yes, we are surely entering a new golden age of British Sci-Fi
by wolf at the door 2005-03-31 03:24:34
when the new Dr Who announces his intention to quit after 13 episodes... Back
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God I hate April first (and thereabouts) on the net...
by JackBurton 2005-03-31 03:25:30
Can't trust anything that gets posted anywhere a day either side of it. We'll see if this is still news in a couple of days or so, until then I choose not to believe anything without some hard core evidence. Back
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Also
by Dave Patrick 2005-03-31 03:26:41
He also left Cracker early in the second series. He isn't an actor looking for a big defining role, he's just looking for interesting work before moving onto the next job. I don't think he was surprised by the tone of the series. It is exactly as Russell T Davies said it would be eighteen months ago. He also did quite a lot of interviews which apparently he refuses to do if he doesn't like something he was in. Though he was always clear in saying he hadn't decided whether to do a second series. Ironically, maybe the huge audience for the first show pursauded him to jump ship before he was stuck with the Doctor Who tag. Back
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Wolf at the door
by kwisatzhaderach 2005-03-31 03:36:56
Don't comment on things that you have absolutely no idea or information about. Back
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supertoyslast
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 03:46:42
Hey, I stated that PopBitch was the one reporting of the McGregor/Piper connection...I wouldn't speculate as to how accurate they are, but it sure is entertaining reading the things the celebrities supposedly do that even the tabloids won't even write. Like all the stuff the Killers supposedly did in Japan just recently...I don't s'pose ex Sec. of State James Baker is a fan of them. Heh... Back
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That was predictable...
by Charlie & Tex 2005-03-31 04:02:05
...get a hot, up-and-coming serious actor who had numerous offers set before him and then try and tie him down to what was almost-certainly going to be a long-running series that takes about 10 months to shoot each year. He probably thought that the new series would go down like a lead balloon and just spend 10 months building up his profile even further, before going off to get more "serious" work. Colin Baker is now no longer the "Timothy Dalton" of the Doctor Who world. It would be nice if they could persuade Paul McGann to return, but the Beeb will be so afraid to tamper with anything that made the first bloody episode of the new series so popular (the show could still bomb after the initial curiosity value has died down) that the replacement for the next series will be a carbon-copy of Eccleston, complete with northern accent & drab leather jacket. Oh well... Back
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So it's good news...bad news ?
by RobinP 2005-03-31 04:11:27
Great - a second season. Crap - no Eccleston. He brought something new to the character. I haven't seen the Casanova series that his rumored replacement stars in - not my bag, man.  Back
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Regenerations
by Samson_K 2005-03-31 04:48:58
Can we just forget all about the regenerations of the Doctor??? Please! It will not be an issue because this new series, whilst, acknowledging that this is the Ninth Doctor - won't be too wrapped up in continuity so that they start worrying about what happens in four actors time!!! I believe that the phrase used has been 'mythology not continuity'. Let's face it didn't Brain of Morbius have sequences of supposed earleir Doctor regenerations in one scene? It doesn't matter. As for Ecclestons decisions - well, before this he was moaning about how no-one ever gives him the chance to do something funny or light and now he gets his chance - does a relatively good job of it and then leaves fearing he'll be typecast? He was typecast before! I think that this will damage potential ratings for the second series! Yes it is the second series not season! However, David Tennant would be a good enough choice I suppose! Back
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MARK GATISS
by Trevor Goodchild 2005-03-31 04:50:53
And bring back the eccentric wardrobe. Not to say that I don't like Eccleston's approach, I do. Back
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Chiwetel Ejiofor
by supertoyslast 2005-03-31 04:53:58
Would be my preferred choice, but David Tennant would be great. He was superb in Blackpool. Unfortunately I don't have digital TV so if anyone has the chance please watch the live performance of Quatermass on BBC4 on Saturday and report back here. Tennant is in it as well as Mark Gatiss who would surely jump at the chance to play the Doctor. I'd love to know how well they both perform in a sci-fi piece (which could effectively be an audition for Doctor Who). And lynxpro, I know that it was popbitch making the reports about Ewan, but if you believe that it isn't true then why repeat it here?  Back
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Tennant is very good, but Eccleston was the best thing in Rose
by ChorleyFM 2005-03-31 05:07:45
Where is it determined in lore that the doctor can only have so many regenerations. Sorry, I'm not a big fan, but I love T Davies, and really enjoyed the first episode. Back
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supertoyslast
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 05:25:10
You asked why I repeated something I read from PopBitch whether or not I believe it. Well, I don't believe the person who submitted a review of Star Wars Episode III actually saw the movie, but it didn't stop me from commenting on the speculation! Heh. Back
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"Tennant is very good, but Eccleston was the best thing in Rose"
by Grando 2005-03-31 05:26:20
Did I miss a porno cut of the first episode? ;) Back
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ChorleyFM
by lynxpro 2005-03-31 05:30:23
Its been established for some time in the series that a Time Lord only can regenerate 12 times, meaning they have a total of 13 lives. The concept has been expanded a bit that this process is done using nanotechnology and that the Time Lord must be in close proximity with their TARDIS to be able to accomplish this, or on Gallifrey. Its been alluded to in a couple of episodes that the Time Lord High Council has the authority and power to bestow extra regenerations upon certain Time Lords. As for Russell T. being selective with continuity, well, we'll see which has the true posterity. The original series ran 26 seasons. His current production has 13 episodes. And WHO doesn't end just because sometime down the road there's a disagreement and the BBC asks him to leave the production. Back
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@kwisatzhaderach
by wolf at the door 2005-03-31 05:43:20
i merely noted that eccleston had announced his intention to quit after 13 episodes. it's all over the papers and the BBC this morning. so i'm curious: exactly which part of my post do you claim was inaccurate? hell, with a username like 'kwisatzhaderach' you should have seen this coming, right? hahaha, they've only screened one episode and already the new Dr Who is circling the drain... Back
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by Dave Patrick 2005-03-31 06:03:14
The one thing the series is not doing is circling the drain. Yes, loosing the new Doctor after just one and a bit seasons is bad, but it is a knock the series can, and most likely will, survive. Everyone is familiar with the concept of The Doctor regenerating. It'll just have to happen earlier than expected. Back
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Drworm2002, you got it right
by Bart of Darkness 2005-03-31 06:17:04
He IS a bloody sod. Why take on such an iconic role and then bleat about typecasting after one episode is shown? One of the strengths of the first four Doctors was how often we saw them during their tenures, consolidating viewer affection for them over a period of many years (although Hartnell and Troughton only did 3 years each, they were on on screens virtually all year round). Recent Doctors have barely had chance to say hello and then they're gone again. Personally though, I'm not surprised by Eccleston's decision and in fact, secretly pleased. His Doctor is too rooted in contemporary culture. He uses modern slang, looks like he's just walked in off the street and as for his northen accent! WTF? (I speak with a northern accent by the way, but as I come from the North of England, not Gallifrey, that's allowed). The Doctor really should speak with a "neutral" accent, dress like an eccentric, (not a shaven haired yob) and be played by someone willing to give it a good run. If only the 8th Doctor could wake up in a shower to find the "Rose" had all been a (bad) dream. Back
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Perhaps Eccleston realised watching it
by elab49 2005-03-31 06:24:39
That although he is IMO the best actor to play the role - he isn't the best actor for the role. And the awful mugging and general lack of comfort in the role - like an ACTOR's! idea of how to play quirky - was the weakest link in the pilot. Tennant would be fascinating - my favourite role of his was his, I think, TV debut as an inmate in a lunatic asylum (Takin over the Asylum - never repeated never released :( ). Spellbinding performance (along with Ken Stott). He can certainly do arrogant and quirky. Back
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I sent the story and link to Herc...
by Agent Alonzo 2005-03-31 06:33:38
Therefore my internet penis is bigger than all yours... Unless you sent in the story as well, then we must share the glory of the girth... *cough* Anyhoo, Eccleston is being a cock, no doubt. The BBC site has a page with the actors linked with the role http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4396295.stm hope that works within the talkback formatting. I hope they go with an older doctor, either Bill Nighy or Richard E Grant could do sometihng funny and interesting with the role... Back
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You're being spun
by RichJohnston 2005-03-31 06:35:33
Eccleston was always going to leave after the first series. Planned by Russell T Davies, who wants to get a regenration in soon, to sell that concept to the new audience. The reason it's come out now is to spoil the announcement of Ant And Dec's spoiler that they'll be interviewing Tony Blair against the "Dalek" episode, and the mention of Tennant's name is to give added publicity to Russell T Davies' Casonova, starting its BBC1 run this week starring Tennant. Back
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Quatermass, Quatermass!!!! Just thought i'd get that in....
by Big_Bubbaloola 2005-03-31 06:58:33
I tend to agree with RichJohnstone though...sounds a plausable idea. Lame excuse about typecasting though! It's Dr Fricking Who for fucks sake!!!!!! Back
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by Dave Patrick 2005-03-31 06:59:16
There may be something in this being somewhat planned. The first season finale apparently ends on a cliffhanger with the Doctor seemingly dead. I don't think they wanted this announced on the same day the second series and Christmas Special was announced. They were forced into it by The Sun running it on the front cover of today's paper. It's still a mistake to cast a guy who was always wavering over a second season. Back
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Quatermass?
by RichJohnston 2005-03-31 07:33:01
New revived version on Saturday, BBC4. BTW, this is Rich Johnston from Lying In The Gutters. This is not speculation. I know what I'm talking about here. The Sun played along with this. It's a spoiler for Ant And Dec's big announcement, and timed perfectly for Casanova. They didn't cast a guy who was wavering over a second series. This was the original plan. Tell you what, I'll blog it and send a link to Herc! Back
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"Lame excuse about typecasting though!"
by wolf at the door 2005-03-31 07:49:22
uh, no. not really. it's not like anyone remembers Tom Baker for anything else, and Jon Pertwee's only other memorable role was Worzel fucking Gummmidge. the only one who managed to escape typecasting as Dr Who was Peter Davidson, and that's cause he already had a track record for playing similar characters in other BBC dreck. Back
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Quatermass not only revived - but doing it live as well!
by elab49 2005-03-31 08:08:36
And, oddly, starring David Tennant. Bit incestuous round here at the moment. Isn't part of the timing down to the announcement of the 2nd series? I mean - why on earth are the Beeb signing off after ratings for the comeback epi which were always going to be artificially high and possibly unsustainable? Back
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My only regret about this
by supertoyslast 2005-03-31 08:21:16
Is that now we won't get a "3 Doctors" episode with McCoy, McGann and Eccleston. But maybe I can hope for a "4 Doctors" episode in the third series (in British terminology) of the new run, if there is one. The announcement itself may well be designed to overshadow the announcement of Tony Blair appearing on Ant & Dec but Ant & Dec won't be up against the Dalek episode. The Dalek episode is episode 6, I believe, and Ant & Dec only have 3 episodes left in their run. So unless they have Tony Blair on the show the Saturday before the election in a special edition I don't think the Blair interview will be up against the Dalek episode. If they did that I'm not sure if it would comply with the "balanced coverage" rules during an election campaign unless they also interview Howard and Kennedy. And lynxpro, I apologise for getting carried away earlier. I hope it did not seem as if I was criticising you personally. I just have a bugbear about unsubstantiated gossip about peoples private lives, celebrities or otherwise. Jamies School Dinners recently showed how harmful such gossip can be. I have no problem with people commenting on rumours about movies which may or may not be true, such as the "fake" Star Wars review. Of course you have every right to comment on that. But peoples private lives are a very different matter. We agree that popbitch reported a rumour about Ewan and Billie which may or may not be true (and, let's face it, that can be said about anything). Where we disagree is about the ethics of passing on these rumours and spreading gossip. I hope that we can agree to disagree about this and prove that minor disagreements in Talkbacks do not inevitably have to result in petty name-calling, because you certainly do make some good points about McGann. I had wanted McGann to continue as the Doctor but was pleased when Eccleston was announced as the Doctor because he's one of my favourite actors. But I can see why they would want a fresh start to distance the new series from the poorly-received TV movie. And creating some reason to go back a regeneration would seem unlikely since this new show wants to make sense to new viewers without getting bogged down in continuity. Going back a regeneration sounds too complicated for that. But so might my "3 Doctors" idea, so I may have to live with never getting to see that. The main reason I wanted that was to formalise McGann into the canon to end the tiresome debates over whether he was a "proper" incarnation or not. Back
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Pass this around...
by RichJohnston 2005-03-31 08:26:48
Pass this around... http://www.twistandshoutcomics.com/twistblog And Davies says McGann was a proper incarnation. Back
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Brain of Morbius regenrations
by RenoNevada2000 2005-03-31 08:27:49
It was never clear if those shown were early Doctors or Morbiuss... Morbiuses?... Morbii? Back
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Good idea Chris!
by RenoNevada2000 2005-03-31 08:31:32
FAR better to be thought of as "That dick who only played DOCTOR WHO for a year" than "That actor who was in DOCTOR WHO for a couple of years..." Dick. Back
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Oh well....
by Kid Z 2005-03-31 08:38:33
... time for another Time Lord regeneration... Back
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RichJohnston
by supertoyslast 2005-03-31 08:47:03
Is the twistblog fact or opinion? Because it all seems very plausible and if Ejiofor became the new Doctor then I would be very happy. But the moment I saw Tennant I thought "he'd make a great Doctor". Are you saying that he *definitely* won't be the next Doctor or is this purely your opinion? Back
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I don't think it's an "April Fool's" joke
by Pi-Rate 2005-03-31 08:53:19
That was the first thing that came to mind, but I forgot about 31 days in March. In the UK it's the 31st still (and was when the news hit). Well, at least Colin Baker won't be remembered as the Doctor with the shortest run in the role. I kind of like the idea of a "degeneration" back to McGann. He'd like it, as he might be able to keep his short hair. It'd be good for the franchise, as they could claim that although Eccleston was the 9th Doctor, but due to the degeneration, a different 9th Doctor could be regenerated due to the different nature of that particular regeneration. And (for the record) The Valeyard is NOT the 13th Doctor, but a manifestation of the darker side of the Doctor's persona - somewhere BETWEEN his 12th and 13th bodies (from Trial of a Time Lord: The Ultimate Foe). So we can still have 13 actors in the role before figuring out what the heck to do. Back
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MARK HEAP
by Trevor Goodchild 2005-03-31 08:58:19
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It's not purely my opinion
by RichJohnston 2005-03-31 08:59:15
It's fluid. But the Tennant thing as a red herring is slightly less fluid. David will probably be The Doctor. But maybe not quite yet. Back
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Come back, Paul! Come back!
by SpyGuy 2005-03-31 09:00:52
I have to echo the sentiments expressed here about Christopher Eccleston's douchebagness (douchebagiosity?). To up and bail on such a legendary role (and after the airing of the first new episode in sixteen years no less) is the behavior of a total prat. Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy would have loved to do another season as the Doctor, and Paul McGann never received the chance to do an actual series, only "seasons" of Eighth Doctor audio adventures for Big Finish Productions. I don't know if McGann is willing to film new televised adventures of the Eighth Doctor, but I think there's an opportunity here to go back a regeneration and let McGann have his season. Instead of filming a regeneration sequence from Ninth to Tenth Doctors, the Christmas special could simply be an Eighth and Ninth Doctor team-up and Rose could end up leaving with the Eighth Doctor instead.  Back
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Sigh
by RichJohnston 2005-03-31 09:07:47
He has not "up and bailed" on anyone. Back
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Wow, Quatermass back!!!!!!!!! ARGHHHHH!!! Canny wait!!!!!
by Big_Bubbaloola 2005-03-31 09:19:35
Thank god i've got Freeview (and its not often you'll hear me say that). But why stick it on the artsy fartsy BBC4 channel. Actually, has anyone watched an entire prog on that channel?? Come on...be honest. Back
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Ejiofor won't be Doctor Who
by ChorleyFM 2005-03-31 09:36:20
Not because he is black, but because he has no need to. He is fast becomming one of the biggest young actors in Hollywood, why would he want to work on British TV (even with Davies at the helm). Unless he really loves Doctor Who he will not be going back to British TV, maybe a big US show sooner or later, but not a British show. That said he is a brilliant actor, and to follow Eccleston you need a brilliant actor. Thanks lynxpro. And I sent a link to Herc as well at 1.00am GMT. Back
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McGann was the 8th Doctor
by Bart of Darkness 2005-03-31 09:44:20
After all, he did regenerate from the 7th Doctor ON-SCREEN. What proof do we have that Eccleston isn't an imposter? Maybe the Christmas special could feature McGann finally catching up with pseudo-Doc Eccleston, twatting him one and grabbing his TARDIS back. Back
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Drawing conclusions
by supertoyslast 2005-03-31 09:47:39
I think that the only facts we know are those released by the BBC and everything else is supposition. Only a few people will know what agreements were in place before the first new series was filmed and Eccleston's true reasons for leaving. I am going to assume that Rich is drawing some very reasonable conclusions from the facts available but, unless he has insider knowledge, that he does not know for sure. Here are my own slightly differing conclusions drawn from the same facts (purely supposition): The BBC made a quick decision to renew the show after the huge ratings of the first episode and would like Eccleston to stay because he seems a popular choice. During the year or so of pre-production and production Davies and Eccleston *must* have talked about what Eccleston would do if it was successful and a second series was ordered. I imagine that Eccleston said that it was fun but would probably not continue. With this in mind maybe Davies wrote and shot alternative endings for the first series? Or possibly the plan was always for the regeneration to happen in a Christmas special or at the start of the second series? In either case, if the BBC had insisted on a multi-series contract to tie in Eccleston for a number of years there is no way he would have done it. Eccleston is such a prize catch that he is worth signing for one series to relaunch the show (which may have failed in any case). Eccleston is such a huge name that he generated masses of publicity. I cannot imagine which other choice could possibly have created such excitement in both the fan community and the media. The presence of Eccleston and the attendant publicity probably added a million viewers to the first episode. So not signing him up for years in order for him to do it once was definitely worth it. He did not bail. I should think that the BBC hoped that he would change his mind but when they announced a second series he was courteous enough to give a swift "no" that would not hold up production. Given that the BBC were already in talks with Tennant and Davies and team had already started working on the next scripts it seems that they knew that Eccleston had already decided not to continue. So it's not so dramatic as The Sun suggests - he didn't quit or resign, just confirmed his intention not to continue. I'm less sure about the "bait and switch" idea. It does sound like a plausible way to keep people guessing. And I'm sure that they could keep the identity of the next Doctor secret before a Christmas special is broadcast - after all, they kept Eccleston secret long after they had settled on him as the Doctor. Having Tennant in the cast of the special to make people think he will be the Doctor then having Ejiofor instead and Tennant as the villain would work. But only if the second series started filming after Christmas. They could keep the identity of the Doctor secret during filming a Christmas special, but not an entire series. And since scripts are already being written I think it would make most sense to start filming the special and the second series back-to-back beginning in the summer (or whenever Billie finishes filming her Shakespeare role in another BBC production). The identity of the Doctor would surely come out during filming before the special is aired, making the bait and switch redundant. My speculation, anyway. Back
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Leave Eccleston Alone
by ChicagoRonin 2005-03-31 09:48:33
Hey Guys, keep in mind, Ecclestone is first and foremost an actor and playing the Doctor is a JOB. Though we all love to think that the actors playing our favorite characters are as dedicated to their programs as we are as audience members, whether an actor stays in a role ultimately comes down to money, time, interest and professional satisfaction - all of which are subjective for each individual person. Saying Ecclestone is being a wimp or selfish because he finds the show's shooting "grueling" compared to David Duchovny's run on "X-Files," or, say, Tom Baker's 7 years on the original Doctor Who doesn't work. Just cause someone else can stick at one job, doesn't mean that you can too (or should). Type-casting is also a serious concern for an actor's career, assuming they want a continuing series of different and challenging projects. Connery left Bond because he felt the role was taking over his life, and he apparently he was quite deliberate in growing out his beard and taking extremely non-Bond-like roles. Patrick Stewart has said that had he known that "ST:TNG" was going to last seven years on the air, he never would have accepted it, and Ewan MacGregor's uncle Denis Lawson (a.k.a. Wedge Antilles) seriously warned him against taking the Obi-Wan role in the new Star Wars films. So, step out of your fanboy shells for a moment and try to imagine this: Take a task you do at your job, even one that you do well and might enjoy, and then imagine not being allowed to do anything else for the rest of your life. Try to imagine your own patience lasting. Back
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You're right, Rich -- Eccleston isn't bailing. It's all an incredibly conceived, masterful plan by Davies & Co.
by SpyGuy 2005-03-31 09:59:51
And since Davies was so eager to (re)introduce the concept of regeneration to the new DOCTOR WHO series, it made perfect sense for him to not film an Eighth-to-Ninth regeneration sequence for "Rose" or even use the footage as a flashback sequence at some point during the season. And I suppose it doesn't matter than Paul McGann has publicly stated on several occasions that he is perfectly willing to at least film a regeneration sequence, even if he isn't interested in committing to a full series. No, all talk of Christopher Eccleston simply being afraid of being typecast and not wanting to do a second one is just utter nonsense, especially since doing so would give the general public the impression that Eccleston is a insecure flake. I'm sure that career-damaging stigma was all a deliberate orchestration... As you say, "Sigh..."  Back
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Contracts
by RichJohnston 2005-03-31 10:06:54
The BBC have Christopher and Billy signed up to multi-series contracts. Do the maths. Back
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Contracts?
by supertoyslast 2005-03-31 10:21:10
I thought that Eccleston had an option to do further series rather than a contractual obligation. I know that Billie is continuing, but if Eccleston signed a contract with a multi-series obligation then that means he has quit and has bailed, rather than planning on not doing a second series all along. My maths isn't too good since I'm not sure what your point is. Back
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Eccleston WON'T be typcast as The Doctor...
by Pi-Rate 2005-03-31 10:24:06
He'll be typecast as the unreliable actor who shouldn't be hired by anyone because he can't be trusted to stay on with a series once he's brought in, since his track record shows he leaves them prematurely. This man has just shot his career in the foot. I know I'll never watch him in anything else he does from now on. Why should I watch and get to like the show, if I know that his character won't be around more than one series? Dumb-a$$ Back
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The next Doctor Who...
by deadend dropout 2005-03-31 10:30:41
...should be Anthony Stewart Head. That is all. Back
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Ah this is gettin confusing.....
by Big_Bubbaloola 2005-03-31 10:33:43
If Eccelstone signed a multi-series contract and has now bailed, surely the BBC would take him to the cleaners for breach of contract; unless he had it written into his contract that there is a getout clause which brings us back to the Davies masterplan. If not and he still had the getout clause, then the Beeb really dropped the ball!!!! Not for the first time I might add. Back
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I'm still waitin for Richard E Grant to take up the role.
by Big_Bubbaloola 2005-03-31 10:36:28
He's got the looks, he's got the style, he's played the Doc before on a internet(s) production (btw, how does his incarnation fit into the whole regeneration thing?), and I think he'd be willing to do it. Come on Withnail....you know you want too. Back
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I agree...Bring back McGann!
by Doomfarer 2005-03-31 10:36:53
I agree with lynxpro...I thought Paul McGann did a great job with his performance as the Doctor. And for the record, the Fox movie representation of the TARDIS 'effing ROCKED! If we can't get McGann back, though, I'd like to see someone a bit older in the seat, maybe Bill Nighy or even Richard Grant (he was pretty good in the Doctor Who spoof 'Curse of the Fatal Death). I'm sorry to see Eccleston go after only one season, but then again, if he doesn't want to be there, let him go! Back
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I'm so lucky...
by Schnorbitz 2005-03-31 10:40:42
to have seen Chiwetel Ejiofor and Bill Nighy on stage together in Blue/Orange, and David Tennant in The Pillowman. I'd go for David Tennant. Although he's had a wide variety of superb roles onstage, on the screen, he has more of a mad look in his eyes. Back
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Sigh again
by RichJohnston 2005-03-31 10:44:05
Contractual obligation. It means Christopher cannot legally quit and bail. It means the BBC have let him go. Meant they had the option to continue if Davies changed his mind. But no. Back
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Schnorbitz you are lucky
by supertoyslast 2005-03-31 10:45:48
And I am jealous. Damn you. In a nice way. Back
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So, he asked to be let go and the BBC agreed to his terms!!!!
by Big_Bubbaloola 2005-03-31 10:55:20
One word: SUCKERS!!!!! He must laughing the other side of his face. Lots of publicity for him, shows he's got strength of will and range as an actor, as well as getting payed a substantial amount for 1 series' work. And yet again the Beeb fuck it up!!! Back
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Timothy Spall
by Flipao 2005-03-31 11:08:42
I'd watch that