The Doctor Is Out
October 30, 2008 by brian
Doctor Who fans are bracing for another regeneration, as David Tennant has dropped the bombshell that 2009 will be his last year aboard the Tardis. BBC News reports the wildly popular actor made the announcement after winning the Outstanding Drama Performance Award at the National Television Awards.
Tennant told the BBC News that he wanted to go while there was a chance people might miss him, rather than overstaying his welcome. Nobody will likely miss him more than the BBC, who have reaped the ratings bonanza of the revamped Who series. Almost 10 million viewers watched as the doctor began the process of “regeneration” that usually signals the casting of a new actor, although he didn’t complete it.
Tennant will appear in a Christmas special and film four more specials before closing that chapter of his career. He joked that if he doesn’t make this leap now, they’ll have to wheel him out of the Tardis in his bath chair.
The series will continue and there will be immense pressure on the next actor to play the famous Time Lord. A 2006 poll in Doctor Who magazine crowned Tennant the favorite Doctor of all-time. Bookmakers Paddy Power have already placed odds on the next actor to step in and they think Joseph Paterson will become the first Black Doctor Who. They’re offering 3-1 odds on that happening. Other favorites include Life on Mars star John Simm and David Morrissey from the political drama State of Play.
