Tonight Doctor Who: The Next Doctor
“From the moment I took over [as the Doctor, the U.K. tabloids] were all saying, ‘Well, who’s going to be next’” in the role, said David Tennant in a 
phone interview with the Chicago Tribune. “One of the names that always came up was David Morrissey, so it was nice to be able to play with those expectations a little bit.”
In a clever ploy that allowed the series to run for so many years, The Doctor has the ability to regenerate — taking on a new face (as in a new actor) every few seasons. But this time around, it’s not a new body for The Doctor, but another Doctor all together (or is it?)
Here’s how the BBC describes Doctor Who: The Next Doctor:
It’s Christmas Eve in 1851 and Cybermen stalk the snow of Victorian London. When the Doctor (David Tennant) arrives to investigate a spate of mysterious deaths, he’s surprised to meet another Doctor (David Morrissey, State of Play, Viva Blackpool), with his own sonic screw driver. How could this be possible? Could this Doctor be a future regeneration? But if so where are his memories? The two must combine forces to defeat the ruthless Miss Hartigan (Dervla Kirwan, Law & Order UK, Ballykissangel), who is the Cybermen’s human ally. But are two Doctors enough to stop the rise of the CyberKing?
It’s the first of five Doctor Who specials, with the next one, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead airing on BBC American on July 26. Planet of the Dead was the first special shot in HD and it will help launch the new BBC America HD channel along with Torchwood come July 20.
But for tonight, it’s Doctor Who: The Next Doctor, Saturday, June 27 at 9:00 on BBC America.
Photos: BBC
Doctor Who, Torchwood Come to Comic Con
June 17, 2009 by Cynthia
Doctor Who and Captain Jack Harkness are headed for the good old U.S of A and just in time for Comic Con. Imagine that.
BBC America has announced their lineup for this year’s scifi / comic lollapalooza and it’s a biggie.
David Tennant, will appear alongside writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, executive producer Julie Gardner and director Euros Lyn for a Doctor Who panel on Sunday July 26, 10:00-11:00am PT. (Just before Supernatural!) They’ll be showing sneak peeks from Tennant’s upcoming specials and offering photo ops.
Then, John Barrowman, will take the stage with Davies and Julie Gardner to discuss the new Torchwood: Children of Earth special. During the same panel, we’ll be introduced to the new BBC America series Being Human. On hand for that will be creator and writer, Toby Whithouse, plus stars Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Aidan Turner who will talk about what it’s like to play three twenty-somethings with secret double-lives – as a werewolf, a vampire and a ghost. All four panelists will be signing exclusively at the BBC AMERICA booth, Saturday July 25, 3:00-4:00pm PT.
There will also be special screenings of Doctor Who and Torchwood with introductions by the stars and you’ll get a chance to buy a new limited edition Comic-Con only action figure from Doctor Who.
Here are the details so you can start planning your (already jam packed) weekend!
Doctor Who Specials to Air in US
We’ve had a bit of a break, but BBC America is about to get its Who on again with the acquisition of five new specials. The deal includes the four 2009 specials; the final episodes of the tenth Doctor as played by David Tennant. The first of the specials, Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead will premiere in July. As a London red bus takes a detour to an alien world it forces the Doctor (Tennant) to work with the extraordinary Lady Christina (Michelle Ryan, Bionic Woman). But the mysterious planet holds terrifying secrets hidden in the sand and time is running out as the deadly Swarm gets closer.
The New Doctor’s Who?
January 6, 2009 by Cynthia
Author Karen Miller jumps on the bandwagon and has her say about the new Doctor Who. . .
I have a terrible confession to make. Possibly it might even be seen as heretical - but here goes.
The very first Doctor Who episode I ever watched was ‘The Runaway Bride’.
And now I pause this commentary so readers can pick themselves up off the floor, reach for a stiff drink and possibly the phone to call for an ambulance.
You good now? Good. Alons-y!
As a child, I remember my uncle loved Doctor Who. I remember him watching it whenever he was visiting. I remember that I loved the theme music, but that otherwise I just wasn’t interested. Fast forward a few decades and oh look! I still wasn’t interested. Friends told me I should watch the rebooted version of the show but no, no, no, I knew better. I caught one glimpse of stupid silver men lurching through a kitchen or something and I said, Ha! That silly nonsense is not for me!
But they kept saying I should watch it, so at last I gave in. I saw that my local tv station was screening an episode called ‘The Runaway Bride’ and I thought: I will watch it, I will hate it, and I will shut them up.
Me and my big mouth.
All Hail the New Who
January 5, 2009 by Cynthia
As you’ve undoubtedly heard, David Tennant is leaving Doctor Who and in his place will be a 26 year-old, relatively unknown actor named Matt Smith (you can see him here). Since the announcement was made, great debates have popped up all over the fandom - is he too young? Is he too unknown? Is he exactly the kind of fresh blood the franchise needed to stay afloat? Everybody’s got an opinion — even when they have ‘no opinion’ which is the stance of our guest poster, author Keith DeCandido.
Take it away, Keith. . .
* * * * * *
I am now going say something that violates all the rules of the Internet and blogging.
I have no opinion on the casting of Matt Smith as the Doctor.
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.
Hamlet Hears A Who
August 9, 2008 by brian
Reuters UK reports that The Doctor himself, David Tennant, is earning rave reviews in the most talked about production of Hamlet in recent memory. It’s become the talk of England because not only because it stars the man the Daleks call The Oncoming Storm, but because Patrick Stewart plays Hamlet’s uncle/stepfather Claudius.
Some theatre purists’ eyes rolled into the backs of their heads with this one, but it’s not like they’re pulling these castings out of the Neutral Zone or something. Stewart was an acclaimed theatre star long before he “made it so” as Capt. Jean Luc Picard. He was nominated for a Tony this year for Macbeth. Tennant has appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company before, so this wasn’t nearly as big a risk as say, casting P-Diddy in A Raisin In the Sun.
Doctor Who 4, Sarah Jane Adventures Coming to SCI FI
Looks like the TARDIS will be making another stop in the good old US of A this April when Doctor Who returns to SCI FI Channel for an all-new fourth season.
In season four of Doctor Who, David Tennant reprises his role as the tenth Timelord. For his latest adventures he is joined by a brand new companion, Donna Noble, played by award-winning actress Catherine Tate (The Catherine Tate Show, BBC AMERICA) who appeared as ‘the runaway bride’ in the previous season. ‘Martha Jones,’ played by Freema Agyeman, the Doctor’s most recent companion, who had a dramatic role last season’s finale, makes a triumphant return in the middle of season four.
In addition, SCI FIC Channel will be running the popular spin-off series The Sarah Jane Adventures (Sarah Connor Chronicles, anyone?) which will also premiere in April.
Candace Carlisle, EVP Sales and Co-productions, BBC Worldwide Americas commented, “The imagination of Russell and the rest of the production team in Cardiff who have produced these two incredible shows is outstanding. We are so pleased that the loyal fans of the SCI FI Channel will be able to meet a whole new range of characters and aliens that are intrinsically linked to the Doctor’s history. Both ‘Sarah Jane Adventures’ and the new season of ‘Doctor Who’ are jam packed with some of the most creative storylines ever produced by the BBC’s brilliant team.”
The Sarah Jane Adventures is written and produced by the same creative team behind Doctor Who, including multi-award winning writer Russell T. Davies. Having traveled the universe with The Doctor, Sarah Jane is used to alien encounters. Accompanied by her new young friends Maria, Luke and Clyde, she becomes embroiled in an offbeat world of mystery and danger.
Pictured: (l-r) David Tennant as The Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith — SCI FI Channel Photo: BBC/Adrian Rogers