David Tennant Stands Down From "Doctor Who" 245
Dave Knott writes "After winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the British National Television Awards, David Tennant announced that he will be quitting the iconic role of The Doctor. Quoting Tennant: 'When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won't be with me. Now don't make me cry. I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair.' Tennant will appear in a Christmas special, titled The Next Doctor, before filming four more specials in January. After that, the search will be on for the actor to play the 11th incarnation of The Doctor."
We have a problem (Score:4, Informative)
Although, this could add a new twist to the show.
Re:We have a problem (Score:4, Informative)
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...also, it was Colin Baker, not Tom.
And yes, I am a nerd.
Even by slashdot standards.
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Indeed. You're thinking of Mawdryn Undead.
Re:We have a problem (Score:5, Insightful)
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Hugh Laurie would be a pretty good option I reckon.
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As an American he could've had me fooled (had I not known he was British and heard him before).
any reason why he must do an English accent? (Score:2)
For that matter, how come all the aliens speak the Queen's English, given the show is filmed in Wales?
Try this for the regeneration episode... Explain as a plot device, in trek terms, that the Universal Translator [wikipedia.org] is broken. Which is why when landing all the 'native' dialogue is subtitled into English from a language that sounds remarkably to viewers' e
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While Tennant had his moments, the fact that he basically seems to play himself most of the time prevented him from really making something of the role.
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Colin Baker != Tom Baker.
Re:We have a problem (Score:5, Informative)
It was the Colin Baker (6th) Doctor, not Tom, and the Valeyard wasn't the 11th Doctor. The wording was strange, but it was implied that it was his last, or 13th, incarnation. And since this is Doctor Who anyways, it is possible that particular incarnation will never come to be. Plus, if the ratings are there, the Doctor will obtain or be granted additional regenerations somehow, which has already been established as possible.
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He could just do what the Master did on Trakken. I loved it when, in the 5 Doctors, John Pertwee's Doctor said, "Another regeneration?" and the Master said, "Not exactly."
Some people will say, "But the Doctor isn't that Evil," and I'll reply, "Now who's being naive?"
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There will be a way to bring the doctor back. The budgets say so.
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Actually, there is nothing about him personally knowing either Omega or Rassilon prior to him encountering them during the series - they are legendary Time Lord figures.
And I don't remember any mention by Romana about his incarnations being that high.
There is some debate about some images shown in the episode "Brain of Morbius" which some believe to be images of earlier incarnations of the Doctor, but it is explicitly stated elsewhere that the 1st Doctor we know of is indeed the first (either in "The Three
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The Valeyard (from [i]Colin[/i] Baker's final season) could easily be explained away in a number of ways (eg: a regeneration of the parallel-doctor who regains a timelord essence and goes insane with jealousy because he's not the "real doctor"). It could even be one of those little things tossed in that never gets explained - left dangling for our imaginations.
As for the regeneration limit, not only has the master persisted beyond his limit by nefarious means, but in the Five Doctors, the time lords outrig
Colin not Tom (Score:2)
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In the old Tom Baker episodes, the 11th doctor shows up and tries to steal the lives of his former self.
Actually, it was Colin Baker. (Trial of Time Lord) :)
How did this possibly get marked informative?
Re:We have a problem (Score:5, Interesting)
Baker had been WAY more typecast though. Plus with the success of the show I'm fairly sure Tennant's career is on a far better trajectory.
And Tom Baker is an arse anyway. Refusing to appear with other Doctors at conventions etc... Always loved him, but given what I've read and heard recently, Baker was, and will always, an arse.
Sad Tennant is leaving. He has been a fantastic Doctor. Not as big a wrench to me though as my kids. I've had eight Doctor regenerations now when this one happens. My eldest has only seen Eccleston (but never had time to get attached) and my youngest has only ever known Tennant.
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I think in the acting world, they are now trying hard to avoid typecasting, so most of them try to leave before they have become mainly known for one role. Plus by leaving sooner than expected, they (hope to) leave on a career high, which they hope, will take them onto bigger projects. Only problem is, it often doesn't work like that, and their career just stalls. But for a few, they do go onto bigger things, but almost all act
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They could redo the episode by digitally inserting new actors and an alternate plot into the old footage like that other series did with the tribbles.
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They still have to figure out how to give him more than 12 regenerations though...
Some how, they could explain it away as it being a function of being the last of the Time Lords. Similar to the way a cayman in captivity will only grow to a specific size, populations of certain rodents will only grow to fit the resources available, etc.; it could be inferred that to maintain - pardon the mythology merge - a Star Wars-like balance, there always needs to be a Time Lord, and him being the last has the (un)fortunate evolutionary impetus to continue regenerating.
Wasn't the 1st doctor (Score:2)
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Not always younger. Or at least that's not part of the canon, but it does seem to go that way. (At least until you get up around Baker/McCoy).
If I remember my lore, the only non-death regen was Troughton/Pertwee where the regen was forced on the Doctor by the Timelords. May be remembering that wrong though.
Just hope RTD has no say in the casting given that fuckwit has said he wanted to cast JK Rowling AND Price Charles in the show.
God bless you for getting the show back on the air Russell, but you are a fuc
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*spoilery if you've not seen season 3 of the new Who. (AKA the 2007 season.))
Troughton to Pertwee was before my time so I don't remember. Could be that the documentary I saw it in engaged in revisionism and referred to it as a regeneration.
I don't know why people keep going on about how he only has X number of regens left. This is a science fiction show. It would take a mere ONE scene to set up more.
Plus with the Timelords gone in the Time War (one of Russell T's only good ideas I think), was it ever stated
Patrick Stewart (Score:4, Interesting)
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I dunno, the doctor is sorta jovial and flippant, while Patrick Stewart plays more serious parts.
Think of it this way, Patrick Stewart can play the doctor about as well as he could play James Bond. I didn't like the Roger Moore humor too much
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I thought he was going to play the doctor?
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I read that the BBC can't cast anyone over 40 due to insurance reasons.
Don't know if there's any truth to that.
Re:Patrick Stewart (Score:4, Funny)
Actually, Rowan Atkinson has been The Doctor before - Google: "Dr. Who and the Curse of Fatal Death" for details.
(It should all count, dammit. There have thus been at least 14 reincarnations through Tennant, including Joanna Lumley and Hugh Grant. Throw them out, and what's your justification for including McCoy? Plus tossing Lumley is sexist.).
Re:Patrick Stewart (Score:4, Funny)
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maybe it is time for a female Doctor? I like the potential...
Particularly if they bring back Jenny somehow. "You're my dad, but now you're my mum?"
Me, I'm still hoping that they figure out a way for the Doctor to break to the time locks on the Time War so that they can do another Five Doctors episode with the remaining Doctor's still living.
Re:Patrick Stewart (Score:4, Funny)
Don't worry, the Daily Mail campaign to prevent him being female or gay has already started...
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I like Robert Picardo for the part, once you stop type-casting him into artificial, robotic, stiff roles he does pretty well.
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The doctor: you want me to play what? ... etc.
BBC: we want you to play Doctor Who.
The doctor: I'm sorry I haven't picked a name for myself yet.
BBC: No, we want you to play Doctor Who.
The doctor: Doctor Who?
BBC: That's right.
The doctor: Well, tell me the name already!
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we can now "state the nature of the medial emergency" then he can take the Tardis back in time thru the gate to keep it from happening!
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He could use his "evil Peacekeeper captain" accent for the whole series, which I know isn't British... but hey, I'd watch.
Interview with David Tennant (Score:4, Informative)
It's an interview with David Tennant about his thoughts of the show and him leaving. The best thing I saw in this article was the fact that Davies was leaving, hopefully paving the way for better episodes..... (but that's just my opinion).
Re:Interview with David Tennant (Score:4, Informative)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7698200.stm [bbc.co.uk]
It's an interview with David Tennant about his thoughts of the show and him leaving. The best thing I saw in this article was the fact that Davies was leaving, hopefully paving the way for better episodes..... (but that's just my opinion).
And Steve Moffat is picking up the reigns of main writer, the man who, in my opinion, has made the best episodes of the revived series.
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That's by far the best news I read in the sad last couple of mounthes.
Re:Interview with David Tennant (Score:4, Informative)
Blink was probably my favorite episode, so I guess I might as well find out for you...
From wikipedia:
"Blink" is the tenth episode of the third series of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 9 June 2006, and is the only episode in the 2007 series written by Steven Moffat.
Re:Interview with David Tennant (Score:5, Informative)
"Blink" took the Hugo Award (voted by science fiction fans registered for Worldcon) this year for "Best Dramatic Presentation - Short Form". In 2007 that award went to the Dr. Who episode "The Girl in the Fireplace", also by Steven Moffat, and the year before that to "The Empty Child", again by Steven Moffat.
Not a bad track record.
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Yes to Blink. He also wrote The Empty Child. Mummy...
Pretty much all of the really creepy episodes are his.
Re:Interview with David Tennant (Score:5, Informative)
Yep. "Blink", "The Empty Child" and "The Doctor Dances", "The Girl in the Fireplace", "Silence in the Library" and "Forest of the Dead" (hey, who turned out the lights?). In other words, every single one of the best stories in the new Doctor Who (while Russell T Davies is sadly over-represented in the "worst stories" category, although he's not responsible for all of them).
Also, he wrote much of "Press Gang" and quite a few "Coupling" episodes, as well as a recent adaptation of "Jekyll" that was awesome. He's one of my favourite television writers in fact. I am looking forward to the next season *so much*.
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J. Michael Straczynski's writing on Babylon Five(he wrote much of season 1 and all of seasons 2-5 with the exception of one episode) is one of the few times anyones ever written full hour long 21-23 episode seasons solo.
Moffat also wrote Time Crash(the Fifth and Tenth Doctor cross-o
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J. Michael Straczynski's writing on Babylon Five(he wrote much of season 1 and all of seasons 2-5 with the exception of one episode) is one of the few times anyones ever written full hour long 21-23 episode seasons solo.
Nope, sorry. He didn't. Season 2 had several writers. Seasons 3 and 4 were pure Joe.
Season 5 had one script by Neil Gaiman.
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what happens, when it reigns on reining, grammar nazi, while they rain in the lolcats?...
If a grammar nazi dies on the internet from an aneurysm reading slashdot and doesn't post before he goes, does an lolcat die?
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The best thing I saw in this article was the fact that Davies was leaving, hopefully paving the way for better episodes
Not so much that Davies is leaving as that Moffat is taking over. He's the author of pretty much all of the best episodes since it came back.
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Davies leaving is an awesome thing. The man has written ONE decent script for the new show. ("Midnight").
I will never forgive him for his meddling with the "Gay Daleks on Broadway" one from season 3, and the fucking farting Slitheen.
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Spoiler:
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Look at the last episodes of new season 4. The Daleks are incredibly powerful, and there's a certain Deus Ex quality to the near regeneration that turns out not to be, and to the ending. But still, the 'good guys' are constantly trying some trick or other, many of which cause real problems for the Daleks even if they don't eliminate the whole menace. At one point, the Daleks think they have killed Jack, and of course, he gets better, (but that's no surprise to the regular viewers). The Daleks
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New direction (Score:4, Insightful)
I love Tennant but this could be a good thing - current show runner Russell T Davies is leaving at exactly the same time, so not only will there but a new Doctor, but also a new guiding hand on the show.
It would be nice if we could have the Doctor actually leaving Earth for more than 1-2 episodes a season again. Less soppy romance with companions swooning over him couldn't hurt, either.
We need an older character to play the doctor. (Score:3, Insightful)
The old doctor who was all about a kindly gradfather/father figure giving wise advice to his young companions. Now we have a doctor who is obviously young, being disrespected by an obnoxious older companion. And nowadays the sum of his intellect is contained in his hacking his way, mcgyver-style, out of every situation.
TOM BAKER AND JON PERTWEE RULE!
I know I have the key here somewhere (Score:3, Funny)
Intriguingly... (Score:2)
I just went to Facebook to copy/paste this news to a friend of mine who is a dedicated Wholigan.
And one of those annoying ads tried to inform me about "Work in Britain - Find well paid work in the UK using the largest job search engine." etc. etc.
Life on marzzzzzz (Score:4, Interesting)
That last master (Sims) would make a great doctor. Plus there's history of time lords regenerating into people they've seen before. At least Romana did.
Hugh Laurie (Score:2)
It probably won't happen, but I'd love Hugh Laurie to play the new doctor.
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> Docter, what must we do?
> Dunno, but it's not lupus!
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I think it would be great if we were Doctor House and the THE Doctor at the same time.
If you haven't read his book, you should. The man is pretty clever. And check out some of his out British shows such as "A Bit of Fry and Laurie". He can certainly do a bit of comedy if needed.
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Errr...is House not comedy? Have I been watching it for entirely different reasons than everybody else?
House is hilarious. The plots are flimsy and the drama contrived, which is not atypical for a comedy.
Re:Hugh Laurie (Score:4, Funny)
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I don't think Laurie could pull off the British accent.
Umm, is my sarcasm detector broken, or are you completely unaware of Hugh Laurie's work outside of "House"?
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Re:Hugh Laurie (Score:4, Informative)
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The Doctor's Regenerations (Score:4, Informative)
Time Lords were limited, I believe by Rassilon, to 12 regeneration cycles, allowing for a possible total of 13 Doctors. However, in one of the early seasons, this limit is removed from the Doctor and it is not clear whether or not it was ever reapplied.
But, with characters such as Captain Jack or Jenny (the Doctor's clone-daughter), it would be easy enough to write it out so the show can go on forever.
I am still hoping the 13th doctor is evil.
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However, in one of the early seasons, this limit is removed from the Doctor and it is not clear whether or not it was ever reapplied.
In the best wikipedia tradition.... citation?
When the regenerations are over (Score:2)
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A joke made by David Tennant: (Score:2)
I think he mentioned in one of his stage appearances (jokingly) that they'd replace him with Daniel Radcliffe (famous for playing Harry Potter). Ever since then I've been taunting my brother with the idea, and he will be very pissed off if Daniel Radcliffe is the next doctor. I'm actually still on the fence on that, though. I think he wouldn't make a bad doctor, but he is still a little young for the role. With the right acting, though, youth can just vanish. If he does it right, his age wouldn't be a
Anne Robinson for the Doctor! (Score:2)
No, wait, Scott Bakula!
No! Arnold Schwarzenegger, of course!
Oh, oh, how about a CGI Doctor provided by Lucasfilm!
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> Oh, oh, how about a CGI Doctor provided by Lucasfilm!
Meesa no think that's a good idea.
Ray Stevenson (Score:2)
would make a great doctor, as anyone who has seen Rome would attest. And it would be great to have a doctor who wasn't as physical deficient as many of doctors
NOOOO (Score:2)
Why?! Why do you leave us, David Tennant?! He was my favorite... Oh well! I'd love to see Simon Pegg but he was already an antagonist in another Doctor Who episode. Which isn't necessarily stopping anything...
Philip Glenister for Doctor! (Score:2)
I know this will be one of a million posts where people post their dream Doctor, but what the hell.
I would be more than overjoyed if Philip Glenister was the next Docotor. He won't be familiar to most of us outside of the UK but he should be. For those who are interested, he is best known for his role as DCI Gene Hunt in Life on Mars. I think he is perfect for a lot of reasons. First, he is physically very different than any recent doctor. Older, larger frame, physicly more imposing. Second, he has the ball
Jonathan Ross (Score:2)
I hear Jonathan Ross is out of work [bbc.co.uk] for a while.. he would be a good doctor and Russell Brand could be his trusty 'female' sidekick.. they can travel through space and time making obscene calls to old Davros [wikipedia.org].
Or they could go back in time and not get themselves fired, thereby sparing us (and davros) the pain of doctor woss.
Re:Continuity (Score:5, Informative)
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This was sidestepped by some Dr Who by saying the regeneration limit was artificial and the actual process of regenerating has more to do with the mind than the body. Some high energy being what not. But the catch is the person must not desire the change or their desire for it prevents it.
Yeah, Dr who people are odd, but it is science fiction so they can do pretty much whatever they want.
Re:Continuity (Score:4, Interesting)
Yeah, Dr who people are odd, but it is science fiction so they can do pretty much whatever they want
I remember reading an interview recently of someone... I think it was the head writer of the current show... saying something to the effect of, "You can't have continuity errors when you're writing a scifi show about time travel, because no matter how crazy it gets, you can always come up with a crazy explanation."
I'm paraphrasing.
Re:Continuity (Score:4, Insightful)
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I love Dr Who, but please don't call it science fiction.
I think some episodes qualify as SF in isolation. It is more of a short story collection loosely connected by fantasy.
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I must insist on misunderstanding you. What are you saying - that this is a documentary? Are you from LINDA?
Re:Continuity (Score:4, Informative)
I wouldn't worry about that, they deliberately included that scene with his ring being taken at the end so they can bring him back if they want.
Of course, I can remember the Master being burned away in a fire till he was completely gone with nothing left, and coming back in a later episode.
He responded to the Doctor's "WTF?" (echoing those of us in the audience) with, "Come now Doctor, you know I'm indestructible."
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I wouldn't worry about that, they deliberately included that scene with his ring being taken at the end so they can bring him back if they want.
Lovely little homage to Flash Gordon there, I think.
Re:Continuity (Score:4, Informative)
Isn't the Doctor out of regenerations now?
Con-ti-nu-ity? What is this strange and alien concept? And what does it have to do with Doctor Who?
He's been out of generations for quite a while, if you count the fact that the serial "The Brain of Morbius" indicates that he's had several regenerations before the first doctor.
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Yet "the Three Doctors" establishes that the first Doctor is, in fact, the first. The dating of UNIT stories is also impossible to pin down (an alternative 1970s? the 1980s?) not to mention the mess caused by the TV movie's "half-human" line. Even the Daleks' origins differ wildly between what's established in their original story versus what came much later in "Genesis of the Daleks."
Continuity has never been one of Doctor Who's strong points since the show is often self-contradictory.
Re:Continuity (Score:5, Insightful)
You've almost got it. The real reason though, that continuity has never been one of Doctor Who's strong points is that time travel itself is often self-contradictory.
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No. The "real" reason is that it was a long running show for children and nobody gave a shit.
Other franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars have continuity departments and even they can't get it right 100% of the time.
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Other franchises like Star Trek and Star Wars have continuity departments and even they can't get it right 100% of the time.
Or like...3% of the time.
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as any good fan will tell you, the films are not canonical.
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The Brain of Morbius faces have long been debated in fandom. Some say it was a trick (artifically created memories by the Doctor), and some say it was previously unknown pre-Hartnell incarnations.
Some say that they were the incarnations of "The Other", from the Cartmel Masterplan.
The truth is, we just don't know.
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The 12 regeneration limit was added in as an arbitrary plot point to give a impetus to a single character in a specific episode. With a single stroke of the pen a Time Lord could only regenerate 12 times. This is fiction, as a result, with a single stroke of the pen the limitation could be removed. We knew the Doctor's real name for 8 years, before it was removed as easily as it was put in.
The deified Robert Holmes had a bit of tendency to demystify the Doctor, which is a bit of a shame. Of course, he never
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So, let's see. Middle-aged, powerfully built, intelligent, charismatic, funny but with a serious side, male but not necessarily white.
Jeremy Clarkson! :)
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Mr. Dawn French? I can see that going off the rails in so many cool ways. Actually, ISTR that the Doctor can 'try out' different looks after a regeneration. It could be fun to have an episode of different possibilities just to play with the audience.
Let's see; Lenny Henry, Rik Mayal, Simon Pegg...
The best new Doctor would be... (Score:2)
Don Warrington. He has a sense of presence that would be excellent for the next Doctor.
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Mos Def?
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Somebody like Zoe Deschanel would make a great partner but you'd need a strong older actor to balance it and scripts that went for "fantastic" as opposed to "dramatic".