‘Doctor Who’ Speculation Grips England
The British media has been in overdrive since David Tennant announced last week that the four specials in 2009 will be his final year as The Doctor. He appeared this week on BBC Breakfast and said, “Who knows what might happen in the future? The door isn’t necessarily closed forever.
“I actually think it’s one of those parts that any actor could bring something very valid to, because he can be anything and because it’s a sort of blank canvas every time.
“In fact, the difference is the virtue with each doctor, it’s not like recasting Tarzan, where you have to got someone who looks good in a loin cloth. It can sort of be anything.”
After all, his predecessors have managed to reprise their incarnation of the Time Lord for the annual Children in Need charity special and audio books.
When pressed, he refused to join in the speculation for a successor, saying, “It’s not down to me. I’ve got nothing to do with it.” Then he lightly suggested if they wanted to go with a female doctor, Billie Piper, who played the beloved Rose Tyler, would get his nod.
He also mentioned that when incoming producer Steven Moffat outlined his thoughts on the doctor, Tennant was tempted to reconsider his decision which he apparently made some time back with current producer Russell T. Davies.
The odds continue to favor James Nesbitt (Cold Feet)as receiving the key to the TARDIS. When asked, Nesbitt said it would be career suicide to follow Tennant and said his competition, Paterson Joseph, “would be great”.
Reuters notes that “Bookmaker William Hill has made 44-year-old David Morrissey, who starred in BBC dramas State of Play and Blackpool its favorite to get the job, while the Daily Mirror is tipping former Eastenders actor Tom Ellis.”
Radio newscaster Terry Wogan aired a report that the replacement doctor may well be first seen on November’s Children In Need.
ODDS ON NEW DOCTOR FROM PADDY POWER (3rd Nov 2008)
2/1 David Morrisey
6/1 Patterson Joseph
8/1 James Nesbitt, Chiwetel Ejiofor
10/1 Russell Tovey, John Simm
12/1 Anthony Head
14/1 Robert Carlyle, David Walliams
16/1 Richard E. Grant
18/1 Richard Coyle, Aidan Gillen, Alan Davies, Sean Pertwee
20/1 Jason Statham, Harry Lloyd, Nigel Harman, Marc Warren, Jack Davenport
25/1 Julian Walsh, Adrian Lester, Alexander Armstrong
33/1 Julian Rhind-Tutt, Rupert Penry-Jones, James McAvoy
40/1 Bill Nighy, Stephen Fry, Ben Wishaw
50/1 John Barrowman, Ben Miles, David Suchet, Hugh Laurie
66/1 Gary Oldman, Matt Smith, Paul Bettany, Joel Beckett, Christopher Eccleston
80/1 Alex Kingston, Dean Lennox Kelly, Christopher Villiers
100/1 Ricky Gervais
150/1 Hugh Grant, Russell Brand, Vinnie Jones
200/1 Robbie Williams
in the SUN "newspaper" on tuesday the 4th of november Steven Moffat was printed to have said " Although I loved Peter Davison and Paul McGann, probably the best two actors in the role I don't think young, dashing Doctors are right at all. He should be weird looking 40 plus, the kind of wacky grandfather kids know on sight to be secretly one of them. Any actor with the "right" stuff is unlikely to be a complete unknown"
Let's give John Cale a screen test then!
I think casting Sean Pertwee would be fun just for the confusion factor.Jason Statham would be … interesting.Tony Head would be excellent. (And he's already done the show once – "Forget the shooty dog thing…", especially as he delivered it, may be the best line yet in the new incarnation.)But i have just decided that, of all the names on thislist, Bill Nighy would be best…
My vote is for Christopher Eccleston!!
"Grips England?" For a show made in Wales and starring a Scot, try "Grips United Kingdom". Or "Grips Great Britain". Sigh.. damn colonials! :PI think Sean Pertwee would be good. Or Sean Bean. But not Mr Bean.Cheers!
Jason Statham or Alex Kingston for me. He's got massive recognition in America, and she has acting chops to burn and proved it in one episode.Chiwetel Ejiofor has the talent and the appeal, but might seem like an even greater stunt than casting a woman. Put him in with Torchwood, with Marsters too. And frankly I'd be pleased to have Eccleston back. Fan-tas-tiK!