Author: Glenn Hauman

In one of the most anticipated panels of the day, writer/executive producer Russell T Davies, David Tennant, director Euros Lyn, and executive producer Julie Gardner (not pictured) discuss their creative process and experiences working on Doctor Who, television’s longest-running science fiction series, along with a few tips and teases about what’s to come in the (sob) short time left.

While there was healthy applause for Davies, Lyn and Gardner at the beginning of the panel, the crowd went wild for the entrance of Tennant, wearing a glittering Stormtrooper T-shirt and jeans. He was a bit mock-taken aback– “they told us nobody knows Doctor Who in America.”

Pretty quickly they went stright into the trailer for Tennant’s finale on the show, “The End of Time” airing Christmas 2009, featuring the return of Donna Noble, her grandpa, and the Master. After showing of the trailer, Tennant said it went by too fast and demanded that it be played again. No one objected.

Davies accepted the Guinness Book of Records award for the series’ longevity, which he accepted on behalf of the late Verity Lambert, the show’s founding producer.

After that, the floor was opened to questions.

How they do everything on such a small budget? Julie Gardner: “We go over budget.”

Tennant says seeing his face on grocery store cakes, t-shirts and kids’ pants is not something they prepare you for in drama school.

Someone in the crowd yells that she loves Tennant. Tennant replies: “We love you — each one of you in a slightly individual way.” Tennant threw out bunches of quips in the panel, such as “Tonight you’re going to see the premiere… the legal premiere… of ‘Planet of the Dead’,” and “There’s a new rumor every day at Comic-Con. Apparently, I’m playing The Hobbit!”

Does the tenth Doctor wear a brown coat because Tennant likes Firefly? Tennant: “Never heard that one before…” but he likes that show.

Did you steal things off the set? Gardner: “I think John Barrowman just stole things off the set so he could be strip-searched on the way out.”

Would Tennant come back for charity specials or anything else? “It’s the 50th Anniversary in 2013, isn’t it? I dunno… That’s not me making an announcement. There’s no plan. Don’t Twitter that! That’s not a thing! Yet!” Waaaaay too late, David.

One of Tennant’s favorite Doctor Who memories was hearing Elisabeth Sladen, a voice from his childhood, call him “Doctor” during a table read of “School Reunion.” Tennant will be in an upcoming Sarah Jane Adventures episode, called “The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith.”

Did Tennant’s Shakespearean training prep him to play Doctor? Tennant was stumped. Gardner offered: “Well, you did meet Shakespeare in an episode…”

David Tennant on the end of his run and his replacement: “Come on the journey and cry and sing with us. And three weeks later you’ll think Matt Smith is the best thing ever. There is no one in Britain who has worked with Matt [Smith] who hasn’t raved about him. I’ve met Matt and chatted with him a couple of times … and he’s going to be brilliant. Which is annoying.”

Any regrets in leaving the show, David? “I am leaving the series
slightly sad that I didn’t get to snog Bernard Cribbins. I snogged all
the rest.”