WHO WILL BE THE NEXT WHO?

[Grant Goggans]

It's continuity best forgotten.  I hardly expect the BBC bosses to care very much about throwaway plot details when considering whether to commission more episodes of a show year after year, only whether it's a hit or not.

What annoys me most is that the announcement has come before the show has aired anywhere except the UK.  It starts in Canada this coming Tuesday.  "And now, a brand new series starring an actor who won't be doing a second series!"

--Grant

[Dan Kelly]

It's not particularly good for the continuing strength of the series here either... Someone needs to be shot for that.

Wonder how this affects the pictures we saw from "Colin" in the first ep?  Will the doctor ever see Kennedy?

Dan

[paulvonscott]

I think it is quite damaging news, but if they are going to be fillimg the second series, and the christmas special, then that's going to be happening soon I imagine.  It was probably a decision Eccles had to take now rather than later.

I think with the right choice though Dr Who could go from strength to strength.

[Grant Goggans]

I have the notion that, since Doctor #9 clearly won't be there or at Krakatoa, Doctor #10 will have to PhotoShop those images, poorly, and pass them onto Clive in order for him to suggest their importance to Rose.

--Grant

[Dudley]

I think it made perfect sense to release the news now.  Who is still on a high, and the audience that have been watching won't stop, thinking "Oh, well if it's going to be a new actor at some point in the future I won't bother".  Now, by the time that the series ends everyone will have adjusted to Ecclestone's departure, everyone will be looking forward to the big Christmas day special where he gets killed off and a new regeneration takes his place, and will then be watching the new Doctor with interest.

[Oddboy]

Dudley - that'd be perfect if the news came in one or two weeks' time.

Sure there were high viewing figures for episode one, but it's the episode 2 figures that will show if people *liked* the show they watched last week...
I won't be watching it this weekend, but that's only because I'll be away (Hopefully we'll get someone to video it) but still, that's one less TV that'll be tuned in for episode 2 and Oddgirl & I both really liked it.

[Richmond Clements]

Then again, it could be Chris negotiating his pay rise in public.

[Art]

Isn't there like only 13 regenerations per timelord? Or is that myth? Or is it continuity that's best forgotten?

And remember, he's already wasted one of them on being Mr. Bean.

[Dudley]

Odders -

Rumoured 44% audience share, ecstatic feedback on all forums including the Beeb's own research panels, immediate recommissiong... I'd say they can be fairly sure people liked it.

[LARF]

How do they measure audience figures?

I heard it was something to do with kettles being turned on during the breaks and after the shows or something or other?

[Banners]

BARB do it...

M@

Link: http://www.barb.co.uk/" target="_blank">BARB

[Lord Running Clam]

You could explane away the photos by saying he did it all between the first time he left rose & her boyfriend and came back.Just because it looked like a moment to Rose the Doctor have been gone for months or years,you could also use this for any multi Doctor stories if Billie Piper stays on and you don't want two of her.

[lisataylor]

Im so pleased to be reading a relitavly sensible discussion about chris eccleston quitting dr who on this forum. If anyones interested, go to the aintitcool website and read what the pricks have been saying there! Comments like:

"I reckon he quit because he is scared and freaked out over the reaction over the past couple of days,but seriously what did he expect,the selfish coward.Wow,what a way to ruin the party."

"I don't believe this happening! IS Eccelston some kind of idiot?!?!?!"

"I'm eager to see more of the series. For him to bow out saying he's afraid of being typecast, all I can say is "DUH"! EVERYONE who has ever played the part has been typecast. You'd have to be a frickin' idiot not to realise this after 40 years of the show being around. He's either a total moron, or he's holding out for more money. Either way, he's a jerk. I like his work, but for doing this - he's a total sod."

For a start off Eccelston is an incredibly successful actor in his own rite ( having been employed continuosly in various parts in major films and theatre) Secondly NOBODY knew whether this show would be successful. The amount of WHO fans out there is not enough to keep WHO going. Thirdly, he chose to play the part primarily because he was a fan of russel t davies writing. NOT Dr who itself. Fourthly (and to make the points above even clearer as an actor myself) having 10 months of your acting proffession dedicated soley to playing one role seriously hinders any other interesting job oppurtunities that may come along( Think about it.You work playing the same role for 10 months of the year. What oppurtunity are you going to get to play anything else? Even a 4 week theatre run in the proverbs takes 3 months out of your acting life!) I know (or hope) im preaching to the converted here, but actors are NOT FANS. THEY ARE PROFFESIONALS who make career choices to frurther their development. To be perfectly honest I expected nothing less. What people should be grateful for is the fact thaT ECCESTON HAS breathed new life into the role and brought a great family show to a new family audience. Thanks to him (and davies) this series has a great future ahead of it. Having said that, maybe David Tennent is the perfect choice for the next dr. As well as being a great actor( Watch him in cassanova on bbc1 mon. or remember him as the cop from "blackpool",- also check him out in the big finish audio "Luther Arkwright" as Luther.) he is also a REAL Dr WHO fan. This may mean he'll stick it out for two seasons, but to be perfectly honest I cant see any decent actor worth their salt staying for more, and for that we should be grateful! Anyway, to recap on my first point, having visited lots of online forums today to look at reaction to the news, the comments above- mainly- have been the only sensible, adult and autistic free Ive read. It makes me proud to be a reader of TOOTH!

[Lord Running Clam]

Do you think if instead of filming 13 episodes in a row like this series he would of been more likly to stay longer if they did 2 to 3 parters that were staggered so that he could go out and do other roles?

[Steve Green]

I'd love to see Anthony Head as the Doctor. Not sure if he'd want to be in another genre show, but I think he'd be ideal.

Not sure about David Tennant, haven't seen him in anything so far, although he's in a live production of Quatermass on BBC4 this weekend.

- Steve