DOCTOR WHO: DAVID TENNANT TO LEAVE – OFFICIAL
The era of the tenth Doctor is set to close with the special episodes that will air in 2009. David Tennant revealed that he would be laying down his Sonic Screwdriver at the end of the 2009 Doctor Who specials while at the National Television Awards. He will complete the special episodes that are currently in production (the 2008 Christmas special is complete, but the remaining four specials that will air in 2009 are yet to be made). This means that when Doctor Who returns for a full series again in 2010, it won’t just have a new showrunner (Steven Moffat), but it will have a new lead actor. This means we can probably expect to see the tenth Doctor regenerate during the 2009 Christmas special.
David Tennant said: “I’ve had the most brilliant, bewildering and life changing time working on Doctor Who. I have loved every day of it. It would be very easy to cling on to the TARDIS console forever and I fear that if I don’t take a deep breath and make the decision to move on now, then I simply never will. … I’m still the Doctor all next year but when the time finally comes I’ll be honoured to hand on the best job in the world to the next lucky git – whoever that may be.”
The much loved Scottish actor added that he “always thought the time to leave would be in conjunction with Russell T Davies and Julie Gardner, who have been such a huge part of it all for me. Steven Moffat is the most brilliant and exciting writer, the only possible successor to Russell and it was sorely tempting to be part of his amazing new plans for the show. I will be there, glued to my TV when his stories begin in 2010.”
Thus the speculation over who will be the eleventh Doctor will now go into overdrive. You can check out our ideas for his successor on our 11th Doctor article. What fans the world over need to remember is that, yes, this is the end of an era, but there are still five specials to come featuring David as the Doctor, and thus we have a proper send-off to look forward to for the Doctor that became a huge fan favourite during his stint in the TARDIS.
We had his awesome first appearance at the end of ‘The Parting of the ways’ in series one, then there was the incredible 2005 Xmas special- The Christmas Invasion. While series 2 had its problems, it was still an incredible series of science fiction adventures. The 2006 Christmas Special, ‘The Runaway Bride’ was flawed but fun, and gave us a glimpse at a very lonely Doctor. Series 3 saw the character of the Doctor explored even further, climaxing with his final confrontation with the Master. The 2007 Christmas episode, ‘Voyage of the Damned’, was a fun romp that recalled the classic serioes. Series four saw all of the new era’s assistants return (along with a classic era heroine too), to help the Doctor face Davros and the Daleks in their most chilling plan ever.
It has been a rollercoaster of a ride for the tenth Doctor and David Tennant. Millions of new fans flocked to the show as he established himself, and he has seen Doctor Who through its most successful period in its entire history on TV, in books and in Doctor Who merchandise.
From all of us here at Starstore.com and The Last Picture Show, and from Doctor Who fans young and old all over the world, thank you David. Thanks for the adventures, the humour, the energy and your relentless enthusiasm for Doctor Who. We wish you all the very best for your future projects, and are on the edge of our seats already, waiting for your grand finale as our hero.
Recommended Further Reading:
TARDISWATCH: Our DOCTOR WHO Series 4 features
March 16th, 2009 at 7:13 am
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March 22nd, 2009 at 12:23 am
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