Eccleston quits as Doctor Who by Wren

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Eccleston quits as Doctor Who

POSTED BY: WREN
UPDATED: Tuesday, April 5, 2005 00:38
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Wednesday, March 30, 2005 10:09 PM

It's a shame, I liked him in the role. Reported by the BBC today:

Eccleston quits Doctor Who role

The first episode of the new Doctor Who was shown on Saturday
Actor Christopher Eccleston has quit as Doctor Who after just one episode of the new series has been screened, the BBC has confirmed.
Eccleston, whose first appearance as the ninth Time Lord attracted around 10 million viewers, feared being typecast.

Talks are taking place to replace him with Casanova star David Tennant.

A second series of the new Doctor Who, which will again be written by Russell T Davies and produced by BBC Wales, has already been commissioned.

Billie Piper, who plays Dr Who's assistant Rose, is expected to star again.

'Incredible reaction'

Eccleston - whose last appearance is expected to be in a Christmas special - said he was also planning new projects and that he found filming the series gruelling.

David Tennant plays BBC Three's legendary lover Casanova

"The audience's response for the new Doctor Who has been incredible and I am really proud to be part of it and I hope viewers continue to enjoy the series," he said in a statement issued through the BBC.

A BBC spokesman said the corporation would issue a formal statement later on Thursday and that it had hoped, rather than expected, that Eccleston would continue in the role.

He said that although talks to make David Tennant the 10th Doctor were taking place, other names may be put forward.

Bill Nighy was also considered for the Eccleston role, while Richard E Grant starred in a BBC web drama version of Doctor Who.

Period drama Casanova, which moves to BBC1 from BBC3 on Monday, added to Tennant's reputation after his success in the drama Blackpool.

'Jittery time'

The BBC announced on Wednesday that it had commissioned the second Doctor Who series, which will again feature 13 episodes.

Billie Piper will once again play Rose in the new series

Russell T Davies said: "It's fantastic news. It's been a tense and jittery time because the production team has been working on plans.

"It's particularly good for BBC Wales. This is a major flagship show for the region, and their staff and crews are the best you could find. It's a tribute to them that Doctor Who is returning."

Dr Who was relaunched last Saturday weekend following a 16-year hiatus.

With 9.9 million viewers, it beat Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.

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Wednesday, March 30, 2005 11:50 PM

NERVOUSPETE

Heigh-ho, I was expecting it. Eccleston is a driven actor, and I think he's trying to find the perfect role. He loves appearing in as many and as varied roles as possible too, so I always felt that although it was cool for him to be our first new Doctor, that he wouldn't really be sticking around.

It's just a shame that someone leaked the news right now, they were probably going to sit upon it until mid series and then announce. Whatever happens, I think that Eccleston's done a great job and wish him every luck in the future.

David Tennant seems a sensible choice, he showed some good acting chops in 'Blackpool' and has that impish yet slightly hurt and brutal look the role requires.

However I would dearly love Patterson Joseph - the Marquis De Carabas from Neverwhere - as the first black Doctor. Not only does he look cool and imposing, is athletic and intense, but he can also switch effortlessly from being a charmer to downright menace. Seeing him in Ibsen's 'The Doll's House' at Warwick Arts Centre proved to me that he's a damn good actor, and his breakdown at the end was real and sympathetic for a character we're not supposed to side with.

Patterson Joseph for the Doctor!

Oh, or Dylan Moran.

"This is my Tardis! Aw, feck! Now I'm going to have to save the world again, and then people will be thanking me, and then I'll have to run and hide, and while I'm away the daleks will invade again and the whole hideous cycle will go on and on and on! It's just not worth it! Here, here's a pen and some milk and some crayons... go save the world yourselves! Go on!"

With Bill Bailey as his assistant. Possibly.

Pete

"If you can keep your head whilst others... eurgh! Ack! I've spilt my ink! Ugh! Ink on my trousers! Agh! Ink on my shirt! My only hope! The window! Aieeeeee!" (Falls to death)
- Jonathan Nash

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 12:26 AM

ZOOT

Quote:
Originally posted by NervousPete:

Heigh-ho, I was expecting it. Eccleston is a driven actor, and I think he's trying to find the perfect role. He loves appearing in as many and as varied roles as possible too, so I always felt that although it was cool for him to be our first new Doctor, that he wouldn't really be sticking around.

It's just a shame that someone leaked the news right now, they were probably going to sit upon it until mid series and then announce. Whatever happens, I think that Eccleston's done a great job and wish him every luck in the future.

David Tennant seems a sensible choice, he showed some good acting chops in 'Blackpool' and has that impish yet slightly hurt and brutal look the role requires.

However I would dearly love Patterson Joseph - the Marquis De Carabas from Neverwhere - as the first black Doctor. Not only does he look cool and imposing, is athletic and intense, but he can also switch effortlessly from being a charmer to downright menace. Seeing him in Ibsen's 'The Doll's House' at Warwick Arts Centre proved to me that he's a damn good actor, and his breakdown at the end was real and sympathetic for a character we're not supposed to side with.

Patterson Joseph for the Doctor!

Oh, or Dylan Moran.

"This is my Tardis! Aw, feck! Now I'm going to have to save the world again, and then people will be thanking me, and then I'll have to run and hide, and while I'm away the daleks will invade again and the whole hideous cycle will go on and on and on! It's just not worth it! Here, here's a pen and some milk and some crayons... go save the world yourselves! Go on!"

With Bill Bailey as his assistant. Possibly.

Pete

"If you can keep your head whilst others... eurgh! Ack! I've spilt my ink! Ugh! Ink on my trousers! Agh! Ink on my shirt! My only hope! The window! Aieeeeee!" (Falls to death)
- Jonathan Nash

Ohhh! Dylan Moran! Dylan Moran!
He'd be fantastic! *dances little jig* - I lurve him!!! And obviously quirky enough to get away with it . . . .

Okay, I'm lost, I'm angry, and I'm
armed.

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 12:49 AM

SIMONWHO

There's a lot of names already being bandied about. Unfortunately as the last casting was so recent, it's pretty much a repeat performance of last time: Nighy, Grant, that guy from Casanova, etc, etc. However, this time around we can point to the 10m viewers that want to watch Doctor Who, might help us snare an even bigger fish.

Of course, I suspect this time they'll have an iron clad contract, insisting they return for two more seasons. Anyway, I hope they cast somebody at least as old as Eccleston because the faint sexual chemistry between Rose and the Doctor must never be realised, or even appear to be realisable. This is Will & Grace territory, it's never going to happen.

My ideal Doctor now? Bill Paterson. He's just got this air about him, he's the right age and he's got a bit of a name behind him, but not too much.

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 1:00 AM

ZOOT

Like the idea of Bill Paterson - good call!

Nighy or Grant would just make me sick . . .

Could always go for a small but steadfast name like Ciaran Hinds or such . . .

Okay, I'm lost, I'm angry, and I'm
armed.

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 4:16 AM

HAWK

I'm a little shocked and disappointed by such a momentous setback so early in the proceedings. Not even sure what I think of Eccy as the Doctor yet. He was ok in episode one; something to build upon over the series' course, perhaps?

Ah well.

David Tennant; interesting choice. From what I've seen of BBC3's Casanova he seems to have a healthy sense of fun.

I am however warming to the idea of Sean Pertwee (son of 3rd Doctor John) taking over. He's a charismatic actor with some hollywood credentials, and I think he could manage the mystery and mischief (his tolerance of the Bo' Selecta and Bear's Tail crew attests to a lack of pretension in my opinion).

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 4:28 AM

ZOOT

An excellent suggestion - I LOVED him in Cadfael!! And would have such a dynastic sense to it!

Okay, I'm lost, I'm angry, and I'm
armed.

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 4:40 AM

HAWK

Wow, really?

Typically I'm that poor fellow whose ideas are treated with polite silence. Ta, Zoot!

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 4:44 AM

ZOOT

Clearly you have been casting your pearls among swine . . .

If friends treat your ideas with polite silence - get new friends . . .

Though, having said that, my ideas are treated not so much with silence as with howls of derisive laughter . . . .

Okay, I'm lost, I'm angry, and I'm
armed.

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Thursday, March 31, 2005 7:03 PM

NEEDLESEYE

Quote:
Originally posted by Wren:

Eccleston quits Doctor Who role

NOOOOOOOOOOO!

Now I'm going to pout for several hours.

Keeper of Jayne's goggles. 8)

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Friday, April 1, 2005 3:42 AM

BERENTAUR

I also support the Dylan Moran suggestion. I actually think he would be brilliant. The fact that I'm a huge fan of his has nothing to do with it.

Bill Bailey is/was actually performing here and I was going to see him, but I had exams.... stupid school... who really needs education anyway?

Anyway... Dylan Moran, funny man and a very good actor as well.

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Saturday, April 2, 2005 1:17 PM

THATWEIRDGIRL

Simon, who? I need to brush up on my British actors. I was kinda thinking dear ol Eddie would be fun. Dr. Who in mascara!

www.thatweirdgirl.com
---
Can we not revel in our cyber-love?

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Saturday, April 2, 2005 10:24 PM

BRITCHICK

I really like the thougt of Eddie Izzard as Dr Who... but I wonder if casting him would again result in Dr Who being seen as a show which sends itself up - and therefore less of a success.

This new one has really interesting story lines, credible aliens, and there is excellent chemistry between Ecc and Rose.

For the tenth doctor I think the net should definitely be cast wider than previously thought. Christopher Eccleston has shown that a "serious" actor can take the part and do something good with it, without having to dress up in a silly cossie.

Ooh, just had a thought. We learnt in last night's episode that Galifrey was destroyed, and that our Doctor is the last surviving Timelord. Perhaps the bext series can show us what happened - and we can have McGann reprise his role as the eighth doctor? Or I suppose we could hold that thought until Doctor number twleve, the last one, finally expires.

I ike David Tennant (he was on the live broadcast of Quatermass last night), but I don't know if he has enough...originality... to follow Christopher Ecclestone.

We need someone with a wide range, someone intense.... someone of a similar age to Ecc, so the chemistry is stil there with Rose but it is unlikely anything will happen..

hmm. Thinking cap back on..

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Saturday, April 2, 2005 10:53 PM

PURPLEBELLY

Quote:
Originally posted by britchick:
... but I wonder if casting him would again result in Dr Who being seen as a show which sends itself up ...

I think that train has left the station

How about Dr Who without a Doctor? Next season has Billie Piper in the lead role after some sort of Time Lord make-over?

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Saturday, April 2, 2005 11:28 PM

BRITCHICK

Quote:
Originally posted by PurpleBelly:
How about Dr Who without a Doctor? Next season has Billie Piper in the lead role after some sort of Time Lord make-over?

Now that is a very interesting concept, and a possible way around the limit of twelve doctors. Maybe the final one is able to merge with another being, and then that starts the cycle of twelve off again?

And about the sendup thing? C'mno, this current show is doing it about right. Previous incarnations just made it into a parody of itself - and that's what I meant. Just wasn't bein' very clear 's all.

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Sunday, April 3, 2005 2:28 AM

ROBINHOOD

It appears the BBC are LESS THAN pleased with a certain Mr Eccleston. As was I, when I 1st heard of his departure, but now even more so.
Apparently, Eccleston "promised" to film another series of Dr Who, shooting for 7 months each year, for the next 2 to 3 years doing bits of theatre in between.
On receiving all of the rave reviews for his portrail of the Dr (barring the tacky tabloids) he went back on his word which was a "a gentlemans agreement". Bosses are now fuming.
They now accusing Eccleston of abusing the BBC and the series to further his own career. Something I happen to agree with.

Yep..........................that went well!

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Sunday, April 3, 2005 3:33 AM

SIMONWHO

Hmmm. I'm really disappointed that Eccleston has left the role. However, there's no doubt that this was a really hard shoot for 7 months. It was low budget, it was fast paced, there was a lot of night shoots, one of the stars got divorced in the middle of it (indeed her husband has blamed their split on the show's filming). This was a tough grind to do.

And doubtlessly, he would be offered the same money to do 6 weeks filming in America for another role like Gone in 60 Seconds. I don't think he really took the role just for one season to boost his career, casting directors are very wary of stars who drop out of big projects (again, look at how Caruso floundered post NYPD Blue).

I think we should just enjoy the season (and special) that we've got and appreciate it. Ratings have just come in for last night's episode, 7.3 million, another cracking result although down on last weeks show (though the competition was down by a similar percentage too, what with Popewatch going on).

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Sunday, April 3, 2005 11:55 AM

MISGUIDED BY VOICES

Quote:
Originally posted by robinhood:
It appears the BBC are LESS THAN pleased with a certain Mr Eccleston. As was I, when I 1st heard of his departure, but now even more so.
Apparently, Eccleston "promised" to film another series of Dr Who, shooting for 7 months each year, for the next 2 to 3 years doing bits of theatre in between.
On receiving all of the rave reviews for his portrail of the Dr (barring the tacky tabloids) he went back on his word which was a "a gentlemans agreement". Bosses are now fuming.
They now accusing Eccleston of abusing the BBC and the series to further his own career. Something I happen to agree with.

The other version of this story being that he actually told them before the show aired, when it could still have tanked, because allegedly there are multiple endings to the last episode already filmed.

I've no idea which, if any, is true - given that these same "sources" gave the wrong Doctor casting the same day/day before the announcement, I'm not inclined to believe either...

"I threw up on your bed"

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Monday, April 4, 2005 8:51 PM

PURPLEBELLY

The BBC has issued a clarification ...

Quote:
the BBC has admitted it did not consult him about that statement and also broke its agreement not to reveal he planned to film just one series.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4410943.stm

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Tuesday, April 5, 2005 12:38 AM

SIMONWHO

Gradually more details are leaking out. What seems clear is that a) Eccleston said in January he'd only be doing one series; b) the BBC agreed to keep this secret until the show had finished airing; c) in response to neutral comments about Eccleston returning, the press pushed the BBC press office for a response and they caved; d) according to RTD, the early regeneration was planned quite a bit in advance.

Bit of a mess all round really. But like I said, there's another series coming. Perhaps this will fix a lot of the things 'wrong' with the current series (the tacky logo, the stupid big headliner names, get it filmed on HD) and maybe secure the show's sale to the United States.

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