h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

So then, James Nesbitt as the Doctor under Stephen Moffatt's executive production.

Stephen Moffatt almost seems to be Brown to RTD's Blair, but Nesbitt was a new one on me.

Many say he could be a bit too Tennant but I reckon he could bring quite a lot more darkness to the role, and that with Moffatt in charge there could be a lot more darkness for him to play with. Think Davison - Colin Baker but without the budgetary constraints and bored production team.

Hmmm...

The Nesbitt thing I'm going to take with a pinch of salt because while the tabloids do get things right about Who, when they're wrong they are reeeeeaaaaaally wrong (Bill Nighy IS the Doctor!)

However, Stephen Moffat taking over as executive producer... I've speculated about this possibility myself and it would be like getting loads of big parcels at Christmas and finding that each one contained a well-built and becorsetted lady who was willing to meet my every whim... well maybe not *quite* like that, but still pretty damn good!

It's all just speculation (Sun speculation at that!).

On The Guardian blog (a Guardian blog about a Sun story. What on Earth is going on?) a lot of people have suggested black or asian ators, such as Adrian Lester or Jimi Mistry. I think both could do it well but probably have bigger fish to fry.

Speaking of fry: Stephen Fry as The Master has popped up a lot.

I love Moffatt's episodes but worry that his power would be diluted as executive producer.

Ooh, don't see Nesbitt as The Doctor at all

Moffat's stories have been my favourite in each series but I agree with you in wondering how this new role would affect that.

Adrian Lester Actually, Jimi too

Shall I restart the 'shouldn't there be a female Doc' debate?! Hmm. What about Rhona Cameron? Or Julie Walters. There's a couple of left-fielders for you.

Sorry to spoil the spoilers, but this is absolute nonsense. Steven Moffat himself has posted to Outpost Gallifrey to completely flatly deny the James Nesbitt story.

Awww, shame. I can totally see James Nesbitt as the Doctor! I always loved him, and after seeing his Jekyll the guy is a genius! I would hate to lose DT, but Nesbitt would be a newbie that I could handle.

Nonsense? From The Sun? I'm appalled.

Lennie James has expressed an interest in the role. (http://blogtalkradio.com/hostpage.aspx?show_id=30270 about 100 minutes into the podcast) Amongst other things, he wrote Storm Damage http://www.screenonline.org.uk/tv/id/441333/index.html and is currently in Jericho, where he plays Robert Hawkins. Here is his Jericho Wiki entry: http://jerichowiki.cbs.com/page/Lennie+James?t=anon, and here is a picture http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z174/rubberpoultry/lennie_James_11th_Dr.jpg

Is Tennant actually leaving?

Lennie James was also in 'The Satan Pit'.

And considering the papers have been rumouring about Tennant leaving since he was actually cast, I'm not paying any attention until there's a proper press release.

So much utter nonsense is being written about the show right now - the famous silly season has its targets set on 'Doctor Who'.

Was he? I didn't see his name in the cast list:

He was the main guest star. Have a look on the Doctor Who site.

I still don't see his name. This is the cast list that I have:

* The Doctor — David Tennant
* Rose Tyler — Billie Piper
* Mr. Jefferson — Danny Webb
* Zachary Cross Flane — Shaun Parkes
* Ida Scott — Claire Rushbrook
* Toby Zed — Will Thorp
* Danny Bartock — Ronny Jhutti
* The Ood — Paul Kasey
* The Voice of the Beast — Gabriel Woolf
* The Voice of the Ood — Silas Carson

no, Lennie James


and there is no mention of Lennie James being in Doctor Who at IMDB http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0416694/

Who else is gonna be there?

Eek - Shaun Parkes... not Lennie James.

Kicking myself. Even more so because I've just realised we were both guests on the same TV show - Pure 24. Different editions, but consecutive weeks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6976178.stm

Series 5 not till 2010 apparently. 3 specials in 2009. No comment on Tennant being in Series 5

"Its journey over the past three series has been one of the most ambitious and exciting that we have had, and I'm delighted to be able to confirm not only three exciting specials for 2009, but a fifth series in 2010. "

Translation: Look, you've had it good up till now, and we will be back. Honest.

"Menna Richards, controller of BBC Wales, said: "This announcement is marvellous news for all involved, and more importantly for the programme's amazing fan base and audience." "
No, really, it is marvelous news. Forget the fact we are taking a break and you'll only get 3 specials, it really is fantastic news for all you fans to be getting less output from us. No really, please don't get uppity.

Hmmm, mark me suspicious. I can see a very cynical reason for this.

otoh if the specials are longer and *really* good I might be able to deal with it. Possibly. I wonder what will have happened to torchwood by 2010?

Spooks didn't get any specials when it went on an 18-month break between series two and three. When a show like this, which takes almost an entire year to make, goes for three years, it can't go on forever without a brief break. I am absolutely baffled that anyone could see this as in any way bad news. It means the show can continue, it's been given an absolute guarantee of three years more *at least*, which is more than it ever, ever had in the original run (it was only ever recommissioned year by year) and David Tennant isn't leaving next year.

I seriously think that after 15 years of moaning, some fans don't know how to stop. We've never had it so good.

I agree - the rumours of DT doing Hamlet with the RSC have been rumbling for a while, so I was expecting something along these lines, because I suspect he doesn't yet want to relinquish the role. So if this means we get more of his Doctor, I'm personally very happy about it. Obviously I'd prefer 26 episodes a year, but since the likeliest alternative would probably have been a regeneration at the end of S4, this is a much better idea. And it means that the series' future is guaranteed for at least the next three years - which has probably never been the case before.

Now if we can just persuade them to double the episode count of Sarah Jane Adventures to compensate...

Smij -'I am absolutely baffled that anyone could see this as in any way bad news.'

It's bad news because it means a year without a full series of Doctor Who. But you're right, it's good news for other reasons. I hope DT sticks around for another series but, as has been said elsewhere, he's going to knock it on the head at some point, but it would be odd to change the schedule to accommodate his RSC bit if he was going to bail soon anyway.

With any luck the three specials will be mind blowing.* I found the S3 finale very disappointing, largely because the two previous episodes had been so brilliant**, and would love to see something deeper and darker. The specials would be the perfect place to do it.***


*Gallifrey!
**Gallifrey!
***Gallifrey!

I do think the fact that they can't just do a season every year is disappoiinting, but only in so far as it breaks momentum, but to be honest, after four years of the show dominating the schedules, I'd far sooner they took a step back than risk a backlash. At the moment, the public is on our side and happy to award the show more awards than ever. Now, this isn't part of the cnsideration, I'm sure - it's down to the relentless schedule of production. But taking a slight step back will be great for the, er, 'brand'.

The biggest problem is the fans, who often see any change as catastrophic. This is a show that could have stayed dead for another 15 years, but the right elements and the right talent came together to make something impossible - a family drama for Saturday nights that's critically acclaimed and the most popular thing on TV. I was amazed when the fourth series was announced because I thought they'd have to have a break at some point (and in fact the appointment of the wonderful Susie Liggett as producer for a few episodes this year and a few next year was made to give Phil Collinson a break. If she hadn't materialised, I'm not sure what they'd have done (and by some miracle, the two episodes she produced were two of the best ever - Human Nature and Family of Blood).

Maybe it's because I was there in 1985, when we knew that the 'hiatus' was just a cancellation that was postponed, in the same way that the non-production in 1990 just felt like a gentle way to kill the show without actually telling anyone and (for me) the McGann movie felt like a non-starter about 40 minutes in. But this isn't the same thing at all. This time, they're taking a slight break to make sure it can continue. It's either this or a big 18-month gap.

And you know how fans flinch at the concept of the words '18' and 'month' in the same sentence...