Radio Times

Crikey. A Dalek finally shoots the Doctor after 40 years of trying - and the Doctor Who production team keeps secrets better than the MoD does.

It must be fantastic being them tonight: the whole country caught off guard, no-one knowing this would happen. Even news organisations weren't ready. Nobody was ready, and a furious, just furious rush begins right now to find out who the new Doctor is.

It looks as if David Tennant has lied to us all when repeatedly saying he's doing the specials next year - unless there's something even weirder going on - but good on him. As great as Christopher Eccleston was as the Ninth Doctor, we knew he was leaving months before his final episode aired and that gigantic shock was wasted.

We got it tonight. Perhaps you can only see this once you know Tennant was to regenerate at the end, but all the signs were there: the coming together over every aspect of his period as the Doctor. Torchwood, Sarah Jane, Martha, Rose, Harriet Jones (former Prime Minister, in case you didn't know), and the brilliant resurrection of Davros and the Daleks.

You don't always get the word brilliant in sentences that also contain "Davros", unless those sentences pivot on a great big "not". But after one fabulous story, Genesis of the Daleks in 1975, we've had some weak, some bad, some terrible tales about him. And they were erased by his return tonight.

Plus "Exterminate". You expected something more to that incoming transmission and because we didn't get it, because we got just "Exterminate", that cry had more punch to it than we have ever seen in Doctor Who.

There's also never been such a good crossover between series: Doctor Who, Torchwood, Sarah Jane Adventures. Mr Smith felt a little out of place but otherwise they meshed perfectly.

But if everything meshed perfectly, if it was all brilliant and it all felt like it had to culminate in regeneration, there's still that eerie Dalek Caan reference to the Doctor as "the threefold man". There's no possibility that the Doctor will somehow unregenerate, we have definitely got the Eleventh Doctor now - if it was undone, the show would struggle when it was really time to regenerate in the future - but you want to hang on to hope.

For David Tennant really was the best Doctor of them all, of the whole 40-odd years, and he's an enormous loss.

He didn't regenerate!!! But he will!! D=

YOU WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE DON'T REGENERATE!!!!

If the docter DOES regenerate, it would explain why prof. River Song, said "you're so young!", in 'silence in the library'

This is a good theory... We've already had one shocker ,with the Doctor regenerating, so why not have a bigger shock by reversing the regeneration? The Doctor's hand is sat a few yards from him, with David Tennant Doctor DNA in it, so connect it to the Doctor and his regeneration is halted by the incoming DNA, and stops before David Tennant can regenerate into another man, thus leaving him free to meet Professor River Song, film the Christmas special, etc.

I really really REALLY hope that David Tennant doesnt leave! I would be devastated if he did! Last weeks episode was ... well I was left screaming at the TV for about an hour, I was so shocked. Kudos to the BBC for not giving anything away but seriously, I almost had a heart attack when the Doctor started regenerating!

About River Song - she doesnt come till AGES after - remember what she was saying about the Doctor's eyes being so young - she sees him in a completely different form ages away from the present series. At least thats how I take it.

I really hope David Tennant stays, hes lovely and I love him to bits! He is THE best Doctor ever. Thats all there is to it!

"the three-fold man is coming..."

The doctor is hit in one of his hearts by the dalek. The doctor then splits into two human-like entities each with one heart. He then reforms into a time-lord at the end.

human with 1 heart + human with 1 heart + 1 timelord with 2 hearts = the three-fold man.

could the death of a faithful companion be meant to apply to Dalek Caan - is he not Davros's faithful companion?

Could the pictures of David Tennant shooting the Xmas special be all a ruse? just to put the media off the scent!

Could these episodes just be a continuation of Turn Left - and Donna still has the time beetle on her back - and all in good Dallas tradition it was all just a dream!

In turn left they already killed the Dr once why not do it again! Only for that alternate universe to be unravelled by Donna - hence her loss and the loss yet to come.

Throughout this series there has been an underlying reference to songs - the Ood song and River Song.

As well as alternate realities, duplicates and transformations.

Don't you love the way they plan ahead. I wonder just how far back they decided that Donna Noble (Noble Woman) would sacrifice herself for he Doctor not once but twice making her easily his most faithful companion. Perhaps her end was actually the starting point for the character and hence the name. Time is a river. The Doctor's Song has already found an ending. Oud have believed it.

Oh My GOD !!!

What An Episode I Agree With Emma Here :D:D

And what About River Song ?? Oh Theres So Many Mysteries,, I Have Lots Of Thpughts In My Head But dont no how to get them in words so this may not make sense ..

They are all in a time paradox it is all one second faster so .. none of it could have happened !! and there must be some way of keeping david tennant in the series, if he was to leave it would be more of a dramatic exit than just being shot down by a dalek !! BUT,, maybe its something to do with his severed hand ...

And think of this ...... how will riversong recognise him in the future if he changes his physical apperance ? WHO IS SHE ANYWAY ?? She can just get lost cause rose is the one and only for the doctor !! but supposedly she is getting killed of just like dalek caan said,, either that or its is donna that is the most faithful companion and she will get klilled off cause of all this shadow proclamation worker telling here THERES SOMETHING ON HER BACK!! And also the loss thats yet to come .. theres all so much more i could say about donna and how she is toally connected to the doctor :the huon particles, TURN LEFT I just dont know what to say ...

Except: David Tennant No.1 Doc Of All Time And He Isnt Leaving Cause Rumours Have It He Is Doing More Episodes AND Rose Tyler No.1 Companion And Love Of The Doctors Cursed Life !!

AND I CANT WAIT TILL SATURDAYS JOURNEYS END !!

Oh my god, i have been reading all the below comments you people have a lot of GREAT ideas about what is going to happen next week and i will fell very stupid saying waht im about to say because i am obviously not as imaginitive as all of yous !!

Well, whoever said that the doctor will regenerate into himself (David Tennant) then i totally agree and i really hope he does! david tennant is the best doctor i have ever seen and there are many rumours that he is staying but who knows its maybe all lies!

and when dalek caan said "the most faithful companion will die" or something along those lines,, then thats got to be rose doesnt it ? but OH NO!! all we want is for rose and the doctor to live happily ever after but billie piper is pregnant in real life so really, this cant go on! martha should get killed off shes getting a bit too big headed for my liking. but what about sarah jane? oh dear oh dear ..... i just dont know ..... But did anyone see the bit when the doctor and donna were at the shadow proclamation and one of the women says to donna "Theres something on your back" and then they said im sorry for your loss but more for the loss thats yet to come" or something like that. Well whats all that about??? Maybe Donna will die? Oh, who knows lets just wait till Saturday..

I CANT WAIT

Gwen wasn't in this episode nearly enough, she should be a much more main character. it was still the best episode for a while though, with some visible aliens!!!

here's what should happen...

Rose: she is the most faithful companion, but she can't die because Billie Piper is too amazing, so dalek caan can just get lost!

Martha: she should die if anyone does, she's getting way too full of herself.

Gwen: she will have a big part next week coz she's so cool but Rhys will have to save her to get her back for calling him a big idiot.

The doctor: he is staying as david tennant, but what will happen when he's had 13 regenerations. it's to good for him to just die. & who's ginger who could take over from him?

Sarah Jane: will be saved from the daleks by k9.

Mickey & Jackie: will be in it coz they were in confidential at the read-through.

but what the hell was eve myles' laugh about in confidential???

"...The Doctor's faithful companion..."

Seems a bit obvious to me that it would be one of his friends...

But what about the TARDIS? Is that not the Doctor's most faithful since it's been with him for so long?

I would like to add that tennant has been great in the role although I have o9nly been watching it since christopher eccleston took over.

I think the 'regeneration' was a red herring although it was a brilliant cliffhanger to the the episode. Tennant is doing achristmas special as well as three special next year, And has hinted he would another series if offered.

now about this here 'Darkness a-coming'. How many planets was it that disappeared - 25? Seems to me old Gramps saw quite a few wink out in one small patch of space when there is an infinate amount of space to his left right and behind, let alone those that had been 'lost' in an earlier time (viz - the pyrovile's planet). Somehow the figures don't add up. I guess the diappearing stars makes for effect, but does no credit to the continuity of the story or to those watching - daft as the yarn may be! Mind you the whole thing was so fast paced, I lost the plot years ago! And of course being one second out of true time means the whole shebang can be righted with a click of the thumbs and planet Earth none the wiser - deja-vu methinks.

Has anyone thought that when donna turned left for the second time in her parallel universe that she was in fact turning left for a different reason - because of an accident her other self caused rather than because of an argument with her mother; and, the left turn was timed to the minute, not to the second so, she could ahve been a second out and still be turning left. Oh god I've confused myself now. I'm off.

they focused on his hand alotand the doctors severed hand is in the tardis! and DT has said he has no intention of leaving doctor who yet, he jus wants a break so he can do hamlet on stage wich is why they are only doing four specials next year

Micky & Jake to save sarah-jane, Doctor to split into 3, Jenny back, Rose to die,then donna returns doctor back to himself using hand, Doctor upset about rose, but what about Tourchwoods team?

o my god...was working sat nite, didnt get to see it till sunday. bloody hell ,best of the season ,thought it worked really well ,(got to love the daleks !! )If david is going out of it, iam heart broken ,he really is the best doctor weve had , and before him Tom Baker was my doctor

it may sound strange, but the relevance of donna hearing the drums is something.. and that ring the masters wife picked up at the end of last series?

but i certainly agree that both the hand and the one second difference was made very clear throughout the episode. as for the faithful companion, well, lets think about it, in the episode "turn left" the doctor died without donna. and throughout the series, it has been made very clear that donna's ending is a bad one, also i think the bug thing was relevant at the shadow prok. but who knows? we will have to wait till 6:40 on Saturday... but for one thing, im sure david t will stay, but if he doesn't, he was brilliant.

david tennent cant go!!, he is the best doctor ever, nooooo

just seen the confidential...during the first read-through session (watch after 31 min), you can clearly see DT, Mickey and Rose's mum. We have not seen them in ep12, why would they sit in a rehearsal if they had no part. I think (more hoping!) DT still has the part

Why is everyone forgetting that his "daughter" regenerated into her former self?!

I have to agree with David's_new_companion in that I thought Rose said, "I missed you".

In reference to the whole regeneration thing, I think something's going to happen to the Doc mid-regeneration. I think we're going to see what happens if a regeneration is interrupted or stopped half-way through and I don't think it'll be pretty. Then they can use the DNA from his severed hand to get him back to normal... or something. :)

Regarding the Doctor...

1: the Doctor's hand is present, a hand cut off while still in the last stages of regeneration

2: his clone daughter did not change appearance when she revived

3: Romana was able to select her appearance

4: the Time Lords were able to select the Doctor's appearance

5: Dalek Caan describes the Doctor as 'the threefold man'

Conclusion? The proximity of the hand affects the regeneration progress thus facilitating the retention of the Doctor's present appearance. Dalek Caan will now have seen three separate incarnations of the Doctor even though two would look the same.

Regarding Donna...

1: someone or something's journey ends during Journey's End

2: a future loss has been predicted for Donna by someone working at the Shadow Proclamation

3: Dalek Caan predicts everlasting death for the most faithful companion

4: during Journey's End, Donna runs into an empty and burning TARDIS as it apparently hurtles down the eye of the Crucible

5: Davros is intent on the destruction of reality during Journey's End

6: the Doctor has noted that Donna is prone to ending up in parallel realities

7: Donna gives off strange readings all her own which have been registered by UNIT

8: the Doctor notices that Donna or folk connected with her keep bumping into him

9: the TARDIS very often decides where the Doctor ends up

11: Donna was dosed with Huon particles which once attracted her to the TARDIS and the TARDIS to her

Conclusion? The Huon particles have effect Doctor in a particular way. Chased by the Daleks, Donna will save the day in conjunction with the TARDIS (as per Rose) by destroying the Crucible but will pass into eternity as a result. The impact of her death is lessened for younger viewers by the comforting presence of Rose, Martha and Jack and the fact that her character was often disagreeable.

All the dialogue is rushed after the Doctor gets zapped by the Dalek but what Rose actually says is: "I'm here, it missed".

You're thinking that it didn't but at the start of that speech, deliberately quite jumbled and emotional, she's overcome that she's back and she's also trying to jolly the Doctor along: partly to convince him everything will be all right, more to convince herself it will too. They both then try being lighthearted for a second (the Doctor saying "Long time no see") before they drop the pretence.

DT is THE BEST ad nd I DO NOT and can not believe that he will go. Lots of great speculation here though - I'm going to watch the episode all over again just to pick up on all the bits you mentioned.

ah well didn't get to see the SJA's - on too early for me, so won't have got any of those X-refs. Shame!

Where was K9, do you think he will be in the last one? After all, didn't the Doctor revamp him before giving him back to Sarah Jane?

Reply to David's new companion: No, I'm pretty certain Rose's mumbled line was "It missed."

And surely the relevance of the Time Beetle on Donna's back in Turn Left will also be explained this Saturday coming. "One of the Trickster's brigade" was the Doctor's passing explanation - a reference to a nasty time-bender seen in The Sarah Jane Adventures. No doubt all will become clear.

AND another thing... I think that Rose will be the one to sacrifice herself and throw herself into his arms, she is the companion that Caan refers to surely!? my other theory (which has been mentioned here already) is the time beetle on Donna's back which the woman at the Shadow Proclamation tells her about.

But where could she "turn left" and save him (again!!)? I still think it will be Rose to go though... unrequited love and stuff. it will be all the more painful for the Doctor if she kills herself for him. Romeo and Juliet kinda thinking!!

Patrick Mulkern-RT - i think Rose says "i missed you" not "it missed".

They've been terribly clever with red herrings so anything is possible, but I believe David is such a thoroughly decent chap, he wouldn't lie in interviews - he will still be the Doctor. But there will be some awful cliffhanger ending which we'll have to suffer not knowing the outcome until Xmas.Aaaaagh!Don't ya just love it?

Reply to Angie baby: If Russell Davies doesn't give Rose a happy ending, I'll eat my scarf.

What are you talking about... Tom Baker the best... David Tennant the best? Jon Pertwee was THE Doctor. OK?!

Back on topic: Tennant regenerating. I could tell you what I think/know/can guess but then someone might exterminate me! A few things strike me...

Yes, the Doctor was seen to be shot by a Dalek for the first time, but it clearly and importantly it was a glancing blow with only one side of his body irradiated. Billie Piper mumbled a bit of dialogue while comforting the fallen Time Lord "It missed". We later saw him begin to regenerate but not go all the way.

Last year Russell T Davies got some flak for reducing Tennant to an old crock - then worse a shrivelled goblin - and as a result giving him little involvement in the final episode. I would be very surprised if the balance isn't cunningly addressed in this year's part 13.

And what about the hand in the jar? Surely its preservation and prominence this far are significant...

If DT is leaving,there will be millions of viewers including myself who will be absolutely devastated. Not just because he is the best Doctor Who we have ever seen but because he would have been cruelly denied the chance of re uniting with the one human companion that he has ever truly loved, namely Rose. It was a bitter sweet moment as they ran to embrace when he was hit by the dalek and they were denied their longed for moment of re union. Call me a stupid romantic but if DT regenerates into some old guy, how will that leave Rose feeling????? Wouldn't fancy snuggling up to the likes of James Nesbitt who is rumoured to be the next DR!!!!

I think the fact that the Daleks have positioned Earth and the other stolen planets inside a time anomaly, one second into the future, will be the way around the question: Tennant will probably just regenerate into Tennant! The shock ending of "Stolen Earth" certainly left me speechless, but thinking about it, I can't see how they could really introduce a new Doctor - they would have had to film a whole episode with him, and surely that would have got out? It does make me wonder if those photos of david Morrissey looking all Doctor like from the Xmas special weren't a deliberate leak, to create speculation for just this sort of moment!

I should say that Tennat's "Hamlet" commitments in fact have nothing to do with the year's hiatus - according to Davies, this was always planned, to give the series a rest (and after a rather tired fourth season, which has only picked up at the end) I would tend to agree that a rest is what is needed - and, as good as Tennant has been, maybe a new Doctor would be welcome as well, as he seems also to have become a bit tired during this latest series. We don't want a situation as we had with Tom baker, where he just went on and on with the series, even after he had long grown bored with it!

Isn't it fantastic that 2 Scots are making the news this week? David Tennant and Andy Murray!

At the risk of being exterminated by a passing Dalek, I too must confess, like many other of your contributors, that Tom Baker was THE Dr Who for me, until Mr Tennant cropped up. Sad that I am, I even went to Blackpool to see Tom Baker switch on the Lights....Isn't David Tennant contracted to do the Specials next year though? I expect some whiz kid at RT will know the answer to this.

Like the majority of contributors above, I also smell a rat regarding David Tennant's regeneration/departure. And this is before reading here just now about the filming of the Christmas special. Considering the nature of all the Doctors and the history of their exits - usually moments of self sacrifice for a companion, the earth or universe - getting shot by a Dalek in the street just doesn't cut it. It's not a strong enough ending for the character of the tenth Doctor or Tennant as an actor. We know RTD/the production team would come up with something better than that. And would even RT really be excluded from running a cover story on the new Doctor? Would they really be out of the loop and go with a feature on Davros and monsters in the new issue if Tennant had gone? But I do agree the production team are excellent at keeping secrets. This makes watching the show a unique joy in this age of spoilers and mass media coverage of drama series' storylines. You can't walk into an newsagents without the covers of listing magazines proclaiming the latest plots of your favourite soaps. Annoying, isn't it.

Who knew the Daleks were going to be inside the sphere at the end of episode 12 in Series 2? Who knew Martha,(my favourite companion of recent years), would be in episode 6 as well as 4 and 5 of the current series? I didn't and these moments only added to my viewing pleasure. It's great that there's so much to speculate about.

Looking at the other cliffhangers in The Stolen Earth, who's going to save Sarah-Jane. It would be great if K9 rose up from the back of her car and blasted the Daleks to oblivion. But my money's on Martha. She can't stay hole up at home with her Mum!

David Tennant is an excellent actor and fine Doctor but I also cannot agree that he's better than the definitive Doctor, Mr Tom Baker.

All right hands up all those caught out by the ending? talk about pulling an astounding rabbit out of the hat and i can't wait till next saturday to see what further suprises Russel has in store for us and no i wouldn't bet against David Tennant still being the Doctor at the end of the episode

i noticed they had the drs hand in a jar in the tardis in this episode. first time its been seen since last series. does that regenerate too.

I am glad he's leaving he's as rubbish as sylvester Mc Coy as Doctor Who bye bye to mr bland with no subtance or gravitas!!

Weeolga raises a good point... because she instantly recognises him, shes says "hello sweetie" before the Doctor even introduces himself.

If the Doctor is changing actors again, i will be outraged. David Tennant was the most entertaining Doctor of them all. His excitement of everything in Doctor Who keep me wanting to watch every second.

Im praying for a mericle thats its not regeneration.

Keep David Tennant!!!

I think that the Doctor just slipped in the shower and the whole of this is just a dream that he is about to wake up from

anyone who seriously believes that Tennant "was the best Doctor of them all" as opposed to Tom Baker has clearly taken leave of their senses.

Tom Baker was great at the time but he did hijack the role by the end. I think Tennant easily surpasses him as the best Doctor

IN the episode they stated that the Earth was in a 1 second time delay from reality... so surely anything that happens in that reality, including people being exterminated and the Doctor regenerating, will be undone should the world be restored to where it should be?

I think DT is staying. That or they leaked Davros out to cover the bigger spoiler of the regen...

I've been convinced from the start that this episode was somehow set in a paradox universe, that seemed as though that was all last weeks episode was set up to do..

Can't wait to see how they blag it out, but if they end up in that fortune tellers tent again.. won't be happy ;P

It's alright, he's not going anywhere, and that hand has something to do with it...

I had to have this pointed out to me ... as the Doctor stands up to "start regenerating" what he actually says to Rose is "I am regenerated". Curious?

tennants not going anywhere-hes filmed the xmas special and will be back to film the 2009 specials next year(watch out for the hand on saturday-they have shown it a few times over the series)

Did anyone notice the part in this weeks episode where they were at the intergalactic police rhino thingys space station place. There was an interesting line there where one of the aliens said to Donna that there's something on her back!! A reference to the previous episode and her ability to change one of her decisions to affect the timeline. My thoughts are that she either still has the creature or at least some of its dna (or sumthing stupid like that) and go's back in time to change something. That means this regeneration is real, the other cast members from other shows do die....but then all is reversed and none of that actually happens (very quantum leap!...what a great programme). Anyone think I am right? or just a bit cookaloo? Cheers.

Me again. Of course Donna must be the answer. As I mentioned before, she had access to River Songs diary?

Me again. Of course Donna must be the answer. As I mentioned before, she had access to River Songs diary?

Well I retract my words re. R T-D giving the game away. He may have thrown us off the scent in order to keep this one in the dark, but like you all say, DT ain't going anywhere except to perhaps return as the 11th Doc unchanged or, as has also been pointed out this is a parallel Doctor - or suffant loike that. Regarding River Song - she doesn't necessarily have to be a tv companion so long as a 'gap' is written in, in which she can slot (even as a novelised companion). After all, how do we know he didn't have other companions before/after Runaway Bride and Voyage of the Damned - hey? No - Donna is going to rush into his regenerating arms, become absorbed into the regen process and in the confusion the nano-cells (or whatever they are) will rewrite her DNA and she will become a Timelord Lady and the Doctor will survive the Daleks glancing blast. After all, it WAS ONLY A FLESH WOUND wasn't it? Dalek targets have always down a-glowing, but not so the Doc - indeedy. Ah well nothing like a good bit of speculatin'!

I totally agree. There is definitely something weird going on...and I think the Doctor's hand in the jar might have something to do with it.

There was a shot of the hand on the floor next to the TARDIS console at the beginning. And if you look at the final shot of DT 'regenerating' and the others standing there, the hand is still there.

I may be completely wrong tho!

If Tony Blair could mention Deirdre's incarceration in prison on Coronation Street, might Gordon Brown express the Nation's feelings about Dr Who.....

I was just thinking regarding the Doctors Daughter.....she regenerated and she didnt change physically....and she was from the 10th Doctors own genes! I sooo hope DT stays or I will be gutted

On a lighter note...can you imagine the drain on the Nation's resources next Saturday at the end of the programme when maybe 10 million people put the kettle on and then dash to the loo!

On Saturday night I was convinced it was a real regeneration, not just because we saw it begin but because the whole story - even the whole series - pointed toward it. But it's occurred to me that David Tennant didn't really get an exit speech the way Christopher Eccleston did.

And that one thing makes me suspicious that the regeneration will at the very least be an unusual one.

I think their is "something weirder going on", and David Tennant will still be in place as the best Doctor come the end of next weeks episode. But then I could be totally wrong and we'll have a new Doctor on Saturday!

'There's no possibility that the Doctor will somehow unregenerate, we have definitely got the Eleventh Doctor now - if it was undone, the show would struggle when it was really time to regenerate in the future - but you want to hang on to hope. '

I really think you underestimate the possibilities available the in Universe of Who. I don't think Mr Tennant is finished yet.

The more I think about it, the more I think David Tennant is not going anywhere just yet. The Xmas 2008 special has already been shot (pix all over the internet), plus it would be silly for the BBC to try and establish a new actor with the three 2009 specials, which will be very distant in time from one another (I guess one at Easter, one in summer and the last one at Xmas 2009). Nothing has been confirmed for 2010 so far. Even the BBC don't think that far ahead, although I read somewhere that the BBC are eager for David Tennant to stay for the 2010 series. The reason there's only three specials in 2009 rather than a whole series is precisely to give the actor some time off to pursue other projects, i.e. Hamlet. Also, what about River Song? She might be the next companion as we know they'll meet in the future. Although, we know how she ends up, which is a bit of a damper, unless he finds a way of saving her, like re-writing the time line or something. Furthermore, mad Dalek Caan mentions the Threefold Man and two former Doctors are seen on Doctor Who Confidential (Peter Davison and Silvester McCoy, the latter wearing his Doctor Who outfit). Could they all be appearing as the Threefold Man? As much as I like speculating, maybe we should all give it a rest, remaining as spoiler-free as possible, and enjoy the last episode the more for it.

I really don't think we've lost the Tenth Doctor just yet. I think something's going to happen mid-regeneration... or something... I don't know. OK, I haven't quite figured out how, but I would be more than surprised if this is the last we see of Tennant, and thank the (Time) Lord for that! :D

I agree with the above entirely - however, I don't for a second believe that this really is the end for Mr. T (Tennant) --- I am sure the answer lies in what Cann meant with the "threefold" man - not only will we discover next week what happens to the Doctor, but also Donna's fate will be revealed - what were those mysterious heartbeats or were they drumbeats ? Who is the most faithful companion that is destined to die ? I can't wait to find out ...

I think I disagree about two things.

I've watched Doctor Who from the beginning, albeit I was very young in the Hartnell days, but for me Tom Baker in his first 3 seasons still holds the crown for best Doctor.

As to whether the apparent regeneration in this case is irreversible: between the obvious camera focus on the Doctor's old hand in the jar, the emphasis last week on Donna's pivotal nature and ability to write/rewrite history, and the events taking place in a pocket universe out of phase qith the main one by a second, I'm not so sure that the regeneration will be irreveraible, or that Tennant's tenure has finished.

Someone's gonna be red faced next week...

The best Doctor Who episode I have ever seen. Period.

David Tennent may or may not be gone yet. Fact is I'm uncertain as to what is going on with this whole regeneration thing. I could point out why I believe Tennent will still be here this time next week, but it would mean giving up some huge spoilers I know of from seeing them shoot some of the final scenes for "Journeys End".

You don't really belive he's leaving, do you? If that were the case surely it would have been at the end of next weeks episode with proper farewells from everyone? Besides he's already been scene filming this years Xmas special. :

I agree. How could the Doctor regenerate as Tennant? But I can't get a photo which I saw in the London Lite or thelondonpaper out of my mind: it was David (as the Doctor) looking at a coffin in a funeral procession for the Christmas Special.

Can't wait 'till next Saturday!

I do not believe DT is leaving. There is bound to be a twist in this one. I always look out for things that you can see in the plot that will be relevant later on. Basically, why show or say something in a plot that has no bearing on the storyline, it is a waste of time or money in props.

DT hand in the jar was shown very clearly at the start of the programme when DT returned to the TARDIS. I believe this will have some part to play, especially as it was shown in Torchwood and the Doctor came to collect it. Will Capt Jack have a part to play?

Watch this space.

David you'll devastate my mum if you leave, so i'd advice you not too.

If i remember correctly- the Erie white haired woman of the shadow proc said that Donna had something on her back- with the time beetle sound as well- does this mean that again this episodes events could all be undone and tenant stays as the doctor? I hope not but its just a gut feeling that he is not going...

Absolutely agree. But just one thing. Davros is a superb villain, brilliant, barking mad, revolting to look at. But he made one gigantic error. He made Sarah Jane cry, and for that he cannot be forgiven.

Totally agree - it was absolutely brilliant. We can't wait to see next weeks episode - just hope the new doctor is someone we like.

We all have our personal favourites, but anyone who seriously believes that Tennant "was the best Doctor of them all" as opposed to Tom Baker has clearly taken leave of their senses.

You're wrong! He doesn't regenerate, but somehow comes back as himself. We all know David Tennant is filming for the Christmas special; and what about his severed arm? It's been around for 2 entire series and we saw it tonight; I'm betting it interferes with the regeneration somehow. Or maybe I'm hoping? No one wants DT to leave.

Shock Horror.

For me, Doctor Who (this new series) has been a disapointment. Don't get me wrong - David Tennant is a fantastic Doctor Who and all credit to him. But what took a slice of the cake for me was the horrificly bad giant bumble bee episode. And guess what? whats taken the remaining three quarters of that cake is David Tennants Dismissal. I'm sad to see him leave, he's given Doctor Who a fantastic persona and brought carisma to a character to which Chris Eccleston failed to do.

The return of Davros is a fantastic spin, as with Dalek Khan and the Supreme Darlek.

How will this next episode fair in the critics? who knows, but long live David Tennant aye? claps all around.

In Victor Meldrew's words, I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

My bet: not a regeneration. Tennant has been filming the Christmas special, for starters. Second: if the end *was* a regeneration then, by the same logic, we've just had Gwen, Ianto and Sarah Jane wiped out --- likely? Nada. Medusa Cascade off by 1 second = weirdy timey-wimey stuff and Tennant back week ...

If the Doctor is regenerating and another actor will take over, how would his future wife/girlfriend River Song have recognised him from the future and then back to the past?