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Russell T Davies champions potential new Doctor

Russell T Davies champions potential new Doctor
  • Posted at 3:08pm
  • 17 September 2008
  • by PaulJones-RT
  • 22 comments

Does this look like the face of a Time Lord to you? Because it does to Doctor Who supremo Russell T Davies.

Davies brought the sci-fi show back to life in 2005, and made David Tennant a household name as The Doctor. Four series in, Davies is set to oversee a number of Doctor Who specials - presumably starring Tennant (but Who knows?) - before handing over the reins to Steven Moffat ahead of series five in 2010. But back in June of last year (according to emails serialised in The Times) Davies already had his eye on a post-Tennant future…

Russell Tovey is probably best known for his performances as schoolboy Rudge in the stage and screen versions of Alan Bennett's The History Boys, but he's no stranger to Doctor Who. Tovey was cast by Davies in the small but significant role of Midshipman Frame in the 2007 Christmas special Voyage of the Damned, and he obviously made an impact. "He's amazing," said Davies in an email to journalist Benjamin Cook, "I think I'd make him the Eleventh Doctor."

That leaves just a few minor questions unanswered. Will David Tennant be leaving the show in the foreseeable future? Does Russell Tovey want to replace him? Would Steven Moffat let him? And who would you like to see as the new Doctor..?

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Comments

  • Posted on 11 December 2008
  • at 8:26pm
  • by John C

I think the new Doctor should be Lee Ingleby- he's the most versatile actor of his generation and kids would love him. Plus Rana Roy as his companion. An unbeatable team.

  • Posted on 11 December 2008
  • at 2:54pm
  • by Bob James

There is only one possible option for the next Doctor - Nick Frost!!!

  • Posted on 06 December 2008
  • at 10:04pm
  • by twinkle

I have to admit, david Tennant will always be My Doctor. He was the one I grew up with. However, I don't think that David Morrisey could play the Doctor as well as others in the past. Russell Tovey would be quite good but I have to say that Robert Carlyle would make a fantastic Doctor. As he said in RT a couple of weeks ago, he's free to do it and would take the job in a second. He has more on screen carisma than both Morrisey and Tovey. He has that on screen chemisty that you can't help but watch. Anyway, with Steven Moffat writing the episodes anyone could make the part. The episode "Blink" had me and most of my family staring at the TV, eyes watering; frightened to shut them. It'll be a good series and I can't wait.

  • Posted on 02 December 2008
  • at 5:50pm
  • by Rich

David Tennant will do all the specials in 2009 (and this Christmas one), and then regenerate. It's a huge responsibility, and the next one has got to live up to Tennant or Doctor Who will cease to be as popular as it is now.

Personally, I think Brian Blessed should be the Doctor! His voice is even better than Tom Baker's, and his sense of humour better than Tennant's! Probably.

Whose with me? Doctor Blessed!

:-)

  • Posted on 01 December 2008
  • at 1:10pm
  • by psf

Russell Tovey is too sweet to be able to carry off the dark side of the Doctor. I LOVE the idea of Hugh Laurie playing the role. All the characteristics we love about the Doctor, quirkyness, authority, unexpected behaviour, restrained sexiness. Yep, defo Hugh.

  • Posted on 23 November 2008
  • at 10:13pm
  • by Ralph

I think Russell Tovey would be an excellent choice.

  • Posted on 22 November 2008
  • at 1:51pm
  • by Fred

I've been thinking Hugh Laurie for a while now, meself (if he can ever weasel his way out of his House contract). Tovey doesn't do it for me - from what little I've seen of him, I find him a charisma-free zone. The Doctor has to have some warmth.

  • Posted on 17 November 2008
  • at 5:23pm
  • by robbie

lets have a female doc

  • Posted on 16 November 2008
  • at 7:33pm
  • by Gareth

I think Russell Tovey is a little to young for the role, the role of Doctor has to have more, maturity about him.What spoilt the downfall of Doctor Who being canceled was Peter Davidson. Great as Tristan in "all creatures great and small" but far to green around the ears for Doctor Who. How about Philip Gleinster from "Life on Mars".

They will have to very careful about choping and changing to much, as it kinda puts people of.

  • Posted on 04 November 2008
  • at 10:14pm
  • by colin mckay

I would like to see david morrisey play the doctor, he looks as if he could add a bit more action to the doctor as we seen in jon pertwee.

  • Posted on 24 October 2008
  • at 2:11pm
  • by gareth cardy

I think that Alan davies should do a couplpe of years as the doctor, he would be brilliant, or even the ever loverly stephen fry

  • Posted on 19 October 2008
  • at 9:53pm
  • by thirstyheaven

Tom Hardy, Lee Ingleby, or the aforementioned Mr Tovey are the 3 people I have had in mind for some time. Mr Hardy is becoming extremely noteworthy and has sci-fi pedigree, and for Mr Ingleby's versatility compare Harry Potter and Mole in Wind in the Willows with the thug in Spaced. That's my 2p's worth.

  • Posted on 12 October 2008
  • at 4:13pm
  • by Jonathan

I'm not keen to see DT go - but don't dismiss Russell Tovey out of hand. He was brilliant in 'Being Human' on BBC 3. There's a programme that someone should commission as a series...

  • Posted on 09 October 2008
  • at 2:18am
  • by Jennifer

I disagree with getting russell tovey. It's going to be hard to replace DT, that's for sure. I heard that there will be a movie in 2010 to finish off that series and its going to end with DT regenerating into the new doctor. If RTD and moffat are so keen to get an actor thats already appeared in a doctor who episode, why not use Harry Lloyd who played son of mine in the family of blood/human nature 2 parter in series 3. He's was fantastic and i think he'd bring a new demention to the time lord.

  • Posted on 19 September 2008
  • at 9:18am
  • by Robin

Well, Tovey has had the kiss of (casting) death now as there's no way that Moffat could cast him without it looking like RTD still pulls the strings. As Ian pointed out, Tovey is too young anyway. Maybe in a few years. The Doctor needs to look like he's lived a little. If only Humphrey Lyttelton was still alive... One bookmaker is currently offering odds of 20-1 on Nigel Harman being the next Doctor Who. Looks like a waste of money, but if you can find anyone offering the same odds on Harman playing the wooden exterior of the TARDIS then bite their arm off.

It's likely that Tennant will stick around for the first Moffat season anyway. Tennant knows how good Moffat's scripts are, and he'd get one hell of an exit storyline. So perhaps a new Doctor Who for Christmas 2010. And who should it be? If Secret Diary of a Call Girl's Iddo Goldberg can get some more substantial TV roles under his belt between now and then...

  • Posted on 18 September 2008
  • at 9:22am
  • by happysally

Nope, don't agree either. It will have to be a young better known actor who will take over from DT. A very hard act to follow though...daunting for anyone...could it be the demise when and if DT goes?

  • Posted on 17 September 2008
  • at 9:07pm
  • by Heather

As a child I loved Doctor Who, even if it was from behind the sofa! Since RTD brought it back I have had the pleasure of seeing my son enjnoy it too. In my youth we all knew who The Doctor was because the actors stuck arround for longer. Please Please don't change The Doctor Tennant works so well and we all love him for it.

  • Posted on 17 September 2008
  • at 8:29pm
  • by Mark

Good grief, no. While a competent actor, Russell Tovey's performance in Voyage of the Damned did absolutely nothing to impress - certainly not to the extent of offering him a Doctorate (yuk yuk). He was excellent in the Poirot he was in and he's done well in other productions, but to date he has not put forward a performance with enough charisma to make him a contender for the role. Sadly he's a companion rather than a Doctor.

  • Posted on 17 September 2008
  • at 6:56pm
  • by Daniel

Couldn't agree more with Ian. Steven Moffat's episodes have been the best by far (The Empty Child, Blink, and the recent library 2-parter); I'm pleased he's taken the reins. RTD's episodes have tended to be quite self-congratulatory and often just plain silly, in my opinion.

  • Posted on 17 September 2008
  • at 6:52pm
  • by Andy

I hear Hugh Laurie would like to come home. He can do pathos, so he gets my vote - but can the beeb afford him?

  • Posted on 17 September 2008
  • at 4:58pm
  • by Beth

Don't agree either

  • Posted on 17 September 2008
  • at 4:29pm
  • by Ian

Nope, don't agree at all. Nothing against Russell Tovey, but he's too young and not well known enough for the role. Plus, it's not Russell T Davies's decision anymore anyway - he's passed the reins on to Steven Moffat, so his opinion is neither here nor there and he should be polite enough to let the new producer get into the swing of things before putting his oar in. And having a new producer is a good thing - we're all grateful to RTD for bringing Doctor Who back, but his episodes have always been weak and/or overblown and with all the spinoffs he pushed for, he was the one who seemed most likely to make us all sick of it and get it cancelled again! It'll be good to have some better scripting and tighter control in the next full series.

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