Tennant: DOCTOR WHO No More
One of the most popular Time Lords in the history of the BBC's Doctor Who, award-winner David Tennant is saying ''Cheerio'' to the title character.
"When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won't be with me," Tennant announced after winning the National Television Awards' outstanding drama performance prize. "Now don't make me cry. I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don't take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you'll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair."
When the Ninth Doctor, Christopher Eccleston (Heroes), regenerated after the first season's finale, he emerged in 2005 looking like David Tennant, who will take his turn at regeneration after a Christmas special, titled "The Next Doctor," and four more specials to be filmed in January.
Three years was "about the right time" to play the role, he told the BBC exclusively. "I think it's better to go when there's a chance that people might miss you, rather than to hang around and outstay your welcome."
His stint on the series has been "the most extraordinary time, it's been bewildering, life changing, very exciting. And just so much fun, such a great show to work on. That's one of the reasons I think it's right to take a deep breath and bow out when it's still fun, when it's a novelty. I don't ever want it to feel like a job, so I want to move on when it still feels exciting and fresh and that means I'll miss it."
It is, as yet, unknown what the Doctor will look like following the next regeneration, but possibilities include actors David Morrissey (The Reaping), James Nesbitt (Jekyll), John Simm (the original Life on Mars) and apparent "front-runner" Paterson Joseph (Neverwhere), who would be the first non-Caucasian incarnation.
Fans were left guessing about Tennant's return after July's season finale, when the Time Lord saved the universe from his enemies, the Daleks, then apparently started the regeneration process but didn't complete it.
"I've been lucky and honoured to work with David over the past few years," said executive producer Russell T. Davies (Torchwood), "and it's not over yet, the Tenth Doctor still has five spectacular hours left! After which, I might drop an anvil on his head. Or maybe a piano. A radioactive piano. But we're planning the most enormous and spectacular ending, so keep watching."
[Thanks to Sci Fi Wire.]