Like you, I really quite disliked most of series 4 at the time. The stories have since grown on me (with the exception of Partners in Crime, which I still think is dreadful). However, even at the time, I thought that Catherine Tate was the best thing about the whole series. David Tennant's Doctor was becoming insufferable around this time but Donna was a great character, superbly acted.

I always enjoyed the character of Donna Noble, my favourite companion since the show returned. I remember how the who message board went into meltdown when It was annouced that Tate was returning to the show!

To be honest I miss the chemistry that Tennant and Tate had in the show.

What was the name of the poster who was convinced that Tate would be the death of the show? He was a young man/old woman (seemed to change with every post written)! .

I loved The Catherine Tate Show.....but was a bit hesitant when it was announced she was to be in 'Runaway Bride' . I was right - she was simply playing her 'character' stuff...........'tll towards the end of the story. She mellowed a bit and showed another side to her.
When she returned a year later - she was amazing!! Comedy, tragedy, horror - she performed the lot so easily!
Deffo MY favourite companion of the 21st century!

At the time I thought she was amazing, now i fell she was great a lot of the time but had some downer episodes. Having said that she was in "Turn Left", to me one of the best Dr. Who episodes ever

One of the best imho!

Horrible choice. They could of given one of the best scenes in series 4 to David yet they gave it to her.

Why is it the writers have to ruin every series by giving the companion the one who does the big save at the end of the series.

Wouldnt happen in the classic series.

For me Donna worked so well because there was no romantic element to her and the Doctor's friendship at all - something which spoiled the Martha character for me.
Catherine Tate is a fabulous actress. I remember my mum saying she'd watch the first episode and see if she could 'put up with her', and then nearly crying when she left at the end!

I would say she was hideously underused in End of Time - I was very disappointed

Didn't Jo Grant save the day at the end of The Daemons by offering to sacrifice herself?

Adric was a pretty big sacrifice too.

Tate was a decent actress wasted on a bad character. Tate could have played Donna as a 'real person' without any trouble, but instead RTD chose to write Donna as a charicature.

Perhaps it was a case of playing it safe, given Tate's background in comedy. Or, more likely, it was simply the fact that Donna had clearly been written as a largely comedic, one-off character for the Christmas special, and in that context, she worked. However, once it became clear they could use her for an entire series, RTD had essentially shackled himself into trying to morph Donna into a more layered character, whilst still retaining the essence of Donna in The Runaway Bride.

But it didn't work, and instead we got this implausible jumble of comedy shouting and angsty crying to try and convince everyone that Donna had 'evolved' (and that Tate really could act). As characters, neither Rose or Martha were without their flaws.. but they never felt forced as characters. Donna, on the other hand, always did. The whole she-just-a-mate/she-stands-up-to-the-Doctor thing was always crowbarred in with all the sublety of... Well, of Donna.

In answer to thr original question, I thought Catherine Tate played the role exactly as it was written. It just wasn't written very well.

.

That would be dervish.

There have been insane casting decisions that have no logic..... such as the charv Bille Piper and Catherine Tate,

Hence why Doomsday is my favourite RTD finale

Totally agree with you!


As far as Catherine Tate goes, she did okay. She managed to incorporate her comic talents into the role but she also imbued Donna with great passion and sadness when it was called for, like in the Ood story. I loved her journey in the show, despite the shouty debut in The Runaway Bride. It also helped she had worked with David Tennant before and that helped with their onscreen chemistry.

After Rose, she is definitely the next best companion in New Who for me.

Sometimes companions tend to take over the show (River, for example) and other times they have a brilliant chemistry as a partner in crime with the Doctor. Donna was amazing at doing that imo, she really brought a sense of friendship. Rose was equally as good, and really brought out the best of the Doctor too. But Martha was one of those companions that was always lingering in the shadows, especially being in between Billie Piper and Catherine Tate.

Something I hope doesn't happen to the new companion with the entourage that is Amy, Rory and River. Hopefully River will be gone soon.

I liked her alot. I would have liked to have seen her with Matt Smith

Loved her - thought she was fab. I really hoped she would stay a while longer though. Made a nice change having someone argue with the doc now and again!

The best of the new series.

Couldn't stand Catherine Tate before she went into Doctor Who. I really didn't like the Runaway Bride either, so was quite upset about the news that she was going to be a permanent companion as I thought she was going to ruin it. However, the way she played Donna Noble made me completely change my opinion of her and now think that she's one of the great companions.

And as she was so good, it's made me no longer worry about any new actors appearing in the series (with the exception of Lee Evans!).

I must admit I didnt know what to expect when she was cast. I think Catherine is more talented than we gave her credit. I actually like the Runaway Bride as a story. Yes she is shouty but that was Donna her character. She does bring a sadness to Donna which I quite like ( The ood story & turn left) which is flipped over with comedy ( The Wasp/Unicorn).

If there is one story I dont like its Partners in Crime which was a bit slapstick when the Doctor and Donna met but overall she was very good.

I really enjoyed her appearances and the way things ended for Donna was so cruel.

I think the Doctor should have taken her to the Shadow Proclamation..... maybe they could have looked after her......

This^
To quote 10: "Donna Noble you were BRILLIANT!"

I loved her from TRB onwards, but even if you didn't like her, no-one can deny that her performance in 'Turn Left' was outstanding.

LOATHED her in The Runaway Bride and can still only bare to watch about 5 minutes of that - she was better than i thought she'd be as a companion but still my least favourite by a very long way.

I can't deny that Catherine is a very talented actress and the role was written for her, but I just can't like the character. I have tried.

The funny thing is, I was actually excited when they announced her as the companion. Shame.