The audio and books are for a minority audience of "enthusiasts" so can be discounted from any considerations for the TV series.

Except Paul McGann has expanded the character of his Doctor through the Big Finish audio plays. His character to me is very well defined.


Maybe so but it still has expanded his character and that's what's important.

The Eighth Doctor Adventures reaches a wider audience through being broadcast on BBC radio fairly frequently.

I've never heard them and I listen to the radio a lot. I've no objections to Paul McGann, just to the abomination of a movie(why can't they call it a film, ffs). As far as I'm concerned, it should be wiped from all of time and space.

Oh I would without a doubt.
There's something about the McGann Doctor and him making an appearance which would please me in a way which any other previous Doctor wouldn't.

I think that it's because he's a bridge between 'classic' Who and 'Nu-Who'.
We have the classic series, the 2005 relaunch, and the Paul McGann Who in the middle as a link between them.

No matter, it feels as though there's some kind of potential there with him that could be utilized.
Possibly to do with the Time War story which happened off-screen.
Which could possibly open up an opportunity for some mini-series or film story.
I just feel that there's ready made potential there in asking what happened to him and to explore that Doctor deeper. They can easily weave it into some updated narrative.

Yes, I'd thank them if they brought him in. He's a mystery that I'd find more fascinating and make me want to know more than many of the story arc theories posted.

I just meant you don't have to be a DW afficionado and make a habit of buying books or audios to know McGann's Doctor. If you listen to the sci-fi slot on radio 4 extra regularly he will be as familiar to you as Matt Smith.

I agree about saying movie rather than film, btw.

For me, the film was an aberration, something where they took too many liberties, and was too americanised. I mean, the doctor being half human, and the Daleks allowing the "oncoming storm" to pop along to Skaro (which had already been destroyed) to pick up the master's remains!

Add into the mix a poor turn by Eric the Master, unoriginal / predictable events and you have a story best forgotten about.

And what about the apology..? I notice you carefully avoided putting that in bold.

I carefully avoided putting that in bold because I can't for the life of me think of any reason what I have to apologise for.

Are you seeking an apology from me?
What for?

I think people have to be careful that they don't get their hopes up though.
Maybe David Tennant and Billie Piper coming back is the significantly special big thing....and that's it.

I'd like to think that there was something else, but perhaps there's nothing more to it?

It is celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the show though.
Not the 8th Anniversary of the show's relaunch..

The movie was intended to be a pilot of a TV series. I think you can gauge the popularity of the movie by the fact it took another 9 years to return, ...... Without Mcgann!

I thought the movie was popular in the UK but not the USA and the problem was that the USA were funding it. Although having read the outline for the proposed series I am very glad that nothing came of the pilot!

I have never done any sort of poll so cannot claim to be any kind of expert but I always considered the Eighth doctor obsession to be a cult in and of itself within the wider cult of Doctor Who? And as such a bit niche? Be nice to have reference to him if it can be done but why would Moffat want a major role for him in the anniversary? Just because he wants to do it and was ill served by being a great Doctor in a very flawed movie? Nope. Too niche for me. The wider viewers would care little.

Maybe a future episode could be present Doctor 'lite' and have a flashback to Eight who could tell a long forgotten tale. That might work nicely and give Eight the chance he never had to truly shine. But not the anniversary.

Oh and as for the petition doing the rounds it is at best a demonstration of the kind of irritating entitlement that reminds one of the Ianto fiasco (among a million fine moments the refusal by RTD to give any quarter or credibility to that nonsense was a shining one!) at worst is an offensive waste of time.

Some of the "Save Ianto" stuff was really disturbing. Did you ever read the blog post by the deranged person who compared RTD to a date-rapist?

It's funny how certain fans make frankly outrageous demands with no sense of self-awareness. As for the frankly embarrassing McGann petition, it now has 63 signatures. Oh dear.

Haha. I didn't catch that particular gem but I do remember alot of straight American females calling RTD a 'homophobe'. Which was and is just so laughable you almost don't know where to begin in even bothering to counter such utter, brain melting stupidity.

63 eh? DO YOU HEAR THAT MOFFAT? FANDOM HAS SPOKEN! TEAR THAT SCRIPT UP AND START AGAIN!

RTD just killed people just to make Jack upset.

Susie was a twist of genius and then Tosh/Owen was sad but OK.

Ianto was too much and his grandson was too much.

I don't think anyone cared about Esther though.

I certainly didn't care for anything after the last aberration! I just wanted it to finish so I could go back and watch real Torchwood...

That's the truly bizarre part. The person behind the McGann petition actually thinks there's still time to write a "prominent" role for McGann into a script which is currently being filmed.

Yeah I'd like to see a "flashback" 8-9 regeneration two parter.

Part 1 would be McGann-centric, part 2 Ecclestone-centric. It needn't be anything massively lore heavy, so the Time War where the Doctor wipes out the Time Lords can remain a mystery, but it would be nice for a change of pace instead of the usual current Doctor-lite episode we get each year.

How abot a Hartnell / Troughton episode. Much more fun

Can't imagine it would be fun filming an episode lead by two dead guys.

Oh, it could be entertaining...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws9gIYM713I

I've often wondered about a story for the 1st or 2nd Doctor set in modern times. Would be quite fun I think.

one thing I forgot to ask, are you Paul Mcganns agent? I must say, you are really working hard for your 15%!