A lovely piece here by Mark Lawson about David Tennant (and Olivia Coleman) being TV gold.

Its really lovely to see a former Doctor escape the type-casting curse of Who.

Yes, DT has been fantastic (and believable) in quite a few very different roles since DW.

Yes it seems that it may have just taken him a few years to really find his feet again after leaving the role which isn't a bad thing. I mean Fright Night and Nativity 2 he's much better than that IMO.

One of the best actors definitely.

Don't know about best, I think Matt and Chris are both better, but he's definitely the most humble and likable and he is more versatile than they are.

Yes, totally agree. Didn't see Fright Night (although I might, just because he shows so much chest!) but Nativity 2 was awful. he's great in it, of course, and gives 100% but the film's dross. But then, I didn't see the first Nativity so I don't know how it compares. Great to see him doing great stuff again.

I'm a bit biased as he's also my favourite Doctor, but he's a superb actor too and I'm really pleased that's being recognised.

David Tennant was always a better actor than Who gave him credit for. Anyone who watched him in Casanova before he did Who will know that. Broadchurch only confirmed it further. Ecclestone's best work isn't in Who either, he was outstanding in Cracker in the mid 90s, wore a leather jacket in that too.

Smith is still the weakest of the three IMO. Sometimes people don't see the line between Matt and The Doctor. In most of the things I've seen him in his mannerisms remain exactly the same and I think he has the least flexibility as an actor of the three. But opinions are only opinions!

I've seen Fright Night not Nativity 2 and have no reason nor intend to see it . It's great to see him on TV more again I suppose, he is a great actor with the sincerity to boot. Purely within the Doctor Who realm I wish Christopher Eccleston could've seen the prospect of returning as exciting as DT does as CE is actually one of my favourite actors. However it is down to Moffatts script and if he honestly coudn't gel with it you have to say fair enough I suppose.

He was also very good in The Shadow Line.

And Heroes. He was really creepy in it, too.

I'd forgotten about that one.

Broadchurch is one of the best television drama's I've ever seen, and that is due in no small part to David Tennant's and Olivia Coleman's acting. They were both top notch throughout and I think when Bafta comes around next year they'll be top of the favourite list to win one.

Best actor on TV is pushing it - but he's up there with the best. As are Eccleston and Matt, of course.

I don't watch Tennant in everything he's in, (I wish he could get a decent film!) but he was outstanding in Broadchurch. Arthur Darvill was excellent also.

Although the acting got a lot of negative remarks on the Broadchurch thread in the TV forum, at least at the beginning.

Outstanding. That was a hoot.

I've got The Politicans Husband (DT) recorded. Trailer looked god.

Matt's good now and still young. I'm campaigning for David Bradley to be the next Doctor. Or Arthur Darvill. And Colman for companion. Or Pauline Quirke. I've only ever seen her play evil people. Be a nice change for her.

Yes, but who the hell reads those stupid forums anyway?





Oh, wait . . . . . .

Shallow Grave was by far his best ever performance IMO.

You watched Nativity 2 without seeing Nativity first? How could you have followed the plot? No wonder you didn't get it.

Nativity 1 was pretty bad but I watched it to the end because of my extraordinary dedication to Martin Freeman.

I could probably watch Nativity 2 for similar reasons, but it hasn't come my way yet - maybe next Christmas it will be on the telly.

Really glad he is back getting the recognition he deserves as one of the best actors we have. With Broadchurch and The Politicians Husband he is again front and center in prestige TV shows and reminding everyone how damn good he is and always has been.
There was a time around Fright Night and Nativity 2 and then the Virgin adverts that I worried he might fall by the way side but clearly he just needed time after something as massive as DW.

I quite liked Fright Night for what its worth.

I don't think I've ever seen a popular show ever not get heavily slated on here by at least some.

Some feel that tearing down something big makes them look taller...

I don't mind people slating a show for good reasons. But when you have people saying how bad Tennant is in a particular role, when he's obviously far from bad, it's just ridiculous.

But, then, he gets a lot of stick on here for his portrayal of the Doctor.

Well, no stick from me, it's just that I prefer Chris and Matt (and most Classic series actors) in the role of the Doctor.

I think David Tennant is an excellent actor, and I've admired him in many roles I've seen him play on TV. It's just that I'm not that keen on the Tenth Doctor.

Similarly, I think Billie Piper is an excellent actress, and I've admired her in many roles I've seen her play on TV (especially Sally Lockhart). It's just that I cannot stand Rose Tyler.

It's not even up for debate. He puts his heart into everything he does.

I agree with this. I think David is an excellent actor and he was great in pretty much everything I have seen him in. But as far as DW goes I just prefer Matt's Doctor, which also is a consequence of the way that the character of the 10th Doctor was written. IMO David's best DW performance was in Human Nature/The Family of Blood, but the thing about is that for the most part he was playing a human in it. For me I just prefer Matt's Doctor,who for the most part seems more alien-like to me (at least what I personally imagine as alien or at least as non-human). But I tremendously enjoyed DT's performance in Broadchurch these past few weeks.