Featuring his brothers! The TARDIS could be a painted shed!

From a while ago:


http://www.doctorwhotv.co.uk/moffat-...odes-56307.htm

When Capaldi is fully established as the Doctor they could bring McGann back in a multi-doctor story format. Or they could have a 'doctor lite' episode with McGann, for example Capaldi sits down and reminisces about a past adventure with Clara(if shes not gone).

How about bringing him back for Christmas 2015 and leaving it at that?

A Christmas episode with McGann/Capaldi would be great.

Just two words: Big Finish!

That also applies to his last appearance on TV as the Doctor and I think it's fitting. Therefore, I'm happy to move on and regard McGann as a past Doctor.

And he's still doing Bigfinish.

The audios should definitely get nice BBC Radio slots and more promotion. I think that would be fitting.

I know the TARDIS can change it appearance,but I had never seen the interior that size before. I didn't remember the Paul McGann movie being similar to new Doctor Who. The worst thing for me was to hear The Doctor say he is "half-human"! I know this would have been mentioned on Digital Spy before, but it is a serious error.

There are definitely similarities:
- Ever since the movie, Doctor Who has had a cinematic look to it.
- Stories also lasted the length of one 45 minute episode, sometimes two, rather than spanning five or six shorter ones.
- Kissing is now par for the course, but far raunchier than the TVM!
- The Doctor is now more of a romantic hero role.

Paul McGann set the way for the Doctor to be good looking and a bit of a romantic.

These elements became almost compulsory in the new version. True, Christopher Eccleston wasn't particularly good-looking but that's when they were just starting out. David Tennant in particular but Matt Smith as well are people that the fangirls can fantasise about- potential sex objects. The fact that people got worked up over a kiss in the TV movie shows that it would have been inconceivable for people to view the earlier doctors like that.

This poll I set up shows a pretty clear trend: http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...ractive+doctor

To be fair to the older Doctors, I allowed a more platonic interpretation but still, you can see where the votes went!

It will be interesting to see the reaction to Capaldi as this is a clear breakaway.

EDIT: Actually, the OP of this thread has done a brilliant analysis of the attractiveness of each doctor, should one have a little crush on the classic doctors: http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showt...ractive+doctor

I didn't realise there were so many similarities. I know of course about the cinematic look, but I seem to remember the TV Movie being quite different to the modern series. To me, the TV Movie seemed to have a feel of its own that didn't match the original series or the modern series.

Or alternatively, you could watch this little gem, in which they both fancy Keeley Hawes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6XJTFKDIaY

I use the word 'gem' with a degree of irony. It is quite brilliantly awful, although some moments are quite funny, such as Peter Capaldi licking Nick Rhodes' menu!

I suppose the most obvious comparison is The X Files.

There is definitely a different feel to it; there's a very clear Christ allegory. The makers had to find a way into the character for the uninitiated and though it's a bit heavy handed, it kind of works. I think that the comparison to The X Files- the Master stuff is all very X Files- kind of worked against it.

There's also a similar in-joke; Eccleston references his accent by saying that "Lots of planets have a North" and Grace apologises for the Doctor's weirdness by explaining "He's British". I don't know whether the actor's nationality is really referenced before.

But of course the main bit is the romancing. To be fair, it is slightly less creepy in the movie because in that, he is partly human. I think the reason for making him half-human might have been so the kiss would feel less weird and slightly more plausible. Of course fans would know that he is all-alien and so might be more creeped out, but if you were new to it, you would probably have focused on the human part.

And how low-budget would that be? Think about it. The BBC aren't likely going to pay for a full series that's only going to show on the 'red button' are they?

Brilliant find there.

I believe Paul McGann offers to wear his mother's dressing gown when Keeley Hawes suggests they should slip into something more comfortable...

I remember the "lots of planets have a north" in joke as well. I mist admit I found it weird how Christopher Eccleston used his own Manchester accent to play The Doctor after all the posh-sounding Doctors.

I have also noticed the way The Doctor is portrayed as a romantic hero in the new version. I am unsure of the reasons of this change of character, but I have noticed as well that the three recent Doctors have always seemed more "modern" and less formal than all the past Doctors.

Well, that's the BBC for you. It was all death to regional accents but they seem to be coming around to it a bit more. Plenty of Northern voices on Channel 4's channels though!

There's a funny bit in the TVM where Paul McGann accidentally slips into his normal accent. Strange that they didn't just use his normal voice because it's not as if he has a thick accent.

I'm just waiting for the day they cast Sean Bean. That would be EPIC :P


I think they wanted to open up the audience a little. Mrs Mainstream Viewer won't watch a geeky sci-fi show but she will watch things like Twilight because she just loves being swept off her feet by a strange man. And now they've cast that lovely looking David Tennant! Ooh, and that lovely looking boy Matt Smith! And now they're casting that sweary Scottish man who's on a well-regarded intellectual political BBC comedy show, which appeals to middle class sensibilities! Hooray!

People like the idea that they think they're connecting with something from 'ye olde days', hence all those period dramas, but it turns out that living in the 19th century was basically like living today! And all those heaving bosoms and men in their nightshirts! It's the same with sci-fi: ooh, he's an alien, but really, he's just like us!

I dont think they could get Sean Bean, he would be too expensive for them and what if he did what Eccelston did? That would be bad for fans!
I think they are right in casting people who are fans of the show already, as they will be more loyal and give the show a good amount of time!
They will also be more likely to come back!

I was joking!


Personally, I'd rather they just cast good actors. Obviously they should be prepared for the stuff that goes with the role and they should have (or gain) some fondness for the show but at the end of the day, the play's the thing.

100%. Its great that we have had some actors who are brilliant and fans. But their brilliance is what matters. Being a fan and loyalty mean nothing ultimately. Otherwise they might as well cast Ian Levine as the 13th Doctor.

Out of interest, how many of the Doctors would you consider to be strong actors?

I genuinely think they all have various talents and I don't think there has been a bad one in the lot. So i would say they are all strong actors. But truly top of their craft? Smith, Hartnell, Tennant, Eccleston, T Baker and based on his wider work I would maybe say McGann.

The rest I would say are very damn good in the role but maybe not beyond that.

Have you seen Hartnell in Brighton Rock? He's good in that. Smith does a particular type of role- upper class mummy's boy- very well. (I don't mean that in a derogatory way- I really enjoyed his performance in Christopher and His Kind) It'll be interesting to see how well he's doing in his new roles.

Tennant couldn't escape 'The Doctor' for a few years; I remember lots of people saying that he played Hamlet in the same way as he played the Doctor, and that casting Catherine Tate alongside him in Much Ado only made it worse. I haven't seen him in much recently but I thought that he did a good job in Hamlet, even if he was playing on his Doctor personality.

I haven't seen Eccleston in anything else actually, but I thought his performance as The Doctor was very good. He found a dramatic tension, almost a tragicness, about the character, and yet he didn't play it humourlessly (which is my only criticism of my favourite Bond actor- Timothy Dalton- who happens to be a very good actor in general).

McGann is excellent. Honestly, the TVM is on the whole, a weak and thin script that nobody seemed to have really thought through, and yet McGann was incredibly endearing, despite having to say some appalling lines. After watching the film (and the webisode), I was intrigued and wanted to explore more (though unfortunately this can never be- TV-wise anyway). The problem for him is that he doesn't get enough chance to show how good he can be in a role. When he does, like in The Monocled Mutineer, he's excellent, but he normally either turns up in a bit part or a 'quieter' role. I think he's excellent in Withnail and I, really underrated, but understandably Richard E Grant gets all the praise, even though it's an easier role in that he gets the best lines and the best actions.

As for Tom Baker, I think he has a very expressive voice but I can't imagine wanting to see him act in anything. The old-school hammery is excellent vocally but I don't think I'd want to see that in a performance.

While I love REG immensely its always McGanns performance that sticks in my mind from Withnail. Like you say its not as if he had as much to work with as REG did but there's a subtlety to it which works perfectly in contrast to REG's grandstanding. And arguably more difficult to pull off as well as he did. His lack of wider success (should probably put that in inverted commas) is a mystery to me. But maybe hes suited to smaller and quieter roles that get less attention.

i have seen Brighton Rock. I think Hartnell was a fantastic old school character actor. Maybe a bit limited in range but never less than captivating and he was so good as the Doctor. He had a true grace and class.

I see your point regarding Tom Baker. Hes nowhere near being ny favourite Doctor but objectively I think his performance was pure magic. He has a presence and stature that is magnetic. His scene in the fiftieth a case in point. Couldn't take your eyes off him. That voice and that face! Brilliance.

I haven't seen it alas as it sold out but despite mixed reviews for the show Matt is getting amazing notice for his role as Patrick Bateman so it proves he can do alot more than wacky posh chap. We will hopefully see more of his range when the Gosling film is released.