Ok sorry to go against the grain here, but let's look at the way the acting profession works. Christopher probably thought it would be a fun role to play doctor who, he signed a 1 series contract with the BBC... who to be honest, we're probably not planning on doing another series until they had seen how sucessful the first one was.

Maybe CE only intended on doing the role and as a one off (and believed it would be that). He probably had other work lined up, then the BBC come to him in the last few days and offer him a second series... He says no because as far as he was concerned he'd finished that now.

It's not a case of quitting, its just he didn't fancy continuing something he felt he had finished with.

Yep, you're completely right there.
Well spotted.

I subsequently posted this on the imdb forum and got the answer that the Doctor could have left Rose at the end of Episode 1, done all that stuff, and then returned to pick her up 10 seconds later...which could work, I suppose

Well, just because we didn't see him in those adventures, didn't mean that they never happened. Just means they happened 'off-screen'.

CE reportedly got half a million for series 1, which ain't peanuts.

Yes but things don't work that way.

It's all very well saying what Doctor Who fans "should" do.
But the truth is that they have just had to hype up the show to drag in all the newcomers to Doctor Who.
Most people aren't loyal Who fans, they can do what they want.

If they decide that this is just rubbish with Chris Eccleston leaving just like that, and decide not to bother now as they know CE isn't a character they need bother about,...then that's just the way it goes.

It's possible that CE may have counteracted some of all the effort that went behind the promotion by taking people on a bit of a downer.

If it turns some people off a bit, then it's their choice. You can't expect the new casual viewers who have just been drawn in to show any loyalty.

If Chris didn't show loyalty, then why should these new viewers?
I'd like the new viewers to stick around, but I wouldn't blame them if they turn off.

A big problem with Chris Eccleston is that he himself was a big part of the hype and promotion in the pre-launch interviews.
He said that he wanted to be the new Doctor who for a new generation of kids. He said that he wanted this role, and was attracted by the challenge.
He was talking about all these things in the future tense.
We were led to believe that these were his wishes for the future.

But filming of Doctor Who was already over by the time he gave those interviews. He surely had already made the decision at the time of those interviews that he was feeling he wanted to leave.
So if the viewers feel that he was just lying to them, then they don't really have to be loyal if they don't feel like it. If they feel cheated and conned, then if they are put off by this, then that;s just the way it is sadly.

What do you suggest?
A police/detective/medical drama, perhaps?

Or a police/detective/medical drama set in the countryside, maybe?

Or maybe another detective show with the main character being dark, edgy, and broody, who has relationship problems and who drinks and smokes a lot?

I'm a bit more bothered about this than I thought I'd be... It has put a dampener on the new series for me if only because my young daughter has got into it so much. I wish Chris Eccleston could have commited to at least a second series.

I think the main problem is the *timing* of the announcement. After the series had aired would have been ok, but to announce it after only one episode has aired really puts a downer on the rest of the series.

Especially, as someone else has already pointed out, Eccleston was such a huge part of the publicity for the new show in the first place.

I agree with you, if Chris wants to go,...then just go,... and don't prolong the misery anymore.

Like you say, the Christmas episode is the perfect platrform for the new Doctor whoever it is.
It would create the feeling of we want to see more of this new Doctor and keep the excitement and speculation going until the start of series 2.

Chris Eccleston as the Doctor in the Christmas Episode is just going to be soul-destroying now, I just want him to go as quickly as possible now so that we can move on instead of watching him dragging his feet before he's definitely gone.

Yes, I went to the BBC site to see that poll and I too voted for David Thewlis. Not surprisingly he's doing the least well in the poll. I'd guess that most people don't know much about him.
I think he's one of the best choices.

The problem with these Doctor Who lists is that they are always so limited. And usually focus on the flavour of the month.

But when you use your imagination you find that absolutely loads of actors could play Doctor Who.
Like David Thelis was mentioned, but I didn't think of him until someone mentioned it.

The poll at the BBC site is far too limited. There should be a lot more options available to vote for.

Callous, I was just at the point of this thread where polls and choices were talked about more.
And I swear to god that I too did a bit of thinking, and yes, I too came up with Adrian Edmundson for some reason.

I honestly didn't see your post, and he popped into my head too before I saw he was an option you thought of too.

When Chris Eccleston complains that he found it "gruelling", then I have no sympathy for him.

Many people here would work our bollox off for 5 years if we knew we'd get half a million quid.

Strikes me as something that "luvvie" actors say, when they talk about how exhausting acting is.
"Where's my motivation dahhling?"

Try an everyday non-acting job Chris, then complain about gruelling hard work.
He's in a priviledged line of work. I have no sympathy for him if he complains that it was hard work.
He got half a million, my heart doesn't exactly bleed for him.

I don't know much about Dr Who but I would like them to bring in an elderly actor like Peter Cushing or the first one. I saw a clip where he was tired of carrying a caveman and was about to kill him with a rock! I would love the new doctor to be like that.

Thi has been my problem with him. Had he not said those things when he said them I would have looked at his decision differently.

Your right:


I was saying the wrong Richard


I was thinking :


Richard O Brian the bold headed man from the crystal maze and R.H.P.S.

He would be a true mad, and top Dr WHO !

I think Chris will be back, as I believe he is just trying it on for extra money, and the BBC is being brasin (rightly so) by refusing extra money and giving loads of hints and reports on David Tennant. That's why both are being very public and loud about it, basically one big game of "production chicken".

If Chris still won't accept, he is being foolish. He'd have to work very hard on good acting jobs for £500,000 and no-one will now employ him on any kind of returning series (how can you risk it?). Poor excuses too, tiring and girl friend- they don't work constantly.

Alan Rickman anybody?

He had wit, gravitas, and eccentrity in 'Truly, Madly, Deeply'

Sexual tension between the Doctor and Rose would be impossible to avoid if David Tennant was installed in the role alongside Billie Piper.
Last edited by fumble : 31-03-2005 at 19:39

Might even have to go post-watershed

i seemed to have scared off Dr. Who fans with the very mention of 'sex'.

You can edit your posts for upto an hour fumble - just find them further up the list and click 'edit'.

Yes, the sexual tension between the Doctor and his assistant, David Tennant, would make for interesting viewing.

Thanks for the tip oomonkeyboyoo

Why do we have to contunue with the next Dr immediately? Why not be a bit radical? What if the 9th Dr is dying, and needs to regenerate and he calls on a previous Dr ie Paul McGann to help him and Rose then goes off with him? We could then get all our new stories with a criminally underused Dr, and save Dr 10 for a few years hence!