Don't know why people are slagging him off, so what if he wants to leave. He's doing a good job of starting the series again. To me Dr Who is also about the writing, if they find a decent actor to carry it off for the second series good. People were moaning about there being no regeneration scene, well now there will be one. Christopher Eccleston is a fine actor, and I can understand him not just wanting to do childrens TV for the rest of his life. Give the man a break, last week he was a hero and this week he's classed as some villain. Just please enjoy the series and stop taking it all so seriously, Dr Who is back who ever plays the Dr there's another 12 episodes to go yet. which I will enjoy for one.

I've told you why.

And anyway, I'm not slagging him off, I'm being critical of his actions, and voicing my thoughts on what the consequences of them may have on the actual programme.

Sorry, but if I want to be critical of something, then I will be.

You choose not be, but that's your choice.

It must be a merchandising nightmare for BBC now. All the toys books etc are going to have CE on them and come Christmas, perhaps, a new actor will take on the roll.

Does anyone think that he will have a sudden change of heart after the second and later episodes air? The first episode received a few more viewers than they were expecting. If the second and third episodes hold on to around 8 million viewers (allowing for a downturn of 2 million viewers who were just curious about the show) will he turn around and agree to continue for a second season.

Imagine how it would have looked if the following couple of episodes had shelled viewers and then he were to have announced that he was leaving. It would have killed the show completely. This way he announces that he is leaving a top rated tv show, and his career stays intact.

Just to say that I agree with this 100%, nice one Steve. Some people are going to feel very bitter about his departure, and understandably so, but I wish this endless Eccleston bashing would stop.

From what I've seen so far, and reports I've read on future episodes, we're in for a really great series. So, I thank him for that and wish him well in whatever he does next. Sure, I would've liked for him to have done series two, but that's life. The show is bigger than one actor, we have a Christmas regen episode to look forward to and a second series next year.

And I can't for the life of me understand the mindset of some 'fans' who're saying that they'll not be watching the rest of the series as a protest.

Vic

I know why - its because people (including myself) will not invest time and enjoyment in watching this series because we know the main actor cannot be bothered with a second series ... just how much did CE care?

As for his not wanting to do childrens TV for the rest of his life - that is laughable. He was paid a half a million £s for a few months work ....

Its not like for the next 10 years ......

We viewers have had just one episode - why couldn't he wait until the end of the series to tell us he was a quitter ... surely even he has enough intelligence to realise what would happen ....

Personally I probably will watch the shows if I am at home and have nothing better to watch - but why should I bother watching anything else CE makes ..... he is a quitter.

Blimey!!! Don't take it so personally!

You won't bother watching anything else he makes but you will watch the rest of his Doctor Who episodes? That makes sense. Have a bit of commitment yourself and don't watch the rest of his episodes. Or do you expect higher standards of CE than you do of yourself?

Perhaps I didn't make if clear, I would be watching the Dr Who series

- IF nothing better was on TV and
- IF I was at home

ie ... I wouldn't go out of my way to watch the series ..... or sort out the video thing ....

Clear enough?

As for me being a quitter - I am indeed - stopped smoking a couple of years ago now ....

I never said or insinuated I was a 'fan' .....

He didn't "tell us" that he wouldn't be staying on for the second series. It was leaked, remember. And how is he a "quitter"? He completed all that he'd promised to do, 13 45-minute episodes. When he'd finished filming, a second episode hadn't even been commissioned. So how can he be a "quitter" when there was no second series (at that time) to quit from?

I was thinking this too. A few years with McGann as the Doctor and the when he decides to leave we could finally see him transform into Ecclestone. Perhaps by then Ecclestone would be up for another series as well

Check out this link for some interesting news on the new doctor.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...549595,00.html

Interesting. From the above Times article:

"The BBC wants Tennant in place to shoot a “regeneration” scene at the climax of the 13th and final episode of the revived sciencefiction classic.

He is then expected to make his first appearance as the Doctor in a Christmas special, in which he will team up with Billie Piper, who plays his assistant, Rose. "

I was under the impression that Eccleston would be returning for the Christmas special, and that the regen would be in that episode.

Vic

I was irritated that Ecclestone quit (mainly as it could harm the long term health of the series) but it's done now and nothing will change it.

My major concern now is that David "Casanova" Tennant seems to be the favourite as the next Doctor and IMO would be an awful choice.

He just seems too young and quite frankly wimpy.

I cannot think of any other actor suggested who wouldn't be superior.
He would however be fine as a companion. Perhaps they could have him as second companion and new love interest for Rose while choosing an older actor for the Doctor.

Did I say you did?

You still seem to have taken his quitting personally. It's a TV show for gawd's sake. Since when should anyone have to owe any loyalty to a job (and it was a job) that offered a one-year-at-a-time contract and that hadn't yet been renewed?

Actors quit shows. Actors get fired. Shows get dropped. It's only TV.

Get a bit of perspective or at least.

Note the date on that Times article, and the jokey headline, which is unusual for the Times.

Get A Life You Lot!!!

Erm, I've heard this phrase several times now and I still don't get it. You sit down and watch (and hopefully enjoy) a show for 45 minutes for 13 weeks. Now I don't know what people are exactly investing but I'm certain it's not enjoyment and it's not a really a lot of time.

Go on then, tell us all about yours, so we can follow your great achievements.

remember theres a webchat with Russell T Davis on the BBC website after tomorrow nights episode so you can ask him questions about the show

I'm still avidly looking forward to the rest of the episodes. Just because an actor has left makes no difference to the enjoyment of the series.

He's still there on screen, acting his heart out, putting his all into the role.

Judging by his peformance in the first episode, Christpher Eccleston will give us 12 more episodes of great acting.

For that reason I'm disappointed that he felt he couldn't continue in the part, but I'm sure I'll enjoy every one of the episodes, and that he'll go down in history as a lot of peoples' favourite Doctor.

I wonder if he'll return if they have another one of those episodes where previous incarnations have to turn up.

He's older now than peter davison was when he got the part.

And as for RTDs webchat, I really can't see him talking about this. Least not if he's got any sense.

Eeeuuuuuwwwwww

Just who is taking it personally? At least I didn't insult my fellow forum members to make a point .....

Its my opinion that EC is a quitter and he could not have timed his quitting at a worse time .... therefore, my opinion is valid - or is that not the point of posting?


A job that paid half a million for the first series - darned good money that by anyone's standards - he is and remains a quitter ....

I'm a very infrequent poster, but really feel the need to contribute to this one....

Over-reaction doesn't even begin to describe how some/most people have reacted to Eccleston's decision not to stay on as the Doctor. He's been name-called, derided, looked down on... and I really have no clue why. To be honest (and like it or not), we were lucky to get him at all. Eccleston is what many might call a 'serious' actor - he's a very intense and diverse actor who chooses his work very carefully. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but it really shouldn't have come as any surprise that he isn't doing a second series.

He's launched the new series in style - but he's not the only reason the re-launch has been such a success. I lay the responsibility for this squarely at Russell T Davies door. He had the vision, and talent to bring Doctor Who back as a viable drama. He's still on board. I'm very happy about this.

Billie Piper is the REAL find in the new Doctor Who - she's still on board. I'm very happy about this.

The production and writing team are still on board....

We've got a second series...

We've got a Christmas special...

We've got a regeneration to look forward to...

Heck - we've got 12 more episodes of Eccleston's Who still to come!

I'm very happy about all of this.

Make no mistake, there will be NO stunt-casting of the new Doctor. I have every faith they will cast the right person for the job. The people making Doctor Who now are serious about what they're doing and about making the series a mainstream success. These are not the people who thought Bonnie Langford was the way forward.

And for those saying they won't watch it now that they know Eccleston is leaving? See ya! You don't know what you're missing...

Good luck to Eccleston I say - we owe you one.

It's not the end of the world.... that's tomorrow at 7pm and I can't wait.

Odd xx

Good point - its a difficult thing to explain really ....

I really don't watch too many TV programmes these days as they are often either OTT or too 'Americanised' (canned laughter to teach me what is funny)

So I am usually pretty selective about the programmes I do watch and when I do make a deicision to follow a show, I really try not to miss a single episode and often follow these shows (even if I don't post about them) on the DS or another forum.

so I guess for me it does feel like I make a special effort to watch programmes ....

I know a lot of people watch a lot of TV, but the little TV I do watch properly, I want to enjoy ... as I said previously, IF I am at home and IF nothing else is on TV AND I am doing nothing else, I will watch the show .....



I still haven't explained properly what I mean though ....

Eccleston has re-established that each Doctor is distinctive (the first five Doctors are very, very different), the series lost sight of that in the eighties.

He has expanded the Doctor beyond the stereotype of hats and scarves, which is much more important than many people realise.

Typecasting is a very real fear for an actor; there is something desperately sad about actors appearing at fan conventions and having no work. No actor wants to end up like that. That said Ecclestone should have done a 2nd series, as he is a well-established actor.

Believe me, there are some British film-makers who would not cast Ecclestone because "people think you're Doctor Who".

I expected Ecclestone to do 1 series, and that has not dented my excitement and enjoyment of the new Doctor Who at all.