I wouldn't be surprised if it's hyped up a little.

The 'No Daleks' announcement was pretty definate, before a pretty massive U Turn.

McGann already said he really wanted to do it again when the new series was first being cast.

Ecclestone was a great choice but I think it was a mistake to cast someone without a commitment of at least 2 series.

If he wouldn't agree then they should have stuck with McGann or chose someone else.

thats the thing - i think he's wrong about the typecast thing. as he's been around for so long already, he already has a proven track record as an excellent actor.

i know its only a tv show, but it just really sucks - as the series progresses we should be wondering where its going, how things are going to pan out next series, see the dynamic between the doc and rose develop - but now there's just hardly any point.

as for replacement - casanova bloke is getting a few thumbs up, but i'm waiting to see it on bbc1. another vote for anthony head for me tho'.

see - now all we're bothered about is the whole 'next dr' thing again.

rubbish.

Iain

They should get Rab C Nesbitt as the next doctor. He would give the daleks a right good kicking.

'Beat it, ya wheelie bin reject'.

Hey - Maybe that was why we could hear Graham Norton last week. Maybe he was auditioning for the part

okay - maybe not !

ROFL!!!!

I just got done watching the second series of that the other night.... he gets my vote....LOL!

I can see him facing off a Dalek.... " Exterminate is it, Exterminate!! I will tell you this..."

Slider.

As mentioned by others it does damping the show.

I also believe Paul Mcgann might be ok as the doctor, I think he has become a better actor since he last played the doctor.

I wouldn't give the part to David Tennant because he is a young ambitious actor and it seems he has got a future ahead of him - we could have another situation were he may leave and to further his career, to be honest I wouldn't blame him.

Another consideration would be to give the part to a well seasond actor, who has done it all - perhaps may just want to work in the UK and is a big name not just here but in the States and elsewhere. If BBC are willing to throw money on good quality acting why not give it to Bob Hoshkins or someone else with quality behind them. In the States they have hired moviestars for some of their series, why don't we do it here. I think he might make it more gritty.

Thats if the BBC are willing to make this in to a well crafted series.

No Paul McGann 1999 TV movie lasted 1 episode effectively, didn't even get to do a regeneration like Sylvester McCoy did even after a 10 year lay off.

And if I get really anal he's not even the 2nd shorted reign as that goes to Peter Cushing for the 2 films

Tom Baker is the narrator of Little Britain.....you can't have him playing the doctor, he wouldn't have time to narrate this hilarious show

Personally I don't like the idea of David Tennant as the Doctor. He just seems wrong.

Paul McGann if the could make a decent de-generation story.

Sean Pertwee would be interesting if they wanted to go for a grittier action based Doctor.

Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) but he's already playing a bad guy in the new series.

Bill Bailey? Certainly has the mad eyes.

David Warner for a darker Doctor (or the Master)

For some reason I think Nigel Havers would make quite a good Doctor if they wanted someone older.

I think the BBC announced that they were commissioning a second series and as a result his ambiguous answers to questions on the second series no longer worked. (He was using the uncertainty of the second series as a way to not let on he would not be part of it).

However you would have thought that common sense from ALL those concerned would have allowed the announcement to be put off till several episodes into the new series have been broadcast.

CE WAS foolish but only because he didn't realize that Dr who would typecast him when he took on the role.

I just wonder if fan reaction to CE leaving is going to do more damage to the show than the news itself. While CE is playing the role, fans should still get behind the show rather than slagging of CE for several months.

Bringing us neatly back to Graham Norton again, Peter Cushing isnt recognised as a Doctor by 'real ' fans.

As a protest I think anyone opposed to Christopher Eccleson leaving should NOT watch this saturdays show (instead set your VCR's that that you dont really miss it!!) The BBC may then panic at the sudden ratings decline and offer Chris more money. If he is offered enough he may be willing to overlook the typecasting. Alternatively find one of Chris's mates and get them to persuade him not to leave!!

A good example of something that would damage the show. We want "normal" viewers to be able to sit down and watch a good sci-fi drama without all the "issues" going on in the background. It detracts from the show itself and anything that does that is bad.
Fans should go into damage limitatitation mode and express their disapointment at CE but just accept it.

So how is it that America produces long running series with the same cast and we can't? Soap actors tend to stay for long periods, so why is Dr Who seen as such an honour to play but such a curse to be associated with?

We've finally got a series that has the budget to make it a rival to any US series, but if the lead actor gets itchy feet after one series I can't see Dr Who lasting too long. Unless they come up with a loophole, the Doctor only has three more regenerations till he dies a natural death.

They need to get an actor to sign up for three years minimum to make the series worth bringing back.
How hard can that be...?

Chris is by far the most high profile actor to ever play the role (Expcept maybe Peter Cushing) anyway he wants to leave - I dont think its about money.

Well I did say I was getting anal ! I kind of clas myself as a 'real' fan and I guess in truth I wouldn't class him as a real Dr either, unless you made him the 13th Dr or something there is no way he fits into the Who time line, although I guess CE could be the 10th Dr and he could slot in there.

Whoever they bring in as the new Dr I do hope they nail him down to a long contract. If they intend to make the series run for a while thatcanot afford to keep changing the lead.

How about this as a swerveball idea for the new Dr. During regeneration he takes on Rose's form so Billie becomes the Dr ?

I've just had a thought. Doesn't his decision to leave means that he DIDN'T see JFK's assassination, or Krakatoa's eruption or the Titanic sailing after all?

I did think Eric Idle would have done a great job some years back. Paul McGann was the shortest time playing the Doctor. It should go to Richard E Grant but who ever it is should be on a long contract! CE really has been stupid over this I thought he was really good after episode 1 despite reservations he convinced me. Lets hope Billie stays on to give some continuity to the regeration and character set up. A complete cast change for series 2 would be suicide!

I think it's a real shame Christopher Ecclestone has decided to quit. I was really impressed with the first episode of the new series as well. I just hope his departure doesn't put too much of a dampener on the rest of the series for everyone.

As for the next Doctor, I would love to see Anthony Stewart Head (Giles from Buffy and Prime Minister from Little Britain) in the role - I think he would make a fantastic Doctor.

Any Buffy fans wanna back me up on this ?

( Or perhaps Richard E. Grant, Nigel Havers or Martin Kemp if they can't get Anthony ).

Steve.

I agree with you regarding Anthony Head (never seen him in Buffy thou)

Although NO WAY should REG get the Job - He would be an awful Doctor and Also the same for Martin Kemp.

If I was choosing I would go Anthony Head.

I think it will harm the viewing figures actually. Now that CE has well and truely 'pissed all over our parade', I don't feel like watching the rest of the series at all. I don't want to see CE on my tv at the moment (or ever again really, why the hell did he take the job in the first place FFS). Shame because I think I would have liked Billie.

I'd rather wait until series 2 when they have found an actor with morals who will stick by the fans for more than a couple of months.

True, but as he's already a massive Who fan I'd hope that he'd have more of an idea of what taking on the role really means to the fans, and that he'd be more willing to stick around if the show continues to be such a ratings success. That's what I'd hope, anyway.

For those that missed him in 'Blackpool' and 'Casanova', he's in the live adaptation of 'Quatermass' this Saturday on BBC4.

Vic

No, that's not how it works if I understand correctly. You can have a contact which says that if we decide to make a second series, then you are obliged to appear in it.
That's certainly the way it works with US shows, anyway (okay things here in the UK may be different, but I doubt it). I think the BBC are the ones who really messed up here - I can not believe that they did not insist on at least a two year contract - After two series (perhaps even three at a push) you are not type cast - and you can leave with your dignity firmly in tact.

I think it's more to do with CE being taken aback by the amount of publicity he's got in the few days - he's just not used to it. Hopefully he will reconsider when things settle down a bit.

If he doesn't then I'd like to see Bill Nighy or David Morrissey take over.